Prague Food: the dishes you can't miss

When preparing your list of what to see and do in Prague, there is one thing you cannot forget: its gastronomy. After all, it is part of the country's culture and will accompany you throughout your trip. You should know that Czech food has many points in common with that of the rest of Central Europe, with a strong presence of meat and the custom of serving large quantities.

Pork, veal and chicken are the main ingredients of Prague's food, with a significant presence of duck in some of its most popular recipes. This means that it is not an easy destination for vegetarians, although vegetarian options are available. Most dishes are accompanied by different kinds of sauces and the ubiquitous knedliky.

If there is one dish present in almost all of Prague's best restaurants, it is the knuckle of pork. In fact, if you go on a gastronomic tour, this recipe is bound to appear.

Knuckle of pork is a meat lover' s delight, as the flavour and tender cooking technique make this recipe an incomparable morsel, with a crispy exterior and a melt-in-the-mouth interior.

The main ingredient is, of course, the pig's knee, which is baked for several hours so that the meat is tender and falls off the bone easily. It is usually seasoned with onion, chilli, garlic, black pepper and other spices and served with horseradish, rye bread and mustard.

I recommend you try it at midday, as it can be too heavy a meal for dinnertime.

This dish actually originates from neighbouring Austria, as you may have noticed if you have taken a trip to Vienna. However, Prague has adopted the recipe with minor modifications and today it is very popular in all its restaurants. Note that on many menus you will find it under the name Řízek (in English, breaded).

One of the advantages of this dish is its versatility when it comes to presentation. In Prague, it is usually cooked with pork, but not far from chicken.

It is quite simple to prepare, as all you have to do is marinate a fillet of meat, then bread it and fry it in oil until golden brown.

Soups are an integral part of Czech cuisine. In the cold months, they are the perfect way to start a meal and, what's more, there are so many varieties that you can try a different one every day of your stay.

One of the most popular soups in the Czech capital is Ceská Bramborová, so much so that many consider it to be the national soup.

The base of this soup is potatoes and mushrooms, to which vegetables and usually pieces of veal are added. However, as with so many other popular dishes, in every region of the Czech Republic you will find slight variations in the ingredients.

Although much of Czech cuisine is based on meat and its sauces, you will also find some lighter dishes that can be eaten as an aperitif. This is the case with chlebíček, slices of bread that are covered with butter, spreadable cheese or salad and topped with a variety of ingredients.

Chlebíček are a staple at social events in Prague, from birthdays to school and workplace parties. They can even be found at funerals.

Where to find them in Prague

In the Czech capital you can find this dish in various shops all over the city. Here are just three of them in case you fancy trying some:

• Sisters: this small shop in the old town is considered the place that brought the sale of chlebíček back to the general public, after a time when they could only be found in homes. In addition to the more traditional ones, they offer some with more imaginative ingredients, such as smoked potatoes with ham or mushrooms.
• Lahudky Zlaty Kriz: Located very close to Wenceslas Square, this shop is characterised by offering old-school chlebíček. This has made it a favourite for locals who often stop by to buy some of their favourites for a quick snack.
• Chlebicky Letná: Letná has become one of the city's most vibrant neighbourhoods in recent years, with the opening of several entertainment centres and restaurants. One of the most successful is this popular shop offering more than 20 different types of chlebíček. It is a perfect choice for those who want to have a little picnic in Letná Park while enjoying the view of the Old Town.

During a trip it is not uncommon to try to grab a quick bite to eat before continuing to visit the city's sights. This can happen in Prague after, for example, a tour of the Jewish Quarter and lunchtime finds you on your way to the Old Town Square. The solution is simple and tasty: order a good Grilované klobásy from a stall.

Despite the complicated name, this meal is just a grilled sausage served on a delicious bun with the sauce of your choice. Despite its simplicity, don't think of it as something similar to a hot dog, as the difference in the quality of the sausage meat and the touch of the grill makes it much tastier.

During your tour of the city you will find quite a few stalls serving this dish. The most popular among tourists (and many locals) are the ones located on Wenceslas Square and in the areas near Old Town Square.

Smazeny syr, one of Prague's culinary specialities, can be found in restaurants and street stalls alike. It can be described very simply as a fried slice of cheese, but it is actually a bit more elaborate.

This dish is usually made with Edam-type cheese cut into a slice about 15 centimetres thick. It is then dipped in flour, egg and breadcrumbs and fried in very hot oil. When served, it is usually accompanied by salad, chips and a piece of bread. Sometimes it is also topped with the Czech version of tartar sauce.

The result is sure to delight cheese lovers, who will enjoy a crispy, tasty and filling dish. However, according to the Prague locals, it is essential to eat it while it is still hot.

When you look at the menu of a restaurant in Prague, you are often struck by the number of dishes that include what they have translated into English as dumplings. At first you might think of a kind of stuffed pasta, but in the Czech Republic they are a very different product.

The name of this food in Czech is knedliky and they are made with flour, egg, salt, milk and yeast. The result is sliced like bread and used as a garnish for many stews.

The taste of knedliky is very mild, but its texture makes it perfectly absorb the flavour of the sauce that accompanies dishes such as goulash or svíčková.

"Svíčková na smetaně" or directly svíčková is the name of one of the most popular dishes among the inhabitants of Prague and the whole country.

The recipe consists of a thinly sliced sirloin of beef marinated for a few hours to soften it and allow it to absorb the flavour of the aromatic herbs that are added. A thick, creamy sauce is then made, with a sweet, salty and sour taste.

Although you will find this dish in any restaurant in Prague, or possibly even on a Vltava dinner cruise, it is considered a dish for special celebrations in Prague, such as weddings.

Several slices of knedliky are served with the sauce to round off the final result.

When we hear of goulash, we usually think of Hungary, the country of origin of this recipe. However, the Czechs have adapted the dish by eliminating much of the spiciness of Hungarian paprika and adding some elements.

Thus, goulash in Prague is made with fewer vegetables and more meat, almost always beef. In restaurants you will find two types of goulash, one similar to a stew and the other with more broth and served as a soup.

It is often served in a bread bowl and, of course, accompanied by several pieces of knedliky.

While most meat dishes in Prague are made with pork, veal and chicken, you may be struck by the number of menus advertising recipes made with duck.

During my visit to the city, the area where I saw these advertisements most often was in the places to eat near Prague Castle, but you can certainly find them in other neighbourhoods as well.

The star dish with this animal is pečená kachna, i.e. basically roast duck. The result is very tender meat covered in a crispy crust and served with sweet cabbage.

When you walk through the city centre (whether you've been to Prague in summer or winter) you'll notice a peculiar smell of sweets in many places. The reason for this is the large number of shops and stalls selling trdelnik, a kind of roasted dough cylinder covered with sugar.

Although they are very typical of Prague's Christmas markets, you will also be able to find them when the weather gets warmer. However, there are differences between the two seasons. When the weather is cold, they are usually eaten on their own or with hot chocolate, while when the weather is warmer they are usually filled with ice cream of different flavours.

Considering that the Czech Republic is the country with the highest per capita beer consumption, it's no wonder that every meal is accompanied by beer.

The most popular commercial beer is Pilsner Urquell, whose brewery you can visit if you take a trip to Pilsen. In addition, you will also find a large number of smaller or craft beers, which you can learn more about on a tour of some of the smaller breweries and the many breweries in Prague.

Prague's streets, especially its squares, are full of street st alls offering fast food for visitors and locals alike. You can order anything from sausages to hamburgers, as well as more elaborate dishes.

In general, you can eat there without any problems. Unless you see any obvious hygiene problems, the stalls are well controlled and safe.