London is always listed in the top places to visit for all foodies out there. Yet, sometimes, when you see a price tag or you get your check, that can be a serious dealbreaker. And there is so much to try because so many different cuisines and cultures collided there in the most flavorful of ways. There are some hidden gems in London that offer sweet delicacies that won’t break your bank, but what if you are short on time? Maybe it is time to think outside the box? And outside the mainstream foodie cities?
London really has to offer plenty of tasty foods on its plate, but you can make a detour and go on a whole different foodie adventure. And London will be waiting, glorious as always.
Depending on what you like, you can come up with a cunning plan and visit some great places for foodies across the Old Continent. Let’s discover some tasty (and affordable) European dishes in the cheapest European foodie cities.
Belgrade
The Serbian capital is yet to be discovered by many foodies out there. The website Holidu listed Belgrade at the top of the cheapest cities for foodies. Just like London, Belgrade represents a unique mix of different cultures.
Whatever pops into your mind, you can find it somewhere in Belgrade waiting for you. If you want to taste the tradition, you should definitely go for sarma. It is a great mix of sour cabbage and minced meat. A lot of recipes found in London use sour cabbage, so sarma will make just the right substitute.
Also, if you are fond of deep-fried dishes that are crunchy on the outside yet cheesy and melty on the inside – you need to try Karadjordjeva. If you want something sweet, Belgrade offers traditional sweets as well, such as baklava, vanilice, or štrudla.
Krakow
Krakow in Poland is also one of the famous cities for foodies. The city is known for its amazing medieval charm, so you will be feeling like you are in the middle of a feast straight from Game of Thrones.
Polish cuisine is known for its amazing pastries and creamy desserts. Yet when you are in Krakow we recommend trying Maczanka Krakowska. It is literally the grandmother of burgers. Juicy meat combined with onion gravy and a crunchy bun will make you forget about all the cheeseburgers in the world.
Kielbaski z Niebieskiej Nyski is also really popular. Who can say no to tasty grilled sausages? The best thing is that you don’t have to look for it, the old-fashioned food truck will find you and deliver you this delicacy. If you want to try something sweet – Piszinger is always a great choice. It is basically a chocolate sandwich between two wafers, sometimes spiced with a dash of rum. Yum!
Budapest
Hungary is also another European capital with amazing cuisine. It too won’t leave a supermassive black hole in your budget and you will have a unique opportunity to enjoy some really great and spicy dishes.
When you think of Hungary, the first thing that pops into your mind is, of course, goulash. It is a spicy stew made of meat and vegetables with a unique mix of spices. Seems like every region in Hungary has its own recipe for goulash – so there is a lot to unlock there. But your food adventure doesn’t need to stop with goulash, of course. Halászlé or Fisherman’s soup is one of the most famous dishes to try.
Some honourable mentions include meat pancakes and sour cherry soup. Sour cherry soup is always interesting for visitors because you can’t help but wonder if it is a regular dish or a dessert. Well, whatever it is we can agree that you need to try it.