Traditional food of Slovakia: 11 dishes to try when you visit

Slovakia's national dish is bryndzové halušky - little potato, sheep cheese dumplings mixed with special cheese called bryndza.

You won't find bryndza in your regular grocery store outside Slovakia, but the Israeli-style Feta from Trader Joe's can be a good substitute.

What adds even more flavour is the crispy bacon on top.

Halušky are somewhat similar to Italian gnocchi.

If there is only one Slovak meal that you can try, then this should be it.

Try our recipe

Soups have been an integral part of Slovak cuisine for centuries - from hearty onion soup to garlic broth, bean soup and cabbage soup.

One of the most common soups in Slovakia is kapustnica.

Kapustnica is typically made of sauerkraut, potatoes, dried mushrooms, onions, sausage and smoked meat.

Every Slovak region has its own variation of kapustnica. Slovaks love this healthy comfort soup so much that it's also one of the traditional Christmas meals.

To make kapustnica is simple. The ingredients are simmered together until the soup gets a thick and creamy consistency.

The result is a flavorful, filling soup that will leave you wanting more. You can eat kapustnica with a piece of bread.

Vyprážaný syr is deep-fried cheese. Fried cheese? Yes, please!

Slovaks simply take a square of Edam or any other cheese, dip it into the batter made of flour, eggs and breadcrumbs, and then fry it.

The result? A crunchy texture with a soft cheesy core that's perfect for dipping into ketchup, mayonnaise or tartar sauce.

This dish is typically served with fries, and you'll find it in most restaurants that serve Slovak cuisine.

It might not be the healthiest meal, but the combination of melted cheese with crispy batter and fries is just irresistible and a must-try.

Aside from bryndza, there are two other kings of Slovak cheeses: parenica and korbáčiky.

Parenica is a traditional Slovak soft cheese made from unpasteurized milk. It is steamed and usually lightly smoked to give it that delicious smoky flavour.

Korbáčiky is a type of string cheese which originated in the Orava region of northern Slovakia and southern Poland. Picture cheese in the shape of thick spaghetti. If you take three strings and make them into a braid, you'll have korbáčiky.

Both are truly delicious, so make sure to try them if you're visiting Slovakia. You can find them in regular Slovak supermarkets.

But to sample real authentic korbáčiky, you'll need to visit some local farmers in Orava or Liptov region. One such farmer is Maria Zanova.

Zemiakové Placky is another classic Slovak dish. In fact, most European countries have some version of potato pancakes with small variations. It's grated potato pancakes with garlic, onion, egg, flour and simple spices.

They taste and look similar to Jewish potato latkes or rösti in Switzerland, but they use slightly different spices. Also, latkes are somewhat thicker compared to placky.

These hearty potato pancakes are very easy to make. Simply scoop potato mixture onto the heated pan with butter and oil and fry them from each side until nice crispy and golden.

Placky are perfect for breakfast, lunch or dinner, and they can be enjoyed with almost anything. For example, you can fill potato pancakes with meat, mushrooms or cheese or add sour cream.

You won't typically find them in Slovak restaurants. It's one of those dishes you'll need to make for yourself.

Makové Šúľance is one of the most popular sweet dishes in Slovakia. This dish consists of potato dough, but the key ingredient is lots of poppy seeds.

I often crave poppyseed pastries or meals, but outside Slovakia, they're hard to find, so you shouldn't miss out.

The dish is quite filling, and it's usually served as a main course. Yes, sweet main courses are a thing in Slovakia.

What makes it even more flavoursome is melted butter on top.

You can try makové šúľance in some restaurants that specialize in Slovak cuisine. For example, a Slovak pub restaurant in Bratislava has this type of dish on its menu.

If you can’t find makové šúľance, another great poppy seed delicacy is makovník. You can find this poppy seed roll in the pastry section in Slovak supermarkets.

Lokše is a traditional Slovak potato flatbread made from boiled potatoes, flour, and salt. If you like crepes, then you're going to love this.

It's usually served as a side dish, but you can also stuff it with meat.

It pairs perfectly with roasted duck and sauerkraut. You can also make a sweet version of lokše and add some jam of your choice.

A great place to find lokše is at the Christmas markets.

Christmas markets in Slovakia usually start the last week of November and last till about 23rd December.

Some of the best Christmas markets in Slovakia are in Bratislava, Košice, Banská Bystrica, Trenčín, Prešov and Banská Štiavnica.

Speaking of Christmas markets, another popular Christmas treat that you'll find at markets is trdelník.

Trdelník is a sweet, crispy dough pastry rolled around a stick and topped with walnuts, sugar or cinnamon.

The best way to savour trdelník is to enjoy it as you listen to carols and sip hot chocolate or mulled wine.

The secret to trdelník's crispiness is baking it over an open fire.

The smell of cinnamon and walnuts will make you drool, and it's definitely worth a try.

You can find trdelník in Bratislava's old town at Chimney Friends or at cafe Mňam in Košice, which serve trdelník with ice cream.

But nothing beats a freshly made one from the Christmas markets.

Fancy some Slovak street food? Although langoše originated from Hungary, they're also very popular in Slovakia and a few other European countries.

Langoš is a type of fried dough. It can be topped with ketchup or tartar sauce, garlic, and cheese for extra flavour.

My favourite is garlic and cheese langoš.

You can find langoše at Langoš Bar at SNP square in Bratislava or other street vendors scattered across the country.

Do you love doughnuts? But have you ever tried European-style doughnuts?

There are similar varieties of šišky in multiple countries, including German krapfen and Jewish sufganiyot.

Šišky are fried donuts, usually filled with marmalade. They have a different shape compared to American doughnuts.

They're served with powdered sugar - a perfect dessert to satisfy your sweet tooth.

You can usually find these treats in supermarkets in Slovakia in the pastry section.

Attention meat lovers! Fašírka is a meatball made from minced beef or pork. It's usually served with boiled potatoes and sauerkraut.

The meat is mixed with onions and spices, then fried in the pan until it's crispy and golden brown on both sides.

Fašírka is a savoury, delicious, nutritious meal that will fill your belly. Try it if you're looking for some local flavour.