Best Albanian Food – 47 Best Albanian Dishes And Food in Albania To Try

Best Albanian Food – 47 Best Albanian Dishes And Food in Albania To Try

Albanian cuisine is not yet world-famous, but one thing is for sure: Albania’s food is good! But some Albanian dishes are an authentic traditional food in Albania to try and drinks in Albania! Click here to book online Albania activities and day trips

Albanian cuisine has a lot of Mediterranean influences and you can see a lot of crossovers with other popular cuisines like the Greek, Turkish, Lebanese cuisine and more. You can have a budget of €15-20 a day in Albania for food and it can already get you more than enough decent meals.

Read here Albania sim card for tourist, our Albania travel tips, how to get from Tirana airport to city center and The Blue Eye Albania travel guide.

Read here vegetarian food in Albania, best breakfast in Albania and Albanian drinks

WHERE TO STAY IN ALBANIA

A lot of budget option is available for accommodation in Albania. Where you can sleep in a dorm room or a room for less than $10 USD while you can stay in a budget hotel for as low as $20-30 USD. There are so many to choose from depending on what type and how luxurious you want your stay to be starting from $50 USD.

Book your accommodations in Albania through Agoda or Booking.

BOOK YOUR TRAVEL INSURANCE

Two of our favorite travel insurance: Heymondo Vs Safetwing cheapest travel Insurance. You can get for $135 USD your Heymondo Travel Insurance with Heymondo discount code valid for 90 days. Read our full comparison of Genki vs Safetywing Travel Insurance Review and the comparison Heymondo vs Genki

Best Albanian Food: Best Albanian Dishes And Food in Albania To Try

Traditional Albanian Dishes

1. Pastiche

Pastitche is a yummy pasta dish that originated from Greece. Pastiche is a comfort food made with tubular pasta, beef ragu and bechamel sauce. It’s almost like a Greek Moussaka, but without the eggplant.

2. Speça me gjize (Speca me Glizë)

Speça me gjize (Speca me Glizë) is not just yummy but very colorful, too. Speça me gjize (Speca me Glizë) is made with green, yellow, orange and red bell peppers stuffed with rice, cottage cheese, herbs and spices, before baking in the oven.

3. Speca të Mbushura

Speca të Mbushura is just like Speça me gjize, this one is a famous food in Albania that’s also made with peppers. This dish is basically baked peppers stuffed with ground beef, herbs and spices, tomato sauce, and some onions.

4. Pershesh

Pershesh is a traditional food in Albania to try. Pershesh is typically served during the Holiday Season and is made of roasted turkey, wheat bread and some herbs & spices. 

5. Perime ne Zgare (Grilled Vegetables)

Perime ne Zgare or Grilled vegetables are a popular side dish to any Albanian dish, especially when paired with grilled meat, which is also a popular food in Albania.

6. Tarator

Tarator is a cucumber yogurt that is great as a side dip to any Albanian dish and a nice way to try something different besides plain yogurt. It is also a traditional Albanian summer dish that’s quick and easy to prepare.

7. QOFTE

Qofte is a popular dish to try in Albania especially in winter time. Qofte is made of meatballs with a soup broth with onions and tomato sauce plus other species. You can eat qofte for lunch or dinner served with bread, salad or mashed potatoes.

8. TAVË KOSI

Tavë Kosi is one of the traditional dishes to try in Albania. Tavë Kosi is made of lamb, eggs and yogurt. You can serve it with salad and Tavë Kosi is also cooked in North Macedonia and Greece. Prices are around €4 in local restaurants.

9. FËRGESË

Fërgesë is a traditional Albanian dish made with peeled tomatoes, cottage and feta cheeses, onions and bell peppers. Fërgesë usually has a thick texture and is seasoned with lots of spices. You can add meat to the stew and you usually eat it with bread.

10. Kukurec

Kukurec is a grilled form of lamb’s intestine and liver. For a grilled meat flavor, the liver is wrapped in the intestines and grilled. You should try it when you come to Albania.

11. Flia

Flia is also called flija is one of the most famous Albanian traditional dishes. It is a layered pancake served with a variety of sweet garnishes, such as sour milk, yogurt, pickled vegetables, and many more.

12. Jani ze Fasule 

Jani ze Fasule is a classic delicious Albanian food. Jani ze Fasule is white bean soup with different recipes depending on their region. The white beans are prepared by soaking them overnight, then rinsing and boiling them.

13. Imam Bajalldi

Imam Bajalldi is a very popular in the list of Albanian dishes. dish in Albania. Imam Bajalldi is made with whole eggplant typically cut in half and stuffed with tomatoes, onions, garlic and then cooked in olive oil. Imam Bajalldi is commonly found in the Ottomans region in Albania.

14. Brushull/Pispili

Pispili is a classic Albanian cuisine made with corn flour and green leaf vegetables, giving it a unique and delicious flavor. Pispili can be served as a main course, side dish or snack.

15. Bukë misri

Bukë misri is an Albanian cornbread that is soft, crumbly bread cooked with batter. Albanian cornbread comes in a variety of flavors, such as plain and with leeks, spinach, zucchini, and feta cheese. It can be eaten with cheese and olives, or be served with stews, soups, and salads. 

16. Trahana

Trahana is a grain product that has so many varieties in Albania. Trahana can be made sweet or sour, or even with other spices. Trahana was originally used to preserve milk.

17. Lakror

Lakror is an Albanian pie dish cooked with vegetables or meat. Most Albanians have their own recipes for this traditional food in Albania.

18. Tirokafteri

Tirokafteri is a popular Albanian dip made from strained yogurt, feta cheese and hot peppers. This dip is perfect for delicious pita bread, sandwiches, and vegetable salad.

19. Jufka pasta

Jufka pasta is a traditional pasta product from the Dibra region of Eastern part of the country. Jufka pasta is handmade and very flavorful so it’s a popular food in Albania.

20. GRILLED MEAT KEBABS

Grilled meat kebabs is an Albanian dish (also Greek called gyros) made from meat cooked on a vertical rotisserie. Kebab is usually lamb/chicken meat that is served wrapped in a flatbread such as pita, with tomato, onion, and sauce. You can buy in local restaurants and bars for €2-3.

21. GREEK SALAD

A traditional Greek Salad is one to not miss when you are in Albania since is near Greece. Greek salad is fresh and healthy with have greens (your favorite vegetables), cucumbers, tomatoes, green bell peppers, red onions, Greek olives (of course), and feta cheese. You can add some mint for some added flavor, and Kalamata olives are a good too kind of the Greek olives to use for the salad.

22. MOUSSAKA

Moussaka is a must Albanian food to try (also common in Greece). Moussaka is an eggplant- or potato-based dish, often including ground meat, in the Levant, Middle East and Balkans with many local and regional variations.

Best Albanian Food And Albanian Dishes To Try

Albanian Cuisine: Snacks in Albania

23. SUFLLAQE

Sufllaqe was my favorite street food in Albania. Kind of shawarma in Albania with chicken or lamb, sauce ketchup, mayonnaise and French fries. You will find everywhere and the prices are around €1-2.

24. BYREK

Byrek is one of the most popular breakfast in Albania. Byrek is a baked bread with cheese and it can be with meat or vegetarian with spinaches. You can see everywhere in the bakeries in Albania and prices are for less than €1.

25. PIZZA

Pizza is also popular in Albania as Italian influence. You will find a lot of restaurants offering pizza for affordable prices especially in places like Tirana and South Albania.

26. Fried Kaçkavall

Kaçkavall is the most popular cheese in Albania. Kaçkavall is a yellow salty white cheese made from cow or sheep milk. Kaçkavall is a classic appetizer which is served before the main course in many traditional restaurants in Albania.

27. Qifqi

Qifqi is a popular Albanian finger food which is a small rice ball made with rice, herbs, eggs and spices. Qifqi is shaped like meatballs and you can find authentic Qifqi only in Albania.

28. Dolma Japrak

Dolma Japrak is a popular dish in Albania for winter time. Dolma Japrak wrapped rolls are made of cabbage with minced pork, rice and tomato sauce. If you like vegetarians you can make it without meat. Dolma Japrak is usually cooked at home for celebrations similar like Sarma in Serbia.

29. ĆEVAPI

Ćevapi is the most popular dish and food to try in Serbia and the Balkans and you can also find in Albania. Ćevapi is grilled meat made of pork, lamb or beef. Ćevapi is usually served in bread with ajvar sauce and more vegetables similar to pljeskavica.

30. MEZE 

Meze is one of the most popular snacks in Albania to try. Meze is a mix of hot and cold appetizers usually served with drinks. Meze is a mix of Mediterranean food with bread, olive oil, humus, cheese and vegetables.

31. Ashure

Ashure is also known as Noah’s pudding, Ashure is a dessert porridge consisting of grains, fruits, dried fruits, and nuts. Muslims in Albanians typically serve this on the Day of Ashura.

32. Petulla

Petulla is the traditional snack food in Albania. Petulla is a type of fried dough that goes well with powdered sugar and honey, as well as salty flavors like feta cheese.

33. Ballokume

Ballokume is also known as summer cake, is a delicious authentic Albanian cookie snack. It is usually eaten on March 14th, at the Albanian pagan festival called Dita e Veres.

Food in Albania: Desserts

34. TRILECE

Trilece is one of the most popular desserts in Albania. Trilece is a sponge cake made of milk and it tastes really good. Trilece is a must to try in Albania.

35. BAKLAVA

Baklava is also popular in Albania but maybe you know as a Turkish dessert too. Baklava is baked and made of pistachios, butter and syrup. You will find in most of the bakeries in South of Albania for affordable prices. Baklava tastes so sweet!

36. Kabuni

Kabuni is a Albanian rice dessert made with caramelized sugar and buttered fried rice. It has also some raisins, cinnamon, and cloves which is a delicious combination making it one of the most famous Albanian desserts.

37. Shendetlie

Shendetlie is a famous Albanian dessert, which is a combination of a biscuit and cake because of its texture. It is made with walnuts and honey soaked in sugar syrup.

38. Lokum

Lokum is a world-famous Turkish delicacy but is also popular in Albania. This delicious dessert food can be found in candy shops in the country.

39. Sultjash 

Sultjash is a creamy rice pudding made with rice, milk, and other yummy ingredients. It can be served for dinner or as a dessert. If served as a dessert, sugar is usually added to make it sweet.

Drinks in Albania

40. Beer

Albanians love drinking beer, so it can be found everywhere. Some of the famous brands are Tirana (which is a sweet-tasting beer), Elbar, and Korça.

41. RAKI

Raki is the most popular drink in Albania. Raki is usually served for dinner and locals love to drink with foreigners. Be careful Raki is distilled grapes and anise with 40-50%.

42. WINE IN ALBANIA

Albanian wine is one of the oldest in the world. Albania has a Mediterranean climate great for the wine with a lot of varieties of grapes. There are a couple of places where you can go for a wine tour in Albania: Mrizi i Zanave and Uka Farm.

43. Bozë

Bozë is a kind of fermented beverage made with corn and wheat flour, sugar, and water. Albanian Bozë is different because its main ingredient is corn, unlike the Bozë made in Turkey and other countries, which use bulgur, millet, barley, or chickpeas.

44. Dhallë

Dhallë is probably one of the most famous drinks in Albania. Dhallë can be seen everywhere because Albanians love it. It’s just basically yogurt mixed with ice-cold water, salt, and pepper. They also sometimes use carbonated water and add mint.

45. COFFEE IN ALBANIA

Having coffee in Albania is part of the culture also in the Balkans countries like Croatia and Serbia too. You will see people sitting outside the bars holding a cup of coffee. The most popular coffee in Albania is Turkish coffee and prices are less than €1 in a local bar.

46. TEA

Tea in Albania is one of the most common drink. People can drink hot tea with the desserts and sweets and also with the snacks. You will see locals in Albania drink tea any time.

47. Salep

Salep is a rich, hot beverage thickened with flour prepared from wild orchid tubers and mixed with hot milk and sugar. It is one of the most favorite hot drinks in Albania especially in winter.

Happy Travels!