Serbian and Belgrade Cuisine: The Famous Balkan Burger, Pljeskavica
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A guide to Serbian street food you must try on your Belgrade tour, the famous Balkan burger Pljeskavica, and Kajmak.
Serbian and Belgrade Cuisine
Belgrade, the Balkan capital of entertainment and gastronomy, is a true paradise, especially for meat lovers (carnivores)! Let's explore the delights of Serbian cuisine, where portions are enormous and meat is served at its most delicious and satisfying.
1. The Balkan Burger: Pljeskavica
Get ready to try one of the world's best street foods! Pljeskavica (pronounced Pleskavitsa) is a huge, thin, round patty. It's made from a mixture of pork, beef, or lamb (visitors from Türkiye can opt for halal places that use 100% beef). It's served in a large loaf of bread, and the best part is that you get to choose your own sauces! The bread is filled with Urnebes (spicy cheese spread), Kajmak, onions, tomatoes, and various sauces, and eaten as a quick bite. You can find it freshly made at small kiosks on the streets of Belgrade.
2. Kafana Culture and Mixed Grill (Meso)
A visit to Belgrade isn't complete without stopping by the Kafanas (traditional Serbian restaurants and taverns) on historic Skadarlija Street. Order a "Mixed Grill Platter" (Mesano Meso) and enjoy it with live accordion music. Sausages, meatballs, and chops are served together on a huge platter.
3. Serbia's Traditional Drink: Rakija
Serbia's national drink, Rakija (Rakiya), is a strong fruit brandy with an alcohol content of 40% to 60%, usually made from plums (Slivovitz), quince, or apricots. It's served in small glasses as an aperitif before meals and drunk in one gulp.
4. Burek (Serbian-Style Pastry)
Burek in Serbia is a little different from the Bosnian version. It's made with plenty of meat, cheese, or mushrooms between round layers of pastry, and sold by the slice. At Belgrade bakeries, it's eaten for breakfast with drinkable yogurt.