6 Must-Try Czech Dishes & Where to Taste Them in Prague 

My family is Czech, and we lived in a Czech suburb just outside of Chicago growing up. My parents adopted my sister from Korea when she was a baby; she learned how to cook Czech food from my grandma, and loves it. One day she was walking into her apartment with bags of groceries, when her landlord, who was Czech, offered to help. She saw all the Czech food in the grocery bags and was like, "what the heck? You're Asian! Do you cook this?" - my sister explained things, and they had a great laugh together - and she gave my sister some of her family's recipes.

I love Czech food because it's so healthy and light.

My first meal in Czech from my wife was stuffed knedliks in Olomouc. I was caught and I never looked back 🥰✌️

I am from a Czech descent; my family came to America in the late 1800s. They were from a small village named Bozjov, about an hour south of Prague. I make the goulash. A lot of garlic, paprika and onions. Our biggest Czech meal handed down since my family got here is roast pork, sauerkraut, and potato dumplings. I do the dumplings every Thanksgiving and sometimes Christmas. My grandparents had fish sort of like the traditional carp, however striped bass is very common here, so they replaced it with that. My grandfather used to have fish boats, so it was easy to get. Now, it costs a fortune, so we don't do it as much. My grandmother used to make kolaches. I miss those days, but I have it in my Czech cookbook so it's coming up soon, lol....

Awesome! I love this video. Thanks guys. I’ll watch this video again next time I visit Prague.

Perfect! Great descriptions, price, texture, locations with local flare. Enjoyed the bloopers :) I live in a mountain forest, You guys are always elegant!

Sooooo fantastic to see you do a food vlog now. Well done. Still love the iconic "Byyyeeeeeeee" at the end and really enjoyed the bloopers. Great video!

It all looks incredibly delicious. Great video!!! Now I’m hungry. 😊👍

Great video ! I am so excited to visit Prague this summer and is a dream come true .

The duck looks amazing. That would be my first choice. Thanks for such a delicious video!

OMG thank you for this video! Been quite disappointed in all the other food we’ve had that were traditional Czech food - but your recommendation of U Pinkasu was awesome! Had some unfortunate tourist trap food near the old town, which was not a very good goulash. But the goulash at U Pinkasu was so hearty and tasty

Thank you for the video! I'll definitely one or two of the restaurants you've recommended when I'll visit soon

Thank you so much for this video. We followed your recommendations and have had a lovely time in Prague! We were able to get into U Glaubicu and it was fantastic!

No surprise for me, but I am a Czech... Good observed and described, mostly... But I must add one detail: the jam on svíčková is made from cranberries. Not from other fruit.

Your best video ever! I could feel my heart slug and toes curl when you ate that block of fried cheese. Great looking leather jacket in the last eatery, you look marvelous!

Great video, very interesting. You presented it very well, good flow.

My grandmother was from Prague, but I've never had any of these dishes. I feel so sad to not know this part of my culinary heritage. They migrated to America where they bought a cotton farm in a small town in Texas and pretty much made what the Earth provided for them. Her cuisine was mainly Southern U.S. cooking with a little Czech influence due to the spices and such, very country style fair. Atleast that's what I remember. One thing she always had on the table was cucumbers in vinegar. Not sure if that's Czech but it was a staple at her house. She also made the excellent chicken and dumplings, but her dumplings look nothing like the ones featured here. I'm going to start running through some recipes to introduce my family to this part of my heritage.

Born and raised in Liberec, CZ. Left in ‘83. Wish I was living in Prague. I miss the food and beer.

LOVED this. Thanks so much. Had to subscribe..

I subscribed you channel because so much local information rather than touristic commercial places you shared. I like how you presented it, your natural talking like a good friend and very funny too. Keep it up! I will find those yummy food this October. Grazie!

I dream of going to some parts of Europe Czech Republic is on my list I will definitely try these one day when I grow up

Hi Valery! I was just there in Prague 2 weeks ago and had great food at U Schnellu right off the St Nicholas church square in Mala Strana. Great service and historical place (1787). They had wild boar goulash on the special menu, and also had the beef goulash, both excellent. Recommended stop heading to and from the castle. Also, did the Strahov Monastery brewery and restaurant as you recommended, great place, do not miss! Thanks!

Your videos are great! And funny! We will be in Prague in July. Thanks for the tips!

I really enjoyed everything about this video. Great food, lighthearted humour, charming and pretty host. I really liked the joke about the Czech lion (he drinks some beer and eats some bread). 🙂

Just popped up in my feed right after coming back to the hotel with a hearty goulash and Staropramen dark filling my appetite. We’ll most definitely try the other dishes. 👍 Updated: We loved Prague. One of our favorite cities ever. The people, the food, the beer… all fantastic. We were there during the Easter market and had so much great food. World class city.

Ooh, I love these dishes. I'm getting hungry seeing them. Luckily will be in Prague in May to try them again.

Can’t wait to visit Prague!

Loving the biweekly video uploads Valerie 👍🏿👍🏿👍🏿👍🏿👍🏿

I went to one of these restaurants today and I will go to that one in New Town this week! wow that looks good !

Valerie, Love the videos! Thank you for being a great guide! My great grandfather was from Czechoslovakia, many on my mother's side are from there as well. Hoping to make it for a much needed trip! If you're ever in Los Angeles, I'll show you around! Cheers! 🎸🎶🎉

I look forward to visiting!

My wife needed a medical procedure. She asked if I wanted to go to Brno (with side trips to Prague and Vienna) or Athens. I surprised her by immediatley picking Brno and she asked why. I said I can easily find authentic Greek food in NYC. Finding authentic Czech food takes more effort and may not be nearby. My stomache decides my travel itinery. LOL BTW, my cholesteral count was up after I got back. 😏

My great grandmother ran to America with my grandfather (when he was 3), in 1902. We’ve known she was from Prague but we lost the usual historical culture nuances that could have been passed down. I’ve thought of going to Prague to ponder. Your video is great to get me in touch!!!

Thanks for the video !!🎉

Looks deelish. Looking forward to my visit this summer

Honest guide great channel

THANKS FOR SHARING VERY INFORMATIVE LOOKS DELICIOUS😋👍🏿

I liked very much the fried Cheese, with chips. Also the cooked beef, and I loved the simple dishes, with potatoe dumplings, delicious sauce, and cabbage. Only , instead of beer, hope I could have a cup of tea, or coffee, so it gives me concentration, if going to tour the town. God bless 💙 🙏

Thank You for your videos!

I loved my great-grandmother’s knedlicky. So yummy soaking up all of that gravy.

This video has helped me a lot when I was in Prague, Czech food is simply amazing!

Great video. Many memories. Smažený sýr (fried cheese) always used to served with tartare sauce not mayonnaise. Has that changed?

Czech Goulash almost the same as the traditional Hungarian "Pörkölt", what is often called "Goulash" in English. Goulash soup is a very different meal.

Looks delicious…Will try this soon….The beef crumbling under the knife was the highlight

I just had a look at Rudolfina's menu. The "Dech mrtvé milenky( syrečky v bramboráku s feferonkou)" translates into English as "The breath of a dead mistress (cheese in a potato pancake with hot pepper)" LOL.

This one is among my favorite RPG videos!!! When I was in Prague, about 10 years ago, dinner at a nice restaurant was about half to 60% of what you would pay in a US restaurant. I also thought that the food was fantastic. Thank you again for my weekly trip to Prague.

my american friends loved Smažák! (and any czech beer, of course!)😀

Thank-you for keeping it real. You can be my culinary guide anytime!!

Thank you for the video. Cannot wait to visit your country this winter! The food looks absolutely delicious. Btw- I have been to Hungary, and their goulash is like a stew as well. They also have soup goulash, but they have the stew goulash too. Perhaps it depends on the region? Thanks again for the lovely video and recommendations 🙏👏

I want to try that bramborák so bad!!!

Studied in Prague for two years. Almost everyday enjoyed very much pecena kachna at the university campus. Especially sliced dumplings with sauces :D

I lived in Vienna for my University, and would go to Prague for the Art-Glass, the Food (dumplings & Gravy), the great Beer (Pils), and the "Black Theater" (Magic Lantern shows). Milan Sladek was my favorite black-light Mime-Actor. He was very famous in the 1980s & 1990s.

I am a carnivore. I love meat and more meat. These restaurants are right up my alley and I can’t wait to try all the traditional dishes. Beef, pork, veal, lamb, duck, elk, and most anything from the sea. Variety is the spice of life. Wonderful videos, I am really enjoying all of your videos because I’m brand new here.👍

Love your accent valerie,we are coming to prague at chrissy from Sydney, we have a famous bridge too.

I love your attitude, an spunky spirit , how you eat those meals an appear to stay thin 🍺🍗😛 my great Grandparents an my Grandmother all spoke Czech we have the National Czech Museum in our Town in Iowa, USA , my father an daughter have been to Prague , I plan to visit , God bless 🍺

WIll check these places out on my next trip

Well guy’s definitely coming out to see you in September for a week👍. So I will be looking into booking one of your tours and trying your cuisine, beer, etc definitely going to the Absinthe bar etc.

Valery, can't get better than this ...

Man I love this city! Need to head back it’s been too long!

you are great !!! plzensky prazdroj 😃😃

btw svíčková i part of cow "tenderloin" so there from is the name of meal and i've never see bramborák with cheese and kendlík isn't bread but dumpling

Just to look at your dishes I get hungry.Thank you for presenting these Czech dishes.However ,I like the good Hungarian goulash.

great vids thanks

Brilliant

I recall having chicken goulash with dumplings and potato pancakes along with a bucket of beer to wash it all down at a bar near the train station in Prague. Some of the best food I have ever eaten in the month I spent in Europe. Honestly Prague was my favorite place to visit.

Skvělý výběr jídel. Jedno každé je typické, místní české, chutné a můžete si je dát v kterémkoli městě v Česku - nejen v Praze. Palec nahoru. 🙂

I got my daughter a Czech cookbook after she came home from studying in Prague. The first recipe we tried was that fried cheese. That is delicious!

I wish I had an Eastern European grandma that made me these cabbage dishes. Great video.

I love the food in there. I am food lover I enjoy a lot my experience there

well... as a all-life local I have some points to make: Bramborak is usually served plain or as a side dish or with smoked meat and sauerkraut (this option is called Cmunda po kaplicku and it is a Czech traditional). Bramborak served as it is shown on this video is a tourist trap or they just dont know what they are doing (same as "traditional Czech trdelnik, which is both not tradicitonal and not Czech). Getting back to opinions: anything served with "cabbage" in this video was actually served with "Sauerkraut". Strahov Beer Brewery is a tourist trap from my point of view! I am sorry to say that but it is. I have been there several times and there are almost no local people ever and the prices are... sky high. There are so many traditional Prague beer breweries much better than Strahov... most to point out is Brevnov as an example. Just dont go Strahov. Considering the "Traditional Pilsner Restaurant", it is too bad this video focused only to "old parts" of Prague formally, despite there are some places just behind the City Wall to enjoy and might be even cheaper and better, one example being Na Hradcanske restaurant which is actually just a jump away from Prague Castle (from the other side unfortunatelly - maybe) and during lunch times they have awesome meals as cheap as under 150 CZK

Went to U Pinkasu. Had a great time. Thanks for the recommendation :-)

Still mystified as to where you put all the food Valery😉The first and last dishes would be my choice.

Thank you very much. I'm in Prague now and i'm listening to your guide, can you suggest me where to listen live music? I like folk and popular music

some of it are definitely no (knedliczki !) but dumplings on both plates and the duck, goulash dishes and beer with a solid head look very inviting all at reasonable prices - thanks

Thank you very much ♡

One culinary inaccuracy: Svíčková does not come from the name of the sauce. Svíčková is Czech word for tenderlion. For those who don't know, this is a part of beef (or pork but in good Svíčková you have beef) whitch grows on cows back. It's very small (in comparation with other parts of cow) and as it's English name sugest it's the most tender kind of beef you can get. And yes, slice of it is the piece of meet in this dish.

So nice to see a young woman with an appetite! Here they push the good stuff around the plates like the food was poison. You guys have really tasty dishes and nowadays I have to walk a mile or two to find them. And the menu in chech language only.

Prague is worth a visit just for the food as well as the beer! LOVE that Czech goulash and Svíčková! Most restaurants only give you 150 grams, though. I want 200, maybe even 250! Thanks very much for the restaurant suggestions. If I make it back someday, I'll visit them all. Here are some of my favorites: Mincovna on the Old Town square, Lokal - Dlouha street, and near the Lesser Town Bridge Tower, Restaurant and Hotel U Medvídků, Na Perštýně 7, and U Červeného Páva (At The Red Peacock). Take the Železná street off Old Town Square, and turn left on Kamzíkova. The street will narrow, but keep going. It’s on the right.

looks really delicious! new friend Philippines

Outstanding video. Can you recommend a good steak house in Prague? I'm a steak lover and I'll be in Prague in January.

Loved this, glad to see your not all vegan😉. Will definitely try some of these dishes when I visit😋😋😋

Thanks for this, I love it! If you're up for it sometime, I wouldn't mind hearing about the bougie places. Any Michelin stars in Prague?

very nice

Czech cuisine is one of my favorites- and I am verrrrry very very picky - especially when it comes to meat!

I went to try the meat-filled potato dumplings today and was told they're not available in summer. I was devastated!

the food looks great goes well with lots of beer than a BJ and a nap in Prague

Different type of food over there you must have tasty most famous ones. I’ll try to find the bests when I’ll travel over there.

Im in Prague right now! LETS HANGOUT! :D

I want to visit the Czech Republic so bad! My ancestry is Czech so I would love to finally try some food from there

Gulyas is the soup in hungary, Gulas in czech is Pörkelt in Hungary ;-)

trying the dish at 7:15 right now! I'm at the restaurant 😎👍🏼👍🏼

Can you make a video about that buffet restaurant? That sounds good!

Like the idea of fried cheese

hi we are coming to prague what does a round trip in prague with food and beer cost

I mistook this video and thought this was an @HONEST GUIDE video , I really enjoyed your video and I would consider coming to your Czech country for a holiday to try the fried cheese it made my mouth water , also I don't mean to be rude or disrespectful but how come you have an accent and Janek from @HONEST GUIDE sounds American

I would love to try Czech food but I can't have pork or alcohol. Is it possible to find a place where they don't use these in dishes? In Hungarian and I know it's quite difficult there as most dishes are based on bacon or have wine in it. What do you suggest?

smažák for life! :D

Goulash stew AND soup are hungarian :) But Czech gulás is a bit different, no peppers.

Valeria! I love you and I love Czech cuisine, but I don’t like knedl. I'm Hungarian!

All of the original Czech restaurants in Berwyn and Riverside IL, suburbs of Chicago, no longer serve Czech foods. 30 years ago, my grandmother and I ate at all of them, at least six. Southwest of Berwyn, McCook Bohemian still has a Czech recipe filled menu, however, not with the variety of dishes from this video. (Yes for Svickova and Roast Duck, and they have several Czech beers on tap.) Recently, a Czech restaurant in Downers Grove changed their name and menu to serve Lithuanian food. Such is the case with changing demographics.