ArmeniaWhat to eat in Armenia: top 10 dishes
Traveling to Armenia? These are the ten dishes it is best known for, from everyday staples to festive classics, with a short background and a tip on where and when to eat each one. Ranked by how widely they are known around the world.
01Lavash
Lavash is a thin flatbread made of leavened or unleavened wheat dough, baked in a tandoor (a type of clay oven) or on a saj griddle. Some forms are sourdough fermented with dough from previous batches.
Travel tip Look for it fresh from bakeries and at restaurant tables, where it comes with almost every meal. Tear off pieces to scoop food, or wrap cheese and herbs in a sheet.
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02Dolma
Dolma is a family of stuffed dishes largely associated with Ottoman cuisine. It mainly includes vegetables and leaves, and occasionally seafood, offal, fruits, and meats, that are hollowed out or wrapped, then filled with a mixture of rice, minced meat,…
Travel tip Found in traditional restaurants and often made at home for family gatherings. Vine-leaf versions are common and are usually eaten with a spoonful of yogurt on the side.
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03Shish kebab
Shish kebab or shish kebap is a popular dish of skewered and grilled cubes of meat, originating in the Middle East. It is one of the many types of kebab, a range of meat dishes originating in the Middle East.
Travel tip A staple of grill restaurants and outdoor barbecues, usually served with flatbread, grilled vegetables and fresh herbs. Order it with a few shared salads and sides.
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04Ghapama
Ghapama (Armenian: ղափամա) is an Armenian stuffed pumpkin dish, usually served as a dessert. It is prepared by removing the inside of the pumpkin and stuffing it with cooked rice, butter, honey, dried fruits, nuts, and meat, to be baked.
Travel tip A festive dish, most often made at home for holidays such as New Year and Christmas. It is brought to the table whole, so look for it in traditional restaurants around the festive season.
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05Abgoosht
Abgoosht or abgusht is an Iranian stew. It is also called dizi, which refers to the traditional stoneware crocks it is served in. Some describe it as a "hearty mutton Persian soup thickened with chickpeas."
Travel tip An Iranian dish you will mostly find in restaurants serving Persian food. It is traditionally eaten in two steps: first the broth with bread, then the mashed meat and chickpeas.
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06Ajapsandali
Ajapsandali, ajapsandal is a traditional Georgian and Armenian dish, also popular in the Northern Caucasus.
Travel tip A summer vegetable stew, best when tomatoes and eggplants are in season. It is served as a side dish or with bread, warm or at room temperature.
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07Matnakash
Matnakash (Armenian: մատնաքաշ) is a leavened traditional Armenian bread. The word matnakash means "finger draw" or "finger pull", referring to the way the bread is prepared. It is made of wheat flour with yeast or sourdough starter.
Travel tip Look for this soft, oval bread in neighborhood bakeries, where it is sold warm. It goes well with breakfast spreads, cheese or a main meal.
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08Gata
Gata (Armenian: գաթա) is an Armenian sweet bread. There are many variations of gata in Armenia. Specific towns or regions have their own versions. Gata is made in a variety of shapes, sizes and may be decorated or left unadorned.
Travel tip A sweet bread usually eaten with tea or coffee. Bakeries and home kitchens make it, and it is also a common treat for holidays and gifts.
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09Tsoureki
Tsoureki, also known as bsatir, čʿorek, or katʿnahuncʿ ; çyrek (Albanian); kozunak ; cozonac (Romanian); paskalya çöreği (Turkish); or šurēk, is a sweet holiday bread made with flour, milk, butter, eggs, and sugar.
Travel tip A sweet holiday bread most associated with Easter, so bakeries stock it in the weeks before the holiday. Eat it sliced or torn, plain or with coffee.
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10Lula kebab
Lula kebab is a type of kebab cooked on skewers. It is made from minced meat. The name 'Lula' derives from Persian and it means 'barrel.' It is a specialty of Armenian, and Azerbaijani cuisine.
Travel tip Minced meat kebab grilled on wide skewers, found at barbecue restaurants. It is typically wrapped in flatbread with onion and herbs.
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