14 European Dishes You Have To Try In Their Home Countries

    Want the recipe for perfect adventure? It's one part traveling with a dash of eating.

    1. A steak and kidney pie in London, England

    If you find yourself in London, make sure to try the local specialty: a delicious savory pie packed with steak and ox kidney.

    2. A dakos in Crete, Greece

    It's a delicious paximadi (sort of like a barley crispbread that's softened with water, oil, or even wine) topped with tomato, onions, feta, and herbs.

    3. Pão de Milho in Porto, Portugal

    An incredible Portuguese corn bread that's eaten with soup, meat, or sometimes just with butter on it.

    4. Tatarák in Prague, the Czech Republic

    Tatarák (which is short for tatarský biftek) is a Czech take on steak tartare, and it's eaten with garlic bread.

    5. Poffertjes in Amsterdam, the Netherlands

    These adorable little baby pancakes are covered in butter and powdered sugar, and sometimes even ice cream. They're perfect for anyone who's looking for dessert for breakfast, and really, who isn't?

    6. Neapolitan pizza in (you guessed it) Naples, Italy

    If you love pizza, why not travel to the city that invented and perfected it? If you're looking for a more specific recommendation, a lot of people say that Gino Sorbillo is the best of the best.

    7. Grillimakkara in Helsinki, Finland

    It's practically impossible to spend the summer in Finland (or the winter, for that matter) without savoring some of their delicious grilled sausages, which are cooked over a wood fire and doused in beer. Just make sure not to forget the mustard.

    8. A kissel in Riga, Latvia

    A kissel is like a thick fruit purée covered with cherry, or pomegranate, or cranberries depending on the season. It's sometimes even served as a refreshing drink.

    9. A gyro in Greece

    Enjoy one of the most magnificent views in the world while enjoying a traditional gyro with pork or chicken (or maybe lamb or beef if it's a little less traditional) tomato, onion, and tzatziki sauce (and sometimes even fries).

    10. A Liege Waffle in Liège, Belgium

    Waffles should be compulsory for any trip through Belgium, and the waffles they make in Liège are a real work of art. They're thick, soft, and have little pearls of sugar embedded in them. They are unrivaled.

    11. Amêijoas à Bulhão Pato in Lisbon, Portugal

    Amêijoas à bulhão pato translates to "clams in white wine" which is exactly what you'll get with this dish, along with some garlic, parsley, and a whole lot of olive oil.

    12. Haggis in Edinburgh, Scotland

    Haggis is a traditional dish from Scotland filled with lovely little surprises that you'd probably be better off learning more about AFTER you've tried it and fallen in love with it.

    13. Tortilla de Sacromonte in Granada, Spain

    This is a variation of a Andalusian Courgette Tortilla, and it often contains ham, potatoes, chorizo, and even ram or calf brains and sometimes even criadilla (which is, ahem, ground testicle meat).

    14. Lahmajoun in Istanbul, Turkey

    Lahmajoun is sort of like Turkey's version of pizza, and it's often eaten rolled up with lemon, onions, and other toppings inside. It's distinctive for its mildly spicy taste.

    This post was translated from French.