Have you ever set foot in Sochi (in Russia)? No? Neither have I. But now I’m quite interested in going there. You see, a few days ago, a big birdie told me that the city has amazing food and that it’s a must-go for anyone who’s in love with food (or enjoys staring at food). But in a nutshell, it is an undeniable fact that we all love food and the world is full of different cuisines. In fact, there is always a new culinary experience somewhere that we may not have heard of or tried. And many of these feasts could be mouthwatering gems, just waiting for you to discover them. This is why I’m taking a deep dive – palate first – into five of the best Sochi dishes you can experience in the city, which you may never have heard of.

Sochi Dishes You Should Add to Your Bucket List

1. Lyulya Kebab, Shashlyk, and Grilled Vegetables

This dish is a 3 in 1, a straight-up rave on a plate. The Lyulya Kebab has claimed its place on the throne as the king of Russian cuisine (feel free to correct me). The specially marinated meat cubes are placed over an open fire pit, on metal skewers, to ensure the perfect grill and slight char to create a tantalizing kick. The Shashlyk perfectly completes the picture. Fair warning, this may not be your typical kebab. The Shashlyk goes through a Russian transformation which encompasses margination of the lamb in a concoction of oils and vegetables, maintaining the epic juiciness of the lamb. This plate is then brought together by an assortment of amazing grilled vegetables the complete the dish.

2. Kichin

This is a soft and enclosed pie that embraces the best ingredients the Sochi savoury world has to offer. Potatoes, cabbage, beet leaves and other assortments of colourful vegetables come together to form a flavorful party, dancing with the likes of beans, squash, and chives. These ingredients are then blanketed by a generous layer of cheese, which perfects this remarkable experience.

3. Khinkali

Khinkali can be simply described as the Georgian Dumpling. Originating in the mountainous regions of Mtiuleti, Pshavi and Khevsureti, it is slightly larger than your average dumpling. It comes stuffed with tender meat, various herbs, spices and everything nice. This juicy palatable affair seems to ooze with scrumptious juices that will tango with your taste buds.

4. Okroshka

This aesthetically pleasing dish combines hard-boiled eggs, cucumbers, radishes, scallions, and potatoes. The ensemble then chills in a cool, thick, creamy-based liquid that provides an added kick to the mix, thanks to the presence of the perfect addition of horseradish and mustard. This is one of the Sochi dishes that’s served cold making it perfect for a hot day.

5. Borscht

Borscht is the most traditional of all of the Russian cuisine. Originated in Ukraine, this beet-based soup found its way to the front and centre of the Russian table. It is made from mushrooms, onions, and beef and also offers a vegetarian version where the beef is taken out of the equation but still manages to retain the flavorful essence of Borscht that is guaranteed to warm you up from the inside. Pro-tip, if the restaurant states that the soup was made a day earlier, go for it, it’ll taste even better!

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These mouthwatering Sochi dishes can be found all around the pearl of the black sea, in the numerous restaurants at almost every corner of every street. Big birdie’s favourite restaurants in Sochi are 5642 Vysota, Baffet Restaurant, and Bazaar Restaurant.