Tbilisi's best street food is often found in the most unexpected corners of the city. The most delicious khachapuri, to die for lobiani pastries, and the top food stalls are often tucked away in semi-hidden spots.
You might find life-changing cheese bread in the dark basement of an Old Town church, or specialty coffee (and falafel!) in the parking lot of the Caucasus's first-ever McDonald's. True story.
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While it might take a little effort to find them, the reward is immense: incredible local food that is unbelievably cheap, sometimes costing only a few Georgian Lari.
Here are the essential spots for street food and casual lunches in Tbilisi's city center.
Top Street Food and Casual Lunch Spots in Tbilisi
Excellent Khinkali Near the Flea Market: Cafe Daphna
The Dry Bridge connects central Tbilisi to the city's famous flea market. In the square just before the bridge, you'll find the recently opened Cafe Daphna.
It's a surprisingly stylish spot with pastel pink walls, minimalist furniture, and a young, vintage-clad crowd that perfectly matches the vibe. Most importantly, the kitchen is staffed by a team of wonderful home-style cooks preparing fantastic traditional food.
The khinkali (Georgia's famous soup dumplings) come with a variety of meat and vegetarian fillings—the mixed beef and pork version is the most delicious. The dumplings are made fresh to order, so expect to wait at least 30 minutes for your food. The menu also features excellent traditional soups and grilled ribs.
Pro Tip: You can pre-order and pay in advance, then return after an hour of exploring the nearby market to find your table ready and waiting. In the evening, a cozy, neon-lit bar hidden next to the kitchen is also worth a visit.
Daphna. 29 Atoneli St, Dry Bridge Square, Tbilisi
Worth the detour: Oniashvili Lobiani
On the outskirts of Tbilisi, on an unassuming block in a respectable but overlooked neighborhood, lies one of the city's best traditional bakeries.
Oniashvili Bakery, named after the street it's on, specializes in enormous, round Lobiani—a savory pastry made with a soft, velvety dough and filled with a seasoned mashed bean paste.
Don't let the simple description fool you. When a lobiani is served piping hot and made to perfection—and here, given the constant demand, it always is—it's a dangerously addictive treat that is absolutely worth a special trip.
Pro Tip: Step up to the counter, buy whichever pastry is freshest from the oven, and find a sunny spot on a nearby curb to enjoy it immediately.
36 Otar Oniashvili St, Tbilisi
Must-Try Georgian Tacos: Teko’s Tacos
The Wine Factory N1 culinary and entertainment complex, built on the ruins of an old winery, quickly became a local hotspot. Acclaimed chef Tekuna Gachechiladze (of Littera) runs four different venues here. Among them, her Georgian-Mexican taqueria, Teko’s Tacos, is a personal favorite.
Tekuna achieves the seemingly impossible, blending the two cuisines with charm, humor, and incredible success. The taco fillings include local trout with pickled cabbage, grilled chicken and pork, and a fantastic Saperavi red wine-braised beef tongue. Alongside the tacos, you can order bean and corn soups, churros, and of course, Georgian wine.
Teko's Tacos. Wine Factory N1, 1 Vasil Petriashvili Street, Tbilisi
Coffee and Falafel(!): Muhudo
At the end of Rustaveli Avenue, in a parking lot next to a large fountain and Georgia's first McDonald's, a tiny, high-quality vegan coffee roaster and café has quietly opened.
Muhudo specializes in falafel wraps and specialty coffee. They also sell delicious house-made sodas in flavors like tarragon and ginger. It's a pleasant and welcome change of pace from the endless (though delicious) cycle of khinkali and khachapuri.
Address: 2 Mikheil Zandukeli St, Tbilisi
