Czech’ ing off our list of traditional good eats while in Prague.
Probably the only place where it’s actually fun to ask for the bill. I know I got a kick asking for the “check”.
I don’t know much about Czech food. I know they’re good for their beer. That’s it. So imagine my surprise when I discovered things like goulash and fried duck! Czech cuisine is damn right delicious. Here are some traditional Czech foods we enjoyed while in Prague.
Gulas
In the Czech Republic, goulash is usually made with beef and served with bread dumplings. It reminds me of Vietnamese bo kho (beef stew) only the sauce is much thicker, more creamy and less broth like.
Svickova na smetane
It’s like goulash only served in a cream sauce with a dollop cream and cranberry sauce. It’s sweeter than goulash and lighter. Gerard says it’s more balanced and reminds him of Thanksgiving. He also prefers the taste of the sauce better too.
Beef tartare
I didn’t expect to see a slab of ground beef, raw, to be served on a plate. But that’s exactly what we got. Guess they’re not about presentation here, are they?
The beef is accompanied with various sides which you’d mix in with your beef table side, among many – raw egg, chopped onions, mustard, paprika, chili powder and fried bread with fresh garlic. I know it looks wrong, but it’s so so good!
Czech onion soup
Thicker and richer than French onion soup, the Czech version is more savory and filling. It’s also less salty since it’s not smothered in cheese. There is, however, shredded cheese added topped with croutons. I had this at U Parlamentu, which became our favorite ‘locals’ joint in Prague.
Sausages, ham, and duck, o my..
The mezze meat platter at Kolkovna will bring out the meat lover in you. Filled with sausages, ham and duck, o-m-g the duck & its crispy skin, along with dumplings and pickled veggie sides, it’s enough to feed a family.
Did I mention the duck? Apparently it’s the one thing everyone kept telling us to try while in Prague, and I’m glad we had a chance to sample it with our meat platter. It’s absolutely mouth-watering.
Beer!
And of course, wash it all down with a pivo (one beer) of Czech’s finest. With beer cheaper than water, it’s a no brainer we drank so much at the dinner and even lunch table.
We also tried cheese sandwich because Mr. Bourdain said so (it was alright), trdelnik, a pastry roll that smells much sweeter than it taste, spicy polish hotdogs – perfect after a night out dancing, and the real treat, fried goose and new wine to celebrate St. Martin’s Day.
What can I say, we ate well in Prague. Czech food is way better than I originally thought, that’s for sure.
What Czech dish would you like to try?


It all looks so good! I had the svickova when I was in Prague and loved it so much. I’m always looking for it on menus at home now.
You can find it back home? Hmm.. there’s hope for us then because it’s one of our favorite Czech dishes too.
I found it at one Bohemian restaurant in my home town. Not quite as good as in Prague, but still tasty!
It all looks so good! I had the svickova when I was in Prague and loved it so much. I’m always looking for it on menus at home now.
You can find it back home? Hmm.. there’s hope for us then because it’s one of our favorite Czech dishes too.
I found it at one Bohemian restaurant in my home town. Not quite as good as in Prague, but still tasty!
Oh wow, this is awesome! I’m currently traveling the US… hubby and I plan to see all 50 states before traveling abroad. I am very happy with that choice but sometimes overseas photos make me want to just go now. That onion soup looks to-die-for!
I envy you! I’m embarrassed to say we’ve yet made a dent in the States but hoping to this coming year. There’s so much of our great nation we’ve yet to see and we keep going abroad. Lol.
That’s because the grass is always greener… ; ]
Oh wow, this is awesome! I’m currently traveling the US… hubby and I plan to see all 50 states before traveling abroad. I am very happy with that choice but sometimes overseas photos make me want to just go now. That onion soup looks to-die-for!
I envy you! I’m embarrassed to say we’ve yet made a dent in the States but hoping to this coming year. There’s so much of our great nation we’ve yet to see and we keep going abroad. Lol.
That’s because the grass is always greener… ; ]
I had pretty the same food in Prague this week. Missing it so much. Have you tried traditional Czech trdelnik :)?
The chimney dough-y bread looking things? Yup!
I had pretty the same food in Prague this week. Missing it so much. Have you tried traditional Czech trdelnik :)?
The chimney dough-y bread looking things? Yup!
Did you see any veggie restaurants while you were there?
LOL umm.. tough one. We did go to a gyro place that sells falafel wraps. Lol, we usually can find a falafel joint anywhere when we need a break from meat. 😉
Did you see any veggie restaurants while you were there?
LOL umm.. tough one. We did go to a gyro place that sells falafel wraps. Lol, we usually can find a falafel joint anywhere when we need a break from meat. 😉
Czech Republic is in our plans, so this post is very useful for us. Thank you.
You are welcome! You’ll definitely eat well there.. 🙂
Czech Republic is in our plans, so this post is very useful for us. Thank you.
You are welcome! You’ll definitely eat well there.. 🙂
Ha – “I didn’t expect to get a slab of ground beef, raw” – that made me laugh. As long as it tasted good that’s all that matters!
Haha, totally caught me off guard. But you’re right, as long as it’s good, that really is all that matters! 😉
Ha – “I didn’t expect to get a slab of ground beef, raw” – that made me laugh. As long as it tasted good that’s all that matters!
Haha, totally caught me off guard. But you’re right, as long as it’s good, that really is all that matters! 😉
You just made me drool big time, Czech is definitely on my to-do list, and more reasons to visit after reading your mouth-watering post!
Food is always a good motivator for us to travel more.. haha
You just made me drool big time, Czech is definitely on my to-do list, and more reasons to visit after reading your mouth-watering post!
Food is always a good motivator for us to travel more.. haha
I traveled through the Czech Republic and Germany several years ago in December and remember, while the hot, heavy, fried food was nice since it was so cold outside, all I wanted was water and a salad when the trip was over! You can’t go wrong with fried cheese though… 🙂
You have no idea.. hitting up a salad bar when I get home. 🙂
I traveled through the Czech Republic and Germany several years ago in December and remember, while the hot, heavy, fried food was nice since it was so cold outside, all I wanted was water and a salad when the trip was over! You can’t go wrong with fried cheese though… 🙂
You have no idea.. hitting up a salad bar when I get home. 🙂
Mmm, you guys ate well! The goulash looks sooo good! YUM!
We ate so well here.. lol
Mmm, you guys ate well! The goulash looks sooo good! YUM!
We ate so well here.. lol
Your food puns always make me laugh.
Hahaha.. thanks!
Your food puns always make me laugh.
Hahaha.. thanks!
So as a vegetarian, looks like I’d starve there 🙂 I think I can live on beer though.
So as a vegetarian, looks like I’d starve there 🙂 I think I can live on beer though.
So as a vegetarian, looks like I’d starve there 🙂
Yea.. not going to lie. It was hard to find vegetarian here other than falafel and pickled side dishes. Soup!
So as a vegetarian, looks like I’d starve there 🙂
Yea.. not going to lie. It was hard to find vegetarian here other than falafel and pickled side dishes. Soup!