Exotic food in Belgrade - authentic restaurants of the Serbian capital!

Serbia is known as a country with great food. Tasty, abundant, and relatively inexpensive compared to other European countries. The various cultures that have intersected in this region throughout history have shaped the gastronomic map of our country today.

From "Turkish" sarma and musaka to "Hungarian" goulash and satarash, from baklava and urmašice to šufnudle and krancle, the range of authentic dishes and desserts is endless. And what's most interesting is that almost every region of the country has its own "secret ingredient" or specific method of preparation that makes even the same dish different in certain parts of the country.

While roasts, ćevapi, stuffed peppers, stews, prebranac, pickled peppers, Shopska salad, and pickles are dishes that are more or less expected on our daily table, this food represents a kind of exoticism for tourists, especially those visiting Serbia and Belgrade for the first time.

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How many times have you wished to see something different and exotic on your plate? To try Asian, Mediterranean, American, and European specialties, but not those from numerous city fast-food joints, adapted to our taste, but the real and authentic ones?!

Many would probably think that such pleasure requires a vacation first, followed by a passport, plane ticket, and a bit more foreign currency, not knowing that in Belgrade itself, it's possible to try top-notch specialties from almost every part of the world. For those who didn't know, we present 15 authentic international restaurants in Belgrade that can momentarily take you to different corners of the planet.

PERSIJSKI PRINC - Iranian/Persian restaurant located in the heart of Vračar. It opened at the end of last year, in the place where the Trač restaurant had been for years. The ambiance, rich with Persian motifs and discreet Iranian traditional music, leaves an impression on guests as soon as they enter the restaurant. The exceptional kindness of the staff is reflected not only in their pleasant tone, smile, and coat-holding but also in their assistance in pronouncing the names of the dishes you're ordering. The prices of the main courses, which usually represent a mix of meat, vegetables, fruits, and grains, range from 840 to 1950 dinars per person.

ISTOK - Vietnamese restaurant located in Upper Dorćol. It opened in mid-2016 and in a little over two years became, according to many, the best Asian restaurant in Belgrade. The oriental ambiance adorned with exotic colors, along with highly authentic food, will make you feel as if you're in a Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh City restaurant, rather than in the heart of Belgrade. The prices are very affordable because the hosts want you to try as many delicious specialties as possible, ranging from 440 to 1500 dinars per person. The restaurant offers special benefits for pre-announced larger groups and celebrations.

DIWALI MAHAL - Indian restaurant, located near the Postal Savings Bank. As Indian food, although extremely delicious, may not agree with every stomach due to its specific spices, the friendly restaurant staff will explain the characteristics and intensity of Indian spices to each guest and assist in choosing an appropriate meal. This fact alone is enough of an adventure and reason to try characteristic and extraordinary flavors of familiar ingredients personally prepared by the restaurant owner and head chef, Rakesh Kumar. The prices are very affordable, ranging from 570 to 1470 dinars per person for a main course.

MARUKOSHI - Japanese restaurant on Kapetan Mišin Street. For most people, the first association with Japanese food is sushi. It is now offered in many upscale restaurants and even catering services. However, the cuisine of the hardworking people from the Far East represents much more than cooked rice with the addition of rice vinegar and fish. It includes seafood, chicken, pork, and beef dishes in various combinations with local vegetables and spices, rice prepared in numerous ways, and extraordinary desserts. Alongside the famous Japanese rice-based beer, legendary sake, and the fact that almost no dish exceeds 1000 dinars, these are sufficient reasons to try the specialties from Marukoshi every day except Monday.

WU MING - Chinese restaurant in Crveni Krst. Although Chinese cuisine restaurants are not such a rarity and exclusivity in the capital city anymore, especially since there are numerous fast-food places offering Asian food, Wu Ming stands out for its ambiance, peaceful atmosphere, rich selection of authentic Chinese food, and above all, affordable prices ranging from 259 to 1099 dinars per person. Exotic dishes based on rice, meat, and seafood, with unique Chinese sauces and combinations of sour, spicy, and sweet flavors, complemented by unusual desserts, are reason enough for an extraordinary lunch with family and friends.

THAI ZONE - Thai restaurant offers authentic dishes enhanced with spices directly from Thailand, where the ideal balance of price, quality, and quantity favors quantity. This should be reason enough, especially for food enthusiasts, to try something new, healthy, and different, and it is beautifully decorated as well. In addition to Thai Zone, you can also try Thai food at THAI FAZON restaurant. As it is a fast-food restaurant with delivery service in the city center and the option of online ordering, you don't even have to walk to it, it will come to your address.

HANAN - Lebanese restaurant at the beginning of Svetogorska Street. Although it is not the only Lebanese cuisine restaurant in Belgrade, it stands out, according to many, for the best price-quality ratio among all existing ones. Starting as a small coffee-pastry shop that offered only traditional Arabic sweets, Hanan soon transformed into an authentic Lebanese and Palestinian cuisine restaurant where the characteristic spirit of the Middle East resides, complemented by specific Lebanese food, belly dancers, and hookahs, providing visitors with a complete Arabic experience. In recent years, Hanan has also developed a network of fast-food restaurants and snack bars - Shawarma Jerusalim, Shawarma Beirut, and Shawarma Damask, in order to make Middle Eastern specialties more accessible to a larger number of Belgraders.

SPATZ - German restaurant, across from the Botanical Garden. There are few restaurants that visitors can't find any flaws in, and Spatz is one of them. German cuisine is mainly based on meat, so the selection of schnitzels, burgers, sausages, hocks, and knuckles is almost endless. A pilgrimage site for "meat lovers" and beer enthusiasts. Jokes aside, Spatz is a restaurant where you simply eat well. The already affordable prices are made even more acceptable with the option to choose between smaller and larger portions. Therefore, unless you're a vegetarian, there's no reason not to visit Spatz and indulge in their famous hocks with sauerkraut, followed by some German beer.

OTTIMO - Italian restaurant, at Studentski Trg. There's no need to say much about Italian food; it is so popular worldwide that it has become partially integrated into many national cuisines as "local" food. Pasta, ravioli, macaroni, risotto, and pizza are perhaps among the most popular dishes in the world. However, if you want to experience what it's really like in Italy, Ottimo will bring you as close as possible to that experience. With a unique way of preparing food, selected Italian wines, and a fitting ambiance, this restaurant will inspire you to daydream about a trip to the Apennines. It's a bit "pricey" compared to its exotic counterparts, but on special occasions, it justifies the (financial) means.

LE MOLIERE - French restaurant in the heart of Belgrade. With its offering of authentic French cuisine specialties and an ambiance that exudes extraordinary elegance, Le Moliere is on par with prestigious Parisian restaurants. It is also worth noting that it falls into the category of pet-friendly restaurants, meaning you are welcome to bring your furry friend along. Due to all of this, as well as its location at one of the most attractive city spots, at the corner of Zmaj Jovina and Knez Mihailova Street, the prices are slightly higher compared to the previously described restaurants, ranging from 950 to 2200 dinars per person. For a taste of Paris in the heart of Belgrade, it may be worth the extra cost.

HOLY SMOKES - in a broader sense, one could say that this is an American restaurant. However, it is an atypical fast casual restaurant specializing in barbecue, but not just any barbecue, Texas-style barbecue. It offers something entirely new and different from anything you have tried before. This meat is prepared for a minimum of ten hours in a special oven, first smoked with beech wood, indirectly cooked, and finally simmered in its own juices. It's an absolute haven for "meat lovers." For such exclusivity, which has only been available in Belgrade for less than a year, even slightly higher prices should not be a problem.

TAVERNA PIATAKIA - a Greek restaurant in Zemun, is actually more than that. It is a tavern that offers not only the original flavors of traditional dishes and drinks, with feta cheese and olive oil being their trademark, but also a truly authentic Greek-style ambiance and colors, adorned with subtle sounds of sirtaki and Greek music, that you will momentarily forget you are in Zemun and Serbia altogether. In the warmer half of the year, in the incredibly beautiful restaurant garden, where each table symbolically represents a Greek island, you will enjoy an extraordinary atmosphere perfect for a family or a romantic dinner or lunch, or even for celebrating your special occasion.

ZAPATA - a famous chain of Mexican restaurants in Belgrade. It has three locations and has been serving Belgraders the most famous Mexican specialties made with meat and vegetables, including burritos, nachos, tortillas, enchiladas, quesadillas, and many other delicious dishes from Central America and Mexico for over ten years. As Mexican cuisine is known, among other things, for its spicy chili peppers, the brave can accept the challenge and test their tolerance for spiciness at their own risk. However, for those with a milder palate, there are milder and completely non-spicy variations of Mexican dishes. One thing is for sure - Mexican cuisine will not leave anyone indifferent or hungry.

MILAGRO - a Spanish restaurant located on Zemun's Kej Oslobođenja. For over ten years, this restaurant has been serving the best tapas, paellas, and traditional Spanish specialties to the people of Belgrade and its guests. One particular highlight is the chuleton - a beef steak that is aged for up to 21 days. With its various Spanish motifs and the discreet sounds of flamenco guitars, the ambiance is unique under Gardoš, on the banks of the Danube, which is already a capital attraction. The space is perfect for a family lunch, dinner, or any special occasion. The location and the overall ambiance also play a role, so Milagro is not considered a budget-friendly restaurant.