Top 5 Things I Ate in The Czech Republic

My March 2024 trip to Czechia to meet distant relatives for the very first time ranks as one of my best trips ever. I figured if I was making a true trip back to “the motherland,” I’d pull out all the stops, including making sure I ate lots of genuine Czech foods and local favorites. I took no prisoners and found so much great food. Here are the five I loved the most.

‎Restaurace U Vejvodů – Prague: Dumplings
I pictured dumplings very differently (meat wrapped in dough), but apparently, these are indeed dumplings. The dish went well with beer (the bread helped sop up all that alcohol) and the contrast of savory and sweet (yes, that’s whip cream and cranberries) was a big surprise. A fantastic meal at ‎U Vejvodů.

Arepas De Lyna – Prague: Arepa Con Todo
I know, I know – I’m not in Prague for 48 hours before I resign myself to Latin cuisine…but it’s so hard to find arepas in California; how could I say no? I couldn’t.

This arepa turned out to be the best I’ve ever had, and I’ve had plenty (Miami, Caracas, Panama, Colombia, etc.) This one was just so well put together and the ambience and décor of Arepas De Lyna was a 10/10. Plus, just the idea of having Venezuelan food in Prague – I felt like I struck gold.

Restaurant Zámek – Poděbrady: Chicken Schnitzel
If dining in a castle isn’t cool enough, I’m happy to say I had some of the best schnitzel in my life here. Chicken Schnitzel isn’t anything more than “fried chicken,” but this one was a masterpiece. Lightly breaded, the chicken inside was some of the most tender and juiciest I’d ever had. The lemon juice I squeezed on top made every bite heavenly. The accompanying potato salad was also a winner. It was such an amazing plate, I went back for seconds the next night.

Restaurace U Gregorů – Nymburk: Fried Gouda
I’d never heard of this dish before. I was intrigued and would not be disappointed! It’s just like it sounds: thick slices of gouda, fried. And it was perfect with side of tartar sauce. Who knew??? I’m thinking of opening a fried gouda truck here in America now. 10/10!

Sušenkárna Momenta – Brno: Cookies!
These were so good, I didn’t even get a photo – they went right into my mouth. But here’s just the coolest, tiniest cookie store, tucked away in a little alley inside Brno’s historic city center. What you see in the photo is the entire store! It’s cute and the homemade cookies are extremely delicious. Just pick and choose your favorites and the young lady bags them up with clear plastic and a pink ribbon. This place is a must-visit and I’m so glad I ran into it, completely by mistake!

BONUS!
BILLA – Vienna: Punschkrapfen
This may have been located and eaten slightly over the border of the Czech Republic, but hear me out…

Punschkrapfen is my absolute favorite cake of all-time…possible my favorite treat, in general. Imagine a rum cake, surrounded in “punch” flavored icing…so it’s like “chewing” rum punch. Punschkrapfen is absolutely out of this world!

I first found Punschkrapfen by accident – Vienna, 2015. It would change my life forever. I’d return to Salzburg in 2020 and get absolutely Punschkrapfen-wasted.

Now I was in The Czech Republic, driving into Austria for a 9AM flight home through Vienna. I was devastated I’d actually be inside Austria but miss Punschkrapfen…no bakeries were open this early! I could cry. But, as (extreme) luck would have it, there was a big BILLA grocery store just feet away from the car rental return at the airport. Not only did they carry Punschkrapfen, but they sold it refrigerated and boxed up, so I could stock up and take some home. Needless to say, I ate Punschkrapfen every day for my first week home.

Coming Soon!
Full Czech Republic coming soon.