Street Food In Croatia- 24 Amazing Croatian Street Food Dishes You Have To Try

Croatia is a country whose cuisine is famous for hearty dishes and exquisite seafood but street food in Croatia shouldn’t be underestimated either. And if you read ssome of our previous posts, you probably know that we believe that the best way to immerse in any culture is through its street food. In this article, we’ll cover some of amazing Croatian street food dishes divided into five different categories.

But first things first…

Croatian Street Food Tours

The best way to explore street food in Croatia is by taking street food tours guided by locals who know the best places to try some of the tastiest local snacks. Here are some of our favorite street food tours in different cities across the country.

Pula: Old Town Food Tasting Tour

3-Hour Food and Wine Tour of Dubrovnik

Gastro Treasures Tour of Split

Split’s finest Private Food and Wine Tour

Hvar: Wine and Olive Oil Tasting Tour

The best of Zagreb’s Culinary Scene

Pastries

If you ever visited Croatia, you probably know that pastries are a huge part of local cuisine and culture. Croatian pastries are usually consumed as appetizers, Croatian breakfast dishes, or Croatian snacks during the day. Here are some of the most popular Croatian pastries you can find in roadside eateries and street food stalls.

Burek

At this point, burek is slowly on a path to becoming one of the world’s most beloved pastries. Originally a Turkish street food dish, burek is popular in most countries that constituted the former Ottoman Empire from Central Asia (Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Kyrgyzstan), Northern Africa, the Middle East, and in Balkan countries like Serbia, Macedonia, Bulgaria, Greece, Albania, Montenegro, Slovenia, and Bosnia.

Burek/byrek is made of flaky dough stuffed with different kinds of fillings. The most popular filling is made of ground beef, but cheese, spinach, and cabbage/sauerkraut are often available in most bakeries and roadside eateries. 

Zagorski Štrukli

Štrukli is another popular Croatian pastry originating from the city of Zagorje near the Slovenian border. It’s the Croatian version of Slovenian struklji, a strudel-like pastry that comes with a wide range of fillings, including cottage cheese, tarragon, apples, or walnuts. It can be eaten for breakfast, as a light snack during the day, or as a dessert with sweet fillings and toppings.

Enjoying this post? Then you may also like our best Serbian breakfast ideas.

Soparnik

Soparnik is a tasty savory pie originating from the region of Dalmatia. It’s a pastry made of thin dough sheets filled with chard, onions, and parsley. In appearance and flavor, it slightly resembles zelnik but it’s different enough to be considered a separate dish. The dish is very important to the region of Dalmatia and Croatia as a country which is why in 2016, it was declared a non-material national heritage of Croatia. There’s also a sweet version that uses nuts, dried fruits, or caramel as fillings.

Viška (Komiška) Pogača

Despite its name, Viška pogača is much different than most Balkan variations of pogača. For starters, the dough is drizzled with olive oil and filled with onions and stuffed sardines. Before serving, the pastry is cut into squares that slightly resemble Italian calzone. Komiška pogača looks the same but it uses tomatoes for fillings and is cut in triangles before serving. Both can be found in many bakeries across the country.

Uštipci

Uštipci is known for being one of the most versatile pastries in this part of the world. The pastry consists of deep-fried dough and can be plain, salty, savory, or even sweet. It can be paired up with some cheese, ham, or kajmak on the side or it can be eaten on its own (usually for breakfast). Alternatively, it can also be topped with powdered sugar and/or jam and be consumed for dessert.

Bučnica

Bučnica is another traditional Croatian breakfast pastry. Its appearance looks like a mix of strudel and banitsa and its filling usually consists of cottage cheese. The preparation includes rolling phyllo sheets and placing the stuffing in between. It can be served warm or cold and is especially popular in the area surrounding Zagreb.

Vegetable-Based Croatian Street Food

Most of Croatia’s street food consists of meat and seafood, but there are a few simple veg-based street food snacks that you’ll probably love if you’re a vegetarian.

Corn On The Cob

It might not have originated in Croatia but corn on the cob is one of the classics when it comes to Croatian street food. You can find corn street food stalls across the country and there are even people selling them on the beach. You can choose from a different range of local toppings but the most popular version is the corn topped with salt, black pepper, and Croatian olive oil.

Roasted Chestnuts

Locals often joke around that the first sign of autumn in Zagreb is the roasted chestnut street food stalls that start appearing around the city. During autumn and winter, roasted chestnuts are the most popular snack when it comes to street food in Croatia. It’s usually the same corn vendors who sell the roasted chestnuts but when the weather starts changing, they just swap the corn for chestnuts…  

Tartufi (Truffles)

If you love truffles but don’t like their price tag, you’ll be happy to hear that truffles in Croatia are much cheaper compared to their Italian and French counterparts. The local varieties may not be as well-known as some of the truffles from the above-mentioned countries but they’re still truffles with a delicious flavor and heavenly scent. Tartufi is heavily used in local cuisines, mostly in pasta and salads but there are a lot of shops that also sell fresh truffles.

Meat-Based Street Food In Croatia

Meat-based snacks are probably the most significant part of the local street food scene. Croatian eateries/street food vendors have come up with some interesting combinations throughout the years. Here are some of the most popular ones…

Pizza

Pizza is the typical traveler’s go-to food everywhere in the world and Croatia is no exception. Croatia is also very close to Italy and the Italian influence throughout the years left a strong mark on Croatian cuisine and culture. Therefore, I feel confident enough to say that Croatian pizza will surely not disappoint you. The most popular Croatian pizza is one with prsut (the Croatian version of Italian dried meat prosciutto).

Češnjovka  

Češnjovka is an authentic Croatian sausage originating from the city of Samobor. It’s made of pork meat and it’s somewhat spicy because it uses a lot of garlic in the preparation. The sausage is usually served in a bun similar to a hot dog or with sauerkraut (usually during the winter). Češnjovka is always topped with Samoborska muštarda, a mustard variety that originates from the same city (Samobor).

Jota U Pispalju

Jota U Pispalju is a relatively new addition to street food in Croatia. It was invented by the local restaurant Roberto (named after Roberto de Visiani) and it essentially took one of the most popular Croatian comfort dishes (jota) and put it in between two crunchy slices of tortilla. Jota is a winter stew consisting of white beans, sauerkraut, cinnamon, and cloves. The restaurant seasons the delicacy with lemon zest, red pepper, and sriracha. I know it feels like an unusual mix of flavors but trust me, it’s certainly worth trying.

Pulled Pork Sandwich

This sandwich is the Croatian version of sloppy joes and since recently, one of Zagreb’s hottest street food delicacies. The meat is usually marinated for at least 24 hours before cooking, then it’s roasted slowly for about 8 hours and finally served in a brioche bun with some fresh vegetables, homemade barbecue sauce & cream, and red onions. The meat is so soft it melts in your mouth and the mix of sauces is incredibly delicious.

Istarska Kobasica 

Not long ago, a sausage was made by an Istrian chef who came up with a recipe for a sausage made from fresh domestic pork seasoned with Istrian herbs and topped with melted cheese and čvarci (fried pork rind). The sausage can be served on its own on a meze platter or inside freshly baked homemade bread, alongside raw onions or homemade onion jam, and pickles.

Ćevapi 

No list of street food in Croatia can be complete without the ultimate Balkan classic- ćevapi. Ćevapi are a smaller, bite-size version of kebabs made of beef, pork, or veal. The meat is minced and seasoned with minced onion and a mixture of local herbs and spices. It’s usually served in a round flatbread called somun alongside some raw onions. In the Balkans, this is even more popular than burgers, and speaking of burgers…

Pljeskavica

Pljeskavica is the Balkan version of burger patties. It’s bigger, juicer, and thicker than most burger patties you’ll come across. Similar to ćevapi, it’s served inside freshly baked somun bread spread with ajvar or urnebes salad and some fresh vegetables like raw onions, tomatoes, pickles/cucumbers, and a side of French fries.

Pecalice

If you ever visited the Balkans, you know just how much those people love their barbecue. And in Croatia, a creative bar owner (Fjaka Bar) found a way to make barbecue accessible to people on the go in the form of a street food snack. Pecalice is a new addition to the Croatian street food scene which consists of small chunks of different meat varieties served in disposable plates or meze patterns alongside a toothpick or a small plastic fork.

Seafood Street Food In Croatia

Croatia is worldwide renowned for its beautiful coast, islands, and its creative use of seafood. That’s why it should come as no surprise to anyone that there are a lot of seafood-based varieties of street food in Croatia. Here are a few popular examples…

Sardines/Mackarels/Anchovies

In the coastal regions of Croatia, small fishes like sardines, mackerels, and anchovies are one of the most popular street food delicacies. Many eateries take fresh-caught fish, grill them to perfection, season them with salt, local herbs, local olive oil, and lemon juice, and serve them as street food snacks. Eaten in the right quantities, this can be a perfect appetizer or a snack if you’re looking for a quick bite while exploring the beauties of Croatia.

Fish Delish

Fish Delish is one of the newest additions to the local culinary scene. Founded by young entrepreneur, Stefano Petrovic, Fish Delish strives to prepare great fish dishes in an original, authentic way, and serve them in the form of a street food snack. They also make their homemade sauces which make the fish even more delicious. The eatery serves exclusively fish dishes, including fish burgers, fish dogs, cold fish sandwiches, fish salads, fish pasta, and their original version of fish and chips.

Buzara

Buzara is a special Croatian sauce that’s used for cooking different varieties of seafood. The two most popular dishes include dagnje na buzaru (mussels in buzara sauce) and škampi na buzaru (shrimp in buzara sauce). The seafood of choice is steamed in the buzara sauce which consists of local wine, olive oil, garlic, fresh peppers, and local herbs. Before serving, the dish is usually topped with breadcrumbs and is often paired up with a slice of freshly baked bread.

Enjoying this post? Then you may also like our guide to drinking in Croatia.

Desserts

The last section of this list of street food in Croatia consists of desserts. Here are some of the most popular Croatian desserts that are available in most roadside eateries and street food stalls.

Oblatne

Oblatne is the Croatian version of wafers. It usually has a round shape (similar to American pancakes) but sometimes, it’s also served in small cubes. Some of the most popular fillings include jam, cream, or Nutella.

Fritule

Fritule is a small fried pastry that closely resembles mini-donuts. They can be found throughout the year but they have the reputation of summer food and are typically found at festivals or alongside the beach. Fritule is usually topped with powdered sugar but in some places, you can also find fritule topped with chocolate sauce, caramel, and other toppings.

Kroštule 

Kroštule is another popular Croatian sweet that can be found in most bakeries and roadside eateries. It’s a morsel with a crisp exterior made of a light dough from flour, butter, and eggs. The dough is twisted and shaped into knots and fried until it becomes golden brown and crunchy. Topped with cinnamon or powdered sugar, kroštule is the perfect light snack to keep you full until your next meal.

Palačinke 

Last but not least, we round up this list of street food in Croatia with palačinke, one of the most popular Balkan desserts. Palačinke is the Balkan version of crepes. They’re made of a thin batter of flour, eggs, and milk, are significantly thinner than American pancakes, and are usually spread with cream, Nutella, or jam, and are rolled and topped with whipped cream. Similar to fritule, they have the reputation of a festival snack but can also be found on street food stalls at beaches across the country.

Did you enjoy our article about street food in Croatia? Did you ever have the chance to try any of these? Do you think we forgot to include some other popular Croatian street food snacks? Feel free to share your thoughts in the comments below.

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