Georgian Pizza: a Foodie Traveller’s Guide to Khachapuri
Soft and chewy bread with a crisp base, and salty, stretchy cheese oozing from the centre.
If you’re on the fence about visiting Georgia, make this your deciding reason: the classic khachapuri.
Khachapuri is also known as Georgian pizza (I mean it does look like a pizza), BUT I would actually say it’s better! Sorry, Italy, but Georgian khachapuri had a much bigger impact on me than Italian pizza (and I have been to Italy a lot and eaten plenty of the stuff).
Honestly, khachapuri is just special.
This cheesy bread is addictive and there are many regional variations, so of course we made it our mission to try as many as we could in our six-month adventure around the country!
Paired with a lobio (spiced baked beans), this is THE ultimate comfort food.
So what is khachapuri and what are the differences between all the variations? And which are the ones that you absolutely must try? Discover all of our findings in our ultimate guide to khachapuri AKA Georgian pizza.
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What is Khachapuri?
In the Georgian language, khachapuri literally means cheese bread. It is considered Georgia’s national dish and it is even recognised by UNESCO as intangible cultural heritage of Georgia. It’s a serious business. You will never find a supra (feast) without a khachapuri; it goes with everything.
It is estimated that there are around 47 different types of khachapuri in Georgia, with each region of the country having a different take on it. Cheese and bread are the necessities to be deemed a khachapuri, and then extra ingredients are added, the bread is baked in a different way, or shaped in a different way. Maybe the cheese is inside, maybe it’s on top, maybe it’s both!
Khachapuri is a way of life, and we made it our mission during our Georgia travels to try as many different varieties as we could find. So here it goes:
9 Must-Try Variations
1. Svanetian
This khachapuri takes the top spot for us. Bread is shaped into a round and baked with Imeretian cheese and wild spring onions inside. It doesn’t really get much better than cheese and onion as a combination.
Where to find the best: Svaneti region in the north west of Georgia, in Mestia.
2. Guruli
A very close second, Guruli khachapuri looks more like a calzone as it is shaped in to a crescent moon. Stuffed with cheese and hard boiled eggs, this is rich and comforting. Guruli khachapuri is often eaten as part of a celebratory meal over Christmas, but you can find it at restaurants and bakeries across the country through the rest of the year too.
Where to find the best: Guria region in the west of Georgia, in Ozurgeti.
Our favourite is from Pirosmani, Ozurgeti
3. Adjaruli
Probably the most famous variety outside of the country, the Adjaruli (Adjarian) khachapuri is by far the richest and most indulgent that we tried. The bread is shaped into a boat, before adding cheese, an egg, and a slab of butter. And when I say ‘a slab’, I mean a slab! This is decadent.
Where to find the best: Adjara region in the south west of the country, in Batumi.
Our favourite is from Laguna, Batumi.
How to Eat Adjarian Khachapuri
Start the end, and rip of a chunk of bread. Use it to combine the egg, cheese and melted butter in to a big mix in the centre. Then continue to tear off parts of the bread to use to dip in the centre. Try not to break the dam (rim) and let all the gooey centre leak out! Though we found this really difficult and had to resort to knives and forks once we had run out of edge bread. It’s a messy one – no question.
4. Meskhetian
A much rarer variety of khachapuri, you’ll likely only find this in the region of Samtskhe-Javakheti, in the south of the country on the borders with Turkey and Armenia. This khachapuri has more of a crisp phyllo pastry feel than a classic chewy Georgian bread, and has the classic stringy cheese centre.
Where to find the best: Samtskhe-Javakheti region in the south of the country, near Akhaltsikhe.
Our favourite is from Old Bar-Restaurant, Akhaltsikhe.
5. Imeruli
By far the most common khachapuri throughout Georgia, you’ll find Imeruli (or Imeretian) khachapuri on almost every menu. Soft and chewy Georgian bread is shaped into a round and stuffed with Imeruli and sulguni cheeses. Salty cheesy stuffed bread. The classic.
Where to find the best: Kutaisi in the Imereti region. This is probably the most common all around the country. I don’t think we’ve had a bad or even average Imeruli khachapuri anywhere.
6. Chakrakhina
An Ossetian speciality, this is a round bread stuffed with cheese and beetroot leaves. It can be served either stuffed (so the cheese is a filling) or kind of like a pizza (where the cheese sits on the top). If you’ve had a lot of khachapuri, like we had at this point, a bit of green to cut through the richness of the cheese works beautifully!
Where to find the best: Shida Kartli region, in Gori.
Savvy Traveller Pro Tips 🇬🇪
After exploring Georgia for six months, these are our favourite booking tools that we couldn’t travel without!
7. Megruli
This is similar to Imeruli in the sense that it is a round khachapuri stuffed with cheese. But, what makes this one different is that is also topped with cheese. It’s a cheese-stuffed-and-topped bread. Oohh.
Where to find the best: Samegrelo region.
Our favourite is from Bristol Restaurant, Poti.
8. Ossurian or Khabidzgina
Northern mountainous regions of Georgia – South Ossetia and Kazbegi – are known for their khachapuri stuffed with cheese and potato. This hearty and stodgy mix is perfect for the cold, snowy climates that these areas experience.
Where to find the best: north-east Georgia up in the mountains near Kazbegi.
9. Achma
This khachapuri is completely different to the others, and actually has similarities to lasagne. It consists of layers of dough with cheese in between, and is baked til the top crisps and the butter and cheese melt. We tried so hard to find achma, but every time we ordered it (bar one!), we were told that it wasn’t available. Outside of Adjara, it is difficult to come by.
Where to find the best: Adjara region, near Batumi
Not Quite Khachapuri
Georgian bread is something special, so as well as khachapuri, you absolutely have to try these!
Shoti
The original and best. Chewy Georgian bread cooked in a tone (similar to a tandoor). Head out to a bakery (not too early though because Georgia doesn’t really wake up til maybe 11:00!) and grab yourself a shoti hot from the tone. Beautiful. In my opinion, it is THE world’s best bread. Bold, I know.
Lobiani
Spiced beans are stuffed inside of a beautifully baked Georgian bread. This could actually make a whole meal in itself. It’s substantial and delicious. You can find them at most bakeries or fancier versions at restaurants in boat-shaped bread (Adjaruli style) with pickles on top!
Learn How to Make Khachapuri
And if you fancied having a go at making some of Georgia’s beloved khachapuri yourself, take a look at this class on Get Your Guide. Learn how to make the classic Imeretian khachapuri, khinkali, and Georgian salad from a renowned chef, while snacking on local cheese and sipping on delicious wines!
National Khachapuri Day
Khachapuri is a big deal in Georgia (and I can completely see why). It’s recognised as the country’s national dish, and there is even a National Khachapuri Day! So if you’re in Georgia on 27th February, make sure you’re gorging yourself on one of these.
Khachapuri Index
Georgia coined the term ‘Khachapuri Index’, which appears to be similar to the Big Mac Index. The dish is so popular in the country that the price of flour, cheese, butter, etc. is the way to gauge the rate of inflation!
Ready to Take on your First Khachapuri?
If the idea of some proper cheesy, gooey, carby stodge has you checking for flights to Georgia, you should definitely take a look at our best spots for food in Tbilisi. It is the country’s very best city for foodies with everything from underground restaurants that seem to be set in old cellars, to modern khinkali houses, to restaurants that make you feel like you’ve gone to Grandma’s for lunch! And take a look at post that shows you all the best of Georgia’s vegetarian food that you need to try on your trip.
Plan more of your trip with these:
- Travel Tips for Georgia (Country): 13 Useful Things to Know
- Georgia Transport Guide: Marshrutka Madness
- Your Georgian Vegetarian Food Guide: 33 Must-Eats
- 9 Georgian Drinks You HAVE to Try
- Is Tbilisi Worth Visiting? Yes! Here’s Why…
- The Ultimate Vegetarian Guide to Tbilisi
- Top 10 Things to Do in Kutaisi (plus day trips)
- Vegetarian in Kutaisi: Retro Restaurants & Cute Cafes
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