What to Eat in Azerbaijan: A Complete Guide to Traditional Foods & Culinary Activities

If you are planning a trip and wondering what to eat in Azerbaijan, you are in for some surprises. Azerbaijani food is full of flavors and dishes you won’t find anywhere else. Many of the recipes have been passed down for generations, showing the country’s history and traditions in every bite.

Azerbaijani food and restaurant culture was different than anywhere we have been, and we're excited to share all about how to eat and drink your way around the country. 

In this guide, we’ll be sharing foods and drinks you should try while in Azerbaijan. along with some fun restaurants to check out while in Baku or while doing a road trip in Azerbaijan, as well as some unique culinary experiences.

Azerbaijan Food Guide: An Introduction of What to Eat in Azerbaijan and the Cuisine

Before diving into the best dishes and drinks to try, it helps to understand what to what makes the cuisine so special. 

 What is Azerbaijan’s Cuisine Like?

Azerbaijan's food blends influences from the Middle East, Turkey, Russia, and Central Asia, yet has a distinct identity. You can expect saffron, pomegranates, fresh herbs, rice, and plenty of slow-cooked meats.

Azerbaijani cuisine is rich, aromatic, and tied closely to family traditions. Meals are often shared, with various dishes. Fresh herbs like cilantro, dill, and mint are used generously, while saffron gives many dishes a golden color and unique taste. We also had a lot of sumac, a purple spice served with certain dishes.

Bread and tea are everyday essentials. When exploring what to eat in Azerbaijan you will notice that meals are always accompanied by salads, pickles, and small plates, which are offered at the beginning of each meal. The overall style of cooking balances grilled meats, hearty stews, and sweet pastries.

 What is the Most Popular Food in Azerbaijan?

When looking at what to eat in Azerbaijan, the first answer is plov. This saffron rice pilaf is considered the pride of the country’s cuisine. There are many varieties, often served with lamb, chestnuts, or dried fruits.

Other popular foods include:

• Dolma (stuffed vine leaves or vegetables)
• Piti (a lamb and chickpea stew cooked in clay pots)
• Qutab (stuffed flatbreads)
• Shashlik (grilled meat skewers)

 What is the Signature Dish of Azerbaijan?

The national dish is plov, which is rice cooked with saffron, dried fruits, nuts, and meat. It is served at weddings, holidays, and major celebrations, making it one of the most special dishes in the country.

Another signature dish is dolma, a recipe of stuffed vegetables or vine leaves. Dolma is so important to Azerbaijan that it has been recognized by UNESCO as part of the country’s cultural heritage.

Is Food Expensive in Azerbaijan?

Food is very affordable in Azerbaijan, especially once you leave the capital. Most of our meals we would have several small dishes for just a few dollars. 

Do Azerbaijani's Drink Alcohol?

Despite being mostly Muslim, most Azerbaijanis do drink, and there is a big nightlife scene in Baku.

Is Azerbaijan's Food Good?

We absolutely loved Azerbaijan's food! It is full of flavor, and there is a wide variety of dishes. Even simple dishes such as their grilled meats are bursting with taste.

Can You Drink Tap Water in Azerbaijan?

In large cities like Baku, tap water is treated, but most locals and travelers choose bottled or filtered water. Bottled water is inexpensive and easy to find, and many hotels and restaurants also provide filtered options.

Azerbaijan Food Guide: What to Eat in Azerbaijan

Now that you know the basics, let’s explore what to eat in Azerbaijan throughout the day.

Meals in Azerbaijan

Azerbaijani people have three meals a day, which are breakfast, lunch, and dinner. They typically have big meals with several dishes across the table in a family-style setting.

One thing that we found really interesting, is that when dining out you'll always find these big picnic tables with their own specific structure, making everything look really VIP and intimate. Most restaurants have big, beautiful outdoor areas, and inside many restaurants even have small rooms for each group!

 What Do Azerbaijanis Eat for Breakfast?

Breakfast is usually a large spread of breads, cheeses, butter, honey, eggs, jams, and fresh fruits and vegetables. Tea is always served, typically black tea.

We were invited to breakfast in Guba by a girl and we were blown away by the Azerbaijani hospitality. The breakfast spread was absolutely incredible, and it was our first real glimpse into how special meals are in Azerbaijan.

Local favorites include:

• Qutab, thin flatbreads stuffed with herbs, pumpkin, or minced meat
• Fresh herbs and vegetables with bread and cheese
• Seasonal fruits such as pomegranates and grapes

 What Do Azerbaijanis Eat for Lunch?

Lunch is typically the most filling meal of the day in Azerbaijan. Families and restaurants serve shared dishes including stews, rice dishes, and grilled meats. We particularly loved all of our lunches in Azerbaijan because we always had them outside enjoying the stunning nature around us with delicious dishes.

• Plov with saffron, lamb, and chestnuts
• Dolma made with vine leaves or stuffed vegetables
• Piti, a lamb stew with chickpeas and potatoes served in clay pots
• Kebabs grilled over hot coals

Lunch usually takes place between 1 and 3 pm, when restaurants are busiest.

 What Do Azerbaijanis Eat for Dinner?

Dinner in Azerbaijan can be simple or elaborate, depending on the occasion. Families may enjoy bread, cheese, and salads, while restaurants often serve large portions of meat and plov.

Popular dinner options include:

• Saj, a dish of sizzling meat and vegetables served on a flat pan
• Lavangi, chicken or fish stuffed with walnuts and herbs
• Kebabs with fresh bread and pickled vegetables

 What to Eat in Azerbaijan: Dishes & Drinks

Here is a breakdown of the must-try foods when learning what to eat in Azerbaijan.

 Appetizers & Snacks to Try in Azerbaijan

• Qutab: stuffed flatbreads
• Badimjan Dolmasi: stuffed eggplants
• Mangal: Salad, grilled vegetables with smoky flavor
• Dovga: yogurt and herb soup
• Pickled vegetables served with every meal
• Qogal: traditional stuffed pastry

 Main Dishes to Try in Azerbaijan

• Plov: the signature saffron rice pilaf
• Dolma: stuffed vegetables or vine leaves
• Piti: lamb stew with chickpeas and chestnuts
• Kebabs: skewered meat cooked over charcoal
• Lule Kebab: minced lamb on a skewer
• Saj: sizzling dish of meat and vegetables
• Lavangi: chicken or fish stuffed with walnuts

 Desserts to Try in Azerbaijan

• Pakhlava (Baklava): nut-filled pastry with honey
• Shekerbura: crescent-shaped pastry filled with nuts
• Gogal: a spiced bread with turmeric and fennel
• Halva: sweet nut-based confection

 Drinks in Azerbaijan

• Black tea: the national drink served daily
• Sherbet: a sweet fruit drink flavored with herbs or saffron
• Ayran: a sour yogurt-based drink
• Local wines: especially from Gabala and Ganja regions

Azerbaijan Food Guide: Fun Culinary Experiences

Now that you know what to eat in Azerbaijan, and the best restaurants to try, let's get into our favorite part of our Azerbaijan food guide! We're all about unique experiences, and these activities will be sure to leave you with the best impressions of Azerbaijani cuisine and the local wines of the country.

Join a Food Tour

A food tour is the perfect activity if you want to taste your way through a new city having to worry about what to order. From plov to kebabs and sweet pakhlava, you’ll hit the best spots and get to try some of the top dishes in Azerbaijan.

Explore the Markets & Bazaars

One thing we love about the cities of Azerbaijan is that it has some Middle Eastern feels to it. Full of vibrant spices and fragrances, you definitely don't want to miss out on the bustling markets and bazaars in each city.

Want an even more immersive experience? You can join a tour to visit one of the local markets, explore different crafts, and sample traditional Azerbaijani desserts.

Take an Azerbaijani Cooking Class

Now that you know what to eat in Azerbaijan, why not learn to cook some local dishes yourself? Cooking classes are the ultimate way to explore the cuisine, and there’s something really amazing about enjoying a dish you made while chatting with locals and other travelers.

 Enjoy a Winery Tour

Despite being a largely Muslim country, Azerbaijan has some incredible wines!  Across the country you van visit various wineries, where the wine is rich, the air is fresh, and the views are serene. We visited Savalan Winery, which is the biggest producer of wine in country, and it truly was an impressive experience.

Walking through vineyards, tasting wines, and learning local techniques is the perfect addition to any Azerbaijan itinerary, especially for wine-lovers.

 Take a 6-Day Culinary Tour of Azerbaijan

Looking for the ultimate culinary experience in Azerbaijan? This 6-day tour takes you on a gastronomical journey where you'll get to taste your way around the country.

The tour is all-inclusive, with 5 nights accommodation in 4-star hotels, full board with local meals and drinks, guided, excursions, wine tastings, and cultural cultural experiences such as cooking classes and winery visits. It's the ultimate way to learn about the country's cuisine, vineyards, and gastronomic culture.

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What to Eat in Azerbaijan: FAQ

Now you have all of the information you need for what to eat in Azerbaijan and where to find the best culinary experiences. In case you missed anything though, here are a few answers to some frequently asked questions that we've found across the web.

Azerbaijan Food Guide: Final Tips & What's Next

Now you have all the information you need for eating and drinking your way through one of the most fascinating countries in the Caucasus! But in case you missed anything, here’s a recap of what to eat in Azerbaijan and the highlights from our food guide:

• Azerbaijani cuisine blends Turkish, Persian, and Russian influences with unique local specialties.
• In Azerbaijan they have a unique set up in their restaurants with private cabanas and rooms.
• Meat dishes like kebabs and barbecued beef and chicken are staples, while fresh herbs and vegetables are used in nearly every meal.
• Tap water is not typically recommended, so stick to bottled water when possible.
• Tea culture is central to daily life, often served with jams, sweets, and pastries.
• While there isn’t one “national dish,” plov is considered the heart of Azerbaijani cuisine, with dozens of variations across the country.
• Baku has the highest concentration of restaurants and teahouses, but the smaller towns and villages are where you’ll find traditional homemade meals.
• Local markets are a great place to try dried fruits, nuts, spices, and cheeses that make Azerbaijani food so flavorful.
• Don’t miss unique food experiences like taking a cooking class, 

If you are planning a trip to Azerbaijan, make sure to set aside time not just for sightseeing but also for exploring the incredible food culture. From family-run restaurants to bustling markets, every meal in Azerbaijan is an amazing way to connect with the country’s history, traditions, and warm hospitality.

What's Next?

Now that you know all about what to eat in Azerbaijan and fun ways to eat and drink country, you'll probably want to know more details about things to do and see there.

Here are several other travel guides we have about Azerbaijan:

 Is Azerbaijan Worth Visiting?

 How to Visit Azerbaijan

 The Best Places to Visit in Azerbaijan

 How to Get Around Azerbaijan

 Renting a Car in Azerbaijan

 Azerbaijan Road Trip

 The Naftalan Oil Baths Experience

 Gobustan Mud Volcanoes

 Goygol National Park

 Best Things to Do in Baku

 The Best Photo Spots in Azerbaijan

We're going to also be having new articles about Azerbaijan each Thursday as well, so stay tuned!

Now you know what to eat in Azerbaijan and some fun places to eat and drink. We hope you enjoyed our Azerbaijan food guide, and that you get to truly enjoy all of the flavors this country has to offer!

Want to learn more traveling around Azerbaijan? We have several other Azerbaijan Travel Guides for you, as well as more coming up each week! Make sure to subscribe to our newsletter so that you can stay up to date with our most recent articles, and for special discounts on our shop.

Ready to start planning the best possible trip to Azerbaijan? Well, we're here to help! Scratch Your Mapa has customized travel planning services, so you can sit back, relax, and fully enjoy an incredible trip. Take a peak at some of our travel planning packages we offer, or email us today to learn more!

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