Cities Where Street Food is Better Than Any Michelin Restaurant

17. Tbilisi, Georgia: Where East Meets West on a Plate

Tbilisi, Georgia’s charming and colorful capital, offers a street food scene that reflects its geographic and cultural position at the meeting point of East and West. Here, ancient Silk Road trade routes brought together Persian, Russian, Turkish, and European influences—each leaving their mark on Georgia’s remarkable cuisine. Tbilisi’s streets and open-air markets are lined with vendors selling khachapuri, a luscious cheese-filled bread that’s both comforting and deeply addictive. The Adjarian version, shaped like a boat and topped with a soft egg and pat of butter, is a national treasure. Equally iconic are khinkali, juicy dumplings filled with meat and aromatic spices. Locals will tell you there’s a right way to eat them—hold by the top knot, take a bite, and slurp the hot broth inside before finishing the rest. Beyond these classics, you'll find lobiani (bean-filled bread), grilled corn brushed with butter, and seasonal fruits sold straight from carts. Tbilisi’s street food is more than just delicious—it’s soulful. Every dish tells a story of resilience, tradition, and regional pride. Paired with a glass of homemade wine (Georgia claims to be the birthplace of winemaking), the experience becomes even more memorable. It’s not just a meal—it’s a cultural dialogue served hot and fresh from the streets.