One of my favorite things about Bulgaria is the food. Bulgarians are known for their yogurt, fresh vegetables and fruit, pastries, and grilled meats. A fun fact — Bulgarian yogurt contains a special bacteria that’s found only here! Lactobacillus bulgaricus (try saying that five times fast!) is a special strain that not only gives their yogurt its distinct flavor, but it also offers impressive health benefits. Isn’t that fascinating?
A very popular Bulgarian dish I’ve tried is Shopska Salad, which is actually Bulgaria’s national dish. Shopska salad has cucumbers, peppers, onions, and lots of cheese! If you don’t have time to sit down for a big meal, no worries — there are plenty of street food options here. While we don’t have fast food chains like McDonald’s or Raising Cane’s in my town, I’ve grown to love doners, a popular quick meal. These cost about лв6 or $3.59 USD. Another very popular street food/bakery item is called banitsa; a buttery cheese pastry. Banitsa is very cheap, only costing лв2 or $1.20 USD!
