LasSaboritas: Our top 10 best bites in Prague, summer 2020 edition

We started the @LasSaboritas twitter account in October 2018 with the goal of giving fellow expats (and all Prague diners) honest reviews of local restaurants: 300+ so far! Last year we shared our “16 Best Bites Summer 2019” list (number 1-4, 5-8, 9-12, and 13-16) on Twitter.

This year we are excited to be sharing it with the foodies here at Expats.cz. These are our top 10 favorite dishes in Prague from the past year July 2019-June 2020.

10. Bún chả from Noodle Bay

Served at our favorite Vietnamese restaurant in town, this version of bún chả comes with both grilled pork strips and well-seasoned pork patties. Fresh veggies, perfectly cooked noodles, and a light but flavorful sauce make this dish a regular craving.

Noodle Bay at Vítkov Park's SE edge is the Vietnamese restaurant I've been searching for. Family-run, friendly owner, cute interior, fresh ingredients, + affordable prices. Hearty bún chả + phở bò immediately impressed with flavors + generous portions. Finally.
🌶️ 🌶️ 🌶️ 🌶️ 🌶️ pic.twitter.com/aLRO5xOmKR
— 𝗟𝗮𝘀𝗦𝗮𝗯𝗼𝗿𝗶𝘁𝗮𝘀 (@LasSaboritas) January 7, 2020

9. Dumplings from SIA

Juicy shaomai with pork and prawns, slurpable soup broth dumplings, savory prawn har gow, sticky dumplings with scallops and tiger prawns, rich gyoza with oxtail and shiitake mushrooms…you will want to order one of everything on the dim sum menu at SIA.

SIA Restaurant on V celnici street is Asian fusion done well. Big menu with Thai, Chinese, Southeast Asian flavors. Our favorites were the juicy shaomai and har gow dumplings, Thai beef salad, spicy chili beef and the gajar ka halwa dessert. Pricy for size of portions. 🌶🌶🌶🌶 pic.twitter.com/5ayrMsOpEe
— 𝗟𝗮𝘀𝗦𝗮𝗯𝗼𝗿𝗶𝘁𝗮𝘀 (@LasSaboritas) July 19, 2019

8. Bryndzové halušky from Bullerbyn

Ah, the macaroni and cheese of Central Europe — the comforting bowl that warms you like a blanket from the inside. Bullerbyn’s version is the creamiest in town and certainly pairs well with a beer. The smaller portion avoids the heavy stomach feeling other halušky leaves behind. Dare I say better than in Bratislava?

Bullerbyn is a board game/cocktail bar on Chodská. Young students may find the Astrid Lindgren storybook menus cute. After trying G&Ts, they could stand to avoid gimmicks and work on the drinks. Do they have the creamiest, freshest halušky in town though? Absolutely.
🌶️ 🌶️ 🌶️ pic.twitter.com/sSQNwlzxvg
— 𝗟𝗮𝘀𝗦𝗮𝗯𝗼𝗿𝗶𝘁𝗮𝘀 (@LasSaboritas) February 25, 2020

7. Bao donut with caramel from QQ Asian Kitchen

We gave QQ our highest ????? rating in 2019, and this dessert was part of the reason. Imagine a fluffy bao bun, split and sugar-dusted, filled with ice cream and drizzled with homemade caramel. Now stop imagining and go eat one! [Note, QQ has moved from Ladova street to Odboru in Nové Město.]

Lunch nirvana at QQ Asian Kitchen on Ladova. Chili crab roll, sweet potato dumplings, pork&shrimp shumai, gado gado and daily special slow-braised pork stew were all standouts. Save room for the bao donut with homemade caramel. Friendly owner made us feel at home. 🌶🌶🌶🌶🌶 pic.twitter.com/pyWfTKdGCQ
— 𝗟𝗮𝘀𝗦𝗮𝗯𝗼𝗿𝗶𝘁𝗮𝘀 (@LasSaboritas) October 25, 2019

6. Boneless chicken in honey curry sauce from Kuře;dak(꾸제닭)

One of two quality chimac (Korean chicken and beer) spots in town, this chicken has the ultimate crunch factor. If we didn’t know any better, we’d say it was breaded with corn flakes. Dipped in sweet yellow curry, the flavor and texture is explosive.

Kuře;dak(꾸제닭) 'chicken chicken' Korean restaurant in Vinohrady is perfectly located for picnics. Classic boneless was crunchtastic but needed dip for flavor. Thin garlic butter + red chili. Honey curry was the business. Veg gimbap impressed. Perfect radish pickle.
🌶️ 🌶️ 🌶️ 🌶️ pic.twitter.com/M6IsUSakZy
— 𝗟𝗮𝘀𝗦𝗮𝗯𝗼𝗿𝗶𝘁𝗮𝘀 (@LasSaboritas) May 28, 2020

5. Cubed beef manti from Uzbegim

We’ve had ground beef manti in Central Asia and restaurants all over Europe. Before this dish though, we had never tried cubed beef manti before. It was a revelation. How could a small detail make such a huge difference? A delicious steak carefully trimmed into opulent meat dice. The extravagance of those tiny, succulent cubes wrapped in delicate pastry left a lasting impression.

Uzbegim on Koněvova is an Uzbek spot serving Central Asian staples. Dramatic amount of beef in the flaky samsa, flavorful plov, + hand-pulled lagman noodles. No date-worthy interior but direct delivery brings meat heaven to your door. Best beef (cubed!) manti in town.
🌶️ 🌶️ 🌶️ 🌶️ pic.twitter.com/7uNL7lA2he
— 𝗟𝗮𝘀𝗦𝗮𝗯𝗼𝗿𝗶𝘁𝗮𝘀 (@LasSaboritas) June 11, 2020

4. Prawn raviola at Bellevue

Yes, that’s raviola as in a single ravioli. But when it is this tasty, you will want more than one. Thin, perfectly cooked pasta filled with shrimp, surrounded with a wasabi cream sauce and juicy mango. The flavors combine into a delicious, unique starter that will have your tastebuds humming. An inventive, exciting dish that brings magic to the meal.

Bellevue debuts an affordable 490 Kč lunch menu to impress. Browned drumfish, magical prawn raviola w wasabi cream, buttery asparagus risotto, + crisp cider apple tatin. New location, confident kitchen + service. Not perfect (tuna, octopus) but fine dining done well.
🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️ pic.twitter.com/EPzOW7SMfz
— 𝗟𝗮𝘀𝗦𝗮𝗯𝗼𝗿𝗶𝘁𝗮𝘀 (@LasSaboritas) June 11, 2020

3. French fries at Kampa Park

We know what you’re thinking: french fries on a top bites list? When they are this tasty, yes. Elevated beyond a simple side dish, these are deeply golden, crispy, salty and completely addictive. Everyone at that table was still talking about these fries the next day.

Lunch at Kampa Park restaurant is an event. Carefully presented, immaculately prepared food and matching service. Our table enjoyed the mushroom risotto, the lamb, and the club sandwich...but we couldn’t stop talking about the delicious fries! 🌶🌶🌶🌶 pic.twitter.com/Zqctgn6EJA
— 𝗟𝗮𝘀𝗦𝗮𝗯𝗼𝗿𝗶𝘁𝗮𝘀 (@LasSaboritas) November 12, 2019

2. Cashew nests at Baklava Coffee Shop

The pistachio nests are the prettier option and caught our eye at first glance. After multiple visits, we can confidently declare that the miniature cashew nests are superior in their perfection. Salty, crunchy, roasty, nutty, creamy, and just the right touch of syrupy sweetness to make you want more. Ten or twenty more.

Baklava Coffee Shop on Husitská serves exactly what you'd imagine. Carry-out only, no frills, clean little shop. Great flat white at only 60 Kč + those mini pistachio nests are incredible. Smiles at the counter. Looking forward to what a future expansion might bring.
🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️ pic.twitter.com/b8Bqq3y4DG
— 𝗟𝗮𝘀𝗦𝗮𝗯𝗼𝗿𝗶𝘁𝗮𝘀 (@LasSaboritas) January 6, 2020

1. Southern-fried chicken poppers with boom boom sauce at The Tavern

The mini version of The Tavern’s famous fried chicken, these buttermilk-brined chicken nuggets are fried to crispy perfection and served with tangy, spicy “boom boom” Buffalo sauce. Prague’s perfect poultry poppers.

We used Wolt to order brunch from @TheTavernPraha. Chicken & waffle w/crisp peppery chicken & a side of butter & maple syrup. Breakfast Sandwich of Champions is eggy, cheesy goodness. Also Southern Fried chicken poppers w/boom boom sauce for an afternoon snack. 😉🌶🌶🌶🌶 pic.twitter.com/oaWb6VWMRe
— 𝗟𝗮𝘀𝗦𝗮𝗯𝗼𝗿𝗶𝘁𝗮𝘀 (@LasSaboritas) May 3, 2020

That’s our list — how about yours? What are the best things you’ve eaten in Prague in the past year? Join us on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook to let us know which of these dishes you can’t wait to try, or suggest one that we missed. We’d love to hear from you!