Less Obvious, More Delicious: Quiet Food Gems I’ve Discovered in Europe
One of the most delicious perks of travelling through Europe, apart from the architecture, the questionable hostel showers, and the occasional language-based chaos when ordering coffee, is the food. Europe is a continent stitched together by thousands of years of culinary tradition. From the sun-soaked vineyards of Portugal to the snow-laced corners of Finland, every country, every region, and often every village has its own flavour.
Eating in Europe is a lot more than sustenance. It’s about culture, history, family, politics, migration, climate, creativity and so much more. You can learn as much from a country by sitting quietly in a neighbourhood café as you can from a full day of sightseeing. But while food in Europe is famously good, it’s also famously easy to get wrong. The moment you step into the more ‘well-trodden’ areas of a city, the quality tends to drop and the prices tend to soar. Menus with photos, plastic versions of food, waiters inviting you in like nightclub promoters… That’s why I’ve made it something of a personal mission, while traipsing around the continent, to find the little spots that most people overlook, the small, weird, wonderful eateries that don’t make it into the glossy travel guides, but leave a mark on your memory (and usually for me… my waistline). Here are some of my absolute favourites from the last few years travelling.
Hentes Falatozója, Budapest, Hungary
In Budapest, just a short walk from the grandeur of Heroes’ Square, there’s a butcher’s shop that doesn’t quite play by the usual rules. Hentes Falatozója looks, at first glance, like the kind of place you might pick up a few sausages and a pork knuckle for Sunday dinner. But step inside, and it’s something else entirely. This is not just a butchery, it’s a lunch counter that delivers the full Hungarian food experience, unapologetically rich and meaty.
You’ll likely be the only tourist there if you visit during the work week, shoulder to shoulder with locals on their lunch break, tucking into bowls of thick goulash, or feasting on a sausage platter. The homemade bread is rustic perfection. And if, somehow, you’ve still got room, the dessert bar is stacked with flaky pastries and cakes that are just as authentic as they are indulgent. It’s a place to eat well, and eat like a local, and stagger out full and happy, with no regrets.
Bookmark Hentes Falatozója on Google Maps.
Casa Piriquita, Sintra, Portugal
Next, we head west to Portugal, more specifically, the town of Sintra that sits just a short train ride from Lisbon. Sintra is surrounded by misty hills, pastel palaces, and crooked cobblestone lanes. It’s magical, and you’ll probably spend most of the day climbing up towards the colourful towers of the National Palace of Pena or meandering through forested paths that seem to have no end. Which is why it’s crucial to fuel up properly, and that’s where Casa Piriquita comes in (and shout out to my friend, André Dinis, who originally pointed me in this direction).
This little pastry shop has been around for over a century and has become a bit of a local legend. If you can grab a table, settle in with a strong Portuguese coffee and order yourself a Travesseiro, which literally translates to "pillow", and you’ll soon understand why. Flaky on the outside, warm and almond-sweet on the inside, they’re dangerously moreish. Add a Queijada to your order and you’re set. These cheese-based pastries have a surprisingly sweet, almost cheesecake-like flavour that completely defies expectations.
If you can't get in, not to worry. Piriquita II, their sister shop just a few doors down, serves takeaway versions just as heavenly.
Bookmark Casa Piriquita on Google Maps.
La Chacra, La Línea de la Concepción, Spain
From the misty forests of Sintra to the breezy coast near Gibraltar, my next stop takes us to La Línea de la Concepción. It’s a town often overshadowed by the criminal enterprise that call it home, but it’s well worth a visit, especially for those in the know about La Chacra (like my friend and colleague, Joe, who steered me towards it). This South American-inspired tapas restaurant doesn’t just feed the locals - it wins them over completely.
The vibe is unfussy, the décor is minimal, but the food? That’s where things take off. Their tapas are bold, rich, and full of Argentinian flair. The spicy Montadito with melted cheese is the kind of dish that demands your attention. Pair it with a glass (or three in my case) of red wine, and you’ve got the kind of night that lingers in the best possible way. The chicken sirloin is excellent, the black pudding is bold, and their house special, Argentinian loin with provoleta cheese and fresh tomatoes, is the crown jewel. La Chacra isn’t fancy, but it’s unforgettable.
Bookmark La Chacra on Google Maps.
Yorkshire Burrito, London, United Kingdom
Back in the UK, nestled within the wild energy of the West Yard, Camden Town in London, there’s a place doing something brilliantly absurd: Yorkshire Burrito. Yes, it is what it says on the tin, a burrito made entirely out of a Yorkshire pudding. In a city that offers everything from Michelin-starred fine dining to £1 samosas and everything in-between, this might be the most amazing twist on something so uniquely British I’ve ever experience.
The concept is simple: take all the best parts of a Sunday roast: beef or a veggie alternative, roast potatoes, carrots, broccoli, stuffing, and plenty of gravy and wrap it all inside a giant Yorkshire pudding. It’s comfort food taken mobile. There’s not much space to sit, but that’s half the charm of the West Yard. You’ll find yourself strolling along the canals, burrito in hand, trying not to dribble gravy on your coat. And with it being in the West Yard, it’s perfectly close to stop by as a layover during a pub crawl.
Bookmark Yorkshire Burrito on Google Maps.
KotKot, Helsinki, Finland
Finally, we head north. And I mean properly north, to Helsinki. Finnish cuisine often flies under the radar, which is a shame because there’s plenty of good stuff here. But tucked away in the Kallio district is a fast-food place that puts its own spin on things. KotKot is what happens when a no-frills fried chicken joint meets Nordic efficiency.
There are no staff to greet you. No cheery “hei hei” at the counter. Just a touchscreen menu and a machine that takes your card. Choose your burger (I went for the local favourite, Lemonpepper), wait for your number to pop up on the screen, then head to a booth where a door slides open, a hand appears with your tray, and then disappears again. Greasy, spicy, flavourful, and exactly what you need after a visit to the nearby Kotiharjun Sauna. Wash it down with a can of Finnish Jaffa and your Helsinki evening is off to a flying start.
Bookmark KotKot on Google Maps.
Why the Best Meals Are Often Found Off the Map
From butcher counters in Budapest to roast burritos in Camden, these are the kinds of places that remind me why I love exploring through food. They’re not always easy to find, and they rarely appear on the ‘Top 10’ lists, but they’ve each given me a new connection to a culture, to a city, to a way of life you might not see on the tourist trail.
Next time you’re on the road, I encourage you to go a little further, walk a bit longer, and skip the easy option. That hole-in-the-wall spot with no English menu might just serve you one of the best meals of your life.
And if it doesn’t, well… at least it’ll make a good story.
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Hungry for more than just stories? Head to my gallery to see these places the way I saw them through my lens.