No visit to Sarajevo is complete without savouring as many of them as possible: the famous grilled minced meat sausages, Ćevapčići, the Bosnian national dish. A speciality that everyone inevitably associates with the Balkans, especially with the countries of the former Yugoslavia. Whether 5, 10 or 15, the question is: Where are they best in Sarajevo?
Before you google any further: I've lived in Sarajevo for three years and have tried all the big-name Ćevabdžinicas, not just once, but several times. Yes, that's real dedication to grilled food! But enough talk, you probably can't wait to finally bite into a juicy, fresh Ćevap. So without further ado, here are all the facts you ever wanted to know about the minced meat sausages. And, of course, the best restaurants in Sarajevo to enjoy them.
The success story of minced meat sausages
They are not only considered a national dish in Bosnia and Herzegovina, but also in Serbia, Croatia, Montenegro and North Macedonia (in short: the whole of the former Yugoslavia). And that's not all: Albania, Kosovo and - watch out - Iran also count the small meat sausages among their national dishes. How did they become so popular that they are associated with the Balkans almost all over the world?
What does the word Ćevapčići mean?
The word ćevap comes from the Ottoman Turkish, from the word kebapwhich means chopped meat. There is a variation of the word minced in many countries around the world, in the Arab world and other Balkan countries.
And what is the difference between Ćevapčići and Ćevapi? There is none, Ćevapčići is simply the deminutive of Ćevapi, the singular is Ćevap - but who wants to eat just one?
Which country invented Ćevapi?
The Ćevapčići probably originated in Persia, from where they began their triumphal march across the Balkan Peninsula with the Ottomans. It is estimated that they appeared in Bosnia and Herzegovina around 1500.
The fast pace of life in the 20th century finally helped the Ćevapčići achieve cult status - after all, they were the perfect fast food: grilled quickly and served in bread. The first Ćevabdžinica in the city opened during the time of the Kingdom of Yugoslavia between the world wars.
Where can you find the best Ćevapčići in the world?
Although the entire Balkan region loves its grilled minced meat sausages, Bosnia and Herzegovina is the country that has perfected them. Almost every town here has its own recipe for Ćevapi - they are particularly famous from Banja Luka, Tuzla, Travnik and, of course, the capital Sarajevo, where the little sausages have become a cult favourite among locals and tourists alike. So much so that Bosnia and Herzegovina wants to have the Ćevapi inscribed on UNESCO's list of untouchable cultural heritage.
Fancy more than just Ćevapi?
Ćevapi: This is how the Bosnian national dish is eaten
Sarajevo Ćevapi are typically prepared using only minced beef and salt and are grilled fresh every day. This allows the flavour of the meat to come out completely unadulterated.
There is also Somuna flatbread and chopped Onions (soaked in water overnight so that they lose their sharpness). An insider tip is also to always serve them with Kaymaka kind of sour cream. The flavoursome meat and creamy kajmak go perfectly together.
The following are available in most Ćevabdžinicas five, ten or fifteen pieces. But beware: 15 pieces is really only for the very hungry, because you also get one and a half small loaves of bread and lots of onions!
🍽️ Ćevapi eat like a local: Please don't use a knife and fork! Tear off a piece of somun, put the onions in it, maybe a bit of kajmak and then use it to pick up your Ćevapi. You only get one fork anyway - so you can divide the sausage in two. Homemade yoghurt tastes great with it, by the way, because the salty dish makes you thirsty.
The best Ćevapčići in Sarajevo
Guests don't usually have to wait long for their order, the grill is open all day and the service is fast - Bosnia's national dish is literally fast food.
But where can you find the best Ćevapčići in the Bosnian capital?
I rated the restaurants according to the main ingredients of the dish: The meat, of course, but the flatbread, kajmak and onions are also important - only if the whole package is right will you get the best flavour experience.
Looking for more restaurants in Sarajevo?
On my interactive travel map you will find the best restaurants, sights, cafés and local insider tips.
A total of over 300 spots throughout Bosnia and Herzegovina, easy to filter your interests.
Ćevabdžinica Željo
Named after one of the city's two football clubs, this Ćevabdžinica is one of the most popular in the city. There are now three restaurants in total, all within a few metres of each other and all always full. The Ćevapi are juicy, well done and the somun is the star here: juicy, greasy, crispy. The onions are mild in flavour and the kajmak is always super creamy.
The only downside is that there's always so much going on that you can't sit and digest your food in comfort after dinner - the next guests are already waiting.
My rating:
Ćevapi: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Somun: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Kayak: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Onions: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Atmosphere: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
📍Kundurdžiluk 19, Sarajevo 71000
Ćevabdžinica Hodžić
In all honesty: located in the most popular tourist spot in the city, Hodžić has perhaps rested on its laurels a little, because the quality of the food has been better - but it is still always full, although perhaps less so with locals who keep coming back.
The bread here is just too greasy for me, as is the Ćevapi. Sure, the dish is quite hearty, but I still had a heavy stomach after eating it at Hodžić. But it's supposed to be really good here: The sausages, sudžukice.
Ćevapi: ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Somun: ⭐️⭐️
Kayak: ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Onions: ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Atmosphere: ⭐️⭐️
📍Bravadžiluk 34, Sarajevo 71000
Ćevabdžinica Ferhatović
Petica is sometimes called Ferhatović by the locals and is also owned by a footballer. Like Željo, the shop is located in the centre of the old town of Baščaršija.
The Ćevapi here are small, juicy and flavourful, but I personally find the somun too dry and hard and the onions not mild and juicy enough.
Ćevapi: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Somun: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Kayak: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Onions: ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Atmosphere: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
📍 Bravadžiluk 21, Sarajevo 71000
Ćevabdžinica Specijal
Still located in the centre of Baščaršija, but a little away from the hustle and bustle, Specijal is more relaxed. The waiters are cosy and friendly, and it's no problem to sit and people-watch after your meal.
The Ćevapi here are the cheapest of all the restaurants in the old town and the flavour is solid, if I wanted to complain, only the somun could be a little juicier.
Ćevapi: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Somun: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Kayak: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Onions: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Atmosphere: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
📍 Ćurčiluk veliki 11, Sarajevo 71000
Ćevabdžinica Zmaj Stanica
One would say not great, not terrible. Nothing really convinced me here, although the restaurant is large and clean and the service is friendly. The Ćevapi are quite large and long, but not really juicy and all in all, Zmaj is more of an average dining experience for me.
Ćevapi: ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Somun: ⭐️⭐️
Kayak: ⭐️⭐️
Onions: ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Atmosphere: ⭐️⭐️
📍 Put života, Sarajevo 71000
Ćevabdžinica Besko
This shop is not in the old town centre and is therefore a local insider tip in the Hrasnica district. It's not exactly cosy; you sit overlooking a large car park. The food is nevertheless impeccable in flavour, juicy Ćevapi, well grilled (perhaps a little overdone for me). Again, the somun is not quite my flavour and the onions are a little too spicy for me. But the price here is unbeatably favourable.
Ćevapi: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Somun: ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Kayak: ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Onions: ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Atmosphere: ⭐️⭐️
📍 Azize Šaćirbegović 50, Sarajevo 71000
Travel planning for Bosnia-Herzegovina made easy
💸 What is the currency of Bosnia and Herzegovina?
In Bosnia and Herzegovina, the convertible mark (KM for short) is used for payment. It has been the currency of Bosnia and Herzegovina since 22 June 1998 and was pegged to the German mark at a ratio of 1:1 until 2001 and to the euro since 2002. One euro is always exactly 1.95583 KM). The conversion is therefore very simple.
🇧🇦 What language is spoken in Bosnia and Herzegovina?
The official languages of the country are Bosnian, Serbian and Croatian, but there are hardly any linguistic differences between them - I always compare them to German and Austrian. Serbian, however, uses Cyrillic letters, which can lead to confusion in the Republika Srpska part of the country. The best thing to do is to download Google Translate, which also allows you to take photos of Cyrillic menus or street signs and have them translated.
💉 Do I need international health insurance for Bosnia and Herzegovina?
Absolutely! You should never, never, never travel without international health insurance. Bosnia and Herzegovina is also not in the EU, which means that your German health insurance covers the country. not with. I am always happy to recommend other travellers SafetyWing. For less than one euro per day, you can insure yourself here and also protect yourself against the risks of extreme sports, lost luggage and other travelling ailments.
📲 Can I use European roaming in Bosnia and Herzegovina?
No, as Bosnia and Herzegovina is not in the EU, your roaming package does not apply here. You can either buy a SIM card locally at a kiosk for a few marks or simply get an eSIM like Airalo, which you can even use for other countries after your trip to Bosnia. You can download the Airalo app here.
🪂 Which tour operator is recommended for my trip to Bosnia?
Together with my Bosnian partner, I founded the boutique travel agency .Cheyf in 2022. We have combined our experience of sustainable tourism in places like South Africa with our knowledge of Bosnia and the way of life in Bosnia. ćejf united - savouring the little moments that make life worth living. This has resulted in tours that convey sustainability, local experiences and communities and a real attitude to life. Here you can take a look at our tours and get to know Cheyf better.
🗺️ I would like to travel without a travel agency, are there any ready-made routes?
Yes! I offer an interactive travel map for the whole of Bosnia and Herzegovina, with several ready-made itineraries and lots of restaurants and insider tips. And best of all, the map is regularly updated and expanded, meaning you always have the latest recommendations in your pocket. Click here for the interactive travel guide.
💦 Can I drink the tap water in Bosnia and Herzegovina?
You can drink the water in large cities without hesitation. Bottled water is recommended after heavy rainfall or flooding and in rural areas.
🛬 Where can I find the best flights to Bosnia and Herzegovina?
You can find the cheapest flights on Kiwi - where you can compare prices directly.
🏯 Where can I find the best accommodation in Bosnia and Herzegovina?
Most accommodation in Bosnia and Herzegovina, including private accommodation, is often offered at Booking.com set. In addition to hotels, you can also book flats or guesthouses here and directly support the Bosnian population with your stay.
🛵 Where can I book a hire car for my trip to Bosnia?
On Rentalcars.com you can choose from a wide range of hire cars and compare prices. I recommend that you always book with fully comprehensive insurance. The German driving licence is valid, so you don't need to pack an international driving licence.
This blog article contains personal recommendations in the form of affiliate links. If you book or buy something via the links, I will receive a small commission. This does not change the price for you at all. Thank you for your support.
