From Ukraine's chicken Kiev to the zeama in Moldova, Eastern European countries are packed with dishes that tempt foodies with iconic local flavors. Here are some delectable delicacies you may want to seek out and sample. You may even want to plan your travel itinerary accordingly!



Ćevapčići (Serbia)

© tirc83/Getty Images Also known as ćevapi, these are small sausage-like bites made of either beef, lamb, pork or mixed meat. This grilled and spiced dish can be topped with finely chopped onion and served with Serbian potato salad and pogacha bread.



Štrukli (Croatia)

© Nada Sertic/Shutterstock This is a cheese and sour cream puff pastry that can be prepared in two ways: boiled in water or baked in an oven.



Gołąbki (Poland)

© freeskyline/Getty Images A mixture of minced pork, beef and rice is wrapped in boiled white cabbage leaves and cooked to make this delectable delight.

Makowiec (Poland)

© Galiyah Assan/Getty Images This rolled poppy seed cake is a traditional Polish festive dessert that is a must during Christmas and New Year's.

Svíčková (Czech Republic)

© Bonchan/Getty Images The traditional favorite consists of braised sirloin beef in a thick, creamy sauce of parsley root, celeriac and carrots. It is usually served with cranberry sauce, whipped cream and a slice of lemon.

Palačinky (Czech Republic)

© StephanieFrey/Getty Images The delicious golden pancakes are a treat for people with a sweet tooth. They are almost like French crepes but with a different style of preparation, often with fillings such as jam, fruit, cream, sweet cheese or nuts.

Chicken Kiev (Ukraine)

© AlexPro9500/Getty Images Chicken filet stuffed with garlic butter is rolled in and coated with breadcrumbs and eggs to prepare this dish. It can be either fried or baked.

Šaltibarščiai (Lithuania)

© NejauPhoto/Getty Images This borscht is made with beetroot, cucumber, sour cream and flavored with dill and parsley. Easily identified owing to its bright pink color, this is a summer staple and hence served cold, usually with hard-boiled eggs and boiled potatoes.



Banitsa (Bulgaria)

© D_Zheleva/Getty Images The standard variety of this pastry includes a filling of white cheese, but onions, cabbage, spinach, mushrooms or pumpkin also figure as a popular choice of stuffing. Another variation to the dish is sweet, often prepared with apples and walnuts.



Papanasi (Romania)

© ad_foto/Getty Images A must-try dessert, it is a type of boiled or fried doughnut. These cheese-filled doughnuts are served with sour cream and fruit jam.

Lángos (Hungary)

© IngridHS/Getty Images It looks like pizza but is a deep-fried flat bread, typically served with sour cream and cheese. It has endless varieties and can have garlic sauce or sausages as accompaniments.

Bryndzové halušky (Slovakia)

© eskymaks/Getty Images Bryndza sheep cheese and smoked bacon is served atop potato dumplings to prepare this Slovakian delicacy.



Draniki (Belarus)

© Aleksandra Berzhets/Shutterstock These are potato pancakes usually served with sour cream. The main ingredients are grated potatoes and onions, but non-vegetarian versions can include meat, bacon, mushrooms and cheese.



Solyanka (Russia)

© rusak/Getty Images A traditional sour soup prepared with tomatoes and other vegetables like cabbage, carrots and onions, combined with beef and/or pork, it is a meal in itself. The consistency is thick and the taste spicy. A dollop of sour cream and a lemon slice are added for that extra flavor.

Zeama (Moldova)

© starush/Getty Images Also known as zama, this soup has chicken, noodles (specifically egg noodles) and an assortment of vegetables as the base. This is basically a Moldovan equivalent of the popular chicken noodle soup.

Cepelinai (Lithuania)

© Dar1930/Getty Images These are fist-sized dumplings made from a cooked and raw potato dough filled with a mixture of pork, eggs and onion. Seasoned with salt, pepper and lemon juice, the dish is best served with sour cream.

Pierogi (Poland)

© bhofack2/Getty Images The classic Polish dumpling is filled with potatoes, cheese and onion. Caramelized onions, fried bacon pieces or a dollop of sour cream are the usual accompaniments for this comfort food.

Goulash (Hungary)

© Alleko/Getty Images This vegetable and beef dish is seasoned with sweet Hungarian paprika and served with sour cream, noodles or macaroni. Though the traditional version of this one-pot meal is a soup, you can slow-cook it to prepare a hearty stew.