Albania has gained a stellar reputation as a food-lover’s heaven, with locally-sourced ingredients and centuries of tradition informing a diverse and delicious cuisine that incorporates the best of Turkish, Italian, Greek and local Balkan cooking traditions to serve up mouth-watering dishes.
One of the best ways to experience the culture in a new country is to partake in its cuisine – if you haven’t already booked your Albanian Night Dinner & Show experience where you’ll taste 7 authentic Albanian dishes after a reenacted Albanian wedding, don’t wait! It’s a great way to taste local Albanian food in Tirana.
Otherwise, if you’re looking for the best Albanian street food, you’re in the right place. We’ve put together this Tirana street food guide to explain what types of food you should try out and where the best stalls, bakeries and restaurants are for Tirana street food.
Without further ado, these are the 9 best places to eat street food in Tirana:
1. Byrektore Paskali
Classic Albanian Street Food | Blloku | Crunchy Byrek
The most quintessential street food item in the Albanian diet is undoubtedly byrek, a crunchy, savory baked good that can be filled with meat, spinach, ricotta cheese or tomatoes and onions. This byrektore, a bakery that specializes in baking these delicious treats, is in the heart of Blloku and is open on weekdays. It offers something most centrally-located byrektores don’t – seating – and is a great spot to stop at if you want a quick snack as you explore Tirana’s most hyped-up neighborhood.
2. Laguna Pizza & Ice Cream
Pizza with a History | Halal | Delicious Ice Cream
If you want pizza with a history, head to Laguna Pizza & Ice Cream, one of the few remaining kiosks that survived Albania’s modernization in the 2000s. When the communist regime fell in the 90s, thousands of these small kiosks opened up all over Tirana – you could barely walk down some of the main roads! Laguna has been open since that era and serves freshly-baked, thick pizza until the wee hours of the morning, every day, along with ice cream
3. Falafel House Tirana
Vegetarian Street Food | Crunchy Falafel | Middle Eastern Food
Craving a taste of the Middle East, in the Balkans? Head to Falafel House Tirana, Tirana’s best falafel joint by far – the falafel here are made with heart and love and served up quickly to hungry customers throughout the day. The central location next to Taiwan Park makes this a great spot for a quick bite if you’re exploring Skanderbeg Square, the Orthodox Cathedral or the nearby park.
4. Byrektore Çaku
Doughy Byrek | Very Cheap | Next to the Center
Our next-favorite byrektore is next to Skanderbeg Square, tucked away in an alley and made with heart. The byrek served here is slightly doughier and will make your mouth water – we recommend the byrek me fasule, which is filled with beans, or the byrek me spinaq, with spinach. But hurry – this place bakes everything on the spot and usually runs out of these delicious pastries by 15:00!
5. Happy Belly
Vegan and Vegetarian Food in Tirana | Fresh Smoothies | Healthy Options
This small eatery is perfect if you want to grab a freshly-made smoothie or are a vegan or vegetarian in Tirana. The owner is extremely friendly and runs everything herself, making wraps, salads and different dishes herself with super fresh produce that’s delivered daily to her stock room in the back. This tiny restaurant has two or three tables and is located right at the entrance of Blloku, making it a perfect spot to grab a quick bite as you explore the city.
6. Bana’s Piramida
Terrace Views of Tirana | Albanian Dishes with a Twist | Pyramid of Tirana
This restaurant is perfect if you’re looking for a meal with a view and a story. Located in Tirana’s iconic Pyramid – once a communist-era museum, now a reimagined urban landmark – Bana’s offers a cozy terrace where you can sit back, sip on something local, and admire the modern city skyline blending with relics of the past. The menu mixes Albanian comfort food with Mediterranean influences, and the staff are known for their warmth and down-to-earth hospitality.
7. Dogu
Great Service | Delicious Hot Dogs | Blloku & Other Locations
The best hot dog joint in Tirana is Dogu, a fast food restaurant with branches all over the city. The grilled dogs here are served with killer toppings, and the staff and service are quick and friendly. This place is located ideally for those who need to sober up a bit after a night out in Blloku, or if you’re looking for a quick protein-powered bite as you wander the city.
8. Street Food 12 – Nesh
Great Burgers | Large Portions | Breakfast in Tirana
This fast food restaurant is super centrally located next to Skanderbeg Square and offers a variety of fast food and street food options. Customers praise the huge portions and the well-done burgers, fries, shawarmas and wraps. A clean and easy-to-find spot that serves up gyros and plenty of other easy takeaway options, this is great if you’re hungry and on a budget!
9. OPA Greek Food
Greek Food in Tirana | Souvlakis and Fries | Multiple Locations
OPA is a big chain that has made quite a name in Albania, with multiple Tirana branches and locations outside the capital, too. The souvlaki here is authentic and draws on the country’s deep connections with Greek food and culture. You can order pita with chicken, pork, fries and even falafel here. If you’re looking for Greek food in Tirana, this restaurant is definitely worth a try.
That’s it for the best street food spots in Tirana. If you’re looking to try traditional food in Albania, don’t forget about the Albanian Night Dinner & Show, a culinary masterpiece that takes you on a journey through the country’s different regions, plus a dish from Kosovo.
Happy eating!
