What to Eat in Sochi: Food Guide to 5 Iconic Dishes

Between the Black Sea and the Caucasus foothills, Sochi enjoys a humid subtropical climate with mild winters and long, sunlit summers. Markets brim with tomatoes, herbs, walnuts, citrus, figs, and late-season persimmons, while fresh coastal catches arrive daily.

Local food blends southern Russian, Circassian, and Georgian traditions shaped by mountain pastures and maritime trade. Families favor produce-driven meals, aromatic spices, and wood-fired cooking, with relaxed evenings and weekend picnics framing how people gather to eat.

Shashlik in Sochi centers on marinated cubes of pork, lamb, or chicken threaded onto metal shampur skewers and grilled over charcoal from fruitwood. Cooks typically season meat with grated onion, salt, black pepper, and herbs like khmeli-suneli; marinades may include vinegar, pomegranate juice, or even mineral water to tenderize. The skewers sear quickly, developing smoky, crisp edges and juicy centers, then land on platters with marinated onions, fresh cilantro, and thin lavash. It is inseparable from adjika, an Abkhaz pepper-garlic paste scented with coriander and blue fenugreek, and is a fixture of seaside evenings, May holiday picnics, and riverside gatherings across Sochi.

Adjaruli khachapuri reflects the Black Sea link between Adjara and Sochi: a yeasted dough shaped like a boat, filled with a blend of brined cheeses such as sulguni and Imeretian, often mixed with local Adyghe cheese for a milder note. Baked until blistered, it is finished with a knob of butter and a fresh egg that gently sets in the molten cheese; diners tear off the crust and stir it in. The result is intensely lactic, salty, and rich, with a chewy rim and creamy center that invites sharing. It is most common at bakeries and canteens and is eaten hot for lunch or an early dinner after a day at the beach or the park.

Kuban borscht, rooted in the Cossack traditions of the Krasnodar region, relies on the area’s produce: sweet tomatoes, bell peppers, cabbage, beets, and dill. A broth of beef or pork forms the base; carrots and onions are sautéed for the zagarka, then tomatoes, beets, and sometimes kidney beans build body and a gentle sweetness. The soup is balanced with garlic and a touch of acidity, commonly finished with smetana and a handful of herbs, yielding a bright-red, aromatic bowl with tender vegetables and soft meat. Families cook it year-round, with heavier versions in cool months and lighter ones in summer, serving it as a midday meal with black bread at home.

Barabulka, the local name for Black Sea red mullet, is a small, delicate fish prized for its sweet, iodine-tinged flesh. In Sochi it is typically cleaned, lightly salted, and dusted with wheat flour or fine cornmeal, then pan-fried in sunflower oil until the skin crisps and the fins turn brittle. Served simply with lemon wedges, dill, and a tomato-cucumber salad, it delivers a clean marine aroma, crackling exterior, and tender flakes. This is a warm-season staple at home tables and casual seaside stalls, especially when small boats bring in fresh catches during calm mornings.

Churchkhela threads walnuts (and sometimes hazelnuts) on cords, repeatedly dipped into tatara, a thickened grape must made by reducing juice and binding it with flour, then left to dry for days. The outer layer sets into a pliant, gently glossy coating that is mildly sweet and grape-fragrant, while the nuts remain crunchy and rich. High in energy and easy to carry, it historically fueled travel and harvest work across the Caucasus and remains a favorite market purchase in Sochi. Locals and visitors snack on slices throughout the day, and families take it home as an edible souvenir of the Black Sea coast.

Sochi’s cuisine blends fertile southern produce, Black Sea seafood, and Caucasian spice traditions into hearty, shareable meals. Wood smoke, fresh herbs, and brined cheeses define everyday flavors as much as market seasonality. Explore more regional food insights and trip planning tools on Sunheron to match dishes, places, and weather for your next journey.