Switzerland is a fascinating country. Like the scenic landscape, heritage towns, lakes and shopping districts; street food in Switzerland is equally enticing and diverse. With plethora of roadside food kiosks and stalls lined along the streets, Switzerland leaves no stone unturned to pamper the food lovers with its tempting local flavours.
Go through this detailed guide on Switzerland street food and make sure you don’t miss out on any alluring and tempting experiences.
Must try items from the list of tempting street foods in Switzerland
While you’re in Switzerland, it’s the food of the nation that you must try. The country may not have the best street food culture but it has some pretty good snacks to try while on street.
- Fondue
- Rosti
- Roasted Flour Soup
- Polenta and Braised Beef
- Tartiflette
- Raclette
- Älplermagronen
- Vacherin Mont D’Or
- Nusstorte
- Basler Leckerli
1. Fondue – The signature street food of Switzerland
Fondue is one of the most popular street foods in Switzerland. Literally meaning “melted”; in French, it is also available widely in France and Italy. This is a pot of melted cheese, wine and garlic, served on open flame and people dip their bread pieces with long forks and eat it. It is considered to be one of the staple foods of local people, as molten cheese helps to keep them warm in colder months. Serving fondue with hot steaming cup of tea makes a wholesome winter meal.
Best places to eat Fondue: Le Dezaley, Swiss Chuchi and Chasalp
2. Rosti – An iconic national dish
Rosti- a Swiss style hash brown is a famous Switzerland street food, since ages. Rosti is prepared from grated fried potato with stuffing of cheese, apple and onion. This food had originated as a staple breakfast for farmers in Bern and now considered as a delicacy, widely available all across the country. Rosti is topped with salty bacon, fried egg, and melted raclette cheese, served as a healthy replacement of fries along with tangy gherkins and pickled pearl onions.
Best places to eat Rosti: Fritschi, Farm Bözenegg, Anker and Le Mazot.
Must Read: Street Food In Zurich: 5 Dishes To Treat Your Taste Buds With The Real Swissness!
3. Roasted Flour Soup – With a roasted flavour that’s worth drooling for
If you are a soup lover, do not leave Switzerland, without tasting this heavenly dish. Roasted Flour Soup is made from butter, flour, beef stalk, and grated Gruyere. The specialty of the soup is that it is served brown and roasted and the burnt smell of the dish is its uniqueness. This unique brown soup found nowhere else in the world has not just a tempting taste but also an interesting story behind it. The soup was first prepared in Besal region of the Alps and it is said that the chef forgot about the dish, after putting it on the oven and it got brown. Since then this roasted flavor has become its signature and this unmatched taste has made it one of the most famous items on the list of street food in Switzerland.
Best places to eat Roasted Flour Soup: Sternen Grill, Lötschberg and Treff
Suggested Read: 15 Best Day Trips From Lucerne One Must Experience For An Exquisite Swiss Holiday!
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4. Polenta and Braised Beef – A tummy-satisfying food
One of the most delicious and popular street foods in Switzerland; Polenta and Braised Beef is quite popular among the locals. The dish originated in the Ticino region by the Italian speaking locals and gradually became famous throughout the country. Polenta is wholesome cornmeal, cooked as a thick porridge in a copper cauldron over a fire. When accompanied with braised beef, prepared in wine sauce; this makes up for one of the best flavorsome hearty Swiss street delicacies.
Best places to eat Polenta and Braised Beef: Sternen Grill and Street Gourmet
Suggested Read: 10 Surreal Lakes In Switzerland That Are Absolute Natural Wonders
5. Tartiflette – Known for incredible cooking style and exceptional taste
If cheese is your favorite; you cannot afford to miss Tartiflette, when holidaying in Switzerland. Cooked with potatoes, reblochon cheese, lardons and onions, this is another delicious street delicacy of Switzerland. This is a staple dish at most of the ski resorts, located in the Swiss Alps. Tartiflette is an amalgamation of sliced potatoes. Smoky bacon, Reblocohon cheese, caramelised onions and nutty cream. So, you can actually taste and relish the delicacies of many flavours; all at one bite. This is probably the best street food in Switzerland.
Best places to eat Tartiflette: Restaurant Le Flore and Verbier mountain restaurants.
Suggested Read: A Guide To Switzerland In March Tailor Made For You
6. Raclette – A staple of canton of Valais
No discussion on Switzerland street food is complete without mentioning Raclette. This is a unique local dish made from local Raclette cheese, grilled slowly over fire. The cheese melts in layers and is served over potatoes, vegetables and meat, accompanied by pickles and onions. This is one of the most popular local Swiss food, hence small portable Raclette grills, are seen in many native households.
Best places to eat Raclette: Raclette Stube, Restaurant Les Armures and Raclette Factory
Suggested Read: 12 Switzerland Travel Tips For A Fantastical & Flawless Vacation
7. Älplermagronen – A warm meal for chilly winters
Originating from the German speaking region of Switzerland, Älplermagronen, loved by locals and tourists for its exotic taste and presentation. Älplermagronen is a variety of macaroni cheese, cooked with pasta, cream, potatoes and cheese. Often served with stewed apple, bacons and fried onions; Älplermagronen is popularly known as herdsman’s macaroni, as this dish was first created using ingredients that the herdsmen working on the Alpine pastures could gather easily.
Best places to eat Älplermagronen: Restaurant Brante, Obermatt and Flühmatt.
8. Vacherin Mont D’Or – An exotic seasonal cheese variety of the Alps
Switzerland is adorned with exotic varieties of cheese and it is only in this country, where one can find seasonal varieties of cheese. One such is Vacherin Mont D’Or. This is a special type of soft and pungent cheese, made from cow’s milk, found particularly between September and April. This is made in the villages of Jura region. Vacherin Mont D’Or is cooked with white wine and garlic on wood and when served with warm boiled potatoes becomes a soul-filling culinary masterpiece.
Best places to eat Vacherin Mont D’Or: Tritt Kase, La Masion and Schaukäserei Kloster Engelberg.
Suggested Read: Head To The Switzerland Mountains For A Dreamy Alpine Vacation In Europe
9. Nusstorte – A flavourful dessert
If you have a sweet tooth; this is must try for you. Nusstorte is a nut tart, comprising of short crust pastry, caramelised sugar, cream and chopped walnuts. If you talk about Switzerland street food, there are mainly two varieties of nusstorte found here, namely Bünder nusstorte and the Engadiner nusstorte, named after the Graubünden canton where it originated. The perfect fusion of cream and nuts is drool-worthy and treated as an absolute delight for dessert lovers.
Best places to eat Nusstorte: Hanselmann café, Hatecke and Le Muh.
10. Basler Leckerli – A tempting Christmas food
Last on the list but certainly not the least is Basler Leckerli. Locally, ‘Lecker’ means delicious and this dish of Basler Leckerli is so true to its name. Made from hazelnuts, almonds, fruit, honey, glazed ginger and Kirsch; Basler Leckerli are crispy biscuits, which was invented about 600 years ago. Though Basler Leckerli is found round the year; the Swiss tradition says it is eaten during Christmas celebrations. It is probably the most famous street food in Switzerland for foodies.
Best places to eat Basler Leckerli: Zeughauskeller and Sternen Grill
Further Read: 10 Hostels in Switzerland That Are Every Backpacker’s Haven
Already tempted? Make sure to try these street foods on your vacation in Switzerland, once you visit Switzerland on a customised holiday with Travel Triangle.
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Frequently Asked Questions About Street Foods In Switzerland
Is it worth tasting delicacies and desserts available in Switzerland?
Yes, Switzerland is an international tourist destination. They serve authentic Swiss delicacies and desserts to the tourists. Most of the delicacies are the signature food of this land which you must try.
Are street foods affordable in Switzerland?
Yes, if you are on a budget tour, you can opt for street foods available in Switzerland. Yet, you must ask the price first and then buy the item.
Which is the best food item to beat the cold on the streets of Switzerland?
You must try Swiss-based soups as they are the best to consume to beat the cold in the winter season in Switzerland.
Which is the best vegetarian delicacy to eat from the street food vendors in Switzerland?
The vegetarians must try Tartiflette in Switzerland. This food includes Swiss cheese with vegetables and is a popular staple food in Switzerland.
Which authentic ingredient is common to find in Swiss dishes?
The traditionally made Swiss cheese is common to find in almost all dishes of Switzerland cuisine. They add a special taste to the food. The street food vendors also use the same cheese.
Is it hygienic to eat street foods once in Switzerland tour?
Yes, Switzerland is known for its pure and healthy drinking water. The street food vendors do use the same water for food preparation and drinking purpose. Therefore, it is hygienic and safe too.
Do street food stalls serve hot beverages and sweets?
Yes, you can try Swiss chocolate coffee and sweets available with street food stalls in Switzerland.
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A book lover and fun-loving, overtly emotional mom with a wanderlust soul, Sukanya has completed her Master Degree in Geography and currently perusing her passion for writing as a profession. Nothing detoxes her more than trying new recipes and travelling to offbeat places is ultimate Therapy for her.
