Bosnian food is hearty, meat-forward, and unexpectedly good. The staples are ćevapi (small grilled sausages of minced beef and lamb, served with somun flatbread and raw onion), burek (a flaky pastry filled with minced meat, cheese, or spinach), and čorba (thick soup). These are not tourist constructs — they are what Sarajevans eat, and the best versions are indistinguishable from the versions sold 50 years ago.
Beyond the grilled meat tradition, the city has a respectable contemporary restaurant scene, particularly around Baščaršija and the streets south of Ferhadija. Turkish-influenced sweets — baklava, tufahija (poached apple stuffed with walnut cream), lokum — are sold at specialist shops throughout the old town.