Strumica eats well: the surrounding valley is one of the most productive agricultural areas in North Macedonia and the markets are full of early tomatoes, peppers, watermelons, and freshwater fish from the nearby Vodoča reservoir.
The cafés around Goce Delčev Square serve a standard Macedonian menu — šopska salad, kebapi (small grilled meat patties), grilled trout, tavče gravče (baked beans) — at low prices. Restaurant Pri Marija, just off the square, has been the local favourite for years; the grilled peppers stuffed with sirenje cheese are worth ordering. Restoran Carevi Kuli below the fortress walls does a long Macedonian menu with terrace tables and views back over the town.
For something less standard, Vino Marani in the small village of Bogorodica, south of town on the way to Greece, is a working winery with a restaurant attached; book ahead and they'll show you the cellars. The Strumica region is also the centre of Macedonian mastika production — the aniseed spirit served cold as an aperitif. Look for the Strumica Carevi Kuli brand in any bar in town.