Types of Khachapuri: A Complete Guide to Georgian Cheese Breads

🥖🧀 Khachapuri: a quick guide

• What is it? A national Georgian dish made of dough and cheese. The most famous in the country.
• Where to try it? In all cities and villages of Georgia; the tastiest — people often say — is in Batumi.
• Types: at least 11 varieties that differ in shape, dough, and filling (cheese is always included, but sometimes other ingredients are added).
• Price: from 3–5 GEL for a street flatbread to 9–12 GEL for an Adjarian “boat” in restaurants.

Details about each type are just below!

If you’re planning a gastronomic trip to Georgia or simply love hearty pastries, here you’ll find a complete guide to the country’s most famous dish. You’ll learn what types there are, how they differ, how much they usually cost, and why locals consider it a symbol of national cuisine.

Quick note: why “cottage cheese bread”?

The word “khachapuri” comes from “khacho” (cottage cheese) and “puri” (bread). In the classic sense, it is dough with cheese обязательно present inside (or on top). A few years ago, it received the status of Georgia’s intangible cultural heritage, and even earlier it was patented as a national treasure.

Want to learn more about Georgian bread, watch the video:

11 Popular Types Worth Trying

Imeretinsky (Imeruli)

• What it looks like: a round closed flatbread.
• Filling: white Imeretian cheese.
• Features: the simplest version, often cooked on a pan (without oil).

Price: on average 4–5 GEL for a small flatbread.

A Georgian classic! This type of khachapuri is popular in Imereti, a historical region in central Georgia. It differs from other khachapuri in that butter is added to the dough, and the filling is made of Imeretian cheese.

Did you know? In Imeretian khachapuri, the filling is not baked inside the dough but is simply placed on the base, creating a wonderful texture: crispy on the outside and stretchy cheese on the inside.

Adjarian (Acharuli)

• Shape: a “boat” with cheese, an egg, and butter.
• Feature: the yolk should be runny; it’s eaten by dipping the crust into the filling.
• Price: ~9–12 GEL.

Like the cherry on top! This is probably the most famous type of khachapuri and a symbol of Georgia. It is shaped like a boat, with an egg and melted butter placed right in the center.

Did you know? This khachapuri was inspired by the Greek “pita,” but with a Georgian accent. The boat symbolizes Georgia, and the egg in the center is the sun.

Megrelian (Megruli)

• Shape: a round flatbread with cheese inside and also on top.
• Feature: the most “filling,” because there’s a lot of cheese.
• Price: ~6–7 GEL.

Cheese perfection! Megrelian khachapuri differs from other types in that it has two layers of cheese: Imeretian cheese and sulguni. This makes it especially stretchy and aromatic.

Did you know? In Megrelian khachapuri, the cheese is not only inside but also on the surface, so the crust turns out especially cheesy and delicious.

Gurian (Guruli)

• Shape: a crescent with chopped boiled egg and cheese.
• Feature: a traditional Christmas dish of the Guria region.
• Price: ~6 GEL.

Soon we’re going to Guria! Gurian khachapuri is unique because the dough is softer and airier. In some versions it’s baked in the oven with a thick layer of cheese, and in others — with meat.

Did you know? Gurian khachapuri is an important part of Georgia’s gastronomic heritage, especially on the Black Sea coast, where it is often served with herbs and tomatoes.

Penovani

• Dough: puff pastry, unleavened.
• Shape: a square, an envelope, or a triangle.
• Feature: the dough is crispy, with cheese inside.
• Price: ~5 GEL, common in bakeries.

The secret of traditions! This is a special Georgian dish similar to khachapuri, but with thicker crusts and a thinner layer of cheese. The dough is made with the addition of rye flour, which gives it a unique taste.

Did you know? Penovani is a local “highlight” in the northern regions of Georgia, where this khachapuri is made only seasonally.

Achma

• Type: a multi-layer “casserole” made from boiled sheets of dough.
• Feature: it resembles lasagna with Georgian cheese and butter.
• Price: ~9 GEL for a large portion.

Sheet khachapuri! This is a Georgian layered khachapuri that looks more like lasagna, only instead of a мясная filling — cheese.

Did you know? Achma is popular in Abkhazia and the Caucasus. It’s made with several layers of dough and cheese, which makes it incredibly filling and aromatic.

Lobiani

• Filling: spicy beans instead of cheese.
• Considered: not a classic khachapuri, but many people treat it as one.
• Price: ~4 GEL.

A special bean khachapuri! Lobiani is not just khachapuri, but a flat pie filled with beans, garlic, and herbs. This gives it a rich taste and aroma that pairs perfectly with a crispy crust.

Did you know? Lobiani is a traditional dish of western Georgia. It’s often served for breakfast or dinner, especially with a glass of Georgian wine.

Kubdari (Svan variant)

• Filling: chopped meat with onions and spices.
• Often called: “meat khachapuri.”
• Price: from 8 GEL.

Khachapuri with meat! Kubdari is a khachapuri filled with meat (usually lamb), spices, and herbs. Unlike other types of khachapuri, it’s baked with the meat inside.

Did you know? This khachapuri is common in Svaneti and is part of a traditional Georgian feast.

Khabizgina (Ossetian)

• Filling: cheese + potato.
• Feature: very filling, often called an “Ossetian pie.”
• Price: ~7–8 GEL.

A filling khachapuri with potato and cheese! Khabizgina is a closed pie filled with a cheese mixture and boiled potatoes, which makes it especially soft and aromatic.

Did you know? Khabizgina is a traditional Georgian dish, popular at праздничные tables and family celebrations. It’s often served as a main dish at big festivities.

Rachuli

• Region: Racha. Envelope shape, brushed with egg yolk.
• Filling: it can be ham or another ingredient.
• Price: ~7–8 GEL.

Traditional khachapuri with meat and herbs! Rachuli is a Georgian pie where the dough is filled with meat, herbs, and spices. It’s usually baked until golden, which makes it incredibly aromatic and filling.

Did you know? Rachuli is a traditional dish of Svaneti and other mountainous regions of Georgia, where it’s often made with meat and used for feasts and celebrations.

Khachapuri on a skewer

• Method: the dough is wrapped around cheese and grilled over coals.
• Where you’ll see it: picnics, street festivals.
• Price: 3–9 GEL per portion, depending on the place.

A unique khachapuri with a meat filling cooked right over the fire! Skewer khachapuri is not an ordinary khachapuri: it’s grilled on a skewer like shashlik, and inside there’s a filling of cheese and meat. This cooking method gives the dish a special texture and an unforgettable taste.

Did you know? Skewer khachapuri is popular in the Georgian mountains and is ideal for street food, especially at picnics and in camps.

How much khachapuri costs and where to find it

• Street bakeries or takeaways: simple types (Imeretian, penovani) for 3–5 GEL.
• Cafés and restaurants: the Adjarian version is 9–12 GEL, Megrelian and Gurian are ~6–8 GEL.
• Chain places: the price can be 1–2 GEL higher due to service and branding.

Most often, the tastiest options are found where bread is baked on-site (for example, in a wood-fired oven).

Why is this dish a symbol of Georgia?

Since 2011, khachapuri has had the status of intangible cultural heritage. It’s a juicy cheese flatbread without which no Georgian celebration is complete. Locals stubbornly argue about which region makes it the tastiest, but many admit that in Batumi the Adjarian version in the shape of a boat is especially good.

Classic Adjarian “boat”

If you’re looking for “culinary extreme,” order this exact shape. Break off a piece of the crust, mix it with the yolk and cheese, and then enjoy. Be prepared — the portion is very filling!

Experiments: with meat, mushrooms, and vegetables

Although cheese is considered the classic, some restaurants offer add-ons like beans, chopped meat, mushrooms, or even potatoes. These options don’t usually spark arguments — but they’re no longer exactly “cottage cheese bread,” rather a derivative of it.

How is it different from other flatbreads?

The main focus is cheese = half of the filling. Meat, potatoes, or beans are optional extras. Plus the dough is unique: yeast-based or puff pastry, depending on the recipe.

Khachapuri is not just a tasty flatbread, but a true symbol of Georgia. In each region, it’s prepared in its own way: the shape, the dough, the filling — everything changes. But the love Georgians have for this bright and filling dish remains unchanged. When you come to Georgia, be sure to try at least 2–3 types and compare for yourself which version of “cheese bread” will win you over.

🗣️ And now the floor is yours!

Tell us which type seemed the most interesting to you. Where did you try the tastiest versions? Share your impressions — it will help other travelers find the perfect place to познакомиться with Georgian “cottage cheese bread.”

⚠️ About relevance

Prices and assortments in venues may change. Check the details when ordering: in cafés, restaurants, or at bakeries that make khachapuri on-site.

Read also

• Penovani: Georgian Flaky Khachapuri with Cheese and Herbs
• Types of Khachapuri: Where to Try in Tbilisi and Batumi