Enjoy a gastronomic tour of the Balkan Peninsula at these bakeries and cafes.
Balkan Bakery
Call ahead to place your order at this petite bakery – specialties like burek (flaky coils of phyllo stuffed with meat, cheese or spinach) and cevapi (caseless grilled sausages akin to kofta) sell out quickly. Peruse shelves of Balkan groceries on your way in to pick up your order.
1107 E. Bell Rd.
602-996-4598
Cafe Balkan
Don’t let your possibly shaky understanding of the Balkan Peninsula keep you away from this immaculate café. You’ll get delicious lessons in the region’s diversity – and familiar presentations – right there on the spot. Cases in point: Lepinja is a lighter, fluffier version of pita, and sarma is simply stuffed cabbage (in this instance, stuffed with ground beef and rice).
21043 N. Cave Creek Rd.
602-283-5360, cafebalkanaz.com
Yasha from Russia
A tidy market and deli that’s home away from home for Russian expats who drop by for Eastern European sausages, cheeses, canned goods, smoked fish, sandwiches and fabulous piroshki (dirt cheap, too). Lunch and dinner daily.
10240 N. 32nd St.
602-347-6055
