In a tiny buregdžinica off Baščaršija, the baker slides a round copper tray out of the oven. Inside, coils of paper-thin pastry filled with minced meat and onion glisten with oil. He cuts you a wedge, sets it on a metal plate beside a cold carton of drinking yoghurt, and you eat it at a narrow counter while the next tray goes in.
Burek in Bosnia means one thing: thin, hand-stretched pastry (jufka) rolled around a filling of minced meat and onion and baked in a round tray, either in long coils or in a spiral. Bosnians insist that the cheese, spinach and potato versions are not burek at all but pita: sirnica, zeljanica and krompiruša. Bought by weight at a buregdžinica (pie shop) and eaten with jogurt, a meal costs about BAM 5 (EUR 2.50) in 2026.
This guide explains the burek-versus-pita naming that confuses visitors, the fillings, how to order, the best-known pie shops in Sarajevo, and dietary and halal notes.
Burek or Pita? The Great Bosnian Naming Debate
In much of the Balkans, “burek” can mean any filled pastry, so you will hear “cheese burek” in Belgrade or Zagreb. In Sarajevo, that sounds wrong. As one local guide puts it, there is no burek without meat in Sarajevo. Forums are full of Bosnians good-naturedly correcting their neighbours.
| Name | Filling |
|---|---|
| Burek | Minced meat (usually beef) and onion |
| Sirnica | Fresh white cheese |
| Zeljanica | Spinach and cheese |
| Krompiruša | Potato and onion |
| Tikvenica | Grated pumpkin or courgette |
| Šarena pita | “Colourful pie”: a mix, such as meat and potato |
How Burek Is Made
The skill is in the dough. Bakers stretch soft dough by hand on a large floured cloth until it is thin enough to see through, brush it with oil, then lay the filling along it and roll it up. The rolls are either laid in parallel rows in a round tray or coiled into spirals (zvrk), then baked until golden and crisp outside and soft inside. The best pie shops bake under a sač, a metal lid covered with hot coals.
How to Order
- Tell the server which pie you want: burek, sirnica, zeljanica or krompiruša.
- Order by weight or portion: “četvrt” (a quarter kilo) or “pola kile” (half a kilo) is common; a quarter is a good single portion.
- Add a jogurt, the thick drinking yoghurt that is the classic partner.
- Eat it hot, at the counter or at a small table, and pay in cash.
Where to Eat Burek in Sarajevo
- Sač: in Mali Bravadžiluk, just off Baščaršija, baking under the sač lid; often named among the city’s best and featured by TasteAtlas.
- Bosna: one of the most popular buregdžinicas in Baščaršija, near the City Hall (Vijećnica).
- Neighbourhood pie shops: Sarajevo has dozens, near Markale market and in residential areas, many loved by locals for their consistency.
Burek is a breakfast and lunch food in Sarajevo, eaten from early morning. Locals treat it as a separate meal from ćevapi, so you might have burek in the morning and ćevapi later in the day.
Read our guide to ćevapi in Sarajevo for the city’s other essential meal.
Burek Across the Region
Burek comes from the Turkish börek and spread across the Ottoman world. Today you find it in Türkiye, the Balkans, Greece, North Africa and the Middle East, with different shapes, doughs and fillings. Each Balkan country is proud of its own: in Serbia and Croatia, cheese burek is normal; in Albania it is byrek; in Türkiye, börek comes in many forms.
Halal and Dietary Notes
Halal note: in Sarajevo, burek is made with beef and onion, and traditional pie shops do not use pork; many are run by Muslim families and some display halal certificates. In other Balkan countries, meat fillings and frying fats may include pork, so ask. Sirnica, zeljanica and krompiruša are vegetarian alternatives. See our halal food travel guide.
All burek and pita contain wheat, so they are not gluten-free. Sirnica and zeljanica contain dairy.
What It Costs in 2026
| Item | Typical price |
|---|---|
| A quarter kilo of burek | About BAM 4–6 |
| Sirnica, zeljanica or krompiruša | Usually slightly cheaper than burek |
| Jogurt | About BAM 2 |
| A full burek meal with jogurt | About BAM 5–8 |
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Bosnian burek?
A pie of thin, hand-stretched pastry rolled around minced meat and onion, baked in a round tray.
Is cheese burek a thing in Bosnia?
Not in Bosnian usage. The cheese version is called sirnica, and Bosnians reserve the word burek for the meat pie.
What is the difference between burek and pita?
In Bosnia, burek is the meat pie, and pita is the general name for the other filled pies: sirnica, zeljanica, krompiruša and tikvenica.
What do you drink with burek?
Jogurt, a thick plain drinking yoghurt, is the classic choice.
Where is the best burek in Sarajevo?
Sač and Bosna in and near Baščaršija are the names most often recommended, along with many neighbourhood pie shops.
How much burek should I order?
A quarter kilo (četvrt) is a good portion for one person; half a kilo is a big meal or for sharing.
Is burek halal in Sarajevo?
Traditional Sarajevo burek is made with beef and no pork. Ask if you want to confirm certification.
When do Bosnians eat burek?
Mainly for breakfast and lunch, from early morning.
What is a sač?
A bell-shaped metal lid covered with hot coals, used to bake pies and meat slowly from above and below.
Is burek Turkish or Bosnian?
It came from the Turkish börek during Ottoman times, and Bosnia developed its own style, now a national favourite.
Can vegetarians eat burek?
Burek itself is meat, but sirnica, zeljanica and krompiruša are vegetarian.
More from the Balkans: ćevapi, tavë kosi and ajvar.
Sources
- 12 najboljih buregdžinica u Sarajevu, Sarajevo Navigator (no burek without meat, pie shops, prices)
- Börek, Wikipedia (origin, regional variants)
