The small meat kebab-sausage comes with somun (Bosnian pita bread) and raw onions. According to locals, Cevabdzinica Zeljo has the best cevapi in Sarajevo. Don’t expect fine dining or high-class service at this small restaurant in Sarajevo’s Bascarsija.

Ćevapi or ćevapčići (pronounced CHAE-vap or CHAE-vap-ee) is hand-shaped, caseless sausage, served with bread, onions, tomato paste, etc. It is popular in Croatia, Serbia, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Bulgaria, and other countries in the Balkans region. Although each Balkan state has a different version of the cevapi – do try it in the heart of Sarajevo.Choose Cevabdzinica Zeljo for a full meal (or share with your loved one, as you half day of sightseeing to go).

Sarajevo’s street food is as good as street food gets, and Cevabdzinica Zeljo is a first stop for any native returning to town or for tourists who want to get a real taste of the Bosnian food scene. Order cevapcici (che-VAHP-chee-chee), a type of non-spicy beef sausage, with pita, onions, and creamy kajmak cheese. In Bosnian culture it’s customary to get a side glass of yogurt to drink, so do as the locals do and chug away.

The owners of this place have 3 separate locations around the Old Town area, named after the local football team. But, regardless of whether they support FK Sarajevo or FK Željo, one thing that locals tend to agree on is that this is the go-to place for authentic Sarajevski ćevapi. National Geographic even recommended it, which is yet another testament to the quality of food served here.

Sarajevo is a paradise for meat lovers and it's full of small cafes and restaurants offering cevapi, a traditional skinless sausage served with delicious pitta bread. Places serving it are known as Cevabdžinica and each has its own name. The dishes at Željo, in the middle of the old town are wonderful, and there always seems to be a queue here - never a bad sign!

Cevabdzinica Željo is one of those spots where the central location in the heart of the Bascarsija may discourage those who might think it touristy because of its position. Their mistake because this locale is beloved by all in Sarajevo. Known for their delicious cuts of meat, the specialty is a Bosnian variation of Cevapcici (Cured Balkan sausage) called Suzuk.

We had our Cevapi at Cevabdzinica Zeljo 1 while exploring Sarajevo’s old town, and the restaurant only serves this one dish so it was easy to order. During peak dining hours it usually gets crowded, but we visited outside of those times and didn’t have to wait for a seat. The waiter was pretty helpful with our order, and we absolutely enjoyed the meal.

Ćevapi – traditionally eaten in a pita bread with onion, sour cream (kajmak), and a drinkable yoghurt. As we’ve stated before, the Balkan countries are known for their ćevapi. These grilled sausages are made of minced meat (usually a beef and lamb mix) and served in a grilled pita-type bread with raw onions.

Named after one of the city's two football clubs, this Ćevabdžinica is one of the most popular in the city. There are now three restaurants in total, all within a few metres of each other and all always full. The Ćevapi are juicy, well done and the somun is the star here: juicy, greasy, crispy.

Ćevabdžinica Željo in Sarajevo is a must-visit spot for experiencing the local culinary scene. Known for its delicious ćevapi, a traditional Bosnian dish of grilled minced meat served with bread. Ćevabdžinica Željo | Sarajevo Read More »

Another must in Sarajevo is Cevapi - essentially small grilled sausages on bread with raw onions. If you want a greasy, simple, and quick meal, this is it. You can get decent cevapi in many places in Sarajevo.

Locals love to get their Cevapi fix at Cevabdzinica Zeljo in the Old Town, which is said to serve some of the best Cevapi in Sarajevo.