Gjelltore SaUku - Traditional Albanian Cuisine — Restaurant in Tirana Municipality

Wow! What an amazing place. It's been a hot 30 degrees in Tirana and I was walking around the bazaar trying to find a place to eat but everything seemed too touristy or locals just eating meatballs and raw onions. I was ready to give up but then found this place.

It is a 3 minute walk from the Pazari I Ri market on a very small side street with no other shops around. When you enter you are greated by a husband and wife who look just like "your friends parents". They are super friendly, excited to see you, and want to make you happy.

They do not speak English but they have an English menu and you just point at what you want. I had traditional Albanian dishes like Tave Dheu, Tomato and Feta Salad, and Tartor. Everything was homemade by the wife and you can see her work in her kitchen. Everything tastes homemade and amazing. It was also the best Tartor I have ever had, even better than Macedonia and Bulgaria! And for a fantastic price.

At the end, the husband wrote me a note thanking me for coming to his restaurant. This place is such a treasure and it is right next to all of the overpriced touristy restaurants.

To the owners, your food is delicious but the hospitality was even more amazing. You are both lovely people and I wish you...

Gjelltore Sauku is the kind of place you hope to find when traveling — no frills, just incredibly good food made with care. It’s a small, traditional spot a little outside the city center, but 100% worth the trip.

I ordered a few different dishes based on recommendations, and honestly, everything was fantastic. The tavë dheu was rich and comforting, with tender lamb in a baked, savory sauce — classic Albanian comfort food. I also tried the tru (lamb brain with fried potatoes), which was surprisingly delicious. Creamy, well-seasoned, and paired with perfectly crisp young potatoes — definitely a dish I’m glad I didn’t shy away from.

The tasqebap (meat stew) was full of flavor and slow-cooked to perfection. The fërgesë Tirone was another standout — creamy and full of roasted peppers and cheese. Even the stuffed eggplant and pahçe (rice with meat) were excellent. Everything felt homemade in the best way.

Service was friendly and warm, even with limited English spoken — you can tell they take pride in what they do. Just a heads-up: they only take cash, so come prepared.

If you want to eat like a local and experience real Albanian food, this place should be at the top of your list. I’ll...

I am extremely critical when it comes to reviewing restaurants and their food, but this business has a well deserved reputation. The food was fantastic— nothing extravagant or unique. Just traditional Albanian food done right. It was hearty, flavourful and tasty. I visited twice. The first time I had two pieces of their meatballs— delicious— and their tave balte (dehu), (or special oven meat). It was so good; a salty, meaty and creamy dish I accompanied with bread. (I would suggest taking most of the meat out of the pot and onto your plate when your receive the dish— not just so that it cools down, but so that the meat remains tender and doesn’t continue to cook in the still-bubbling ramekin). The second visit I ordered the soup with meatballs and used bread again to mop up the brine. The flavour profile was somewhat similar to the tave, but this was more hearty and rich. I would have this for breakfast over and over. Also fantastic in its simplicity.

I am a solo traveller so my only regret is not being able to try more in the limited time I had. If I return to Tiranë, this will be where I head first— hopefully with my family to share more of what the...