Tbilisi: Make Khachapuri & Khinkali with Local Cook

What does it take to fold khachapuri the way Ajara families have for generations?

You learn to shape and cook Ajarian khachapuri and khinkali in a small Tbilisi workshop, then eat everything you made with homemade wine. The class includes all ingredients and takes place in a wheelchair-accessible space. Vegetarian versions of khinkali are available if you ask ahead.

Step-by-step itinerary

Cook and taste Georgian dishes

• Meet at Chakandrila cooking workshop
• Learn to make Adjaruli khachapuri
• Prepare traditional khinkali dumplings
• Hear stories about Georgian culture
• Enjoy cooked meal with homemade wine

The experience

You show up at Chakandrila, a small cooking workshop in Tbilisi, and the first thing you notice is that there's no menu on the wall, no laminated instruction cards. Your cook hands you dough that's already been mixed, and you start shaping it into that boat shape. The one you've probably seen in photos but never tried to make yourself. The khachapuri is the famous one, Ajaruli style, with melted cheese and an egg yolk that sits in the center waiting for you to break it. It sounds simple until you're actually doing it, and your cook is pointing out where the edges should seal, how much cheese goes in, why the shape matters for how it bakes.

After khachapuri comes khinkali, those Georgian dumplings that look deceptively small until you bite into one and realize there's hot broth inside. You're folding meat (or vegetables, if you ask) into thin dough, twisting the tops closed, and your cook is telling you stories about how highlanders make them, how families have their own way of doing it. The class moves at the pace of your hands, not a clock. You're not rushing through steps to hit a time. You're learning the actual technique because that's what takes however long it takes.

When everything is cooked, you sit down and eat what you made. Khachapuri first: that cheese and egg yolk combination hits different when it's still warm from your own hands. Then khinkali, five or six of them, with a glass of homemade wine included. The cook talks about Georgia while you eat, about the regions, the people, why these dishes matter. It's not a performance. It's just what happens when someone who knows food sits down with people who just learned to cook it.

What’s included

All ingredients for Ajarian khachapuri and khinkali, guidance from a local cook, the meal you prepare, and a glass of homemade wine or non-alcoholic drink. Vegetarian khinkali available upon request.

Before you book

Days and timesMonday, Thursday, Friday and SundayDepartures at 10:00, 14:00 and 18:00

Book up to8h before

AgesAdult (5 and older) · Under 5: can't be booked

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish and Russian

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

ConfirmationConfirmation within 48 h

Prices and times updated yesterday

Good to know

Wheelchair accessibleStroller-friendlyPublic transport nearby

Operated by Chakandrila

Is this one for you?Right for anyone who wants to learn a real Georgian dish hands-on and eat it straight away, without needing to find a restaurant or figure out the technique alone.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English and Russian.

Can I make khinkali vegetarian?

Yes. The meat-based khinkali can be switched to vegetarian options if you request it.

Is the workshop wheelchair accessible?

Yes. All areas and surfaces are wheelchair accessible, and infants can be brought in a pram or stroller.

What's included in the price?

The Ajarian khachapuri you make, 5-6 khinkali per person, and a glass of homemade wine. Non-alcoholic drinks are also available.

Where is Chakandrila located?

It's a cooking workshop in Tbilisi. Public transportation options are available nearby.

Do I need cooking experience?

No. The class is guided by a local cook and designed for learners. You'll be shown how to shape and cook both dishes from the start.

Are there ingredients I should know about?

The class uses cheese and eggs. Let the provider know if you have allergies or dietary restrictions.