Grill Stand · Balkan Burger

Pljeskavica

📷 Closely related photo — Photo via Pexels/Unsplash — free for commercial use

Long before American burgers arrived, Serbs already had their own version — grilled thinner, wider, and stuffed into flatbread.

Pljeskavica is a large, thin patty of mixed minced meats, grilled over charcoal and stuffed into soft flatbread with onions and a choice of kajmak, ajvar, or cheese. Street vendors grill it to order, and it's one of the most common late-night food-stall orders in Belgrade.

Why it's made this way: The southern town of Leskovac is famous as Serbia's grill capital and hosts an annual grill festival, the Roštiljijada; the patty's flat shape lets it cook fast over open coals — a practical way to feed busy market crowds.