I recently visited a restaurant based on its numerous positive reviews, expecting to indulge in delicious traditional cuisine. However, to be completely honest, the experience fell far short of its impressive 4.8 rating according to those reviews. In fact, it turned out to be one of the least satisfying dinners my companions and I have had in Albania thus far. I must acknowledge the friendliness and attentiveness of the owner, who personally attended to the guests. However, I was extremely disappointed by the way he treated the other young waiters. Witnessing arguments and conflicts among the staff in the presence of diners is highly unprofessional and made me uncomfortable. Regarding the food itself, I was quite let down. The dishes lacked the flavors and authenticity that I had anticipated. The presentation was underwhelming, and the overall taste failed to impress. It pains me to say that this was not the enjoyable culinary experience we were hoping for. Despite the positive attributes of the owner's demeanor and the polite service we received, the negative aspects overshadowed the overall experience. Considering the mediocre quality of the food and the unprofessional behavior witnessed, I can only give this restaurant a rating of 2 out of 5 stars. It is my hope that the management takes this feedback constructively and strives to address the shortcomings, as there is clearly potential for improvement

The experience goes beyond the food. The attention and care by the couple is mesmerizing. They suggest some typical dishes, they are all amazing, I loved the aubergine. They treated me and were super focused on me having a great time there. I love to come to places like this were they make you feel at home. If you come here in summer make sure to book in advance.

Amazing food with exceptional service. The interior and also a little bit of the garden were not that appealing, but thankfully the food was great. We tried multiple traditional dishes, the rice balls, mix of pies, stuffed eggplants all amazing. The chicken with baked potatoes hit the spot for me. I loved that they offered complimentary drinks right when we sat down and even a free cake at the end. You just don't see that hospitality nowadays. If you are lucky you will have multiple cats giving you company during your meal.

This restaurant is just the best! Julio welcomed us so friendly and he and his mum made us really feel at home. Food is all homemade with love and care. Just delicious. We had a wonderful local experience. All the best to Julio and his family!

Mama chef makes the best food in Gjirokastër. The family is so warm and welcoming. And they have the coolest collection of things, gifted from guests around the world. :)

THE best restaurant we’ve found in Albania so far!! incredibly charming people, familial athmosphere and great food. many options for vegans and vegetarians and the staff are happy to adjust dishes to your preferences.

We visited Kardashi restaurant thanks to many excellent reviews. We were expecting a delicious traditional Albanian meal, but despite the family hospitality, we rate the food as mediocre. We expected much more. The owner tried to give personal attention to the guests, but for some this approach may be too warm and overly friendly. Less is sometimes more. In addition, there was a tremendous amount of noise in the restaurant, mainly caused by the staff with their constant shouting, loud conversations, running and laughing. You definitely won't enjoy the food here in peace, so come here only if you don't mind such an atmosphere. In addition, we witnessed a long argument between the owner and the waiters just a few meters from our table. They were shouting at each other and made us feel very uncomfortable. We have to admit that the owner later apologized for the argument, but still the impression remained... such behavior is very unprofessional and impolite. On the positive side, we appreciate the many acts of hospitality such as a welcome drink, a bottle of water and ice, a coke or a sweet cake at the end.

This place is not your typical install-place, but it is the best atmosphere and food we have had in Albania. If you want to meet genuine heart-warming people and not feel like a walking wallet as a tourist this is the perfect spot. The food is amazing and worth the hike.

This taverna has a special secret ingredient: Hospitality. The staff works in outstanding harmony to make the guest feel at home. That day was the birthday of Giuliano, the host, we danced, ate his cake, he offered us drinks. They were very welcoming and the food was good, especially stuffed peppers and meat in general. Unforgettable experience!!!! ☺️☺️☺️

We went here because of all of the great reviews and can confirm the restaurant is well deserving of what others have said :-) Great service can often be difficult to find in Albania and this family run restaurant really takes it up to the zenith level. It was raining and they even provided us transportation back to our vehicle. This place is a rare gem and all I can say is if in Gjirokaster that it is most definitely worth the visit. Great hospitality, great food, great prices! 11/10

Great place with great people. We were hiking to the hotel and he gave us towel to clear face (was 35 degrees) and invite us inside. We said later and he said “ok”. We came back and the found was delicious. Welcome drink was nice and it’s possible to buy a bottle of that :) We order a lot of things to try, everything was good ! Cheap and best food. You have to come here to feel this country :)

Truly the best restaurant experience in my life. The owner and staff are most accommodating and so passionate in creating a memorable experience. The owner provided a very warm welcome with a smile, a shot of Raki, and this clove wine which was to die for. The food was way above expectations. I was skeptical about the recommended stuffed eggplant, but I was severely wrong. That and the traditional rice balls were simply delicious. I went back that evening and ordered the “candy corn brownie pie” as they describe it. Not sweet mind you, but divine like the rest of the dishes 🙏 No wonder this is the most visited restaurant here. It hasn’t lost its home style touch and the staff is like family. Even in the dead season, he says he wants to stay open for the tourists. This is a very rare person to find these days. I wish the best life for you and your staff!

The most friendliest restaurant I've been to so far. Bonus friendliness if you come here in a group with mates you just met 😁 Highly recommend the qofte, and special Gjirokaster handrolled rice. The manager here gave us a great time, filling us with rakia shots and freshly made cheese burek. A night to not forget. During more normal times of the day, you could still expect great service and food and fairly reasonable prices!

Typical traditional food. Very hospitable and friendly staff and a great location. All food was sadly not enough salted. Great ingredients but lack of taste and technique in cooking it. Don’t entertain the cats or they will literally jump on the table over the food. Again, very hospitable people!

The food was amazing and the service was one of the best I have ever seen. They were so nice and so pleasant. We talked with all staff there and they even gave us some extra drinks and deserts on the house. The price was also incredible, we spent 30 euros for 3 adults, so it was really affordable. I loved that they have souvenirs from all around the world from people that ate there.

We were a group of 10 people - the quality of service was affected by communication between waiters and owner. Also, they completely forgot to bring us one food, but put it on bill - not really an accounting standard. Moussaka was heated (not completely fresh) and a bit cold in the middle. Food taste was good, nothing extraordinary.

This is my favorite restaurant in Gjirokastër. The host is very friendly and speaks very good English. One night he even sent me back to my hotel with his car. The food there has fair price but the quality is superb. I recommend their spinach Byrek (kinda like Pizza), Stuffed Eggplants, and Qofte. But feel free to try other plates, everything is good here.

Best albanian food and the staff is very nice. They compensated the time we had to wait in line with little treats. The food is around 10€ per person and it was a great experience! Do not make a reservation since you will wait in line anyway. I recommend arriving early or late lunch (from 4pm) so you garantee that you wont wait in the line.

Food was very good, and location was great. Staff in the restaurants even showed us how to dance! Family style restaurant, very hospitable, received complimentary rakia, liquor and dessert. Only downside was that we were waiting a bit longer for the bill. Would recommended!

A wonderful restaurant with a warm, family atmosphere. What's amazing is that we could taste traditional dishes that were made with love. We met a wonderful family there, a wonderful cook, father and son who welcomed us so warmly. An unforgettable experience with people from America, Italy and Romania who, like us, came to eat something and ended up celebrating the new year together! Thank you for an unforgettable evening! FALEMINDERIT!

We highly recommend this place. They have local and traditional food for cheap prices. The food is unbelievably good and the secret is the spinach pie. The service is very efficient for Albania and of course very polite. The view from the terace is worth it and it is quiet. And on tops there is a turtle pet.

Great service and friendly staff. We received complementary drinks before and after the meal. The stuffed eggplant is especially delicious. Highly recommend!

The food was excellent, the waiter spoke great English and it was a stunning setting! Be careful as British drivers down these roads though- we got stuck in very precarious positions!

Food was so good that we didn’t take photos but we cleaned our plates! Lots of vegetarian and vegan options!! The stuffed eggplant and grilled vegetables were especially good. Also had some really nice cake and tea. Giuliano and his mother were so kind and even gave us a ride to our hotel because it was a far walk. We are so glad we came to eat here, 11/10 experience! Great prices, great atmosphere, and absolutely amazing service!

Incredible experience. Music & dancing & insane vegetarian Albanian food! Our waiter was so friendly we stayed drinking with him after the restaurant closed! Core memory in Albania 🫶🏼

Fun atmosphere and wonderful small family run spot. It’s a hike to get there, and the food definitely had a stronger Greek influence, but it was good. They served a complimentary sweet drink made from clove flowers that was delicious and something I’ve never had anywhere.

Complimentary welcome drink and dessert given. Very friendly service. A friendly and curious cat. The yoghurt dip is amongst the freshest and nicest we have found in Albania Toilets could be better

Fantastic place, a must visit especially if your making your way up to the castle. Everything was great! Place is run by a lovely friendly family 🧡💛

What a great place! A real family owned business where we saw the lady making the food outside the taverna. As soon as you come in the taverna you have the feeling you're inside the living room of their house. The staff was very helpful and spoke perfect English. We got different traditional food and drinks to taste. It was all delicious. After we had our food we got some raki and dessert on the house. I cannot recommend this place enough. Go and taste a real bit of Albania. We'll defenitely come back! :)

This restaurant is a gem. The moment you step into Kardhashi, you're greeted with an authentic Albanian dishes. The menu at Kardhashi is all about traditional Albanian dishes. The flavors are rich and conforting. The waiter is exceptional friendliness. He enthusiastically introduced the dishes and prices and was very generous with the side dishes. At the end of the meal, we were also given free dessert - they were absolutely delicious! If you find yourself in Gjirokaster, Kardhashi is a must-visit!