Happy: The Applebee’s of Bulgaria
20 Oct 2023 by Amby
Throughout our brief time in Bulgaria, we heard that Happy’s was the place to go to get a sense of popular dining in the country. They have many locations, including four in Sofia, so we stopped by for some lunch.
The setting felt very similar to an American Applebee’s in terms of how the waiters dressed and even a lot of the menu items. The decorations were a bit more hip and fun though, and the food was great.
For taste and modern culture, Drew and I both think Happy is a must-do for at least one meal in Bulgaria.
Food and Vibes:
The Sofia Happy is super easy and convenient to get to, right downtown. There are multiple dining rooms and the restaurant is very big, but it was still completely packed.
I actually wasn’t that hungry so I got the homemade chicken soup (6.99 BGN) and the corsica salad (10.99 BGN), which had hummus, avocado, onions, and other tasty veggies. I thought they were both pretty good, especially the chicken soup.
Drew got the black Angus fries (16.99 BGN), which came with an egg and onions. He was very satisfied with his lunch, but says he wish he ordered the ribs instead.
I was most excited for the chocolate lava cake dessert, or as they call it at Happy”soufflé with melted chocolate center” (5.99 BGN) because this is my favorite thing to order at Applebee’s.
Readers, I am telling you, this was AMAZING. One of the best lava cakes I’ve ever had. 10/10 definitely order it when you go.
Conclusion:
Happy does have some Bulgarian-style food, but it mostly caters to latin flavors, and even has sushi. However, we felt like this restaurant offered a very authentic look into Bulgaria today.
The food was pretty good and the restaurant provided a great pit stop in the middle of the city for further exploration. Check it out when you’re in town!
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