U Kroka Prague Restaurant: The Only One You Need, and the Schnitzel Is Great Too
U Kroka: my go-to restaurant for traditional Czech food in Prague for over 10 years, with excellent schnitzel too
Hi, I’m CULT.
Today, after finishing a photo shoot, I went to U Kroka. When it comes to traditional Czech food, this place is simply the best of the best.
Honestly, if you get koleno (roast pork knuckle) at U Pinkasů, goulash at Budvarka and svíčková (beef in cream sauce) here at U Kroka, you’ve covered the perfect triangle. That’s based on the dishes Korean travelers love, though,, because in European guidebooks and among YouTubers, U Kroka is actually famous for its schnitzel.
U Kroka at a glance
Here’s the location, opening hours and prices first.
U Kroka in the Prague 2 district
Details
Getting there and booking
Be sure to book on weekends.
It’s on Vratislavova Street (Vratislavova) in the neighborhood below Vyšehrad, in the Prague 2 district. When I went, the break was from 3 to 4 p.m., but now the kitchen takes a break from 4 to 5 p.m. On weekends,, even though it’s out in Prague 2, you absolutely need a reservation.
I’ve been coming here for over 10 years,, and I’ve never once been disappointed… well, actually, I have. The lunch menu -_-;; But whenever I’ve ordered from the main menu, it’s always been a hit. I recommend this place without reservation. Go. And please stop going to places like Pork’s that pass off German Haxe as koleno..
According to U Kroka’s official website (as of October 2026), it’s open daily from 11:30 to 23:00, and the kitchen takes a break from 4 to 5 p.m. It’s a small family-run restaurant without many tables, so reservations are taken for up to 12 people only, either through the booking page on the website or by phone (+420 775 905 022). According to Prague City Tourism, it carries on the tradition of a Prague pub that opened in 1895 on a walking route to Vyšehrad.
The menu and the bread
There’s a kids’ menu I hadn’t seen before.
On the menu,, there’s something I’d never noticed before. A kids’ menu! Baby svíčková.. I’d love to try that.. but since I’ve posted twice recently, I’ll save it for another time.. On the September 2024 menu, the little chicken steak (with mashed potatoes) was 125 CZK and the baby svíčková was 135 CZK. The menu also has a separate vegetarian section.
On the official October 2026 menu, svíčková is 390 CZK, beef goulash 360 CZK, koleno with Kozel dark beer sauce 420 CZK and duck leg 420 CZK, and the garlic soup made with smoked ribs (česnečka) is 135 CZK. On the kids’ menu, the children’s svíčková and children’s schnitzel are now 170 CZK each.
As for the bread,, the spread is on the salty side, so if you like salty flavors you’ll enjoy it.
What I ordered today
Chicken salad, schnitzel and Kozel Dark
Today I ordered the chicken salad and the schnitzel.
Kofola and Kozel Dark
The dark beer is fresh here too.
For drinks, we ordered a Kofola and a Kozel Dark. Dark beer sells well here too, so it’s fresh and tasty. Na zdraví! A sweet Kozel Dark after a four-hour photo shoot 😀
The atmosphere
Ten minutes after opening, the tables are full.
The break ended at 4, so we came in right as the doors opened, and after about 10 minutes the place quickly filled up. It’s always been a very popular spot.
While waiting for the food, I took a look around. At the bar they pour beers one after another, and the Wi-Fi details are written on the wall, so guests can use the Wi-Fi too.
Chicken salad and balsamic spray
Who knew balsamic came in a spray?
This is the chicken salad we ordered as well, and it’s really good. If every salad in the world tasted like this, anyone could stick to a diet. The salads here were good 10 years ago, and they’re still good now.
Somehow,, these taste like the sesame crackers I’ve had in Korea and Japan,, nice and crunchy. They go well with the salad.
I’ve never seen anything like this. Balsamic in a spray, who knew lol. It was so fascinating that I had to take a photo lolololol
I usually skip balsamic because I can’t be bothered to pour it over my salad and toss everything, but with this you don’t have to! It sprays right on! A truly brilliant invention!
Today’s main: the schnitzel
Better than the ones I’ve had in Austria.
Today’s main dish, the schnitzel. It’s delicious. Really delicious. Better than what I’ve had at so-called top places while traveling in Austria. If there are two of you, I recommend getting one of these and the svíčková. As for beer, the Pilsner here is very fresh and good.
Mmm,, heavenly. The mashed potatoes are delicious,, so don’t leave them just because you’re watching your blood sugar. You’ll seriously regret it.
Today it rained during the shoot and turned cold afterward, so it was a bit of a tough day, but good food gave me my energy back. My last shoot of the day was at Vyšehrad, and since another walk up there didn’t really appeal, I strolled along the riverside embankment for a while instead.
Prices
From my September 2024 receipt
The bill was 654 CZK, and I rounded it up to 700 CZK with the tip. That’s about 42,000 Korean won,, (at the September 2024 exchange rate)
The receipt shows schnitzel (Řízek) 285 CZK, chicken salad 245 CZK, Kozel 0.5 L 59 CZK and Kofola 0.5 L 65 CZK, and I paid by card. The receipt says “Service is not included”, so remember to leave a tip separately.
On the official October 2026 menu, the panko-crusted chicken schnitzel (with creamy mashed potatoes, pickles and lemon) has gone up to 350 CZK and the chicken salad to 265 CZK. If you ordered the same meal today, expect around 750 CZK for two.
Wrapping up
A must-visit when you’re in Prague
U Kroka is a place I tell everyone to visit when they come to Prague. Leaving aside Michelin-starred restaurants, Budvarka is about the only place in a similar price range that can compete with food this good, and although there are already plenty of posts about it, I’ll write about it separately later.
That’s all for now, and I’ll be back tomorrow with more stories from Prague!
- It's at Vratislavova 28/12 in the Prague 2 district. It's in the neighborhood below Vyšehrad, so it's easy to combine with a walk around Vyšehrad.
- Booking is essential on weekends. You can book through the booking page on the official website or by phone, and because it's a small restaurant, reservations are taken for up to 12 people only. Even when I went on a weekday right after the break ended, the tables were almost full within 10 minutes.
- The schnitzel is what it's best known for. If there are two of you, I recommend one schnitzel and one svíčková, and for beer, the fresh Pilsner or Kozel Dark is a good choice.
- There's a kids' menu. On the official October 2026 menu, the children's svíčková and children's schnitzel are 170 CZK each, and roast chicken with mashed potatoes is 160 CZK.
- In September 2024, schnitzel, chicken salad and two drinks for two came to 654 CZK. On the official October 2026 menu, schnitzel is 350 CZK, svíčková 390 CZK and chicken salad 265 CZK, so the same order would come to around 750 CZK.
- Yes, cards are accepted. The receipt says service is not included, so it's customary to round up the amount a little as a tip.
- Yes. According to the official website (October 2026), the kitchen takes a break from 4 to 5 p.m. every day. When I went in 2024 it was from 3 to 4 p.m., so the hours may change.
