What to Eat in Greece: 20 Irresistible Local Delights
Greece has been a family favorite destination for its islands and crystal clear waters, but the fresh, flavorful food also gives even more reason to be high on your bucket list!
The rich flavors of local Greek food are truly some of the best, from savory meat skewers to sweet pastries, and everything in between. Experience the best of Greek cuisine with my list of favorites that I tried during my study abroad in Athens!
1. Spanakopita
One of my go-to breakfast items (along with a cappuccino) was Spanakopita.
Spanakopita is a savory pie made with flaky pastry crust filled with spinach, feta cheese, and egg. It is a traditional food pastry found in almost any bakery in Greece, as well as other parts of southeastern Europe. They’re always best when they’re fresh in the morning!
2. Koulouri
Kourlouri is the greek version of a bagel. It’s a soft bread ring with a crispy outside covered in sesame seeds, or other topping variations like cheese or poppy seeds. They are one of the most popular street snacks in Greece and throughout the Middle East.
3. Greek Salad
My absolute favorite lunch dish in Greece was the Greek salad. I ate it nearly everyday during my study abroad since it’s the perfect light lunch that keeps you feeling refreshed for hours.
Before coming to Greece, I had no idea that it’s traditionally served without lettuce, and that’s probably why I like it so much. It is a mixture of tomatoes, kalamata olives, croutons, cucumber, and feta cheese topped with a drizzle of olive oil.
4. Dolmades
Although the term Dolma originates from the Ottoman empire/Turkey, the stuffing of grape leaves is deeply rooted in Greek culture.
The filling for this dish is typically made with rice, meat, herbs, and lemon and is wrapped and cooked in grape leaves. They make for great shareable appetizers at the dinner table.
5. Gyro
(pronounced yee-roe)
Gyros are one of the most popular street foods, and it definitely lives up to its hype. The meat is sliced right off the vertical rotisserie and onto a warm pita bread with tomatoes, red onions, fries, and tzatziki sauce. The best part is they typically only cost between 3-4 euros.
5. Souvlaki/Kebab
Souvlaki and kebabs are the sister foods to the gyro, served with vegetables, pita, and tzatziki. Kebabs are ground beef or lamb, and souvlaki is marinated pork or chicken on a skewer. A fun fact, archeological findings show that Greeks used skewers to cook meat on stones since before the 17th century B.C., meaning Souvlaki could be nearly 4,000 years old!
6. Soutzoukakia
These are not your average meatballs!
These traditional greek meatballs are pan-fried until crispy, and beautifully seasoned with cumin, garlic, and oregano. They are typically served in a tomato sauce with a side of vegetables and rice or potatoes.
7. Pastitsio
Pastitsio is a greek baked lasagna dish that typically consists of tubular pasta, cinnamon-spiced beef ragu, topped with a creamy layer of béchamel sauce. This was one of the most interesting meals I tried in Greece, and I really enjoyed it. It combines a savory pasta with the sweet, woody flavor of cinnamon.
8. Moussaka
Another very traditional greek dish is Moussaka, an eggplant and potato casserole-like dish with ground beef or lamb. This dish originated in the Middle East and later made its way to Greece with several local variations. Its popularity led it to become known as the national dish of Greece.
9. Gemista
Gemista translates to “ones that are filled” and is a must-try dish when in Greece. It’s typically made with baked vegetables like bell peppers, eggplant, or tomatoes stuffed with rice and sometimes ground beef.
10. Shrimp Spaghetti
As a country full of islands, there is no doubt that the seafood is some of the tastiest and the freshest.
One of my favorite seafood dishes I had was shrimp spaghetti from Aegina Island. It was made with a sweet tomato sauce topped with fried shrimp. If you are planning on going island hopping, I highly recommend having an ocean side seafood dinner!
11. Baklava
This sweet, crunchy pastry is found all over Greece and is considered the national dessert.
It’s made of flaky phyllo dough, chopped nuts, and honey syrup. It is associated strongly with religion, traditionally made with 33 layers to dough to represent the years of Christ.
12. Falafel
Falafel is popular in middle eastern cuisine, and commonly served in Greek restaurants. It is a deep fried fritter made from chickpeas and a mixture of herbs and spices. You can get them as an appetizer, or in a gyro.
13. Kataifi
Found in almost every dessert bakery, Kataifi is one of the most beautiful Greek desserts I’ve seen. It’s a sweet spun dessert made from shredded phyllo dough. Inside is a sweet, nutty filling that makes it hard to eat just one!
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14. Loukoumades
Another popular dessert found in Greece is Lokma, which is a fried dough covered in a sweet syrup and sometimes cinnamon.
It is a simple dessert, often accompanied by coffee. Lukumades, a dessert shop in Athens, is known for their perfection of this dessert.
15. Greek coffee
In Greece, coffee is a way of life, a reason to gather, a welcome to a guest, and so much more.
Greek coffee is made from a fine grind of coffee that is boiled instead of brewed. It is served with some grounds in the cup, and they settle as the drink is slowly sipped. It’s a rich and strong coffee drink, but milder than a shot of espresso.
Bonus: Cappuccino
Though you can drink a cappuccino almost anywhere in the world, I am confident the Greeks have mastered it.
Nearly every coffee shop I visited (and there were many) made me a perfect cappuccino with an airy layer of milk foam on top, great to have on the go or while doing work.
When you travel to Greece, you may be busy island hopping or visiting historical sites. But don’t forget that food is a huge part of greek culture, and a memorable experience on a trip abroad! I hope you find a love for greek food as much as I did!
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