Greek Food Guide: 17 Delicious Dishes from Greece You Must Try Before You Die

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The thousands of years of Greek history are filled with some of the most licious foods.

Greece is famous for its authentic Greek food.

There are so many food varieties that are nationally loved in Greece. If you are there for holidays, no trip to Greece is complete without tasting the dishes of moussaka, tzatziki, and delicious desserts like baklava.

Greek food has spread its delicious influence all over Europe and beyond. It has a long history and has been shaped even better by both Eastern and Western cultures.

The flavors of Greek food change with the seasons and the location where you go.

Because of Greece's long coastline, fresh vegetables, seafood, and fish are very common in Greek dishes.

Meat is less common, except for lamb, which is more popular. So, what are some of the favorite dishes you should try when you visit Greece? Let's find out!

Popular Dishes of Greece

1. Souvlaki

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Souvlaki-like dishes existed in Greece as early as the 17th Century BCE. It is the same as gyros but has a slightly different cooking method. It contains some small pieces of skewered and grilled meat.

It is a classic dish, served on wooden skewers or wrapped in pita with an amazing topping, including fries and tzatziki. 

What to Eat with Souvlaki? tzatziki, pita bread, salad, tomato or rice
Created in  1924
Cost 3.30 Euros
Main ingredients Chicken, beef or lamb, vegetables

Where to Eat?

Address: Charilaou Trikoupi 23, Athens 10681 Greece

Address: Perikleous 56, Athens 10560 Greece

  • Victory Cafe

Address: Filellinon 22, Athens 10557 Greece

Address: Aisopou 17 Psirri, Athens Greece

Address: Mitropoleos 5 Nikis, Athens 105 57 Greece

2. Moussaka

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Greek Moussaka (Moussaka) is a traditional Greek dish, and every family surely has its own version of making It.

The dish evolved well over centuries in the Byzantine era, incorporating different regional ingredients and cooling techniques. It is believed to have originated in the Middle East and was introduced to Greece when the Ottomans ruled.

Since then, Moussaka has become a popular choice in Greek restaurants. It is served with layers of - 

  • Minced beef
  • Tomato sauce
  • Sliced eggplant
  • Bechamel sauce
What to Eat with Souvlaki? Chunky Tomato, Cucumber, Parsley, Mind Salad, Crusty Bread
Created in  1920s
Cost 19 Euros
Main ingredients Eggplant or potatoes, minced meat

Where to Eat?

Address: Adrianou 68 | Eolou St., Plaka, Athens 105 56, Greece (Plaka)

Address: 37 Adrianou Monastiraki, Athens 105 55 Greece

  • Victory Cafe

Address: Fillelinon 22, Athens 10557 Greece

Address: Makrygianni Street 21, Athens 11742 Greece

Address: 27 Makrygianni St, Athens 11742 Greece

3. Dolmades

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Each region in Greece - in fact, every household - has a Dolmades variation. The stuffed vine leaves are filled with herbs and rice, making them a delicious meat-free version of a classic and traditional Greek maze.

You can serve them with fresh lemon juice and tzatziki on the side. Dolmades is one of the Greek foods found in different variations in every area of Greece and every season. 

What to Eat with Souvlaki? Tzatziki (or plain yogurt) and Greek salad or tabouli
Created in  335 BC
Cost £35 - £60
Main ingredients Cabbage, herbs, rice, minced meat, grape/vine leaves.

Where to Eat?

  • Anafiotika Cafe - Restaurant

Address: 24B Mnisikleous | Plaka, Athens 105 56, Greece (Plaka)

  • Dionysos Restaurant and Taverna

Address: Pavlou Street, Delphi, Greece

4. Spanakopita

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Another classic Greek dish is spanakopita, also known as spinach pie. Greeks have been making this delicious, flaky treat for centuries.

They layer phyllo dough with butter or olive oil and fill the layers with a mixture of spinach, feta cheese, scallions, and eggs.

Then, they bake it in the oven until it’s golden brown. Spanakopita is usually served as an appetizer, but it’s so tasty that you can easily enjoy it as a whole meal.

What to Eat with Souvlaki? Roasted vegetables, Greek salad, tzatziki, chicken kebab, cheese dip, oven roasted zucchini
Created in  400 years ago
Cost €14.95
Main ingredients spinach, herbs baked in a golden, crispy phyllo dough, feta

Where to Eat?

  • Meet 2 Eat

Antinavarhoy Ioannidi 2, Kos Town 85300 Greece

  • Pnyka

Pratinou 2, Athina 116 34, Greece

  • Platanos Taverna

Diogenous 4, Athina 105 56, Greece

Athinas 37, Athina 105 54, Greece

5. Stifado

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Stifado is a Greek stew that the Venetians brought to Greece in the 13th century. The name comes from the Italian word "stufato," meaning steamed, which itself comes from the Greek word "tyfos," meaning steam.

Another idea is that it comes from the Italian word "stufa," which is a small oven used for slow-cooking food in a sealed pot.

Stifado can be made with different kinds of meat, with rabbit and beef being the most common.

However, there are also interesting versions of this Greek food which is made with octopus and a tasty vegan version made with mushrooms and chestnuts.

What to Eat with Souvlaki? Greek egg noodles (hilopites), mashed potatoes, fluffy rice, or even Greek oven fries
Created in  13th century
Cost £25 - £34
Main ingredients Red wine, warming spices, and loads of pearl onions

Where to Eat?

  • Dimitris Steak House

Address: Omirou 2, Elounda, Crete 720 53, Greece

  • Escape Restaurant

Address: Kalamaki 291 00, Greece

Address: Adrianou 47 | Monastiraki, Athens 10555, Greece (Monastiraki)

6. Tzatziki

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Tangy, creamy, and spicy, tzatziki is the perfect Greek summer dish and a staple in Greek cuisine. Known mainly as the main sauce for souvlaki, tzatziki is much more than that.

Tzatziki is made with Greek yogurt, which Greeks have known since ancient times as "oxygalo," meaning acid milk.

Yogurt became more popular during Ottoman times, introduced by Turkish nomadic tribes who made it because it was easy to carry and lasted longer. 

What to Eat with Souvlaki? crudités or pita, veggies, fish, skewered chicken, or meat
Created in  16th century
Cost €4.90
Main ingredients strained yogurt, salt, shredded cucumber, garlic, olive oil, lemon juice, and herbs

Where to Eat?

Address: Mitropoleos 69 | Monastiraki, Athens 105 55, Greece

  • Tzatziki

Address: 232 Eleftherio Venizelou, Hersonissos, Crete 700 14 Greece

7. Saganaki

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Saganaki refers to various Greek dishes named after the small, round, two-handled frying pan they are cooked in. The most famous version is fried cheese.

The name "saganaki" comes from the Turkish word "sahan," which means "copper dish."

For this dish, firm Greek cheese such as kasseri, kefalotyri, or kefalograviera is coated in flour, fried in butter or olive oil, and then served with a squeeze of lemon.

It's often enjoyed as an appetizer, served directly in the pan with a side of bread, usually pita.

What to Eat with Souvlaki? Lemon wedges
Created in  1960s
Cost €9.89
Main ingredients Sheep's milk, such as graviera, kefalotyri, or, kefalograviera

Where to Eat?

Address: Romvis 16 | Near Syntagma Square, Athens 105 62, Greece (Syntagma)

Address: 16 Kalogera N., Mykonos Town 846 00, Greece

Address: Esopou 17, Athina 105 54, Greece

Address: El. Venizelou, Chania 731 00, Greece

8. Avgolemono

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Avgolemono (Greek: αυγολέμονο or αβγολέμονο, meaning egg–lemon) refers to a variety of soups and sauces made with egg yolk and lemon juice blended with broth and heated until thickened.

If you enjoy a delightful chicken and rice combination, this Greek Avgolemono soup is a must-try. It features shredded chicken, rice, and simple vegetables mixed into a creamy lemon-and-egg broth, creating a comforting and balanced meal.

What to Eat with Souvlaki? Greek romaine salad
Created in  15th century
Cost €133.62
Main ingredients egg yolks, chicken broth, and lemon juice

Where to Eat?

Address: Lissiou Str 15, Athina 105 57, Greece

  • Platanos Taverna

Address: Diogenous 4, Athina 105 56, Greece

Lesser Known Traditional Greek Food

9. Gemista

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Gemista is a traditional Greek dish of stuffed vegetables. It is impossible to even talk about tomatoes, the Mediterranean diet, and Greek food without considering Gemista (or Yemista).

Gemista is vegetables, usually tomatoes, zucchini, bell peppers, and eggplant, filled with rice (sometimes with ground meat) and baked in the oven.

What to Eat with Souvlaki? feta and crusty bread
Created in  15th century
Cost €9.95
Main ingredients tomatoes, zucchini, bell peppers, and eggplant filled with rice (or with ground meat) 

Where to Eat?

Address: Kastraki village center, Kastraki, Kalambaka 422 00, Greece

  • Mistrali Restaurant

Address: Kalives -chania, Apokoronas, Crete Greece

10. Galaktoboureko

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Galaktoboureko is a classic Greek dessert made with layers of phyllo dough and a creamy custard filling.

After baking, it's soaked in a sweet syrup, giving it a rich and sweet flavor with a hint of cinnamon. The custard is smooth and creamy, while the phyllo layers add a delightful crunch on the top and bottom.

What to Eat with Souvlaki? simple flavored syrup
Created in  16th century
Cost €26.95
Main ingredients Filo, Farina

Where to Eat?

Address:  Selinou 104, Chania Town, Crete 731 31, Greece

Address: Adrianou 119, Athina 105 58, Greece

11. Kokkinisto

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The word "Kokkinisto" means "red stew." To cook a dish that is "Kokkinisto," you start by browning the meat to seal in the juices.

Then, you add the ingredients for a rich tomato sauce. Kokkinisto can be made with beef, veal, lamb, or chicken and is typically served with mashed potatoes, rice, pasta, or thick-cut fried potato chips.

What to Eat with Souvlaki? Mashed potatoes, rice, pasta, or thick-cut fried potato chips. 
Created in  1814
Cost Starting from £2.33
Main ingredients beef, lamb, veal, or chicken

Where to Eat?

  • Taverna Platanos

Address: 4 Diogenous Street, Athens, Greece (Plaka)

Address: Κοκκίνη Χάνι 715 00, Greece

Address: Beach Road, Kokkini Hani, Crete 715 00, Greece

  • Taverna Tzo

Address: Vathianos Kampos, Kokkini Hani 715 00, Greece

12. Revithada

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"Revithada" comes from the Greek word "revithi," meaning chickpea. This traditional dish is most common in the Cyclades islands and is typically cooked in ceramic pots.

The recipe is simple but rich in flavor because the chickpeas are slowly cooked for hours in specially designed tall ovens. The ceramic pot helps cook the food thoroughly, enhancing its natural taste.

What to Eat with Souvlaki? freshly baked flatbread
Created in  3000BC
Cost Starting from £3.50
Main ingredients chickpeas, onion, garlic, tomato 

Where to Eat?

  • O Xifias

Address: 133 Hatzikyriakou Avenue, Piraeus 185 37 Greece

Address: Leof. El. Venizelou 15, Kallithea 176 76 Greece

Address: Kolokotroni 38-40 & Leocharous, Athens 10560 Greece

13. Bougatsa

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Traditional Greek bougatsa is made from hand-made phyllo dough that is wrapped around a filling.

After baking for about 30–35 minutes, it is cut into small pieces and served hot on a small plate.

The bougatsa cream is filled with semolina custard and topped with a light dusting of powdered sugar and/or cinnamon before serving.

What to Eat with Souvlaki? Greek coffee, mountain tea, or warm milk
Created in  1453 A.D.
Cost €25 - €40
Main ingredients Phyllo; filling of feta cheese or semolina custard or other

Where to Eat?

Address: Apokoronou 37, Chania 741 50, Greece

  • Bougatsa Bantis

Address: Panagias Faneromenis 33, Thessaloniki 546 32, Greece

Address: Αγίων Πάντων 20, Thessaloniki 546 29, Greece

Must Try Traditional Greek Dishes

14. Tomatokeftedes

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Tomatokeftedes, also known as fried tomato balls, are served as an appetizer on the Greek island of Santorini and that too throughout the Cyclades.

The dish is made with the use of crushed or pureed tomatoes mixed with flour, spices, parsley, onion, and mint to form a dough, which is then fried in oil.

Usually, Santorini-grown tomatoes are used because the island's pumice-laced soil and the rugged terrain produce more robust fruits.

What to Eat with Souvlaki? Greek yogurt and cream cheese dip
Created in  19th century
Cost Starting from €7
Main ingredients crushed or pureed tomatoes, spices, onion, mind, and parsley

Where to Eat?

  • Salt & Pepper

Address: Main Road : From Fira to Firostefani, Fira 847 00, Greece

Address:  Oia 847 02, Greece

15. Courgette balls (kolokythokeftedes)

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Traditional Greek Kolokithokeftedes is a Cretan ouzo meze commonly found in taverns across many Greek islands.

The word "Kolokithokeftedes" literally translates to "zucchini meatballs," highlighting the dish's delicious textures.

These starters can be served as patties or lightly fried balls. They are made from grated or puréed zucchini mixed with dill, mint, and other spices.

Paired with cooling tzatziki, they make an irresistible appetizer you should definitely try whenever you get the chance.

What to Eat with Souvlaki? Greek yogurt or tzatziki
Created in  19th century
Cost Starting from €5 & €7
Main ingredients zucchini, garlic, ouzo, green onion, feta, herbs and egg

Where to Eat?

  • TAVERNA- Apagkio

Address: Beach 480 60, Parga Municipality, Greece

Address: Rovertou Galli 25 | Acropolis, Athens 117 42, Greece (Thissio / Makriyanni) 

16. Taramasalata

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A staple of any Greek meal includes classic dips like melitzanosalata (eggplant), tzatziki (cucumber, yogurt, and garlic), and fava (creamy-textured split pea purée).

However, taramasalata (also, a fish roe dip) is a dish that you should not miss. This creamy mixture of pink or white fish roe, mixed with a potato or bread base, is best enjoyed with a drizzle of virgin olive oil or a squeeze of lemon.

What to Eat with Souvlaki? rice, salad of tender leaves and some Greek olives, tomato sauce, and red wine
Created in  1910–15
Cost Starting from €4
Main ingredients tarama, the salted and cured roe of the cod, carp, or grey mullet

Where to Eat?

  • FERRYMAN Restaurant

Address: Akti Olountos, Schisma Elountas 720 53, Greece

Address: Κυκλαδες μυκονος, Ag. Sostis 846 00, Greece

  • Flisvos Seafood Tavern

Address: Λουτράκι 370 03, Greece

17. Gyros

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Gyros (sometimes anglicized as "gyro") is a Greek dish made from meat cooked on a vertical rotisserie.

The meat is then sliced and served wrapped or stuffed in pita bread with ingredients like tomato, onion, fried potatoes, and tzatziki.

In Greece, gyros are typically made with pork or occasionally chicken, while in other countries, beef and lamb are also used.

What to Eat with Souvlaki? lettuce, red onion, tomatoes, and tzatziki sauce
Created in  1970s
Cost Starting from €2
Main ingredients Mix lamb, beef, garlic, cumin, thyme, marjoram, rosemary

Where to Eat?

  • O Kostas

Address: Pentelis 5, Athina 105 57, Greece

Address: Ermou 91, Athina 105 55, Greece

Address: Mitropoleos 69, Athina 105 55, Greece

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