Greece is definitely a holiday favourite with its crystal clear blue waters, beautiful beaches, and rich history. However, you can’t leave Greece without trying their traditional Greek dishes (and drinks)!
You can learn a lot about Greek culture through their cuisine.
Due to its location on the the Mediterranean sea, Greece is abundant with what are considered some of the finest ingredients including olive oil, honey, herbs such as rosemary and thyme, and many more. Most Greek food is considered very healthy too!
Greek cuisine is also influenced by Ottoman cuisine, and therefore shares some dishes such as Baklava, Dolmades, and others with Greece’s neighbouring Mediterranean countries. However, even if you’ve tried these dishes elsewhere, it’s always worth a try to compare them since there are usually some alterations… eat for “research” purposes, you know?
Taste Greece as the locals do with this Greek food guide featuring the top foods you need to eat (and drink!) in Greece.
Tip: Your best option to cover more “food ground” is to sign up for a food tour! Our Athens food tour was a life saver allowing us to tick many of the must-try Greek foods from our list!
Here are 25 traditional Greek foods you MUST try in Greece!
1. Tzatziki
Tzatziki is one of my favourite traditional Greek dishes; it’s made from thick Greek yogurt, lemon, garlic, and dill, then drizzled with olive oil. This dish is usually served with bread.
2. Fava Dip (Yellow Split Pea Puree)
This fava purée dish made from yellow split peas is a great appetizer (mezze item) that can be eaten as a dip or even in a sandwich! It’s considered a staple food in the Greek diet with a high protein and low fat nutritional value.
3. Greek Salad (Choriatiki)
Greek Salad was the one thing I couldn’t bring myself to part with. Traditional Greek salads include cucumber, tomato, green bell pepper, red onions, Kalamata olives, and a giant block of crumbly creamy feta cheese (which is divine) – order this refreshing salad at every restaurant.
4. Gyros
Gyros are the most basic traditional Greek street food you’ll have in Greece. This pita wrap / sandwich is known and loved worldwide and is said to have multiple origins with recipes varying from country to country. Pick your protein (beef, lamb, chicken, or pork) and watch them stuff the wrap with veggies and fries and then pour over that fresh tzatziki sauce on top! Gyros are considered cheap and fast food.
Our favourite was Tylixto near Monastiraki. However, a popular choice is O Kostas paired with a long queue of hungry humans; get there early!
5. Souvlaki
Souvlaki is a very popular choice when ordering food in Greece. They’re basically seasoned grilled meat skewers and can be eaten in a wrap like a gyro, except they’re much less fatty!
We had lunch at O Thanasis in Monastiraki on our first and last day in Athens (yes, it was that good!) and ordered souvlaki as well as a succulent kebab with yogurt and tomato sauce. Highly recommended!
6. Dakos
Dakos (ντάκος), also known as koukouvagia or kouloukopsomo, is a Cretan meze dish made up of a slice of soaked dried bread or rusk which is topped with chopped tomatoes, crumbled cheese, olive oil, and herbs. The one at Cafe Avissinia in Athens was absolutely delicious!
7. Moussaka
When T and I visited Greece, we were informed by many locals that Moussaka, the eggplant and ground meat casserole dish that kinda looks like lasagna, is actually not really Greek and is just eaten by tourists. We found that to be rather strange since it’s on all the Greek food lists and guides on the internet. I wasn’t sure whether to omit it from my Greece Food Guide, but then went ahead and included it because I didn’t want the poor citizen-of-nowhere dish to feel neglected or abandoned… Plus, it looks delicious!
8. Bougatsa (Savoury and Sweet “Pies”)
A Greek Bougasta is a baked crunchy layered phyllo pastry and stuffed with a sweet or savoury filling. The most common Bougatsa filling is a sweet semolina custard and dusted with powdered sugar and sometimes cinnamon. Savoury fillings include simply cheese, spinach and feta cheese (delicious!), or minced meat.
The most delicious Bougatsa T and I had in Athens was at Bougatsa Thessaloniki Cafe in Psyri neighbourhood during our Athens Food Tour! This café prepares it right before your eyes!
9. Keftedes
Keftedes, or fried meatballs, are mainly served as an appetizer (meze) with pita bread and usually have tomato sauce poured on top.
10. Tomatokeftedes (Santorini Tomato Fritters)
Tomatokeftedes (i.e. tomato fritters), another traditional meze item, originates from Santorini. These Santorini Tomato Fritters are basically a fried mix of tomatoes, mint, and onion chunks. Simple, but delicious!
11. Courgette Balls (Kolokythokeftedes)
On my Greece food guide, this would be the third “keftedes” item: Kolokythokeftedes aka Courgette Balls. This meze dish is famous in Crete and can be found in most traditional Greek eateries. It’s crispy on the outside with a creamy interior. We had these with Tzatziki during our Athens food tour and it was a great pairing!
12. Dolmades
Dolmades are one of my favourite Greek dishes because the recipe is similar to one of my favourite Lebanese meze staples known as “Wara2 Enab”. Grape leaves are stuffed with rice and herbs (and sometimes meat). Fresh dolmades taste nothing like what you buy in the store, so if you’ve tried them store-bought; you have to give them another try fresh 😉
13. Yemista
I tried Yemista for the first time in Athens last summer and let me tell you, this stuff is good! It’s very similar to the dolmades stuffing with or without the meat addition; except it’s stuffed into tomatoes and peppers. It’s delicious!
14. Saganaki
If you’re into cheese, you’re probably gonna love with this traditional Greek dish. Saganaki is basically fried cheese which got its name from the frying pan used to make it. The type of cheese varies; expect Greek cheeses such as halloumi, kasseri or graviera (cheese that can withstand high heat before melting).
15. Octopus
Octopus is a common and oh-so-delicious Greek dish that’s usually marinated and grilled, served as meze.
Fun fact: When drinking Ouzo, in order to avoid getting drunk, it’s best to consume octopus at the same time to inhibit the drink’s effects! Cool, huh?
16. Koulouri
The ever-so-popular Koulouri (sesame bread rings) can be found on every corner of the street in Athens! This traditional Greek street food are sold at small kiosks throughout the day and are eaten by the locals as breakfast and sometimes as a snack! They’re best when they’re fresh in the morning because they go stale after a while. The chocolate variety is also worth a try if you have a sweet tooth – You either love it or hate it!
Moving on to the sweet stuff of my Greece food guide…
17. Baklava
Picture this: Phyllo pastry, butter, sugar & nuts, phyllo pastry, butter, sugar & nuts, phyllo pastry, butter, sugar & nuts… times infinity! After baking, sugar syrup is poured all over it and absorbed by the now-crispy buttered phyllo layers. The taste, the texture… YUM!
By the way, the baklava at this address in Athens is a must try; they seriously have the BEST baklava I’ve ever had!
18. Loukoumades
Do you like donuts? What if I told you the Greeks have their own version? Fried and crispy sticky donuts dusted with powdered sugar and/or cinnamon, drizzled with honey, and sometimes topped with nuts! Need I say more?
19. Halva
Halva is a sweet treat made of oil, semolina, sugar, and water; it’s referred to as a “semolina pudding” and sometimes contains nuts. The texture is crumbly and melts in your mouth. Definitely a must on your Greece food to-do list!
20. Yogurt with Honey (Yiaourti Me Meli)
Greeks mainly have coffee for breakfast, but I ate Greek yogurt almost every morning in Greece. I absolutely LOVE it with sticky golden thyme or wildflower honey and crunchy walnuts. By the way, it tastes nothing like the packed yogurt containers in the supermarket.
Now for things you should drink in Greece:
21. Ellinikos (Greek Coffee)
Greek coffee is very similar to Turkish coffee or Lebanese coffee. Watch your coffee “roast” in the sand in its traditional copper pot known as “Briki”. Ask for it “Vari Glyko” (strong and very sweet), “Metrios” (medium sweetness) or “Sketos” (without sugar).
22. Ouzo
Ouzo is known as the national drink of Greece; a dry anise-flavoured aperitif. It tastes very similar to Sambuca. It’s pretty strong.
23. Frappe
When in Greece, Frappe is a must-try in the hot summer weather! Frappe is an iced coffee made by mixing instant coffee and water, which results in a frothy virtually-calorie-free coffee drink!
24. Retsina Wine
Retsina wine has been used in ancient Greece for over 2000 years! It’s a type of wine with a flavour derived from exposure to pine tree resins. Find out more about the wine process here.
25. Raki (Tsikoudia)
Raki is an unsweetened (and sometimes anise-flavoured) alcoholic drink which is produced by distilling grape pomace (the remaining skins, twigs, and mash left after a wine press) twice in traditional copper alembics and then sometimes flavouring it with aniseed.
Love cooking? Check out these must-try classic Greek recipes!
This Greece food guide is only a part of the vast list of traditional Greek food and drink you must try in Greece!
What are your favorite things to eat and drink in Greece?
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Non-watermarked photos in this Greek food guide were sourced from Moussaka / Bougatsa / Greek Meatballs / Tomatokeftedes / Halva
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Very informative guide! Im goin to try the lukumade donuts they look like Lebanese donuts!