Best Local Greek Foods You Have to Try in Greece
Author: Janice & Julius Vazquez | Last updated: June 12, 2023
While Greece is often celebrated for its stunning beaches, rich history, and Greek mythology, it also known for its delicious foods. Greek food is characterized by the use of olive oil, herbs, vegetables, grains, fish, and various types of meat. To guide you on this flavorful journey, we have curated a list of the best local Greek foods you have to try during your time in Greece. This list is divided by dishes, allowing you to easily navigate to the sections that interest you the most.
Dishes:
Gyro (Wrap)
The most popular dish in Greece is the Gyro, a delectable blend of roasted meat (e.g; pork, beef or lamb), filled with tomato, onion, and tzatziki (a creamy white sauce), and, surprisingly, french fries, all wrapped in pita bread. That’s right, the traditional Greek version of the gyro includes FRENCH FRIES! Adding french fries offers a crunchy texture and flavor to this already delicious meal. In America, french fries are usually served on the side of the gyro as a side dish. Gyros can be found nearly everywhere in Greece, whether in a restaurant or at a specialized establishment.
Where to try Gyro in Greece: The best gyros we had was at Kostas in Athens, Greece and Ο Γύρος Της Πλατείας in Lamia, Greece.
Bifteki – Baked Beef Patties
Bifteki is a flavorful burger infused with feta cheese and seasoned with a blend of garlic, parsley, onions, and oregano. This dish is commonly accompanied by potatoes and a lemon wedge. Bifteki can be found at taverns serving traditional Greek food. When we ordered bifteki for dinner at a tavern, we had no idea what to expect. However, after our first bite into the bifteki, we were blown away. The combination of seasoned beef meat and feta cheese filling was delectable, offering a tantalizing aroma and exceptional flavor.
Where to try Bifteki in Greece: The best bifteki we had was at Tavern Dion in Delphi, Greece.
Moussaka – Lasagna
Moussaka is a traditional Greek dish made with layers of vegetables, meat sauce and bechamel (white) sauce. Moussaka was found in nearly every restaurant we visited that served traditional Greek food. The moussaka we sampled consisted of layers of eggplant, potato, beef, and toasted bechamel sauce, all served in a hot cast iron dish atop a circular wooden plate. It tasted like a healthier version of lasagna since it did not include any pasta sheets.
Where to try Moussaka in Greece: The best moussaka we had was at Kapari in Sparta, Greece.
Souvlaki – Grilled Meat
Souvlaki consists of grilled pieces of meat cooked on a skewer, usually made with chicken, pork belly, pork, beef, or lamb. The dish is typically served as a platter with salad and potatoes or wrapped in pita bread. Often found in the same establishments that sell gyros, souvlaki is a perfect option for lunch, an afternoon snack, or dinner. We sampled souvlaki in various regions of Greece; from Athens to Meteora, Nafplio, and Sparta. Every place we tried souvlaki offered a unique experience, captivating us with incredible flavors and deliciousness.
Where to try Souvlaki in Greece: The best souvlaki we had was at Vaki Grill in Meteora, Greece.
Bougatsa – Greek Pie
Bougatsa is a traditional Greek pie filled with a sweet cream or savory cheese filling, and wrapped in golden brown crispy phyllo dough. Bougastas can be found at a local pie or bakery shop. We tried several variations of bougatsa’s, including the traditional version which was filled with savory cheese and the cream version which was filled with a creamy custard and topped with sugar. We enjoyed bougatsa’s for lunch, but it can also be enjoyed for breakfast with a cup of Greek coffee.
According to Bougatsa Iordanis, “Bougatsa comes from the ottoman word ‘pogaca’, which means filled pie. The bougatsa of Chania, with the local ‘pichtogalo’ cheese has its roots to the moslems that lived in Chania until the beginning of the previous century.”
Where to try Bougatsa in Greece: The best bougatsa we had was at Bougatsa Iordanis in Crete, Greece.
Portokalopita – Orange Pie
Portokalopita is a traditional orange pie thats made with yogurt, orange juice, eggs, olive oil, and phyllo pastry sheets. Portokalopita can be found in bakery shops or on the dessert menu of a restaurant. We enjoyed a slice of portokalopita as a snack on a warm afternoon and were surprised by how rich and dense the cake tasted. The cake was crispy, sweet and decadent.
Where to try Portokalopita in Greece: The best portokalopita we had was in Santorini, Greece at Onpaikn Bakery.
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