Oh, mamma mia! Food.
How much do you love food? Because I love trying new dishes, this is undoubtedly one of the reasons I love to travel so much.
I could never go to a place where I already know the food is not good. It will ruin my vacation (please don't judge me on this).
If you are already following me, you surely know how much I love eating. I went to Chef school in Italy after all, if a Chef doesn't like to eat, how can their food be delicious?
That is why I love cooking, but mostly, I love trying new cuisines. I honestly believe it is the best way to know a country, through its food, you learn its culture and its history.
Food makes people happy anytime, after a hard day at work. This is what makes me happy, a good meal. And this is what makes me even more satisfied when I travel, after exploring all day, a good dinner and a good glass of local wine/beer.
See the happiness on your waiter's face when he sees you eating and loves its local food. When you tell him that it was the best meal you ever had, that you value his restaurant food so much, you are going to tell everyone they have to go there and have a meal.
Food is the best way to make friends, trust me (unless you meet people who don't like food, but do they exist?).
That is why I made this list, to introduce you to everything Greece has to offer, or at least the most popular dishes, because every region and every island have some local dishes, like almost everywhere in the world.
But don't worry, if I have been there, I made a list like this one, adding the more regional dishes so that you won't miss anything.
*Disclosure: This article contains a few affiliate links, which means I may receive a small commission, at no cost to you I guarantee, if you make a purchase through my links. See it as a way to thank me for all the information I provide.
Read 39 Delicious Food and Drinks You Have to Try in Greece
Enjoy!
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1. Greek Yogurt:
Oh my God, how much I love Greek yoghurt.
It is so creamy and delicious and trusts me that Greek yoghurt in Greece is very different from the Greek yoghurt you can buy in any supermarket worldwide. In Greece, it has an entirely different level of goodness.
It is perfect on its own or with some sweet local honey and maybe some nuts. It is doesn't matter how you eat it. It is going to be delicious anyway.
2. Coffee:
Greek coffee is a pretty potent brew of coffee, and it is served with a bit of brown foam on top.
It is made with very thin coffee ground, and it is not filtered.
When you receive your cup of coffee in Greece (if you order a Greek coffee, otherwise don't worry, they also have the regular espresso), you have to wait a bit before drinking it to give time to the coffee ground to settle at the bottom of your cup.
People used to read the coffee ground left at the bottom of their cup.
3. Spanakopita:
Spanakopita is a delicious savoury local spinach pie, absolutely perfect as part of your lunch, dinner or a quick snack at any time of the day.
It is made with spinach (of course), parsley, onions, garlic, dry dill, eggs and feta cheese, all wrapped up in light layers of phyllo pastry.
Then it all goes to the oven to be perfectly baked.
Spanakopita is a must-try while in Greece. You can get it in local restaurants but also Greek bakeries, it is the perfect solution for a healthy and very cheap meal.
4. Tiropita:
Tiropita is a cheese pie made with layers of phyllo pastry and filled with a delicious mix of eggs and cheese. You can find it in most of the bakery and local lunch spots. It is very filling and highly cheap (1,20 euros).
When it is made with kasseri cheese, it is called kasseropita.
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5. Koulouri:
Koulouri looks like a Pretzel, but it doesn't state as a Pretzel. This delicious savoury pastry is usually filled with fest cheese or olives and sprinkled with sesame seeds, poppy seeds, flax or sunflower seeds.
It is very cheap (can cost around 0,50-0,60 cents), and you can buy it at some street vendors or in any Greek bakery.
6. Pide:
Pide is a flatbread/pita bread with different toppings, stone oven-baked. It is originally from Turkey but also from Greece.
The topping can be anything, like veggies, meat, cheese, or all.
It is a delicious option for a cheap meal while in Greece.
7. Choriatiki or Greek Salad:
One of the most famous salads is the Greek salad, and honestly, who doesn't love it?
I had it almost every day while visiting Greece.
It was my favorite lunch on the beach or keeping myself light while exploring. If you don't know this salad, here are the ingredients: Tomatoes, cucumbers, fresh onions, olives, feta cheese, green peppers, olive oil, and oregano.
Travel Tip: If you love food and want to try all the Greek food, you should check out the best food tours in Greece.
8. Saganaki:
In Greek, Saganaki means a wide variety of dishes prepared in a frying pan, the most famous and known is the fried cheese served with a slice of lemon.
I had it more than once, and it was served with a spicy sauce instead of lemon.
The cheese used to prepare this delicious Saganaki is the Graviera (don't worry, I talk about it below in the "Greeks cheeses"), but you can use different kinds of hard cheese that melt beautifully.
9. Kolokithokeftedes:
If you like courgettes/zucchini, you will love this Greek dish. Kolokithokeftedes is fried courgettes balls, the perfect starter for your meal or as a main course.
I honestly like them so much I had them as a main course.
You can find them everywhere around Greece, and they are always delicious.
10. Tomatokeftedes:
Another fabulous "meze" is the Tomatokeftedes. They are fried tomatoes balls originally from Santorini. They are made with tomatoes pureed, flour, herbs, spices, onion, parsley, mint, salt and black peppers, all mixed to create a dought and then deep-fried.
Better served with Tzatziki (you will eat a lot of Tzatziki in Greece, it goes with everything).
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11. Greeks olives:
Greece is a paradise for olive lovers. Here, you will find so many different types of olives that you will eat a different one every day during your vacation.
They are usually served as aperitivo while you wait for your meal at a restaurant or as part of a local dish.
Travel Tip: The good thing is that they also sell them in vacuum bags so you can bring some back home as souvenirs for yourself and your family.
This could be the perfect souvenir for an olive lover but don't forget to read the best souvenirs to buy in Greece here.
12. Honey:
Greek honey is delicious, like every natural honey.
To make sure to buy natural honey (and avoid the fake ones where they add sugar to it), you can check the price.
Usually, in supermarkets worldwide, you see a big jar of honey at a very low price. Well, that is not real and pure honey; it is modified honey, and it is very far from being pure and having all the goodies that honey offers.
So, when you see a small jar of honey sold in a local market, and the price is around 5 or 6 euros (I mean, I am talking about a 150gr), it is probably good.
Of course, making sure to buy it from the owner, in my opinion, is the best way to be sure your honey is natural.
My parents always go to Slovenia (my hometown is near the Slovenia border, in Italy) and go straight to the beekeeper to buy its products.
You can do it while in Greece. I did it on Ios Island. Just ask locals if they know a beekeeper or a honey shop in the area you are exploring. They should probably know.
Or look for it online.
13. Tzatziki:
This delicious sour and creamy sauce is perfect for eating meat, vegetables, bread, and anything else you like with it.
Tzatziki is made with Greek yoghurt, drained cucumber, salt, lemon juice, garlic, and fresh herbs, usually dill or mint, refreshing and filling.
Planning to Visit Athens? Read:
14. Tirokafteri:
Tirokafteri is a delicious cheese sauce. "Tiri" means cheese, and "kaftery" means spicy, so spicy cheese sauce.
You can find it made with different kinds of cheese, it always depends on which region of Greece you are visiting, but it is usually made with feta, olive oil, hot peppers, garlic, red wine vinegar and lemon juice.
It is usually eaten with pita bread or with meat and vegetables.
15. Taramasalata or Taramosalata:
Taramasalata is usually eaten as part of the "meze" (Greek starter), and it is made with tarama, the salted and cured roe of the cod.
Still, it can also be from carp, grey mullet, all mixed with lemon juice, olive oil, garlic, spring onion, vinegar (instead of lemon juice), peppers and potato.
It is a perfect dip to eat with bread or vegetables, like the Tzatziki.
16. Dolmades:
This very particular Ottoman dish is made in different ways. Dolmades can be made with rice, rice and meat, fish, vegetables or fruits, wrapped up with leaves, usually with grape ones, and in cabbage leaves.
They are delicious and filling.
My favorite way to eat them is by dipping them in Tzatziki sauce.
17. Souvlaki:
Souvlaki is the most famous Greek street food.
Souvlakis are grilled small pieces of meat on a skewer. The original recipe is pork meat, but it is also made with chicken, lamb, fish like swordfish and vegetables.
The meat is usually marinated in lemon juice, olive oil, salt, and pepper, garlic and oregano. Then it gets grilled, ready for you to eat immediately, in the street or seated with a good fresh glass of beer.
They are usually served with fries, rice or fresh vegetables (tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers, onions) and the delicious Tzatziki sauce.
A very cheap way to have a healthy lunch while exploring Greece.
18. Kleftiko:
Kleftiko is a very simple but delicious Greek dish. It is made with lamb marinated with olive oil, lemon juice, herbs. Then wrapped up in baking paper with onions and potatoes and then roasted very slowly until it is so tender, you can break it with a spoon.
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19. Gigantes:
Gigantes are so-called because they are massive. I am talking about beans.
These delicious light brown giant beans are cooked in a sweet tomato sauce with fresh Greek herbs and served as they are, or with some feta cheese on top.
20. Gyros:
Gyros is one of the things that will save your wallet while in Greece. You can find it everywhere. It is delicious, healthy and crazy cheap.
Gyros is a sandwich made with pita bread and grilled meat, including pork, chicken, beef or lamb (previously marinated with Greek herbs), fresh onions, tomatoes, fries and tzatziki sauce.
I ate The cheapest one in Athens, and it cost me only 2 euros.
21. Moussaka:
Moussaka is a must to try while in Greece. It is delicious and very filling. If you order one portion for yourself, you won't probably be able to eat anything else after it (or maybe you will, I couldn't).
It is made with eggplants or potatoes, tomatoes, ground meat sauce (like Italian bolognese ragu), bechamel sauce, cheese, onions, garlic and cinnamon.
It is like an Italian lasagna, but instead of pasta, there are aubergines, absolutely yummy!
22. Keftedakia:
Do you like fried meatballs? Who doesn't?
Then you are going to love the Greek version. Keftedakia are fried and usually served with tzatziki sauce and a delicious tomato salad.
Travel Tip: Don't forget to book a Food tour before visiting Greece, to try as much local food as possible!
23. Soutzoukakia:
Soutzoukakia are meatballs with tomato sauce.
The particular taste of these delicious meatballs comes from the cumin, which is part of the ingredients of this local dish.
The meat used is usually beef, but you can also find some made with a mix of beef and pork that are much tastier.
Do you want to know more about Greece?
Check out "The Ultimate Guide to Greece" where I give you all the tips about where to go, what to see and where to eat.
24. Popoutsakia:
Eggplants again. This time they are stuffed with ground meat, tomatoes, cheese, onion, garlic, eggs, bell peppers, herbs and spices.
You can find them in many local restaurants. They are healthy and delicious.
25. Pastitsio:
Pastitsio is a Greek version of the Italian lasagna, made with pasta like "penne". Instead of alternating each layer, the pasta is at the bottom, then covered with the beef sauce, then topped up fully covered with the bechamel sauce and sprinkled with cheese.
26. Baked feta:
Baked feta can be served with only olive oil, chilly and oregano, or baked with fresh tomatoes, chilly and oregano. Each way, it becomes the perfect dip for your pita bread.
27. Tirokroketes:
Tirokroketes are fried cheese balls, the perfect way to start dinner.
They are crunchy on the outside and hot and melting inside. Probably a perfect comfort food or the best starter to share with your friends.
They are made with a combination of Greek cheese that makes them taste just perfect.
28. Stifado:
Stifado is rich in flavour beef stew ( but also made with pork or rabbit) cooked in red wine, honey, tomatoes, olive oil and whole shallots.
29. Gemista:
If you don't fancy a lot of meat, this is the perfect dish.
Gemista is made with tomatoes or peppers, filled with ground meat, rice, aubergine, potatoes, courgettes, onion, garlic, salt, parsley, tomato paste and black pepper.
Then oven-baked and served with boiled potatoes. It is tasty and light, the perfect lunch on a hot summer day in Greece.
30. Fasolada:
Fasolada is a white bean soup made with olive oil and vegetables, the perfect way to warm up during cold winters. Yes, it can be freezing in Greece during the winter season.
31. Briam:
Briam is a dish made of roasted vegetable casserole that includes potatoes, courgettes, eggplants, bell pepper, onions and tomatoes.
It is delicious and light, perfect as a side dish or as the main course for vegans or if you feel the need to get your veggies after eating so much meat and fish while in Greece.
32. Horta:
Horta is a typical side dish, made with different boiled green leaves, like chicory, dandelion, and more, served with olive oil and fresh lemon juice.
I honestly loved it. The taste is fresh but also bitter, the perfect side dish for your meal. Unfortunately, I don't have a picture of it.
33. Greek Cured Meat
Loukaniko:
Loukaniko is a sausage usually made with pork or lamb, flavoured with fennel seeds, orange peel and different Greek herbs, seeds and traditionally smoked over aromatic woods.
Louza:
Louza is a delicious dry-cured ham made with tenderloin (a pork cut). The method used to cure it is always the same: adding salt and then air drying, but the ingredients added to it can be different everywhere you go around Greece.
They can add Thyme, black pepper, fennel seeds, red wine, cinnamon or clove.
You can find it as a starter in some local restaurants when ordering a mix of charcuterie, in good supermarkets or at the local town food market.
Syglino:
Syglino is a delicious cured meat preserved in big clay pots with only the best Greek extra virgin olive oil or in some cases, in pork fat (called "glina").
They serve it hot or cold as a starter. It goes amazingly with a good glass of wine.
Kavourmas:
The name means "sauteed meat", and it looks like salami. It can be made with pork, beef, cow, sheep, buffalo, or goat.
The meat is cut into pieces, kept in salt all night and then simmered for 4 or 5 hours until it is incredibly tender with its fat and olive oil.
Then they add spices like cinnamon, nutmeg, black pepper, clove or herbs like oregano.
They then add everything into jars with fat on top, keep them in cold places, and use the meat over months.
You can also find Kavourmas cooked with vegetables as a stew and served as "meze" (the Greek way to call little plates of starters, like Spanish tapas).
Apaki:
Apaki is typical of Crete. It is the pork fillet, a very soft cut of meat. They soak the meat in wine and vinegar (and sometimes also with spices and herbs like olive oil, black pepper, salt, and cumin) for a couple of days and then smoke.
34. Greek grilled meat:
Grilled meat is very popular in Greece, you can find any meat, from beef, pork, lamb, goat, chicken, veal and rabbit.
It can be cooked straight away or marinated overnight with olive oil, spices, and herbs (of course all from Greece) to give the meat a more Greek flavor.
If you like meat, I highly recommend you to get a mix of grilled meat, with some local veggies and the famous Tzatziki sauce, you are going to love it.
35. Greeks Cheeses
Feta:
Feta cheese is one of the most famous and known Greek cheese that you can find anywhere around the world, but I must say that in Greece, it all have a different and better taste (like everything that you eat where it has been produced, it is always better than abroad).
In case you have never tried it, feta cheese is a soft, white cheese made usually with sheep or goat cheese, and it is probably one of the oldest cheeses in the world.
It has a delicious aroma, a little bit sour but delicious.
You are going to eat feta cheese in Greece for sure. It comes on top of a Greek salad. It can be backed, used to make savoury cakes and much more.
Kasseri:
This Greek cheese is a semi-hard, yellow cheese with a soft sweet taste that is perfect for eating on its own, just with pita bread.
You will probably find it on your plate while ordering a mixed cheese and cured meat starter.
You can find it in any supermarket and town food market.
Mizithra:
This delicious cheese is known in Greece as the "whey cheese" made with Greek whey from previous yoghurt or cheese. The milk is usually from goat and sheep and sometimes with cow's one too.
Anthotyros:
Anthotyros is another whey cheese, and it is almost like the Mizithra. It can be fresh or dry cheese. The dry one is a more matured cheese like Mizithra.
This milk is made with whey and milk from goats or sheep or sometimes both of them.
Manouri:
Manouri is a semi-soft Greek cheese, made with a mix of whey and milk also made with goat or sheep milk, and the process is similar to the Feta cheese, but it is creamier because of the addition of cream.
Graviera:
This cheese is one of the most popular cheeses in Greece, like Feta. It is a dryer and more matured cheese, with small and irregular holes all over it, with a yellow colour made in wheel shape.
The taste is a little sweet and spicy.
There are different types of Graviera, made with cow milk, goat or sheep. It depends on the area you are exploring.
Kefalotyri:
Kefalotyri is a salty, white and hard cheese made with goat or sheep milk or with both of them mixed.
You can eat it as it is, fried in olive oil or add it to many different dishes, like pasta, vegetables or meat. This cheese is one of the best to use to be grating because of its consistency.
Metsovone:
This delicious semi-hard cheese is naturally smoked "pasta filata", made with cow's milk, cow and sheep mixed, or even with goat milk.
It is like the Italian "Provolone"(if you have ever tasted it) because it has been made by Greek cheesemakers, after spending time in Italy learning how to make the famous Italian cheese.
It is known to be an Italian-influenced Greek cheese.
36. Greek fish:
Greece have three sides in the sea, and a huge part of it is islands, that is why you are going to eat a lot of fish while traveling around this ancient country.
The fish is always fresh and delicious, cooked in many different ways, all of them excellent.
I highly recommend you to try as many fish as you can while in Greece. It is worth it.
In Greece, you will find Tuna, Haddock, Sardines, Sea bream, Sea bass, Octopus, Mullet, Comber, John Dory, Anchovies, Mackerel, Shrimp and Squid.
37. Greeks Wines
Retsina:
This is a very particular wine. You probably cannot find another wine like this one because it is flavored with the resin of the Aleppo pine tree.
I am unsure I can explain how it tastes because I have never tried it before. Let's say that it is not sweet or bitter, and the taste is relatively mild.
So do not forget to try it while in Greece, and please, if you have tried it already, leave a comment below and let me know what you think about it.
Xinomavro:
This unique white wine comes from a famous variety of grapes from Naoussa. The primary flavours are tobacco, allspice, anise, raspberry and plum sauce. It tastes a bit like herbs and liquorice.
It goes perfectly with pasta with cheese, chickens, and pork.
Mavrodafni:
This red and fortified wine is a delicious dessert wine, part of the "Port" wines. You are going to find it in many local restaurants to pair with a delicious Greek dessert.
Vinsanto:
This delicious sweet wine has a spicy flavour like cinnamon, clove, dry apricot and raisin all mixed.
It is the best way to finish a fabulous Greek dinner.
38. Greek beer:
Mythos Beer:
This is the most-known beer in Greece. You are going to find it everywhere, from bars, restaurants and supermarkets. This lager beer won many awards and will refresh you while taking a break from exploring or relaxing on a beach.
Fix:
Fix Brewery is the oldest beer in Greece, produced since 1864 in Athens.
It is a blond lager that will surprise with apple and banana perfumes.
Alfa:
This beer is one of the oldest beers in Greece, produced since 1961. The Athenian Brewery has it, and it is made of only Greek barley. It is a blonde lager with a gold colour and a light aroma.
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39. Greeks Alcoholic drinks
Kitron:
Kitron is a citron liqueur that you can find in some liqueurs shops around Greece, but it is originally from the island of Naxos.
To make this delicious liquor, they use citron tree leaves and fruits, which have a more pungent taste than lemon.
They produce three variants of this liquor. The yellow one is the strongest and has less sugar than the other two, the green one is sweeter and has less alcohol, and the clear one is between the other two.
Tsipouro:
A delicious and robust distilled spirit (40-45%) to enjoy straight from the freezer (like limoncello! Yes, I know I am talking about Greece in this article, but I like to associate other countries products with Italian ones, what can I do? bear with me please).
This is described as an un-aged Greek brandy usually offered as a welcome (like Ouzo) from Greeks people.
It is made from the residue of the wine press or the wine.
There are two different types of Tsipouro, the anise-flavoured one or the pure one.
Mastika:
Mastika is a sweet liqueur, made by distilling the cristal, resinous spice resin of the mastika tree from the island of Chios.
It is usually drunk at the end of the meal because it is believed to help digestion.
Ouzo:
The most famous aperitif in Greece that you will surely try while visiting this wonderful country.
It has a delicious anise flavour, and you are going to find it everywhere, even on the beach bar menu, served with ice.
It is made with a grape spirit base and then flavoured with anise.
Greek people usually drink it after saying: "Yamas"(that means "cheers"), the perfect word to make you smile.
Say it! Aren't you smiling?
I am, and you are going to smile even more after drinking a glass or two of Ouzo.
Please always drink responsibly, you are on holiday, but that doesn't mean you have to lose control of yourself or the situation, always be vigilant of what happens around you and protect yourself.
Tsikoudia:
Also called Raki, it is made of twice-distilled grapes and anise and best served with ice.
It is original from Crete, but you can find it all around Greece, and it contains between 25-30% alcohol. It is like the Italian Grappa (if you have ever tasted it).
It is very high in antioxidants and, if drunk in a small amount, can help your digestion (a small amount, I said, not all the bottle).
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