Top 6 Traditional Foods In Greece You Should Never Miss

traditional food in greece
Hemasudha
Hemasudha 
Updated
| 4 min read

Greece is a hot holiday destination decorated with thousands of enchanting islands on the one-fifth of its land area. Bordered by the spectacular Mediterranean Sea, Greece is blessed with breathtaking beaches and historical monuments rooting back to the 5th century B.C. The country is known for its rich culinary delights, influenced by Western and Eastern cultures. Many tourists arrive at this scintillating destination just to relish their world-class cuisines. Greece is the land of fresh ingredients and flavorful dishes. They are gifted with Mediterranean vegetables, herbs and a variety of fish & meat due to their perfectly placed location. Though Greece offers lots of food options to try, here are our top six picks of traditional foods in the country.

1. Moussaka

Moussaka
Source: Photo by Wikimedia Commons user RobertK used under CC BY-SA 2.5

Moussaka is a legendary dish in Greece which is ultimately creamy, juicy and a delight to your taste buds. This dish is included in every local eatery and luxury restaurant. Whenever there is a big occasion in a household, Moussaka will surely be a part of the menu. A traditional Moussaka is prepared by baking the succulent layers of mouth-watering beef or lamb mince, eggplants, tomato, onion, garlic, and potato, combined with rich bechamel sauce and grilled cheese. Give rest to your weight-loss diet and try these luscious layers of heaven. This dish will satiate your culinary thirst with its local flavors and zests. If you are a vegetarian, you can try this dish by replacing meat with mushroom. Most of the Greek restaurants serve ouzo drink before a meal. Ouzo is an anise-flavored traditional drink in Greece which complements Moussaka dish well.

Mana's Kouzina-Kouzina

Address: Aiolou 27, Athina 105 51, Greece

Website: Mana’s Kouzina-Kouzina

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2. Souvlaki

Souvlaki in Athens
Source: Photo by Wikimedia Commons user Miyagawa used under CC BY-SA 4.0

Souvlaki is a famous street food in Greece. In Greek, the word ‘Souvlaki’ means ‘meat on a skewer’. Souvlaki is considered as the perfect meal by Greeks. Souvlaki is a juicy grilled meat served with Tzatziki sauce wrapped around a tasty pita bread. Traditionally, pork is used as the grilled meat. But, you can also find lamb and chicken Souvlaki on the streets of Greece. The crispy pita bread wrap is topped with fresh veggies and Mediterranean herbs. The smooth and soft Tzatziki sauce is made from thick yogurt, aromatic garlic, moist cucumber, and fresh mint. The sauce blends well with the grilled meat and pita bread and transfers anyone to the eternal world in a second. The main point of attraction in this dish is their traditional way of serving on a skewer, which enables everyone to eat with ease. This aspect makes the dish popular among the kids.

O Thanasis

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

Website: O Thanasis

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3. Baklava

Baklava kymi greece
Source: Photo by Wikimedia Commons user Mari Beika used under CC BY-SA 4.0

Baklava is a traditional dessert in Greek. This crispy ecstasy is made from the golden phyllo decorated with nuts and glazed honey syrup. Each ingredient used in this dish balances well with each other to excite your sense of taste. The filo layers, nutty fillings, and honeyed syrup will take anyone straight to heaven. This sinful delight is a must-try dish in Greece for its rich taste and flavors. Baklava is a perfect example of the artistic nature of the Greeks. Though these layers and layers of pleasure are difficult to craft, once prepared, it brings a divine feel to the diner. Baklava can be found in almost any region of Greece. It plays an important part in any Greek wedding or a ceremony. Most of the Greeks switch on their festive mood with this syrupy Greek bliss.

Karakoy Gulluoglu

Address: 10 Nikis, Athens 105 63, Greece

Website: Karakoy Gulluoglu

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4. Taramasalata

Taramosalata01
Source: Photo by Wikimedia Commons user Robert Kindermann used under CC BY-SA 2.5

Taramasalata is a traditional spread prepared from fish roe. The delectable Taramasalata is a tough competitor to the classic dips like tzatziki, fava and melitzanosalata in terms of texture and taste. This lip-smacking spread is made from pink or white fish roe. It is traditionally served in pink color with a potato or a bread, sprinkled with olive oil and lemon. The creamy and smooth consistency of the dip can make anyone drool. Due to this reason, Taramasalata plays a main part in the appetizer menu in any Greek dining. The spread is also available in the ready-made tubs. But, to experience the best taste, try the freshly made Taramasalata. This delicious bliss is usually served in a meze platter with a choice of pita bread.

Kikis Tavern

Address: Agios Sostis Beach 84600 Mykonos, Kikladhes, Greece

Website: Kikis Tavern

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5. Dolmathakia

dolma, stuffed grape leaves, turkish and greek cuisine
Source: Photo by Flickr user Lesya Dolyk used under CC BY-SA 2.0

Dolmathakia is a Greek delicacy in which is the lemony rice, fresh herbs, and pine nuts are wrapped inside the grape leaves. After stuffing, the small wraps are then steamed and served. Meat or vegetables can be used as a filling to ensure perfect bliss. Though the dish takes quite some time to prepare, the taste it offers is worth the wait and effort. The juicy flavors of grape leaves combine with the filling and give a distinctive zest and aroma. It can be served either warm or cold and can render unique taste. This exceptional dish serves as the best appetizer and smacks anyone with its exquisite taste.

Ydria Restaurant

Address: Adrianou 68, Adrianou 68, Athina 105 56, Greece

Website: Ydria Restaurant

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6. Spanakopita

Spanakopita
Source: Photo by Wikimedia Commons user Alpha used under CC BY-SA 2.0

Pie is a favorite dish for any Greek. Spanakopita is a classic Greek phyllo pastry lined with feta cheese, onion, egg and spinach with dill. This crispy comfort food turns on the holiday mood on the table. Making a kid to eat spinach is a challenge for many. But, this spinach pastry is popular among the kids because of its masked spinach taste. The Greek pie is available in different shapes and sizes like triangles, cigars or rolls to attract food lovers. Most of the grocery stores in Greece are stocked with frozen Spanakopita regularly due to its wide popularity.

Ariston Hotel

Address: Diligianni 50 & N. Metaxa 35 Station Larissis - 10439 Athens - Greece

Website: Ariston Hotel

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Greece is the foodie’s fort of delicious food

The Greeks have a practice of eating five times a day which gives you an opportunity to try their long list of delicious dishes in just one day. Once you are in Greece, you will never go hungry. Their wide variety of scrumptious traditional foods will keep you active throughout your Greek tour. Try our top picks of traditional foods in Greece and experience the Greek foodgasm.

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Hemasudha is a dedicated travel writer whose true passion lies in exploring the world. Traveling, for her, is not just a hobby but a profound spiritual experience that she is deeply passionate...Read more

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