Greece has so many great foods to eat. Honestly, the food there is sublime – some of the best food I’ve ever eaten – and the amount of good foods to eat extends wayyyyyy into the double digits. With so many foods to eat, you might find yourself becoming overwhelmed by the choice, or left clueless by the Greek alphabet, even though a lot of the menus have a Latin alphabet too (here’s a greek alphabet for you to read if you want to familiarise yourself with it). You may also not have very much time in Greece and want to find some of the best foods to eat before you have to leave Greece. So, with that in mind, here are five of the best foods to eat in Greece.
1. Gyros
One of the most famous Greek foods, and definitely one of the best foods to eat in Greece, is gyros. It also happens to be my favourite Greek food. Though the world-famous gyros are believed to have arrived in the 20th century, it has become one of the most iconic things to eat in Greece. The meat is cooked on a rotisserie and often served with greens, some chips, and tzatziki sauce. You can typically buy gyros with pork, chicken, or halloumi, so there are a variety of choices for people, and they are also quite cheap, so you can try several different versions of the best food to eat in Greece. If I had to decide the gyros that I recommend most – and then named the best food to eat in Greece – it would be halloumi gyros, but any gyros is good gyros.
2. Souvlaki
This food is typically served as grilled pieces of meat on a skewer – though I also had a halloumi version, and is one of the best snacks to eat in Greece. Quite light, souvlaki is perfect as a snack to eat on the go, or to have a couple as a side during lunch or dinner. They are filling and cheap, and full of flavour. Because of their availability – everywhere I ate served souvlaki – these are one of the easiest to find and best foods to eat in Greece.
3. Pies
The history of Greek pies goes back thousands of years and has evolved through the passage of time, and now they are among the best foods to eat in Greece. There are both sweet and savoury pies, meat and meat-free, so there is guaranteed to be something for everyone. Among these are the tyropita (a cheese pie), zambonotyropita (ham and cheese), and bougatsa (custard). All of these pies are delicious, and whilst travelling, you can find small versions, bigger versions, and slices, so all appetites can be met. These pies are filling and also very affordable, so they are one of the best foods to eat in Greece from an economical and nutritional (and taste!) perspective.
4. Feta!
One of the most famous Greek cheeses, Feta received its name in the 17th century, but for even longer, it has been among the best foods to eat in Greece. Feta can be purchased on its own, in a traditional dish such as a Greek salad, and as a starter in a restaurant just to name a few. In restaurants, it is often served with a little olive oil and herbs as a starter, and is a delicious way to start a meal. Since it is a popular starter and delivious, it is one of the easiest and best foods to eat in Greece.
5. The Seafood!
With so many islands, coastal areas, and great chefs, it’s obvious to see why seafood is such a big part of Greek cuisine. The other great thing about seafood that makes it one of the best foods to eat in Greece? It’s fresh! There are so many places that serve fresh seafood, and it is *chef’s kiss* sublime. Squid, shrimp, octopus, oyster, and numerous fish are among the types of seafood commonly served in Greece. With that variety, it’s easy to see why they make for some of the best foods in Greece. The seafood there makes for a real taste of the sea, and is never too salty.
6. Doughnuts, ice cream, and gelato.
This might sound like a weird one, but the doughnuts in Greece are next level, and are one of the best foods to eat there. Loukoumades are a Greek doughnut made with honey syrup and cinnamon, and they are delicious. Known as ‘honey tokens’ they were given to the winners of the Olympic Games in Ancient times! Honestly, it’s worth winning ne of these events to eat loukoumades, they’re so tasty. But loukoumades aside, all the doughnuts I ate were a cut above. Even a simple sugar doughnut had a unique, blocky shape, and was made with sublime dough. When it comes to sweet treats, loukoumades and other doughnuts are one of the best foods if you’re looking for something to eat in Greece.
Along with the doughnuts, the gelato and ice cream in Greece is SO good, and can be found all over the various islands – seriously, I think I saw fifteen different places across two islands.. It’s really refreshing if you’ve been walking around the beautiful islands all day, but also makes for a delicious dessert. In terms of flavours, I would highly recommend pistachio ice cream, especially if you’re visiting Aegina: the pistachios on Aegina are among the best in the world and make for one of the best flavours. Don’t forget to try the sweet dishes whilst there, because they’re some of the best foods in Greece that you can find, and the world.
7. Fruit
Again, this may seem an odd choice. What can be so special about Greek fruit when there are so many other foods to eat in Greece? Well, I’ll tell you. The fruit isn’t just incredibly tasty and great to eat for a snack or dessert, but it’s cheap and available everywhere. On street corners, in supermarkets, and everywhere you look, you’re guaranteed to be near a fruit salesperson. Some places sell grapes and only grapes, but in my experience, they’re some of the best-tasting fruit you’ll ever eat. If that doesn’t sound good enough, then remember: the fruit is SO cheap, so you get value AND taste. The box of grapes below cost less than 2 Euro, so grab one for yourself and find out why fruits are some of the best foods to eat in Greece.
These are seven of the best foods to eat in Greece. Thoguh there are many other amazing Greek foods ranging from burgers, to snack bars, to the host of amazing drinks and appetisers, these are the foods that I think everyone should eat in Greece.
What are your favourite foods to eat in Greece? Have you ever eaten Greek food? Let me know in the comments below!
Until next time,
Conrad
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