Ten Best Dishes in Greece

Greece Travel Secrets lists the ten best dishes to try in Greece, especially if it’s your first visit, and also discover the best places to find them.

Greece is a culinary paradise, offering a rich tapestry of flavors rooted in its history, geography, and culture. If you’re visiting Greece for the first time, here are ten must-try dishes, along with the best places to try them.

Ten Best Dishes in Greece

MoussakaMoussaka

1. Moussaka

This iconic Greek dish layers eggplant, minced meat (often lamb), and béchamel sauce, baked to perfection. It’s a hearty comfort food that embodies Greek cuisine. We've even devoted a full page to moussaka, with its history and a recipe.

Best Place to Try: Head to Ariston in Athens, a historic bakery and restaurant known for its traditional moussaka and other Greek classics. It's at Voulis 10.

2. Souvlaki

Souvlaki consists of skewered and grilled meat (usually pork or chicken) served with pita bread, tomatoes, onions, and tzatziki. It’s Greece’s answer to fast food, but far more flavorful. Many people have voted this the best souvlaki in Athens. The address is Filellinon 7.

Best Place to Try: Visit Kostas in Athens, a legendary spot that has been serving souvlaki since 1950.

3. Spanakopita (Spinach Pie)

This savory pastry is made with layers of phyllo dough filled with spinach, feta cheese, and herbs. It’s a popular snack or light meal and is definitely one of the best dishes in Greece. We eat it all the time!

Best Place to Try: Try it in Thessaloniki, the culinary capital of northern Greece, where bakeries like Terkenlis are famous for their spanakopita.

A plate of dolmadesA plate of dolmades

4. Dolmades (Stuffed Grape Leaves)

Dolmades are grape leaves stuffed with rice, herbs, and sometimes minced meat. They’re often served as an appetizer or meze. If made fresh they're delicious but some places serve tinned versions. You can tell the difference. 

Best Place to Try: Sample them in Pelion, a region known for its fresh, locally sourced ingredients and traditional recipes.

5. Gyros

Similar to souvlaki but made with rotisserie meat, gyros are served in pita wraps with tomatoes, onions, fries, and tzatziki. They’re a street food staple.

Best Place to Try: Enjoy gyros at O Thanasis in Athens, a popular restaurant famous for its juicy, flavorful gyros. You'll find it at Mitropoleos 69.

6. Pastitsio

Often called Greek lasagna, pastitsio features pasta, minced meat, and béchamel sauce. It’s a comforting, oven-baked dish.

Best Place to Try: Try it anywhere on Corfu, but the best we've had was at Taverna Ninos at Sevastianou 44 in Corfu Town.

A bowl of tzatziki on a table with the sea in the backgroundMmmmm... tzatziki!

7. Tzatziki

This creamy dip made from yogurt, cucumber, garlic, and olive oil is a refreshing accompaniment to many Greek dishes. We've devoted a page to tzatziki, with its interesting history and a recipe to make your own

Best Place to Try: Enjoy it in Crete, where the yogurt is exceptionally rich and creamy. Many tavernas in Chania serve homemade tzatziki.

Octopus drying on MykonosOctopus drying on Mykonos

8. Seafood (Grilled Octopus and Calamari)

OK, so we cheated as this could be any of several dishes, but in Greece all seafood is a highlight. Grilled octopus and calamari are particularly popular, often served with lemon and olive oil.

Best Place to Try: Head to the island of Santorini or Mykonos, where seaside tavernas like Dimitris Ammoudi Taverna in Santorini serve fresh, expertly prepared seafood.

A tray of baklavaA tray of baklava

9. Baklava

Hard to pick out just one Greek dessert, but it has to be the ubiquitous baklava. This sweet dessert is made with layers of phyllo dough, nuts, and honey syrup. It’s a decadent treat with Middle Eastern influences.

Best Place to Try: Sample baklava in Thessaloniki, where places like Trigona Elenidi (Dimitriou Gounari 13) make fantastic desserts, including the best baklava.

10. Gemista (Stuffed Vegetables)

Gemista are tomatoes, peppers, or other vegetables stuffed with rice, herbs, and sometimes minced meat. They’re a staple of Greek home cooking. Our favourite is stuffed peppers, which we often have at home but stuffed with feta cheese rather than rice.

Best Place to Try: Try them in Meteora, where local tavernas use fresh, organic produce from the surrounding farms.

Our Pick of the Guides to Greece

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Ten Best Dishes in Greece

Greek cuisine is as diverse as its landscapes, with each region offering unique flavors and specialties. Whether you’re exploring the bustling streets of Athens, the idyllic islands, or the serene countryside, these ten dishes will give you a true taste of Greece. Pair them with a glass of ouzo or local wine, and you’re in for a treat!

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