What To Eat in Greece

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Traditional Greek Foods to Eat in Greece

Perhaps you’ve got a trip coming up and you’re wondering what to eat in Greece. Or perhaps you’re still in the planning stages but just can’t help but get excited about all the delicious Greek food that’ll be at your fingertips. Either way, here’s a definitive list of all the traditional Greek foods you should eat in Greece.

Breakfast in Greece

Definitely the most boring meal of the day in my opinion, and not a particularly notable meal in Greece, but there’s still some tasty options out there. Oh and whether it’s herbal teas or exotic coffees you’re in to, you shouldn’t struggle in that department either. There’s a coffee shop on most street corners of some description.

Greek Yogurt

What’s better to eat in Greece than a bit of Greek yogurt with honey? This was one of my favourite breakfasts in Greece. It’s light and tasty and you can add different fruits and nuts to mix it up if you want to. Super easy to prepare and relatively low in calories, depending on quite how much honey you enjoy…

Omelettes

Another staple seems to be the omelette, often served with bread. Again, with a range of possible fillings to suit any taste buds, you can’t go far wrong with a good omelette.

Cheese Pies

You’re probably thinking ‘did I read that right? Cheese pies for breakfast?’ The Greeks are also big on baked goods and you will see cheese pies being consumed all over Athens throughout the morning. Ok, slight exaggeration, but they certainly enjoy their spinach and feta at any time of day.

Lunch in Greece

Lunch in Greece presents a variety of options. If you’re visiting Greece in the summer months it’s likely to be upwards of 30 degrees so during this hottest time of day you’ll probably be after a light lunch. And plenty of water!

Greek Salad

Greek salads seem to consist wholly and exclusively of tomatoes, onion, cucumber, olives, green pepper and a block of feta big enough for 3 people. And they are delicious! Drizzled with extra virgin olive oil, red wine vinegar and seasoned with a pinch of salt and a dash of oregano, they truly are a tantalisingly tasty. Portions are typically large so definitely consider sharing and Greek salads are usually really cheap too, ranging from €4-€7 depending where you are.

Baguettes and Sandwiches

Alongside your baked goods you’ll quite often see freshly made sandwiches and baguettes. They typically have traditional Greek fillings, so if you’ve got a whole 4 hours without feta, fear no more.

Souvlaki and Gyros

Some people don’t seem to know the difference between these two but it’s actually very simple. Both are effectively a form of ‘fast food’ and both can come either in a pitta or plated as more of a meal. The difference is how the meat is cooked. Souvlaki is made with small pieces of grilled meat cooked on a skewer whereas gyros is shaved from a vertical rotisserie. Both are absolutely to die for.

A gyro in a pitta typically costs somewhere between €2.40 and €2.90 so a really affordable option for a quick lunch and they’re served with tzatiki, tomatoes, onion and a few chips. This is definitely one of my favourite traditional Greek dishes.

Dinner in Greece

Greek Mezze

If you’re visiting Greece you simply cannot go and not have a traditional Greek mezze. They should make it a crime or something. If you in any way, shape or form wondering what to eat in Greece, the short answer is a Greek mezze.

A mezze is very similar to a Spanish tapas where you order lots of small plates and share them around the dinner table. The word ‘mezze’ actually means ‘a taste’ or ‘a bite’. Here are some of my favourite dishes –

• Crusty bread and tzatziki
• Saganaki (pan fried cheese, often halloumi or feta)
• Loukaniko (a Greek pork sausage)
• Kolokithokeftedes (zucchini fritters)
• Baked feta in filo pastry with honey and sesame seeds
• Mussels
• Stuffed vine leaves
• Stuffed mushrooms

Moussaka

Moussaka is a dish you’ve most likely heard of. It’s often referred to as the lasagne with aubergine instead of pasta. This is a pretty accurate description but it’s super tasty and definitely worth a try!

Fresh Fish and Seafood

I feel like there’s not a lot to say here. If you like fresh fish or seafood then order that calamari and those mussels! The ingredients are fresh and it seems that the Greeks really know how to cook!

Plated Souvlaki

This is the more sophisticated, dinner-time equivalent of souvlaki. Usually souvlaki in a restaurant is served still on the skewer with salad, chips, pitta and tzatziki. If you’re a meat-eater I would definitely suggest you give it a try. Grilling meat like this is relatively healthy and doesn’t dry it out.

Greek Gelato

The gelato in Greece is so good it deserves it’s own section. No matter whether it’s a small store with 6 flavours or a sweet tooth’s paradise with every flavour under the sun, I’ve never had a bad gelato. Some of my favourite flavours were coconut, Greek yogurt and cherry, and pistachio.

I actually found the most amazing little gelato place in Plaka, Athens, called Arte Athens where you can design your own ice cream using their chocolate fountain and array of decorations.

Wondering What To Eat in Greece? Problem Solved!

So now you’ve got some suggestions up your sleeve for breakfast, lunch and dinner. And I highly recommend you to go in search of some sweet baked goods and gelato for afters too. If you do, let me know if you have any recommendations for me!

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