Some posts on this site contain affiliate links, meaning if you book or buy something through one of these links, I may earn a small commission (at no extra cost to you!). You can read my full disclosure policy here.
Anyone that knows me at all will know how much I love to eat and cook. Traveling to me is about two parts: enjoying the culture (& sights) and enjoying the food. My time in Greece was no different. The only thing was I wish I was there longer to eat more. So here are 10 things you must eat while in Greece!
1. Tzatziki
Tzatziki was served with pretty much every meal we had. It tasted so much better than anything I had before. I’m lactose intolerant, but I couldn’t say no to the tzatziki. It was so good and it was so hard to stop eating it. It went well with everything!
2. Greek Salad and Feta Cheese
You hear Greece and what is the first thing you think of? Greek salad of course! This is served with everything here it seems. Instead of crumbly bites of feta mixed in throughout the salad, there were big slabs of it on top for you to break up. I had so much Greek salad, but I couldn’t stop eating it. All the veggies were fresh and the feta was delicious. Best I’ve ever had. I still dream of that delicious feta. Every place did it just a little bit different, but it was all really good.
3. Gyros
Before I went to Greece, my brother told me that he had the best gyros in Athens compared to anywhere else that he has traveled. I feel Budapest has really good gyros so I had really high expectations for the gyros in Greece. I tried two places, and to be honest, it was a bit of a let down. I found the meat to be tough and dry and shaved so small. Maybe it’s only problem when its served on a plate, and not in pita, which I did not try.
4. Calamari
I love seafood and I especially love calamari. There is just something about the delicate and crunchy batter around the chewy squid. So good! And served with tzatziki. I was really looking forward to this and looking at the photo again just makes me want to drool. Yum!
5. Roast Lamb
Camera + too excited to eat = blurry photo
The Greeks do lamb so well. Bone in lamb especially is fall off the fork tender and so delicious. The one I ordered came with a chunky tomato sauce and couscous, but the meat itself was really tender. Definitely must eat. Maybe something about where I was enjoying it too made it extra special.
6. Grilled Seafood (like Octopus)
You’re on an island, surrounded by water. Gotta have some seafood right? Most restaurants have a selection of grilled seafood and while octopus isn’t my favourite thing, getting some type of grilled seafood is a must have.
7. Grilled lamb chops
This was by far my favourite meal of the whole trip. The lamb was cooked well, and spiced deliciously. So good! Must try!
8. Sea Bream (or any other fresh fish)
Freshly caught and cooked well. How could you ask for more? I really liked how they presented it. It came to the table with head and tail attached and our waiter fileted it at the table. Very impressive show. Even more impressive when I didn’t find a single bone in it afterwards.
9. Soulvaki
This one was just meh. I had better ones while in Greece, but this was the only photo I took!
Most people associated Greek food for soulvaki. This is of the pork variety. Grilled and seasoned with a variety of spices.
10. Loukoumades
The first time I tried these delicious honey balls was at the Greek festival held in Vancouver every year. I remember my surprise and delight when biting into these sweet doughnuts and the bit of honey in the middle of the balls came oozing out. I was really looking forward to getting these in Greece. Finally, on my last day on Crete I located some in a bakery. They obviously had been sitting on the shelf for awhile as they were not as soft and doughy as I remembered, but the delicate sweetness was exactly how I remembered them. Mmmm….
Bonus: What you must drink!
Ouzo – the quintessential alcohol for Greeks. And if you’re on the island of Crete, you’ll for sure be offered raki to taste. Everywhere we went we had raki – in our rooms, at restaurants, and bars. Everywhere! Tasted kind of like palinka. The first place we stayed at on Crete gave us a plastic bottle of raki to take home with us and took us a long time to get through it (in fact, I think some of it still remains in my boyfriend’s fridge). The local beers: Fix, Alfa and Mythos are nothing to write home about. Worth a try, but not really my favourite.
There are so many other amazing dishes I didn’t get to try or I did and just didn’t include in this list.What are some of your favorite Greek foods and drinks? Have I missed anything quintessentially Greek?
If you’re new to Pack Me To, welcome!
Stay on top of my travel and food adventures by liking me on Facebook and following me on Twitter & Instagram.
i had souvlaki today. maybe I shouldnt go to Greece – I would get even bigger!
Mmm souvlaki! Greece would treat you well.
…You forgot baklava, mouskaka, and spaniktopa (??)!!…
All good things! I ate these in Greece too. So good!
Nice collection of good eats and nice website and travel tips. Off to check the rest of your articles!
Thanks for reading Bill!
The grilled lamb chops look the most appealing.
It was really yummy!
Don’t forget Keftedes(meatballs with herbs and spices).
Spanakopita ( speanach pie)
Tiropitta(cheese pie)
Pastitsio(macaroni pie)
Stifado(meat cooked in wine-vinegar sause with onions).
Greetings from Samos island.
Great list! I really like spanakopita as well. Spinach is amazing. I didn’t have enough time in Greece to try the rest of it. I’ll definitely be back to the country though. I want to visit all the other islands 🙂
Yum, yum and yum!! These all sound delicious – I love souvlaki but these donuts are completely new information to me – I’ve never heard of them but would love to try them out one day! I’ve always been a big fan of Greek food flavours – I also love stuffed vine leaves 🙂
Those donuts are super yummy. I hope you get a chance to try them one day! I don’t really like those stuff leaves – the flavour from the leaves are a bit strange to me. Otherwise, Greek flavours are too yummy.
Every recipe is different in its part of Greece.
In every island or every village you taste the tradition,the colors and the nature.
Loukoumades( the Greek donuts ) in the island of Samos has a generous amount of mastic,that makes them just amazing.
Visit west Samos and taste also the local pancakes.
Served with honey and cinnamon( sweet version) or with cheese( feta,graviera etc).
Also try stuffed zucchini flowers,either with cheese and egg(deep fried),or with rise,herbs( mostly mint and fennel) and tomato juice.
Many greetings from beautiful west Samos.
I love the loukoumades that I’ve tried so I guess that means I’ll just have to go to Samos to stuff myself with them 🙂 It sounds like you live on a beautiful island with lots of delicious foods! I definitely want to see more of Greece.
It is a beautiful island.Unfortunately not so well known to the people and it’s a pity.
We have so many things to see and enjoy.
Next time you come to Greece try Samos and drink our famous wine.
We have lovely beaches,nice traditional villages,many ancients monuments,museums,Christian temples and of course the mountain of Kerkis to explore.
And on the other side lovely restaurants,bars and even night life…
Many greetings from Samos.
Thanks for all your advice Maria! You’ve definitely convinced me that I need to go to Samos, and you’re right in saying not many people know about it, including myself. I had to google map it! I’ll let you know if I’m ever there 🙂
We spent three weeks in Greece and the food was definitely a highlight. I’m pretty sure we had Greek salad and tzatziki at every meal. We also really loved the moussaka, zucchini and tomato fritters, fried cheese and cheese pies, and freshly made hummus. YUM!
There was so much good food! It was hard to stop eating. I’m pretty sure I had Greek salad, feta and tzatziki with everything too. I’m a bit lactose intolerant, but it was so worth it.
i loved Greece and I coudn’t get enougf of the Loukoumades they where so delicious.