These Essential Greek Dishes are Must Eats in Athens

Gyros

Easily one of the most popular foods in Greece, gyros are so popular because they are simple, delicious, and the ultimate comfort food. You’ll notice that you can get gyros from a variety of establishments. Street vendors will serve you up a tasty pita for just a few euros, or you can get a big, tasty portion at many of the city’s sit-down restaurants. If you want to try a local favorite, grab a juicy gyro at O Kostas. The locals swear by their souvlaki and gyros as the best in town!

O Kostas: Pentelis 5, Athens

Moussaka

Moussaka is a dish that you might not be as familiar with, but you should! You can think of this almost as a Greek version of lasagna, as this dish layers eggplant, potatoes, and minced meat, one after another. The top layer is a rich, creamy bechamel sauce that adds a decadent richness. This is definitely one of the must eats in Athens, especially for those who want to take a break from grilled meats. This dish has variations: the meat may be lamb or beef, and a variety of veggies like tomatoes, mushrooms, or zucchini can be subbed in, too.

Dolmadakia

Dolmadakia are tasty grapevine leaves with a helping of rice and herbs inside. Sometimes, to make them a more complete and filling dish, ground meat might also be stuffed inside, too. While small, they burst with flavors like lemon, dill, mint, and parsley. Dolmadakia can be an appetizer before your main meal, or eaten as a meal in themselves. Their taste and versatility make them a popular favorite that you’ll find on menus everywhere.

Avgolemono soup

If you’re looking for comfort in a bowl, look no farther than avgolemono soup. This rich soup is a combination of chicken broth, eggs, lemon, and orzo pasta. The bright citrus of the lemon cuts through the creamy egg, creating a tasty and filling dish. You can eat a cup to accompany a meal, or enjoy a hearty bowl as your main dish!

Souvlaki

Souvlaki is another of our must eat in Athens because they are similar to gyros in taste and are readily available everywhere. Small pieces of skewered meat are marinated and grilled to perfection, then served up hot and fresh. In fast food versions, the meat is usually plucked from the skewers and stuffed into a pita with veggies and tzatziki sauce. In more formal restaurants, you’ll usually get all the components laid out for you and you can build your own pita.

Spanakopita

Who doesn’t love savory pie? Think delicate layers of filo pastry stuffed with spinach, onions, feta and spice and you have spanakopita. Golden, flaky and delicious, this can be made as a big pie cut into portions, or a single-serving hand pie. You’ll find this in many bakeries as a cheap and filling snack or meal option throughout the day.

Greek salad

Another of our must eats in Athens is a simple dish called horiatiki, or Greek salad. This is a great options for vegetarians since Greek cuisine features many meat and seafood dishes. Traditionally, this salad is lettuce-free and combines red onions, tomatoes, cucumbers, kalamata olives, bell peppers, feta, spices, olive oil, and red wine vinegar together. It’s simple delicious, and a nice, cool dish to eat in the summer.

Baklava

And of course, who could forget the dessert? Filo again is the key ingredient in baklava, a pastry that is layer after layer of sweet deliciousness. The layers are filled with honey, cinnamon and walnuts, resulting in deep, sweet, flavors. This treat can be found everyone in Greece, but is an amazing way to finish off your perfect meal in Athens!

After a day of eating your way around Athens, return home to your cozy Olala Homes apartment to rest and relax!