Greek Street Food: 20 Eats on the Streets of Greece

Want to know the best street food in Greece to eat on your vacation? Or maybe you’re lucky enough to have a Greek street food truck in your neighborhood, and you want to know what to order. Either way, this is the ultimate guide to everything you’ll need!

I’ve loved Greek food ever since my first trip to Athens in the 1980s. Years later, when I designed the menu for my personal chef business, I incorporated many traditional dishes from Greek cuisine that I loved.

But while my moussaka was just as good as the ones in the Greek restaurants in Los Angeles, the Greek food in Athens and throughout Greece was always better. And that’s where you’ll find the best Greek street food too!

If it’s your first time in Greece, you may be surprised that you’ll find some of the best food on the streets!

But it’s true. In most cases, you’ll find delicious food at a reasonable price from nice people!

Must-Try Greek Street Food

The most famous Greek dish in the U.S. has to be Greek salad, which is called “horiatiki” in Greece, and actually translates to “village salad.”

Comprising tomatoes, onions, cucumbers, Kalamata olives, feta cheese, olive oil, and lemon juice, horiatiki showcases the flavors of Greece in one dish.

Because these ingredients go so well together, don’t be surprised to find many of them incorporated into the different Greek street foods below.

1. Gyros - Greek Sandwich

Gyros, one of the best Greek street foods to try in Greece. — Gyros, one of the best Greek street foods to try in Greece

No matter where you travel in Greece, you will have many opportunities to try Greek street gyros. Pronounced “yeero,” the name “gyro” means “to turn,” which aptly describes how the tender gyro meat rotates on its vertical rotisserie before it is shaved off to create your gyro.

If you’ve had street food in Mexico City, this meat preparation may remind you of tacos al pastor—and you’d be onto something! If you’ve enjoyed doner kebabs in Germany, you probably also recognize a connection. As it turns out, gyros, doner kebabs, tacos al pastor, and other kebabs all trace their roots back to Turkey.

In Greece, gyros meat is typically a mix of lamb and beef, but you’ll also find pork or chicken gyros too. It is sliced in thin pieces and wrapped in warm pita bread with onions, tomatoes, french fries, and tzatziki sauce.

If you haven’t had tzatziki sauce, it’s a yummy combination of lemon, garlic, cucumber, and Greek yogurt. If you’d like to make a delicious version, try my tzatziki sauce recipe!

Are you still stuck on french fries? Well, OK, then; let’s back up. If you’ve had gyros at your local Greek fast food franchise, you probably didn’t have fries packed into your gyro sandwich. But a classic gyro in Greece will! Now you know.

2. Souvlaki - Skewered Meat

The traditional Greek dish Souvlaki can be served as a plate or in a pita. — The traditional Greek dish souvlaki can be served as a plate or in a pita.

If you want to taste Greek street food, souvlaki should definitely be on your list. You should be able to find your choice of beef, lamb, chicken, or pork.

To make this traditional Greek dish, cubes of meat are marinated in olive oil, lemon juice, and fresh herbs. The meat is then arranged on metal or wooden skewers and grilled. Sometimes vegetables are layered between the meat, sometimes not.

That’s souvlaki: meat on a stick. Souvlaki can be served as part of an entrée alongside skewered vegetables like red onions and peppers and accompanied with rice or fries. But they can also be placed in a grilled pita, so they are sometimes confused with gyros. 

3. Kontosouvli - Rotisserie Pork

If you’re seeing the “souvli” in “kontosouvli,” you’d be correct in assuming it’s more meat on a stick. Large chunks of pork marinated in lemon, garlic, olive oil, and oregano are skewered and grilled on a rotisserie.

Like souvlaki, this Greece street food can be served with tzatziki sauce and a pita wrap for a street food snack, or with a Greek salad and fries for a full meal.

As you may have already picked up, skewered meats are an integral part of Greek cooking. They are a great option for high-quality food on the go, but there are plenty of other choices for vegetarians and those looking for something lighter.

4. SpanAkopita - Greek Spinach Pie

Spanikopita, one of the most popular street foods in Greece — Spanakopita, one of the most popular street foods in Greece

Spanakopita, or spinach pie, is one of the most popular Greek street foods throughout Greece.

At its most basic, thin layers of phyllo dough (sometimes called filo dough) wraps around a mixture of spinach and feta cheese. Some Greek recipes will add herbs, lemon, or egg.

These savory pies can be made into small triangles or one large pie of almost any shape.

Culinary historians trace this dish back to the Ottoman Empire over 400 years ago. It has certainly stood the test of time to become a top famous food of Greece.

If you Google “Greek street food near me,” you will likely find spanakopita at your local Greek restaurant.

5. KreatopiTa - Greek Meat Pie

Authentic Greek street food recipes vary from the filling to the shape of kreatopita.

In addition to roasting meat on a stick, many street foods in Greece involve phyllo dough. Kreatopita, or Greek meat pie, is one of the local favorites made with the flaky dough.

The ground meat filling for this pie can be beef, lamb, pork, or a combination of any of these. In addition to the meat, authentic versions of Greek meat pies can contain a variety of cheeses, vegetables, sauces, and herbs.

My kreatopita recipe adds feta and spinach.

Similar to spanakopita, kreatopita may take different shapes, from triangles to a coiled round roll. Look for them at market stalls—although you’ll probably catch a whiff of their tantalizing smell before you see them!

6. Tiropita - Greek Cheese Pie

Triangles are the most common shape for tiropita.

Greek feta cheese is the base of traditional tiropita. And at this point, you probably have guessed that the outside layers are composed of phyllo.

Nowadays, in other countries, you’ll see recipes using ricotta cheese or cream cheese to make a creamier version. But in Greece, they will usually stick to the most beloved Greek cheese, feta.

Tiropita are often eaten for breakfast. If you don’t see a street vendor, head to the nearest bakery. It is sure to have this pastry available in the mornings.

7. Tiropsomo - Greek Feta Bread

Buy tiropsomo from the local bakeries in Greece.

Some authentic Greek street foods are best purchased at the local bakeries, and tiropsomo is one of them.

One of the facts about food in Greece: Everything is better with feta. And that includes bread! If you’re like me, cheesy bread is all you need to know to want to try tiropsomo. But just in case you need to know more . . .

It’s also one of the most affordable Greek snacks. If the low price isn’t the clincher, how about versatility?

Sure, you can’t go wrong eating it by itself, but add a few Kalamata olives to your tiropsomo, and it brings the cheesy goodness to a whole new level. You can really enjoy tiropsomo with almost anything!

8. Peinirli - Boat-Shaped Greek Pizza

If your taste buds love cheesy bread, tiropsomo is not your only choice. Peinirli, sometimes referred to as Greek pizza, will also fill the bill.

Are you picturing pizza, and wondering how Greek it is? Well, it’s certainly nothing like the pizza you’ll find in Naples or Rome.

But, it is not 100% Greek either. It comes from the Turkish cheese bread “peynirli” or “pide.” Moreover, other countries with a Black Sea coast also have similar boat-shaped cheese breads. For example, the Georgian specialty “khachapuri.”

Whatever its origin, this boat-shaped pizza is an immensely popular Greek street food.

It is typically made with kasseri cheese, a springy, stringy, flavorful sheep cheese. Toppings run the gamut. With the variety of options you’ll come across, you should have no problem finding a version that is just the right fit for you.

9. Dolmades - Stuffed Grape Leaves

Dolmades are the perfect Greek snack to eat on the go.

Dolmades, also known as dolmas, are stuffed grape leaves. You will not find a list of Greek food without them, and with good reason.

Although the name is borrowed from the Turkish word “dolma,” which means “to stuff,” it is believed that dolmas originated in ancient Greece.

Still, this traditional Greek street food is very popular in Asia Minor and many Middle Eastern countries that border the Mediterranean Sea and thus share dishes of Mediterranean cuisine.

For vegetarian dolmades, the grape vine leaves are boiled until pliable and stuffed with a mixture of rice, herbs, and spices. They are then steamed until soft.

Like any staple Greek dish, recipes vary. Sometimes meat, pine nuts, or vegetables will be part of the stuffing.

One of the good things about dolmades is that they are so popular, they’ll be easy to find at local markets and food stalls.

10. Revithokeftedes - Greek Falafel

Greek falafel are wrapped in pita for easy eating on the streets.

In Greece, revithokeftedes, aka Greek falafel, are a street food classic and a vegetarian staple.

The recipe for revithokeftedes is relatively simple, and involves mixing chickpeas, onion, garlic, parsley, and other herbs and spices together to form a dough. The dough is then shaped into balls and fried until crispy on the outside and soft on the inside.

Traditionally, revithokeftedes are served with a simple yogurt sauce, made from Greek yogurt, lemon juice, and garlic. As a street food, the falafels will often be wrapped in warm pitas.

They can also be paired with a variety of Greek salads and meze dishes, such as tzatziki, hummus, and dolmades.

11. Koulouri Thessalonikis - Greek Bagel

The most popular Greek street food, koulouri Thessalonikis

For all intents and purposes, koulouri Thessalonikis is a Greek bagel. A ring of dough covered in toasted sesame seeds that’s crunchy on the outside and chewy on the inside. Sounds like a bagel, right? The size of both the bread ring and the whole within it, however, are bigger than that of your typical bagel.

Koulouri Thessalonikis are the most popular street food in Greece. If you’re on the prowl for Greek street food in Athens, you’ll see what I mean. Here the street vendors sell an abundance of these sesame bread rings on street corners. You can’t miss them at the bakeries either.

Since they look like a bagel you may be wondering if koulouri Thessalonikis are a popular breakfast in Greece. Yes, they sure are!

12. Kolokithokeftedes - Greek Zucchini Fritters

Kolokithokeftedes, one of the most popular vegetarian Greek snacks

Kolokithokeftedes, or Greek zucchini fritters, are one of the best vegetarian Greek snack foods!

I’ve seen fried zucchini in different forms as a street food in Rome, in Provence, and in Nice, France. So to find them on the streets of Greece was not too surprising.  

Each cuisine has its own method of preparation for fried zucchini, and for kolokithokeftedes, the zucchini is grated and seasoned with mint, scallions, and feta.

They can be shaped as a ball, or flattened like a thick pancake. Whatever the shape, they will be fried until the outside is crispy and browned. Sprinkle them with a dash of salt for zucchini fritter perfection.

13. Koupes

Koupes have a bulgur wheat crust and a meaty middle.

Greek food historians trace the roots of koupes to the ancient Phoenicians. Hailing from the oldest continuously inhabited region of Larnaka, on Cyprus, these deep-fried delights are shaped like an elongated American football or rugby ball.

Their crispy crust, crafted from bulgur wheat, encloses a delectable filling of minced meat, onions, parsley, and a blend of spices. They are similar to the Sicilian specialty, arancini, or to the Roman food tour darling, supplì, but with bulgur wheat instead of rice.

These mouthwatering treats are best enjoyed with a generous squeeze of zesty lemon juice and a dollop of tzatziki.

14. Psaráki sto Chonáki - Fish in a Cone

You’ll find a variety of seafood in a cone in Athens like these fried sardines. — You’ll find a variety of seafood in a cone in Athens, like these fried sardines.

If you’ve sampled the street food of Venice, you’ve most likely tasted some kind of seafood in a cone, aka scartossi in Italian. In Greece, this is one of the newer street food dishes, and it’s growing in popularity, especially in Athens.

The cone makes walking and munching on seafood easy. In addition to battered and fried fish, try fried anchovies (gavros), sardines (sardeles), or small shrimp (garídes).

15. Biftekia - Greek Hamburger

If you’re craving a burger, try biftekia. — If you’re craving a burger in Greece, try biftekia.

If you’re not an adventurous foodie, here’s a popular street food you’ll recognize. Biftekia—Greece’s answer to America’s favorite fast food.

It may look similar to the hamburgers you have at home, but the Greek flavors will tell you otherwise.

These burger patties mix ground beef or lamb with egg, breadcrumb, and Greece’s most common aromatic herbs—mint, oregano, and parsley.

16. Loukoumades - Greek Doughnuts

Loukoumades, a sweet Greek street food similar to donut holes

Loukoumades are almost always referred to by English speakers as Greek doughnuts or Greek donuts. However, the first thing I thought when I saw them is that they more closely resemble doughnut holes.

These little round balls of fried dough are traditionally covered in honey. They are so scrumptious that they are definitely one of the most popular foods eaten on the streets of Greece.

As with any delicious success, new variations can be found with different toppings. I’m a big fan of eating them with ice cream!

17. Baklava (some Greek pastry names don’t have translations)

Don’t leave Greece without trying a local baklava!

In addition to different types of pies, some great desserts use phyllo dough too. Baklava, filled with seasoned nuts and doused in honey syrup, is hands down the most popular.

Since it’s eaten at room temperature, you can buy a few and eat them throughout the day. Or you may want to sample a few different vendors. You’ll have plenty of opportunities to purchase more. Even though this sweet pastry is very labor intensive to make, you’ll see it everywhere.

Each thin sheet of phyllo needs to be brushed with butter. If you’ve ever worked with phyllo pastry, that alone will make you appreciate that you can buy baklava at Greek bakeries and coffee shops and come nowhere near to going broke.

The only downside of eating baklava is that it is quite messy. But it’s worth it!

18. BougatSa - Sweet or Savory Pastry

Try the sweet and savory forms of bougatsa.

Bougatsa originated in Constantinople in the early 1400s during the Byzantine Empire when the city was still Greek. So, although you may find them in Turkey, bougatsa are an authentic Greek food.

The most traditional bougatsa is filled with a creamy custard and is eaten for breakfast. Like Italian morning meals and French breakfasts, sweets are what many Greeks eat with their coffee when they awaken.

Today, these small rolls of phyllo have various fillings, including savory mizithra cheese or minced meats. All versions usually have a sprinkle of cinnamon and granulated sugar on top.

19. Psitá Kástana - Roasted Chestnuts

Roasted chestnuts are a winter time street food in Greece. — Roasted chestnuts are a wintertime street food in Greece.

Chestnut season coincides with the fall and winter months. A great way to kick the coldness in any significant urban center in Greece is to purchase some roasted chestnuts. After holding them and then eating them, you’re sure to feel the warmth.

Chestnuts may sound like a funny Greek snack food to some of my friends in California, but I grew up with roasted chestnuts being sold on the streets of New York. I’ve also seen them on European streets in cities like Paris, at the Cours Saleya in Nice, at markets in Milan, and under the porticos of Bologna.

So, since chestnuts grow prolifically in Greece, chestnut street vendors are a very common sight there as well.

20. Dakos - Greek Bruschetta

Dakos, a Greek tomato salad on top of barley rusks

Dakos, also known as koukouvagia and kouloukopsomo, is similar to the Roman famous food bruschetta. However, this Greek treat was born independently in Crete.

Originally a way to use up stale bread, dakos piles a salad made of fresh tomatoes, oregano, and olive oil on a barley rusk to make a tasty snack. It’s topped with either feta or mizithra cheese and sometimes olives and cracked black pepper.

You’ll want to try this one in summertime when tomatoes are in season!

Finding the Best Greek Street Food

Whether you’re looking for the best street food in Athens or Crete, there are a few reliable places to find what you’re looking for.

In Greece, street food usually doesn’t come from food trucks like in Portland, Oregon.

It will more likely be from a food stall, a bakery, a takeaway restaurant, or a food vendor walking the streets.

Personally, I always start at the local farmers markets. You can watch which food stalls the locals flock to. I find those are almost always the best.

I also love going to the neighborhood bakeries wherever I travel. They will usually make the area’s specialties by hand, and the smells can’t be beat!