Traditional Greek Dishes
What to order, and how a Greek table actually works
Overview
Greek cooking is seasonal, simple and built around sharing. A good meal is rarely one plate each — it is a table of small dishes, bread, olive oil and whatever the kitchen cooked that morning. Learning a handful of dishes and how to order them changes the food you are served.
What to try
Mezedes
Small shared plates: tzatziki, taramosalata, fava, grilled octopus, saganaki and whatever vegetables are in season. Order four or five for two people and add more if you are still hungry.
Slow-cooked mains
Moussaka, gemista, kleftiko and stifado are the dishes of the day, cooked in the morning and served warm rather than hot. Ask what is 'tis oras' (grilled to order) versus 'magirefta' (cooked earlier).
Grilled meat and fish
Souvlaki, paidakia (lamb chops) and whole fish sold by weight. Ask the price per kilo before the fish is cooked.
Regional specialities
Dakos and snails in Crete, bougatsa in Thessaloniki, fava and tomato fritters in Santorini, pastitsada in Corfu.
Sweets
Loukoumades, galaktoboureko, baklava and thick yoghurt with local honey — usually offered free at the end of a taverna meal.
Where to find it
Neighbourhood tavernas
The default and usually the best. Look for handwritten or short menus, and a dining room with more Greeks than tourists.
Mageirio (cook houses)
Lunch-focused places with trays of cooked dishes on display — point at what looks good. Excellent value in Athens and Thessaloniki.
Psarotaverna
Fish tavernas in harbour villages. Best in the shoulder seasons when the sea is calmer and the catch better.
Village kafeneio
Coffee, raki and a couple of home-cooked plates. The most memorable food in Greece is often here.
Practical tips
- Lunch is late and dinner is later; kitchens are busiest after 21:00 in summer.
- House wine by the carafe is normally local, cheap and perfectly good.
- If a menu has photographs and a host outside calling you in, keep walking.
- Ask what the kitchen recommends today — most tavernas cook a few dishes properly rather than everything on the menu.
Related guides
Keep exploring
Browse the rest of the Food & Wine section, or find a food tour or tasting to book.