iLoveFood
20 Greek Dishes to Try (and What They Are)
By the iLoveGreece editorial team · Last reviewed 2026-11
Quick answer
Start with these: moussaka, souvlaki and gyros, gemista (stuffed vegetables), dakos (Cretan barley-rusk salad), fava (yellow split-pea purée), grilled octopus, kleftiko (slow-cooked lamb), spanakopita, tzatziki and loukoumades (honey doughnuts). Order several plates to share, ask what's local, and try the house wine.
20 dishes to try
| Dish | What it is |
|---|---|
| Moussaka | Layers of aubergine, spiced minced meat and béchamel |
| Pastitsio | Baked pasta with meat sauce and béchamel |
| Souvlaki | Grilled skewers of pork or chicken, often in pitta |
| Gyros | Meat cooked on a vertical spit, wrapped in pitta |
| Gemista | Tomatoes and peppers stuffed with rice and herbs |
| Dakos | Barley rusk topped with tomato, feta or mizithra and oil |
| Fava | Smooth yellow split-pea purée, famous on Santorini |
| Horiatiki | Greek salad: tomato, cucumber, onion, olives, feta |
| Tzatziki | Yoghurt with cucumber and garlic |
| Melitzanosalata | Smoky aubergine dip |
| Saganaki | Fried cheese |
| Grilled octopus | Charred, with oil and vinegar; best by the harbour |
| Kalamarakia | Fried baby squid |
| Kleftiko | Lamb slow-cooked in paper or a clay pot |
| Stifado | Beef or rabbit stew with small onions |
| Spanakopita | Spinach and feta pie |
| Kolokithokeftedes | Courgette fritters |
| Bougatsa | Custard or cheese pastry, a breakfast classic |
| Loukoumades | Fried dough balls with honey |
| Galaktoboureko | Semolina custard in filo with syrup |
How to eat like a local
- Share: order several mezedes for the table instead of one main each.
- Lunch is late (14:00–16:00) and dinner later (21:00 or after).
- Ask for the 'mayirefta' (dishes of the day cooked in the morning) in traditional tavernas.
- Each island has its own specialities: ask 'what's local here?'
- A small dessert or raki on the house at the end is normal hospitality.
FAQ
What is the national dish of Greece?
Moussaka and souvlaki are the best known; many Greeks would say fasolada (bean soup) is the true national dish.
What should I order in a Greek taverna?
A Greek salad, a dip such as tzatziki or fava, something grilled and a dish of the day, all shared.
Is Greek food good for vegetarians?
Yes. Many classics are vegetarian: gemista, fava, briam (roast vegetables), dakos, spanakopita and bean dishes.
Related guides
Updated 2026-11. General planning guidance. Check with operators and local authorities.