Greek Foods to Try on Your Vacation - Our sunset dinner with a fried feta with a honey glaze appetizer, Greek spaghetti, fava dip and olives. — Our sunset dinner with a fried feta with a honey glaze appetizer, Greek spaghetti, fava dip and olives.

We just returned from our whirlwind trip through the Greek Islands and let me tell you we've never ate so well! The Greek lazy summer nights are spent dinning in beautiful restaurants while watching the sunset.

Traditionally meals run very long and last for several hours as they bring you course after course of dishes. The Greek food is so fresh and savory with crisp produce and high quality ingredients.

Although the Greeks love their meat, they also have a great variety of vegetables dishes as well. My deep love for feta made Greece cuisine heaven for me because they have created so many ways to incorporate it into your meal.

In this foodie guide I go into detail about all of our favorite traditional Greek dishes we eat during our trip through Greece. This blog post is super helpful for those who are new to Greek cuisine and feel intimidated when ordering at a restaurant. I have options for meat lovers, and also vegetarian and vegan foods too.

And finally, I also cover Greek customs and etiquette when it comes to ordering and dining at a restaurant. If you’re interested in taking a food tour, winery or olive orchard tour, scroll to the bottom to see where you can book your tickets.

Greek Foods to Try on Your Vacation - Al fresco dinning on the Greek island of Paros. — Al fresco dinning on the Greek island of Paros.

The Sections in this Blog Post Include:

Introduction to Greek Foods
Greek Foods to Try Including:
- Fried Feta with Honey Glaze
- Olives
- Xorta (Vlita) - Boiled Leafy Greens (Translated to “grass”)
- Fried Eggplant
- Kolokythokeftedes - Zucchini Balls
- Spanakopita - Greek Spinach Pie
- Tzatziki
- Pork Skewer (Souvlaki style)
- Dakos Salad
- Gyros and Kebabs
- Spaghetti and Bolognese
- Kantaifi - Almond and Walnut Pastry in Syrup
Greek Restaurant Ordering Customs

Top 13 Greek Foods to Try on Your Vacation

Introduction to Greek Foods

One of the pleasures in life, especially when you're on vacation, and you have the chance to experience the culture and the lifestyle of the region, is trying out new flavors and dishes during your trip.

If you're visiting Greece, prepare to be blown away by the rich culinary culture and traditional Greek dishes that will leave a long-lasting impression on your stomach and heart.

Greek cuisine is filled with the diverse flavors of the Mediterranean, and although the main ingredients are the same, dishes found on the mainland and the islands may differ significantly in the execution or recipe.

One thing is for sure, no matter what restaurant you visit, you're sure to find plenty of meat dishes as well as a wide variety of veggie and legume options.

Pro Tip: Don't underestimate the appetizers! Two or three of them, along with a salad, can often make a whole meal.

Greek Foods to Try on Your Vacation - Al fresco dinning next to the beach on the Greek island of Paros. — Al fresco dinning next to the beach on the Greek island of Paros.

10 Traditional Greek Foods for Beginners

Fried Feta and Honey Glaze

Feta is the appetizer that everybody loves and every visitor to Greece must try at least once.

It's served on its own, floating in olive oil and oregano, of course, or you can also find it in many dishes and other forms, for example fried and glazed.

It's sweet, it's salty, it's tangy, and it's absolutely scrumptious. It pairs perfectly with fresh fruit or some bread.

Greek Olives

Apart from containing immense nutritional value and natural antioxidants, olives are delicious and a staple in Greek meals.

They come in various sizes, shapes, and colors, and they are often accompanied by some sort of creamy dip or spread.

Because Greek olives are grown in orchards and processed in mills all over territories in Greece, you can surely find olive and olive oil tours near the city where you’re staying. Book an olive orchard tour here!

Greek Foods to Try on Your Vacation - Our dinner of spaghetti, fried eggplant and xorta. — Our dinner of spaghetti, fried eggplant and xorta.

Xorta (Vlita) - Boiled Leafy Greens

This is a dish that definitely took me by surprise.

Xorta is typically made from various greens that grow wild in Greece and have been used for centuries by locals as both food and medicine and are known for their health benefits - such as lowering cholesterol and helping with digestion.

The most popular are amaranth leaves, wild spinach, and chard, but you may also find sorrel or other greens mixed in. Fans of foraged foods will appreciate this dish!

Fried Eggplant

Fried eggplant is a must-try for any Greek vacation. The thin slices of eggplant are dipped in batter, then fried until crispy and golden brown.

The crunchy texture and the rich flavor are utterly irresistible. It makes a great snack while waiting for your meal to arrive at a restaurant or taverna.

Pro Tip: While most of these dishes may come with some tzatziki on the side, I recommend ordering a whole plate of tzatziki for the table so you can dip everything in it.

Greek Foods to Try on Your Vacation - Sunset at the beach on the island of Paros. — Sunset at the beach on the island of Paros.

Kolokythokeftedes - Zucchini Balls

Kolokythokeftedes are a great choice for anyone who wants to try something new on their Greek vacation.

They're made with fresh zucchini, feta, and lots of herbs, so they're incredibly flavorful. Plus, they're light and healthy, so you won't feel like you've overdone it.

Greek Foods to Try on Your Vacation - Greek olives appetizer. — Greek olives appetizer.

Spanakopita

Spanakopita is a spinach pie made with layers upon layers of phyllo dough, and filled with spinach and feta cheese. It's crispy on the outside but soft and creamy on the inside, making it a perfect snack or appetizer for any occasion.

Tzatziki

Tzatziki is a Greek yogurt-based sauce made with cucumbers, lemon juice, garlic, and dill. It's creamy, tangy, and has a bit of spice from the garlic and dill and it tastes good with literally almost everything.

You can put it on grilled meat, potatoes, fries, bread or even just have it by itself.

Pork Skewer

In the form of the famous Souvlaki, Pork Skewers are probably one of the tastiest finger foods ever invented!

There are many different ways to prepare pork in Greece, but this is definitely one of the simplest. It's soft, juicy, and has just enough spice to make it interesting for all taste buds!

Sometimes they're served with lemon wedges or tzatziki sauce for dipping, but they're fantastic alone either way!

Greek Foods to Try on Your Vacation - Traditional Greek dining table settings. — Traditional Greek dining table settings.

Dakos Salad

Dakos is a traditional Cretan dish that features barley rusks in the salad base.

Usually, it's served on top of the pieces of rusk, but it also comes in a deconstructed version, as you see in the photo above. This salad's "un-salady" nature is no surprise since lots of traditional Greek salads don't contain greens or vegetables!

Fresh, ripe tomatoes with a good load of feta cheese make up the middle layer, and it's topped with plenty of fresh oregano and capers.

Greek Fava - Yellow Split Peas Dip

Fava is a traditional Greek appetizer and side dish which is very similar to the Middle Eastern hummus dish. It is made of cooked and mashed yellow split peas, onion, garlic, extra virgin olive oil and freshly squeezed lemon. You can eat it with thinly sliced break or fresh vegetables. This very healthy dish is a great options for vegetarians and vegans traveling in Greece.

Gyros and Kebabs

Gyros and kebabs are some of the most popular and common Greek foods found in the United States. The gyro is made of rotisserie cooked meat wrapped inside a peta bread alongside other fillers such as onions, cucumbers, tomatoes, lettuce and tzatziki sauce. The seasoned gyro meat can be either lamb, chicken or beef (or a combination of these meats).

While there are some differences in prepping and cooking, the souvlaki is very similar to a kebab. These meat chunks on skinny wooden sticks are known as skewers. They are also served with a warm pita and sides such as onions, tomatoes, cucumbers, feta cheese, kalamata olives, and dipped or topped with tzatziki sauce.

Greek Foods to Try on Your Vacation - Complimentary fresh fruit is often provided at the end of the meal. — Complimentary fresh fruit is often provided at the end of the meal.

Spaghetti and Bolognese

You’ll see in these photos that there’s almost always a plate of spaghetti on the table with our meals. This is because my husband thought that the spaghetti in Greece was the best he’d ever had. And yes, I know spaghetti is an Italian food and not traditional Greek cuisine. But the close proximity to Italy made the spaghetti with bolognese sauce extraordinary.

Greek Foods to Try on Your Vacation - Our Greek lunch table with spaghetti, kolokythokeftedes fried zucchini balls, kebabs and spanakopita. — Our Greek lunch table with spaghetti, kolokythokeftedes fried zucchini balls, kebabs and spanakopita.

Kantaifi - Almond and Walnut Pastry in Syrup

Kantaifi is a Greek pastry dessert similar to the famous baklava, which you might have heard of, and is commonly enjoyed in the Middle East and Turkish cultures.

It's made from shredded phyllo, also called angel hair, and let me tell you, it is generously soaked in that syrup goodness. Featuring a mixture of nuts and a hint of pistachio, it's the perfect end to a great meal!

Greek Foods to Try on Your Vacation - Kolokythokeftedes fried zucchini balls with a side tzatziki. — Kolokythokeftedes fried zucchini balls with a side tzatziki.

Greek Restaurant Dining & Ordering Customs

Greek food has a unique way of bringing people together, and Greeks value and respect a good meal. Use these guidelines in order to make sure you're following local Greek dining customs.

here are some Things to keep in mind when ordering at a Greek restaurant:

Typically, you will always order at your table unless it is a takeout place or otherwise specified by the shop. These will mostly be coffee shops or foreign restaurant chains.
In the traditional tavernas - you can often tell them apart by the wooden chairs and distinct tablecloths - there will almost always be some free dessert, fruit, or Greek liquor at the end of the meal along with your bill. Don't forget to hail the waiter for it since Greeks love lounging around after their meal and chatting away for hours.
Super 'local' spots have no menu. If they do, it's probably not going to be fully updated with the daily specials. So make sure to ask your waiter for that!
You will almost always have the option to pay with a card. Still, it's good to have cash on hand, especially if you're traveling to a remote destination or some of the smaller islands.
Tipping is not mandatory, but even so, there is a type of unspoken understanding between customers, and it's a great way to show your appreciation and regard for the food, atmosphere, and service.
Because of the rich Orthodox tradition in Greek culture, many foods become 'Nistisima' (meaning "suitable for fasting") during Lent periods. This means that the recipe is adjusted and will not contain any meat, dairy or egg. You can now find them in many restaurants, supermarkets or bakeries around the country by simply asking if it's "Nistisimo".