OTP’s Guide to Street Food: Greece
Photo by: Paul Flynn (Toronto)
If that stomach is rumbling louder than the waves of the Mediterranean, don’t be afraid to befriend the greasy looking street vendor on the corner. Greece would rather give you a kick in the ass than a hotdog; the snacks they serve are packed with as much culture as fat. We sunk our teeth into the smorgasbord of Greek street food and spit out this guide for you.
Photo by: slowpoke_ny
Pronounce it “yee-ro” or “jie-ro”, just refrain from “guy-ro” unless you like being that token tourist tool. At just €1 or €2 (about $2.50) each, this overstuffed pita sandwich is traditionally lamb-filled, or can be made into the boring shmuck, chicken variety if you prefer. The lamb or chicken are then augmented with toppings —tomatoes, onions, lettuce, even french fries. It’s then finished off with a generous amount of tzatziki sauce, commonly called “white sauce” to spare both parties from decrypting requests like “Suzuki sauce”. If you don’t want all those acts cluttering the main show, ask for your gyro sketo (plain), and you’ll get meat in bread, plain and simple. Be sure to grab a few napkins—unless you like crusty sauce all over your chest.
Six to eight inches of meat never tasted so good. Arguably the most popular Greek food, Souvlaki is definitely the most portable because it’s served on a stick. That’s right, you can walk around with sticks of meat in your mouth; usually seasoned cubes of lamb, pork or chicken. Like a Greek kabob, the meat chunks are often separated by vegetables, and can usually be found for a measly euro or two. Grab a couple of sticks to go from any designated stand, street vendor or restaurant. Offended by meat-on-a-stick? Ask for your souvlaki as a pita sandwich (extra bread and toppings means extra charge).
Photo by: Jennifer_Bakos
These golden puffs of joy are Greece’s small stake in the doughnut world. Deep-fried dough soaked in sugar, honey, and sometimes cinnamon, these little guys kick Baklava‘s nuts all the way back to Turkey. It’s the simple ingredients of loukoumades that will bring you to your knees. Top them off with powered sugar and grab a fork before indulging, things are going to get sticky. Tourists and shoppers around Omonia and Syntagma Squares pop them at NASCAR pit-stop speeds and you can find these honey puffs scattered all across Greece. Loukoumades are typically served by the dozen or half-dozen, so if you’re using them to get laid, plan accordingly. Nothing’s less sexy than taking back your sugar-soaked hole.
Photo by: zoonabar
Known as Simit in Turkey and Turkish bagels in the States, a Greek koulouri is a doughy delight topped with sesame seeds. Some may be crunchy, some may be soft, but all will be delicious; this is Greece’s street equivalent of a pretzel. Forget bacon egg and cheese—the Greeks aren’t big on breakfast anyway. A koulouri or two hits the morning spot and with a little jelly and fresh-squeezed orange juice to wash it down, you just revolutionized the continental breakfast. Take that, northern Europe; we didn’t want your boring croissants anyway.
The local fourno (oven) is your one-stop destination for all the best Greek goodies the fat kid in you can imagine. A fourno is fully stocked with cookies, pastries, breads and pies, and usually run by a smiling elderly person. Don’t get all Hansel and Gretel on us—every last crumb is worth digesting. If you don’t know what the hell you’re looking at, don’t be afraid to ask for suggestions. Recipes will vary and only the baker himself knows what he bakes best. Not to be missed classics include tiropita, spanakopita, milopita, bougatsa and galaktoboureko. If you can’t pronounce it, just grin, point and nod.
If these Greek foods don’t satisfy your craving, you’ll be disgusted to know that Greece is catching onto American food trends and even twist ‘em a bit, like the “Greek Mac,” a McDonald’s Big Mac served up pita style. Remember: You didn’t travel all the way to the birthplace of democracy to get a shitty burger or slice of pizza. Experiment. All Greek street food is way less scary than its name—come hungry and eat the day away.
A mind and body traveller who thrives on recollection and anticipation, all the while decorating the crossroads.
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oh, YUM! when my mom got back from visiting my aunt in greece, she brought a recipe for bougatsa. delicious!
You mentioned the most must-eat food in Greece true.. especially gyros and souvlaki!!