The traditional Greek cuisine is rich in very tasty and diverse specialties. There are differences in the preparation of certain dishes depending on the region where you are vacationing, and we will list what you should definitely try regardless of the region you are vacationing in.

The Best Traditional Greek Dishes

The most famous Greek, homemade, cooked dishes are:

• Moussaka
• Stifado
• Pastitsio
• Kleftiko

Moussaka

We can say that globally moussaka is the most famous Greek dish. The preparation of Greek moussaka is different from ours, so we recommend that you definitely try it. The ingredients also vary, as eggplant is an essential ingredient in Greek moussaka, as well as bechamel sauce. It is a bit more greasy and spicier than ours. You can try it anywhere, it is prepared in almost all taverns and restaurants, as well as in fast food restaurants. The most important thing is that it is fresh, so before you visit a restaurant intending to order moussaka, you can ask the owners of your accommodation to suggest where to go.

Stifado

Stifado is originally a dish with rabbit meat, but in restaurants it is usually served with veal. It is a dish that is prepared in a ceramic pot and cooked with very small shallots (shallots or pearl onions) and in a tomato sauce. All these cooked dishes have different variations and their taste largely depends on the preparation, so it is best that when you decide to try one of the local dishes, visit a tavern or restaurant recommended by the locals.

Pastitsio

Pastitsio is reminiscent of lasagna, it is pasta with minced meat, topped with bechamel sauce.

Kleftiko

Kleftiko is a very tasty dish. It is made with lamb, vegetables, and prepared in a ceramic pot. The best kleftiko they tried in northern Greece was prepared at the Piatsa Mihalis restaurant in Potos, but it is really worth it and we recommend that you definitely try it in that restaurant. It is also good at the Mesogios restaurant in Limenas in Thassos near the new port. In Sithonia and Kassandra, we did not come across well-prepared kleftiko even though we tried it in several restaurants. Maybe you will have better luck.

Lamb in Thassos, Sithonia, Kassandra

The best lamb in Thassos

• in Theologos village, at Kleoniki restaurant (Iatrou-at Kostas Brka) and

• at Stelios tavern. Here they serve lamb from an electric grill.

• It is also excellent at George restaurant in Potos, because it is grilled on charcoal, not on an electric grill. This restaurant serves lamb only in the evening and is located near the main road in Potos.

In the village of Panagia there are two taverns that serve lamb, and you should choose the tavern in the garden of which there is a large plane tree. Kazaviti is also famous for its lamb under a grill, and most other traditional villages also have lamb on the menu in their taverns.

Lamb in Sithonia and Kassandra

• The best lamb (almost the only place where you can try lamb in Sithonia) is served in the village of Metagitsi (Klimataria tavern), and

• in Kassandra you can try it at the Mnemes restaurant in Pefkohori (Cretan lamb).

The Most Famous Greek Appetizers and Dips

The most famous appetizers and dips are:

• Bouyourdi - feta cheese\, tomatoes\, peppers\, and cheese baked in the oven (spicy and non-spicy versions)
• Kolokithokeftedes - meatballs with zucchini
• Halloumi - Cypriot cheese grilled
• Tyrokafteri - crumbled feta with olive oil\, spices\, and chili peppers (spicy and non-spicy versions)
• Fried zucchini or zucchini chips, served with tzatziki or skordalia
• Tzatziki
• Taramosalata - fish roe spread

We have listed some universal appetizers, but there are countless others that represent the specialties of specific restaurants.

Which fish and seafood to try in Greek taverns and restaurants

From seafood specialties, we recommend you to try:

• Seafood risotto
• Mussels in tomato or mustard sauce
• Shrimps in all ways (boiled, grilled, fried, in sauce)
• Calamari - fried or grilled

From fish:

• Dentex
• Sea bass
• Dorado
• Grilled sardines
• Fried cod
• Red mullet

For fish, it is essential that they are fresh. The best ones are from the open sea, but they are much more expensive compared to those from fish farms. You can see whether they are from the open sea or from fish farms by the price. For fish taverns, you need a proper recommendation. Check out our recommendations for fish and other taverns at popular Greek destinations at the end of the text.

The Best Greek Desserts

It is not easy to choose the best Greek desserts and sweets in general, but below we will list the most famous ones that you should try at least once:

• Kadaifi - a dessert similar to baklava with a slightly different dough
• Trigona - crispy pastry filled with vanilla cream
• Baklava - with pistachios or walnuts
• Portokalopita - orange pie
• Sokolatopita - chocolate cake drizzled with syrup
• Tsoureki - Greek sweet bread with various fillings
• Milfei - crispy pastry with vanilla cream
• Loukoumades - small donuts drizzled with honey and cinnamon

It is difficult to choose the best Greek desserts, as there are really many of them. Traditional ones are usually made from dough and drizzled with sugar syrup. A favorite Greek breakfast is sweet bougatsa. It is a pie made of thin crusts, filled with vanilla cream. For more information on this sweet breakfast and recommendations on where to try it, click HERE

Check out the complete list of restaurants you can visit during your vacation, which we have tried ourselves and recommended by local residents here:

• Best restaurants in Thassos
• Best restaurants in Sithonia
• Best restaurants in Kassandra
• Best restaurants in the Kavala region

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