Food is a huge part of experience in Athens as the city is famous for its simple inviting taverns
and authentic street food places. Hi guys, my name is Rok and I’ve
spent the last 9 years traveling around Europe as a tour guide and I can’t wait
to take you on a Delicious Athens Food Tour. Breakfast isn’t a big thing in Athens as Athenians
eat extremely late and big dinners, so they aren’t exactly starving in the morning. Athenians usually
have their breakfast on the go by grabbing a cup of coffee and a bread ring covered in sesame seeds
called Koulouri. It can be found in every bakery and at street vendors available
in many variations. Besides its simple ring form, you may also find it twisted or braided,
filled with chocolate, cheese or even without sesame seeds.
If you need a quick breakfast or just an authentic snack on the go this is a perfect choice.
If you need a substantial breakfast you should try some of the pies. Pies are huge in Greece and they
are a big part of the Athenian street food scene. This was food of poor Greek farmers that turned
simple ingredients like flour, oil, cheese and spinach into pies in order to feed their families.
They are phyllo-based pastries made by layering many sheets of phyllo brushed with oil or butter.
It is believed that Ancient Greeks invented pie pastry and modern Athenians still love it
and choices are abundant from sweet to savory ones. But two most iconic pies are cheese pie
and spinach pie. Cheese pie is made with layers of phyllo dough and stuffed with feta and egg
mixture. Spinach pie uses similar layers of phyllo dough only to be stuffed with feta and spinach.
Cafes in Athens can be found all over the city but the most picturesque ones are in
Plaka and Monastiraki neighborhoods and their surroundings. They open early in the morning
and close late at night, as most cafes turn into bars after sunset. Besides modern espresso they
also serve traditional Greek Coffee that is an essential part of Athenian life.
While brewing, sugar and fine grinned coffee are added and boiled until the mixture begins to rise.
Then the coffee is poured into a cup without filtering so you have to wait till the grounds
in the cup settle. This is a very strong brew with a foam on top, the liquid coffee in the
middle and the grounds on the bottom of the cup. Now this stuff will definitely open your eyes.
Souvlaki, Kalamaki and Gyros are all very similar and most popular street food choices in Athens.
The main ingredient of Souvlaki are small pieces of marinated meat, grilled on a skewer. It comes
with tomatoes, red onion and tzatziki sauce. The whole thing is then warped in soft pita bread
and is more of a snack than a full meal. In some places they also stuff it with some chips. This is
one of the small old school places called Kostas, popular with locals as it offers
authentic souvlaki experience. If you want a proper meal you can find many places where they
serve souvlaki as a full plate. On the other hand Kalamaki is basically the striped down
version of souvlaki as it includes only sticks with meat, a slice of lemon and a piece of bread.
How is Gyros different from Souvlaki? Both dishes are grilled meat warped in pita bread
with tzatziki sauce, tomato, onion and other stuffing. Main difference is in the way the
meat is prepared. Souvlaki is an older dish dating back to ancient Greece when people used
to eat meat and bread the way kalamaki is served today. While souvlaki meat is grilled on a stick,
gyros are grilled on a rotating skewer as word gyros literally mean turn.
Besides ancient monuments Athens is also famous for ancient desserts. Here they serve the oldest
dessert that dates back to the first Ancient Olympic Games. It is called Loukoumades and
apparently it was served to the Olympic winners. It wouldn’t be considered a healthy food for
top athletes these days as these are basically little round donuts, deep fried until they become
crispy and golden on the outside and fluffy and airy on the inside. Traditionally they are served
soaked in hot honey syrup, cinnamon and sprinkled with chopped walnuts or roasted sesame seeds.
You can find it in many places, but this shop is completely dedicated only to this ancient dessert.
With an endless coastline and crystal clear sea Greece is also famous for its seafood. In this
simple and authentic Greek tavern they serve one of the most popular seafood in Greece:
fried anchovies and sardines. In this place you will rarely see tourists but it is extremely
popular with locals. Don't worry they also have an English menu but without even looking at the menu
you should order simple, lightly battered, salted and pan fried anchovies or sardines.
They are deliciously spiced and eaten whole including its small bones.
They don't look like much but you simply have to try them as they are absolutely delicious.
Taverns spread their wobbly chairs and simple tables on the pavement and
bring life to the streets. They offer honest and delicious fresh food prepared on traditional
recipes passed down through generations. One of the best areas for a nice tavern experience
is the upper part of the Plaka neighborhood. Tzatziki is one of the most popular cold
appetizers and sauces that is eaten and served all over Greece. This creamy sauce is deliciously
light and refreshing. It is made of yogurt mixed with cucumbers, olive oil, fresh herbs, garlic,
lemon juice and salt. Tzatziki is a healthy food packed with protein and goes great with all kinds
of meat, especially with grilled meat and is often used as a dip for veggies or as a spread.
Fried zucchini fritters are a tasty veggie treat usually served as part of small dishes served as
appetizers called mezze all over Greece. They are made from fresh zucchini, green onions, fresh
herbs, eggs, a good quality feta cheese and olive oil. Perfect zucchini fritters must be fried till
extra crispy on the outside while still preserving their creamy and rich texture on the inside.
Another traditional Greek dish found in taverns in Athens are vine leaves stuffed
with a delicious herb and rice mix, shaped into little rolls and boiled until wonderfully tender.
It can be a vegetarian dish or a meat dish, as some dolmades recipe variations besides rice,
herbs and seasonings also include minced meat. Instead of vine leaves cabbage leaves can be used
but then the dish is known under the name Stuffed cabbage rolls. This is a very old
dish as the origins of this recipe can be traced back to the time of Alexander the Great. Stuffed
vine leaves can be served as a hot appetizer or a main course and can be eaten by hand.
Moussaka is one of the most popular traditional Greek dishes that is eaten and served all over
Greece. Moussaka is the main course and is to the Greek what Lasagna is to Italians.
It is a layered casserole-style dish made with layers of vegetables and meat.
Traditional Greek moussaka is made with baked or pan fried eggplants and potatoes, a rich, tomatoey
beef or lamb mince sauce and topped off with a deliciously creamy béchamel or white sauce. If you
want to cook this and many other delicious Greek meals on your own, check out this awesome Youtube
channel Akis Kitchen. I will put his link in the description below. As Athens has such a rich and
tasty food experience I made a list of my favorite Athens food tours and food experiences that can be
found in the description below this video. But Athens is also one of the world's oldest cities
and the cradle of Western civilization with an amazing history and heritage. That is why I’ve
prepared a special video about Top Things To Do In Athens available in the top right corner. If
you like this video please give it a thumbs up. You can share your questions or suggestions about
Athens in the comments below. And don’t forget to subscribe and turn on the notification bell
to be notified about my new travel videos. Thanks for watching, Kali Oreksi, and see you next time.