I am a huge foodie and I love to try new foods whenever I travel. Whether it’s street food or fine dining at Michelin-starred restaurants, I enjoy the diversity of experiences and flavors. However, nothing beats the delicious cheap eats you find while exploring a new country. In this post I will share with you what I ate under 5 dollars in Athens. This post contains affiliate links. When you make a purchase I may get a small commission at no extra cost to you. Find out more here.
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Greek food is so delicious! Plus, the use of olive oil and fresh produce makes it not only healthy, but full of flavor. During my trip to Athens I tried lot of Greek delicacies, including some that are really affordable. Let’s go over them:
1. Spanakopita
Spanakopita, a cherished Greek classic, is a delectable pie crafted from layers of flaky phyllo dough generously filled with a blend of feta cheese and spinach. You can find it in all local bakeries. A big slice (4 times the size of what I’m holding in the picture above) is only 2.5 euros or 3 dollars. It’s savory, delicious, and will keep you full for hours.
Greeks eat it either as a snack or as a meal and I don’t blame them because it’s so, so good. I tried spanakopita for the first time during my Alternative, truly authentic food tour in secret Athens. I loved this tour because not only I sampled a lot of foods, but I also learned about Greek culture. The guide, Nikolas, also took us to see the Panathenaic Stadium at night as part of the tour, which added an extra layer of charm to this experience.
2. Souvlaki pita
Probably the best cheap meal you’ll find in Greece: souvlaki pita. Inside the pita there is chicken or pork, tomatoes, onion, French fries and tzatziki. It costs only 3.2 euros or 3.5 dollars. It’s so good that I could eat this all day. A must try when you’re in Greece.
3. Portokalopita
Portokalopita is a traditional dessert that’s fluffy, colorful and soaked it the most delicious orange syrup. It’s like an orange explosion is happening in your mouth. You can find it in most bakeries in Athens and a big slice costs only 2.5 euros or 2.75 dollars. If you opt for a souvlaki pita for dinner and a slice of portokalopita, your entire meal is about 6 dollars. I also tried Portokalopita for the first time during the Alternative, truly authentic food tour in secret Athens.
4. Pistachios from Aegina
I ate them before I could snap a picture, so here’s a photo by Marcos Paulo Prado on Unsplash
You might be familiar with the Sicilian pistachios, but Aegina, a small island close to Athens, produces about 800 tons of pistachio a year and it’s a fundamental part of the island’s culture. Fun fact: Greeks call pistachios “Aeginian pistachios”. They call pistachios produced in other places, let’s use Sicily for this example, “Aegenian pistachios from Sicily”. I loved this fact because it shows how proud they are about their culture and their products. The pistachios are high quality and very delicious. They were so good that I ate them and I forgot to take a picture of them. You can try them as part of the Alternative, truly authentic food tour in secret Athens.
5. Loukoumades
Loukoumades are Greek donuts that are covered in sweet syrup and decorated with sesame seeds. What’s special about these mini donuts is that the syrup explodes in your mouth while you bite in the donut, and it makes for an incredible combination of textures and flavors. You can find them in a lot of places in Athens. I got them at Loukoumades Ktistakis. It’s a small loukoumades shop that doesn’t look like much from the outside, but the loukoumades are delicious.
6. Melomakarona
Melomakarona is a traditional Greek Christmas cookies. The ingredients are simple: flour, honey and walnuts. It’s very sweet, yet absolutely delicious. It is available only if you visit Greece around Christmas and it is one of the snacks you try during the Alternative, truly authentic food tour in secret Athens.
7. Tzatziki
Tzatziki is probably the most well known spread outside of Greece. It’s made with yogurt, cucumbers, olive oil, garlic and optional dill. It is creamy, fresh and it works so well with pita or on souvlaki. In any restaurant you go to in Athens the tzatziki spread with pita is under 5 dollars. I tried tzatziki in New York City, but you can’t even compare it with the one in Greece. The original one is infinitely better.
8. Tirokafteri
It might be the last one on this list, but don’t let that fool you. Tirokafteri is my favorite Greek spread. Yes, I like it more than tzatziki. It’s made from feta cheese, roasted red peppers, olive oil, and chili pepper, which gives it a bit of a kick. I could eat this every day with pita. I got introduced to it at the Alternative, truly authentic food tour in secret Athens. And then I ordered it at every single meal I had in Athens.
Athens proves that satisfying your taste buds on a budget is definitely possible. From savory delights to sweet indulgences, what I ate under 5 dollars in Athens showcases the city’s authentic flavors without compromising on value. I hope you get the chance to explore Athens and savor the deliciousness awaiting at every corner soon!