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A quintessential seafood delicacy of the Greek island of Symi, simiako garidaki or Symi shrimp is a unique variety of tiny shrimps that inhabit the sea around the island. Bright red, delicate, and sweet, the small crustaceans are packed with flavor, which has made them famous throughout the whole country and beyond.
The most common way to enjoy these tiny crustaceans is crispy-fried in olive oil and garlic, typically seasoned with nothing else than salt and pepper. Due to their delicate nature, the fried shrimps are usually eaten whole, including tails, shells, and heads.
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This classic Greek dish consists of squid rings and tentacles that are seasoned, dredged in flour, and fried until crispy and golden brown. Fried calamari is a restaurant staple, typically enjoyed as an appetizer or a meze dish. It is usually complemented by lemon wedges and garnished with freshly chopped parsley.
MOST ICONIC Kalamarakia tiganita
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Chtapodi sti schara (grilled octopus) is a traditional octopus dish originating from Greece. Although there are variations, the dish is usually made with a combination of octopus, red wine vinegar, olive oil, and oregano.
The octopus is washed, dried, and placed on a grill over a charcoal fire. It's brushed with a marinade consisting of oil, vinegar, and oregano. Once the octopus is tender, it's placed on a plate, thinly sliced and seasoned with olive oil, a drizzle of lemon, and oregano.
MOST ICONIC Chtapodi sti schara
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Though the term bakaliaros refers to cod fish, Greeks mainly use it to describe golden and crispy cod fritters. Whether it employs salt or fresh cod, the dish can be made with batter-fried pieces of cod or flaked cod that is then incorporated into a thick batter.
The fritters are mainly served as a meze dish, and when accompanied by a thick, garlicky dip, they usually go under the name bakaliaros skordalia. Although they are eaten throughout the year, cod fritters are usually associated with a celebration that commemorates the Annunciation of Virgin Mary and the War of Independence, which is celebrated each year on March 25th.
MOST ICONIC Bakaliaros
The main element in this exquisite Greek dish is lobster meat that is coupled with a flavorful tomato-based sauce and served over pasta. The dish is typically prepared with spaghetti, while the sauce is usually enriched with wine and various herbs and spices.
Lobster meat is traditionally served in shells, and the whole dish is generously garnished with parsley. Though it can be found in other Greek regions, astakomakaronada is mainly associated with the island of Skyros.
MOST ICONIC Astakomakaronada
This classic Greek dish consists of sautéed shrimps that are traditionally deglazed with the anise-flavored ouzo, then doused in a rich tomato sauce, and finally topped with crumbled feta cheese. The dish was named after sagani, a small, two-handled pan traditionally used for preparing one-pot dishes.
This restaurant staple is typically enjoyed as an appetizer or a mezze dish that is usually complemented by bread or warm pita triangles.
MOST ICONIC Garides saganaki
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Antzougia are Greek-style anchovies that are served as a meze. The dish is made with whole salt-packed anchovies, vinegar, lemon juice, olive oil and chopped parsley. The filleted anchovies are arranged on a plate, then drizzled with olive oil, lemon juice, and vinegar.
Chopped parsley is sprinkled on top as a garnish. The dish is usually served with slices of crusty bread for mopping up the juices. Alternatively, serve antzougia with ouzo – the Greeks often dunk the anchovies in ouzo and say that the flavors of both the anchovies and the popular strong spirit become even better when they're eaten this way.
MOST ICONIC Antzougia
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Mydia or dagnje na crvenu buzaru is a popular Greek and Croatian appetizer consisting of fresh mussels that are steamed in red wine along with fresh herbs, garlic, and a variety of garden vegetables. The dish is usually doused in a Mediterranean red sauce.
It is served in most fish taverns (called psarotaverna) in Greece and in most coastal restaurants in Croatia, accompanied by lots of bread used for mopping up the flavorful sauce. In Croatia, the dish is also known as dagnje na crveno.
MOST ICONIC Mydia
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This simple Greek dish consists of small-sized whitebait fish that are lightly dusted with flour, then fried until golden and crispy. Because of its small size, the fish is typically fried, served, and eaten whole. Marides is a staple meze dish that is usually accompanied by other Greek starters, but it can also be enjoyed as a meal on its own.
It is best dressed up with a squeeze of lemon juice and a drizzle of olive oil.
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Greek psarosoupa (lit. fish soup) is a simple dish consists of fish—usually the firm-fleshed varieties like red mullet, snapper, cod, or red gurnard—poached with vegetables; most often a combination of carrots, celery, and onions, or leeks, garlic, and potatoes.
Once it is cooked, the fish is set aside while the broth is boiled with rice. Quite often, an egg beaten with lemon juice is stirred into the broth, making psarosoupa a filling, yet surprisingly light dish.
MOST ICONIC Psarosoupa
TasteAtlas food rankings are based on the ratings of the TasteAtlas audience, with a series of mechanisms that recognize real users and that ignore bot, nationalist or local patriotic ratings, and give additional value to the ratings of users that the system recognizes as knowledgeable. For the “Top 17 Greek Seafood Dishes” list until March 21, 2025, 1,737 ratings were recorded, of which 1,018 were recognized by the system as legitimate. TasteAtlas Rankings should not be seen as the final global conclusion about food. Their purpose is to promote excellent local foods, instill pride in traditional dishes, and arouse curiosity about dishes you haven’t tried.