Gastronomy guide: The best Greek restaurants around the world

By Sophia Kontogianni

Greek gastronomy is present in almost every corner across the globe, regardless of the differences in the culinary culture of each country - from Uruguay, Mexico and Peru, to Japan, Vietnam, and Sri Lanka, Greek restaurants spread the warm, Greek hospitality and the genuine flavors of our country.

This fact is confirmed by Tornos News research, which deals with the presence of Greek restaurants around the world. As their online presence in popular online communities worldwide reveals, countless Greek restaurants have conquered all 5 continents.

These are businesses that are mostly operated by Greek businessmen or restaurant owners with Greek roots, but also foreigners who have traveled to Greece and have faith in its flavors - simple or rich, traditional or modern. It is essential that many Greek restaurants import raw materials from Greece, even if they are operating thousands of miles away. Indicatively, we surveyed 40 Greek restaurants, which have gained the hearts of locals and tourists around the world with their dishes and hospitality. Starting with Europe, 11 of the Greek restaurants that excel in the big cities, constantly gaining more and more Greek food lovers, residents and tourists are:

Meraki στο Sheffield, England, is successfully introducing “meraki”, namely to cook with love and share beautiful food with its guests. The restaurant holds the 8th place among 53 Mediterranean restaurants and the 46th place among 1,048 restaurants in the region. Prices range from 9 to 19 euros. The restaurant has been recently awarded the Certificate of Excellence for 2019.

Germany

Ach! Niko Ach! In Berlin, Ach! Niko Ach! currently holds the  667th place among the city's 6,515 restaurants. Greek decorations, traditional Greek dishes with a modern touch and fair prices starting at 8 euros per serving, have captured the heart of the sleepless city center.

Italy

In Rome,  Ilios - Greek Restaurant, ranks first among 24 Greek restaurants and 329th among 9,829 of  the Eternal City’s restaurants, with prices ranging from 5 to 10 euros. Ilios is awarded with the Certificate of Excellence since 2016.

France

La Crete, 16th among 1,023 Mediterranean restaurants in Paris and 81st in the overall ranking, among the city's 15,144 restaurants. The restaurant is constantly receiving positive reviews because of its high-quality, authentic Greek cuisine, the welcoming atmosphere, the service and the prices, which is why it is awarded with the Certificate of Excellence every year.

Luxembourg

Ambrosia in Luxembourg is 5th among the 82 Mediterranean  restaurants in the city of Luxembourg and 11th in the total of 683 restaurants. A fact that impresses its guests, is that the salad and the bread are free of charge. Ambrosia’s specialties are gyros, squid and shrimp, while several reviews mention that it is perfect for a romantic dinner. Ambrosia is awarded with the Certificate of Excellence since 2015.

Netherlands

Knossos the Greek restaurant ranked 11th among 110 seafood restaurants and 45th among The Hague's 1,024 restaurants. The variety, the quantity, the 12 different Greek dips, and the special goat cheese salad are some of the dishes that have contributed to the restaurant’s success. Knossos has been awarded the Certificate of Excellence in 2015, 2016, 2017 and 2019.

Austria 

Restaurant Mythos Fisch und Lamm  Vienna, Austria, is ranked 9th among 325 Mediterranean restaurants and 52nd among 3,632 restaurants in the city. The most popular dishes for Viennese and tourists are chicken gyros, tzatziki, and moussaka. The restaurant receives the Certificate of Excellence since 2015.

Hungary

Mazi restaurant in Budapest, near the Parliament,  ranked 3rd among Mediterranean restaurants and 11th among 2,597 restaurants in the city. Its prices range from 5 to 25 euros, with moussaka, Cretan daco and spoon sweets being the favorite dishes of locals and tourists. Mazi has been awarded a Certificate of Excellence for 2019.

Poland

Akropolis, Restauracja Tawerna Grecka in Wroclaw, Poland, 14th among 54 Mediterranean restaurants and 95th of the city's 806 restaurants, serves homemade, nostalgic Greek cuisine. "Little Greece in Poland"  as it is called among the locals,  mainly attracts Polish, while its specialties are authentic Greek flavors with a contemporary appearance, pies, and baked feta cheese.

Romania

Restaurant Athanasios, 5th among 282 restaurants in Brasov, Romania. The restaurant serves Greek cuisine in a modern setting. Stuffed squid is one of its many specialties. The average price is 35 euros per serving. Athanasios receives the Certificate of Excellence since 2019.

Spain

Greek Taverna in the Canary Islands is 9th among San Augustin's 59 restaurants. The tavern uses authentic Greek ingredients and it receives the Certificate of Excellence since 2015. Prices range from 5 to 24 euros, with moussaka and souvlaki being the most favorable dishes.

In the United States of America, the strong presence of Greeks resulted in a wide variety of Greek restaurants. Four of these restaurants are:

Santorini by Georgios in Florida. It ranks 1st among 79 seafood restaurants in Miami and 2nd in the overall ranking of 711 restaurants in the state. Tourist reviews mention that the food in Santorini by Georgios is better than the food in Greece. Its specialties are octopus and baklava. Prices range from 6 to 36 euros.

Platia in Texas, 1st among Mediterranean restaurants and 3rd in the overall ranking of Frisco restaurants. The restaurant’s specialty is gyros.  

Kephi in Virginia, 1st among Mediterranean restaurants and 20th in 234 restaurants in Williamsburg. For 2019, Kephi received a Certificate of Excellence. The restaurant imports traditional products from Laconia. Some of its specialties are moussaka and vine leaves stuffed with, while is highly appreciated for its large portions and good prices.

My Big Fat Greek Restaurant in Florida, 1st among Mediterranean restaurants and 3rd in 57 restaurants of Dania Beach. Locals and tourists prefer meatballs, taramosalata (caviar salad), zucchini and fried Greek cheese. The average price is 25 euro per dish.

Mad Greek Restaurant, 2nd of 76 restaurants in Bristol, Tennessee. The restaurant is a delicious meeting point, during the truck races that are held in the area every spring. Its huge portions are very much appreciated.

In the rest of the world, the most preferable Greek restaurants are:

Brazil

Kouzina, in Sao Paulo, Brazil, 1,115th among 37,491 restaurants in this big city. The  Cycladic-styled restaurant that serves fresh, Greek food,   has conquered the hearts of Brazilians and visitors. Recently, the owners opened a second Kouzina in the city center. 

Peru

Cosmo Beans Café in Lima, Peru, offers its delicious services in the last couple of years. The Greek owner emphasizes in coffee and Greek snacks, such as feta sandwich. Because of its great reviews, Cosmo Beans is considered to be the best of its kind in Lima. 

Mexico

In Mexico, Milos Restaurant located in Playa del Carmen, ranks 256th among  1,101 restaurants and has received the Certificate of Excellence over the past 4 years. Its specialty is gyros.

Colombia

In Colombia, The Greek Connection restaurant is 25th among 1,303 restaurants in the Medellin region. The restaurant received the Certificate of Excellence for 2019.

Chile

In Chile, Hellenikos Kosmos, 45th among Vina del Mar's 463 restaurants, serves retsina wine from northern Greece, ouzo from Mytilene, moussaka, souvlaki and many other Greek delicacies in a traditional Greek atmosphere. The restaurant has received the Certificate of Excellence for two consecutive years, in 2018 and 2019.

Uruguay

In Montevideo Uruguay, the Greek restaurant Santorini is 459th among the city's 934 restaurants. It is considered to be a value for money restaurant that serves amazingly cooked chicken and other Greek traditional dishes.

China

In China, the Santorini brand name is used for many restaurants and grocery stores. Specifically, the Greek restaurant Santorini in Hong Kong is ranked 20th among the 123 restaurants that serve Mediterranean dishes while in the overall ranking, Santorini is 513th among 10,929 restaurants in the city. Prices range from 17 to 68 euros. The most popular Greek dishes are spinach pie, cheese pie, saganaki and “kleftiko”, lamb in the oven with potatoes and vegetables.

Japan

In Japan, The Apollo is 19th among Ginza's 1,131 restaurants, while the "original" Apollo is located in Australia. The modern Greek dishes are cooked in a traditional wood oven. Grilled sardines and egg soup are at the top of the preference list, with prices ranging from 16 to 64 euros.

Thailand

Odysseus Greek organic restaurant in Thailand, 7th among 162 Kata beach restaurants in Phuket. Serving the famous Greek salad and the delicious moussaka, Odysseus is considered to be a great, value for money.

Singapore

In Singapore, Alati Divine Greek Cuisine restaurant, 34th among 555 seafood restaurants and 351st out of 9,146 restaurants, serves Greek seafood dishes. Lobster, octopus, souvlaki squid, taramosalata (kind of caviar salad) and Greek wines are at the top of the list, with prices ranging from 27 to 36 euros.

Vietnam

In Vietnam, the Mix restaurant in the Old Town of Hoi An serves authentic Greek cuisine and ranks 23rd among the city's 882 restaurants. It is preferred for its moussaka and offers a free dessert, another Greek custom that impresses tourists and locals. The prices range from 2 to 21 euros. It is worth mentioning that in this Vietnamese city, there are a total of 4 Greek restaurants.

Philippines

In San Juan of the Philippines,  Gefseis Greek Grill is the first of 69 restaurants to receive the Certificate of Excellence award each year, due to its very good reviews. According to visitors and locals, a few of the restaurant’s highlights are saganaki, souvlaki and large portions of Greek food enjoyed by the sea. The restaurant receives the Certificate of Excellence since 2015.

New Zealand

Costas Taverna Greek Restaurant and Ouzo Bar is 2nd in the ranking of Mediterranean restaurants and 22nd in Christchurch's 826 restaurants in New Zealand. The friendly atmosphere, dishes such as “kleftiko” lamb, olives and homemade dishes, are some of the reasons why the restaurant is awarded the Certificate of Excellence since 2015. Prices range from 6 to 18 euros.

United Arab Emirates

At the Majestic City Retreat Hotel in Dubai, the United Arab Emirates, Elia restaurant comes 3rd among the 40 Mediterranean restaurants in Dubai. It is popular mostly for its grilled squid, souvlaki and Greek feta while being ranked 123rd among Dubai's 10,280 restaurants. Prices range from 18 to 27 euros. The restaurant is receiving the Certificate of Excellence from 2015 until today.

Zorbas the Greek, in the Caribbean's Grand Bahama, 14th of Freeport's 90 restaurants. The most famous dish is the gyros. The restaurant also owns a bakery that serves Greek pastries. Zorba’s Greek is receiving the Certificate of Excellence since 2016.

Puerto Rico

Το Fleria Greek Cafe in San Juan, Puerto Rico, is 8th among the 26 Mediterranean restaurants and 118th among the 824 restaurants in the area. It serves homemade sausage, dolmas and rose sweets on yogurt, which impresses the tourists.

Sri Lanka

Greek Grill, 7th among Negombo's 191 restaurants in Sri Lanka. Greek owners will soon be introducing pastitsio into the menu as a more "exotic" Greek food. Prices range from 2 to 5 euros, while the restaurant has received a Certificate of Excellence for 2019.

Indonesia

Mykonos Greek restaurant in Indonesia. The restaurant is located in Seminyak and receives consistently good reviews of its squid and lamb.

Nostimo, also in Indonesia is the 17th of the 844 restaurants in Ubud. Prices range from 3 to 12 euros.

South Africa

Maria's Greek Cafe & Restaurant is 15th among 74 restaurants serving international cuisine and 111th among Cape Town's 843 restaurants. The Greek appetizers and squid are the most popular dishes. The restaurant receives the Certificate of Excellence since 2015.

Costa Rica

Santorini Greek Restaurant in Costa Rica, 6th among Playas del Coco's 68 restaurants, serves octopus, mussels, fresh seafood, and meat varieties, from 6 to 27 euros per serving. Santorini received the Certificate of Excellence for 2019.

Israel

Greco Tel Aviv, 179th among 1,409 Tel Aviv restaurants in Israel. It fascinates mainly with the beautiful Greek music, the pure olive oil, feta, oregano, honey, and ouzo. There is a cat in the shop, named Geia mas (which means cheers in greek), that also gets a lot of attention.

Russia

Molon Lave in Russia ranks 35th among 624 seafood restaurants and 213rd among the city's 10,495 restaurants. The restaurant has its own bakery, which is really important. Reviews mention that Molon Lave serves authentic Greek food. Desserts also include bougatsa, a sweet pie from Northern Greece that surprises visitors who are familiar with the Greek cuisine.