Do you love checking out the restaurant scene when visiting different cities across the United States of America? Maybe you work as a restaurant critic and are looking for new places to see and unique food to taste. You might want to sample specific ethnic foods across America.

If you love Greek food like souvlaki and lamb, then you will want to check out my experiences in many of America’s finest eateries.
Below, I will cover Greek restaurants in cities like Chicago, Washington DC, San Francisco, Atlanta, Houston, and Philadelphia.
You’ll get your fill of grilled Greek food and Greek pastries. Whether you like eggplant recipes, grape leaves stuffed with rice, or lamb kebabs, the restaurants detailed in the guide below will provide you with the tastiest Greek food in the United States.
Keep reading to learn about the absolute best Greek restaurants in America.
1. Zaytinya
701 9th St NW, Washington, DC 20001
Phone: 202-638-0800
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At Zaytinya, you’ll get to sample delicious Greek and Lebanese dishes cooked by award-winning chef José Andrés.
You can find the restaurant in a bustling city center near the Smithsonian American Art Museum and the National Portrait Gallery.
When I tried the grape leaves dolmades at Zaytinya, the flavor burst in my mouth. I loved the savory taste of tomato and pine nuts.
For my main meal, I ordered the seared salmon with sweet peppers. This was a fabulous treat, and the tahini sauce tasted just right.
If you have a sweet tooth, make sure to order the galatopita. This Greek custard pie is sweet (sumptuously so!), crispy, and has a hint of almond flavor.
2. Molyvos
402 West 43rd Street, New York, NY
Phone: 212-582-7500
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Molyvos is one of the most popular Greek spots in NYC, with plenty of competition. New York is known for great Greek food, but this stand out restaurant has garnered a loyal following.
Molyvos was located in Midtown for almost 25 years on 7th street, but it’s currently moving locations to 43rd street. The restaurant is named after the owners’ hometown in Greece, so you’ll find authentic Greek cuisine at this spot.
If you get a chance to visit Molyvos, we recommend trying their prix fixe dinner so that you can enjoy an appetizer, entree, and dessert. We’re excited to see what they offer in their new space!
3. Greek Islands Chicago
200 S Halsted St, Chicago, IL 60661
Phone: 312-782-9855
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Whenever you stop in Chicago, take some time to visit America’s most popular Greek restaurant, Greek Islands.
It has been delighting patrons since 1971. When you’re looking for a perfect culinary experience tasting Greek food, you’ll know the expertise here surpasses that of newer and trendier places.
You can find the eatery on the corner of W Adams Street and S Halsted Street or a few blocks east of Bartelme Park.
Here, they serve a great appetizer of roasted and sweet red peppers with a bursting, juicy flavor. Their gyro, filled with seasoned lamb and beef, was one of the best I’ve ever had.
4. Esperia Grill
344 Washington St, Brighton, MA 02135
Phone: 617-254-8337
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Are you visiting the Greater Boston area? If you’re in the mood for Greek food, Esperia Grill is the best place to check out.
You can find the restaurant on the corner of Washington Street and Academy Hill Road. It has won multiple awards defining it as the best Greek restaurant in the Boston area.
Esperia made a fantastic lamb kabob, one of my favorite Greek dishes. It came with two skewers of flavorful and savory meats and left me thoroughly impressed.
For dessert, the baklava was the perfect flaky and sweet pastry to end the night.
5. Kokkari Estiatorio
200 Jackson St, San Francisco, CA 94111
Phone: 415-981-0983
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San Francisco residents rave about the quality ingredients and flavorful food at the Kokkari Estiatorio restaurant.
The eatery has an upscale atmosphere serving gourmet cuisine. You can find it right next to the Sydney G. Walton Square park on the corner of Jackson Street and Front Street.
During my visit, I shared a starter of grilled lamb meatballs with my family. I loved the spicy tomato sauce combined with the savory lamb.
The Greek yogurt provided a soothing, mild taste, helping to set off the spicier flavors. For my main meal, I opted for the halibut filet, which had a lovely flaky texture and a hint of garlic.
6. Kyma
3085 Piedmont Rd NE, Atlanta, GA 30305
Phone: 404-262-0702
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Chef Pano Karatassos Jr. and his staff make the food served at Kyma absolutely exquisite while providing a friendly and hospitable atmosphere.
The bartenders here also know precisely what wines to pair with which dishes, so guests leave feeling satisfied.
You can find Kyma on the corner of Piedmont Road and East Paces Ferry Road. The seafood here is divine, with their lavraki filet being my standout dish.
It had a delicate and tasty flavor and went well with Kyma’s crunchy and salty Greek fries.
7. Omega Ouzeri
1529 14th Ave, Seattle, WA 98122
Phone: 206-257-4515
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If you’re visiting Seattle, be sure to stop by Omega Ouzeri, one of the best Greek restaurants in America.
Here, you will have authentic Greek cuisine paired with the perfect wine. You can find the eatery near the corner of 14th Avenue and East Pine Street or a few blocks east of Cal Anderson Park.
Omega Ouzeri promises a contemporary take on Greek cuisine, and there is outdoor seating (but keep in mind this area is not heated).
This is a popular spot, and it was positively bustling during my visit, so I would recommend making a reservation.
The restaurant serves small plates of food you can share with your friends or family. My favorite dishes here were hummus spread and the chicken souvlaki.
These dishes were wonderfully savory and well-seasoned. When picking a drink, the options here were endless, but I particularly enjoyed their rose wine known as Limniona.
8. Psistaria Greek Taverna
4711 W Touhy Ave, Lincolnwood, IL 60712
Phone: 847-676-9400
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If you like the idea of an upscale restaurant serving authentic and high-quality Greek food, then you’ll need to stop by Psistaria Greek Taverna.
The eatery sits on the corner of Touhy Avenue and North Kilpatrick Avenue.
The Bournas family founded the restaurant in 2005 and has continued to serve fresh and locally-sourced ingredients ever since.
I started my meal off with the gyro appetizer, which had a delightful savory and spicy mix.
That was followed by chicken breast pasta, which had a perfect oily texture with a garlicky taste while the sweet tiramisu had a smooth finish. For dessert, you can’t go wrong with their tiramisu.
9. Helen Greek Food & Wine
2429 Rice Boulevard, Houston, TX 77005
Phone: 832-831-7133
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Houston residents swear by Helen Greek Food & Wine restaurant as one of the best spots in the state.
The eatery sits by the corner of Rice Boulevard and Kelvin Drive. This fine dining restaurant has won numerous awards in recent years and received the accolade “Best of Houston” in 2020 in the category “Greek Food.”
My one-time visit was memorable, with a traditional gyro platter that left me feeling transported to the Mediterranean.
The trio of dips, which include sweet red peppers, crunchy chickpeas, and a mild, cool tzatziki yogurt were exquisite and enhanced the experience.
10. Pylos Restaurant
128 E 7th St, New York, NY 10009
Phone: 212-473-0220
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If you’re looking for elevated Greek cuisine, Pylos in NYC is a great choice. Located in Manhattan’s Lower East Side, this cozy restaurant serves high end food at a moderate price.
Pylos Restaurant is open for lunch, brunch, and dinner. They feature dishes from all regions of Greece, with a focus on fresh ingredients. They also have an impressive wine list with plenty of Greek wines to fully immerse yourself in the experience.
Standouts on the menu include their stuffed grape leaves, charred octopus, and salmon over rice pilaf as well as other fresh seafood options.
11. Katerina’s Taverna & Grill
619 N Pinellas Ave, Tarpon Springs, FL 34689
Phone: 727-935-4246
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If you’re visiting Florida on vacation, you may want to stop by Katerina’s Taverna & Grill for authentic and tasty Greek food.
You can find the place a few blocks away from Tarpon Springs Splash Park on the corner of East Spruce Street and North Pinellas Avenue.
Besides tasty food, expect to hear some live music at this grill restaurant. Katerina’s crunchy Greek fries are exquisite, while their souvlaki skewers are mouthwatering.
Besides delicious food, you can expect good service with friendly staff and a generally laid-back atmosphere.
I particularly adored the brightly colored decor, which contributes to the ambiance and reminded me so much of the Mediterranean.
12. Kanella
1001 Spruce St, Philadelphia, PA 19107
Phone: 267-928-2085
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Philadelphia is another popular city to visit, especially if you want to learn more about colonial history.
When I came to Philadelphia on my vacation, I stopped by Kanella on the corner of Spruce Street and South 10th Street.
From the get-go, this cozy and trendy restaurant provided a welcoming atmosphere.
One of the best dishes I tried here was the mutabal, a savory eggplant dish with sweet pomegranates and a hint of garlic.
I also loved the salmon kebab with rice on the side. The flaky salmon melted in my mouth while the rice pilaf had a nice, garlicky flavor.
13. The Greek Pastry Shop
520 S 5th St W, Missoula, MT 59801
Phone: 406-543-6843
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If you’re interested in getting some gyros at a laid-back, easy-going eatery, then visit The Greek Pastry Shop.
Here, you can get whatever gyro you desire (though locals rave about their baklava as well).
You can find the restaurant a block away from Sacajawea Park in a relatively suburban neighborhood.
Their gyros are irresistibly crispy and slightly spicy, while the battered fries were a treat.
You can add meat and falafel for extra, and there are kids’ options to introduce the little ones to Greek cuisine.
Depending on the weather, you get to choose between outdoor and indoor dining. At the end of the day, you won’t find a better gyro in Missoula (and possibly the entire country!).
14. Mandolin Aegean Bistro
4312 NE 2nd Ave, Miami, FL 33137
Phone: 305-749-9140
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If you’re looking for a warm and inviting atmosphere, head to Mandolin Aegean Bistro.
You can find the eatery a few blocks east of the Institute of Contemporary Art Museum.
Ahmet Erkaya and Anastasia Koutsioukis first opened the eatery in 2009. Since then, the restaurant has served its patrons quality, fresh ingredients and traditional Mediterranean recipes with Greek and Turkish roots.
I stopped by for lunch and tried out the greek sampler of mild tzatziki yogurt sauce, olives, and garden veggies.
The spicy mandolin kebab sandwich was perfect as well. I loved the savory onions and meats.
How about Cape Cod?
You the best Greek restaurants outside the NY Metropolitan area.
How is it possible that none of the wonderful Greek restaurants of NY are not here?
How is it possible that you included a double negative & completely canceled your point?
Kokkari in San Francisco!
Great compilation. Loved every morsel.
However, there’s a glaring omission. In
Baltimore, the reigning king of Greek food is the Ikaros in Greektown. The chef has been in the kitchen there since the place opened in 1968, making it—not the one you mentioned—the oldest Greek eatery in the country.
Amen.
Amen, Ikaros has killer lamb!!
Great article. Thank you.
Just want to point out kabob is not Greek nor is Tahini spread.
I have a Greek husband. ?
Thesis in Fort Lauderdale!!
Tarpon Springs Florida is the largest Greek community in America. I live in Tampa Florida and visit Tarpon Springs 3-4 times a year. Have been to many Greek restaurants from Detroit to NO and West to California. The best is in Tarpon Springs called Hella’s Greek Restaurant.
Yiannis in tarpon springs on the sponge docks is the best authentic Greek food and seafood. Too bad you went to only one establishment before trying a few out.
Chicago Greek in Mesquite Nevada. Fast, friendly, fresh!
How about Kyclades Astoria NY?
Unbelievable sea food.
The restaurants you have here are mostly gyros shops. This street food which isn’t really ate that much by Greeks in Greece. In NYC we have some of the best Greek restaurants like Stamatis, Arva, Milo’s, Kellari just name a few. They serve traditional Greek food
You name the best and not one from Astoria , (Queens) NY? The largest Greek population outside of Greece with lots of great restaurants. I think your list definitely missed a few!
The Krazy Greek is authentic Greek food. People have been known to moan with pleasure while eating their food. Delicious food and extra clean surroundings.
Located 1/2 mile from Legoland in Winer Haven, FL.
Look into Santorini, the Greek restaurant in Deland, FL.
I lived in Greece, and eaten at several of these restaurants that are really good.
The inclusion of Zaytinya makes me wonder. Greek? Not really, and like the rest of Andres’ empire, not very good, over-priced, and over-hyped. I’m certainly not a fan.
I’d add a NYC treasure, though. Eleni’s on third avenue near the Flatiron building.
There is literally a whole sub city in downtown Detroit that is called Greektown and has several authentic Greek restaurants that are all amazing…. Shocked that at least one of them is not even mentioned
NikoNiko’s Greek American Cafe! The freshest and best of everything! In Houston, Texas, – Montrose, Memorial, and soon-to-be The Woodlands areas! Owner, Dimitri Fetokakis! Award winning and has been on TV!
Ikaros is very good restaurant. Definitely top 10 in U.S.
How can you miss any of the Greek restaurants in Astoria, New York. That really makes me question your selections. Astoria is the home for many of thr finest Greek restaurants in NYC. You missed Bahari, Taverna Kos, Annassa Taverna, Amylos and of course Taverna Kyclades. There are many more.