History
Greek souvlaki reached Toronto with Greek immigration through the 1950s and 1960s. The Danforth's Greektown became Toronto's reference Greek-Canadian neighbourhood by the 1970s, with Mezes and Astoria Shish Kebob House the longest-running. The Taste of the Danforth festival in August closes the avenue for Greek-Canadian food and music, drawing more than a million visitors during peak years.
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Common allergens: Dairy
Make it at home
Ingredients
- 600g boneless pork shoulder or chicken thigh, cut in 3cm cubes
- 60ml olive oil
- 3 tablespoons lemon juice
- 4 cloves garlic, crushed
- 1 tablespoon dried oregano
- 1 teaspoon salt
- Black pepper
- Wooden skewers, soaked 30 minutes
- Pita bread, warmed
- Tzatziki sauce
- Sliced red onion
- Lemon wedges
Method
- Whisk olive oil, lemon juice, garlic, oregano, salt and pepper in a large bowl.
- Add the meat cubes, toss to coat, cover and marinate at least 1 hour or up to overnight in the fridge.
- Thread the meat onto skewers, 4 to 5 pieces per skewer.
- Preheat a grill or grill pan over high heat. Cook the skewers 8 to 10 minutes, turning every 2 minutes, until charred outside and cooked through.
- Rest the skewers 5 minutes.
- Serve on warm pita with tzatziki, sliced red onion and a lemon wedge.
Tip from the editors. Pork shoulder is canonical; the fat keeps the meat juicy. Marinate at least 1 hour for the lemon and oregano to penetrate. Char over high heat.
Where to eat greek souvlaki
Greek souvlaki in Toronto
Mamakas Taverna ★ 4.4
Mamakas Taverna on Ossington is owner Thanos Tripi's 85-seat Aegean kitchen since 2015, traditional Greek taverna cooking from scratch each morning.
OrderThe whole grilled fish, dressed Aegean style with lemon and olive oil.
TipSister Bar Mordecai sits at 1272 Dundas West for a pre-dinner drink. Weekend lunch runs into early dinner without a break.
More places near Mamakas Taverna
Not on this list, but close by, nearest first. Every one is in our guide with its address, hours and what to order.
- Bang Bang Ice Cream and Bakery Bakery, under 100 m away
- Bar Libretto Pizzeria, about 350 m away
- Salt Wine Bar Spanish tapas, about 350 m away
- Trinity Bellwoods Farmers Market Markets, about 450 m away
- The Drake Café Brunch, about 500 m away
- Mildred's Temple Kitchen Brunch, about 650 m away
More cities are in research. Want greek souvlaki covered somewhere specific? Tell us where you want to eat.