The fastest, cheapest, frequently best food on Athens's streets.
Vendors, food trucks and stalls: the cheapest, fastest, frequently best food in Athens.
Kostas Souvlaki on Agia Irini Square in Athens has fired the pork souvlaki pita with its house tomato sauce since 1946, a counter run by the same family for three generations.
Try: Pork souvlaki pita with tomato sauce
Tip: Open weekdays until 17:00 or until the meat runs out; closed Saturday and Sunday and cash is preferred.
O Telis on Evripidou in central Athens has grilled pork chops over coals since the 1970s, the king-of-Evripidou-Street counter with chips, salad, bread and red wine.
Try: Grilled pork chops with chips and Greek salad
Tip: No menu; the order is pork chops with chips, salad, bread and red wine. Closed Sundays.
Bairaktaris on Monastiraki Square is the long-running Athens souvlaki counter from the late 19th century, with a takeaway pita window onto the square open until late.
Try: Souvlaki and gyros pita
Tip: The pita window faces the square; the sit-down room behind is a separate tip and bill.
Ariston on Voulis behind Syntagma in Athens is the 1910 takeaway-pie counter where the spanakopita is the order and the bougatsa is the breakfast on the way to work.
Try: Spanakopita, cheese pie, meat pie
Tip: Stand-up takeaway only; closed Sundays. Pies are warm out of the oven all morning.
Falafellas on Aiolou near Monastiraki in Athens is the central falafel pita counter, where the takeaway pita is built on order with tahini, salad and chilli.
Try: Falafel pita with tahini and salad
Tip: Queue runs longest at lunchtime; the meatball pita is the variant the regulars order instead.
Lukumades on Aiolou and Agia Irini Square in Athens is the modern loukoumades shop, where the classic Greek doughnut comes filled with cream or topped with chocolate.
Try: Loukoumades doughnuts with fillings and toppings
Tip: The injected loukoumades with cream are the order; queue runs longest on summer weekends.
Ta Karamanlidika tou Fani on Sokratous in Athens runs a takeaway deli alongside the mezedopoleio, with pastourma sandwiches and a cured-meat counter for the road.
Try: Karamanli pastourma and cured-meat sandwich
Tip: Closed Sundays. The deli counter at the front sells meats by the kilo to take home.
Peak food season in Athens is year-round.
Local dining hours: lunch around 12:30, dinner from 19:30.
service is typically included; small extra is welcome but not expected.
Ask the next local you meet what they would order. Athens rewards trust.