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Street foodMonastirakiCash only
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.
TryPork souvlaki pita with tomato sauce
TipOpen weekdays until 17:00 or until the meat runs out; closed Saturday and Sunday and cash is preferred.
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Street foodPsyrri
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.
TryGrilled pork chops with chips and Greek salad
TipNo menu; the order is pork chops with chips, salad, bread and red wine. Closed Sundays.
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Street foodMonastiraki
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.
TrySouvlaki and gyros pita
TipThe pita window faces the square; the sit-down room behind is a separate tip and bill.
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Street foodSyntagma Historic Centre
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.
TrySpanakopita, cheese pie, meat pie
TipStand-up takeaway only; closed Sundays. Pies are warm out of the oven all morning.
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Street foodMonastiraki
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.
TryFalafel pita with tahini and salad
TipQueue runs longest at lunchtime; the meatball pita is the variant the regulars order instead.
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Street foodMonastiraki
Lukumades on Aiolou and Agia Irini Square in Athens is the modern loukoumades shop, where the classic Greek doughnut comes filled with cream.
TryLoukoumades doughnuts with fillings and toppings
TipThe injected loukoumades with cream are the order; queue runs longest on summer weekends.
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Street foodPsyrri
Ta Karamanlidika tou Fani on Sokratous in Athens runs a takeaway deli alongside the mezedopoleio, with pastourma sandwiches and a cured-meat counter.
TryKaramanli pastourma and cured-meat sandwich
TipClosed Sundays. The deli counter at the front sells meats by the kilo to take home.