Elongated spiced meatballs in cumin and cinnamon tomato sauce, the most directly traceable Asia Minor refugee dish in the Thessaloniki kitchen. Made from ground beef or buffalo with cumin, allspice, and cinnamon, simmered in a tomato sauce intensified by those same spices. Served with pilaf or country bread.
2 editor picks for Soutzoukakia Smyrneika in Thessaloniki, ranked by editorial score. All Thessaloniki signature dishes · Soutzoukakia Smyrneika across every city.
Ouzeri Tsinari ★ 4.5
ano-poli · Alexandras Papadopoulou 72, Thessaloniki 546 33
Tsinari has stood on this Ano Poli corner since 1865, originally a cafe during the Ottoman period. The same family has run it since 1990, the wood stove still fires, and the tzigerosarmas (lamb liver wrapped in caul fat) remains on the menu.
Nea Folia ★ 4.3
ano-poli · Aristomenous 4, Thessaloniki
Operating since 1967 on the edge of Ano Poli, Nea Folia serves dishes that have largely vanished from city-centre menus: liver with cabbage, kavourmas of Xanthi beef, smoked mackerel with samphire. Wednesday to Sunday only.