Where to Eat Greek Food in Philly Right Now
Your guide to fire-baked pastitsio, expertly layered moussaka, simply grilled fish and some of the best souvlaki around.
Dolmades at Agea | Courtesy of Fine Drawn Hospitality
Greek food in Philly is essential. From gyros to spanakopita to baklava, we’ve got it all. Though we’ve lost some great spots in the last year (RIP Dmitri’s) there’s still a wide variety to choose from. Here are some of our favorite places, many of which offer outdoor dining, takeout, delivery, or all three.
Chicken shawarma | Photo by Society Hill Films
Stina, West Passyunk
Wood-oven baked pastitsio, house-made loukaniko sausage, grape leaves stuffed with beef, and a spanakopita that puts all other spanakopitas to shame: Stina, while not strictly Greek, isn’t only one of the best Greek-leaning/pan-Mediterranean restaurants in the city, it’s one of the best restaurants in the city, period.
Zorba’s Tavern, Fairmount
Zorba’s has been feeding Fairmount homemade Greek classics for over 20 years in a casual, BYO environment. Don’t miss the grilled section, which features lamb, chicken, and pork perfectly kissed by their charcoal grill.
Moustaki, Logan Square
How can you not love a spot with a mustache-themed name and logo? The move here is waffle fries (not Greek, but very delicious) and big, overstuffed (and affordably priced) gyros.
Kostas, Fishtown
In the Before Times, Kostas’s big draw was its long beer list and pool tables. Now, their Greek snacks are paired with a spacious outdoor patio. For the Now Times.
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Olympia Gyro, Center City
Reading Terminal Market has fallen on hard times, but it’s numerous vendors, including Olympia Gyro, still serve up some of the best takeout food in the city. For vegetarians, try their edamame fritter gyro. Savory, crunchy and addictive.
Agea, University City
Walnut Street Cafe has divided up their ample kitchen space to create the Commons, a virtual food hall, which basically means you can order from several restaurants in one go, including a Greek build-your-own-bowl concept called Agea.
Yanni’s Gyro’s, Lansdale
Instead of serving fries alongside their stuffed-full gyros, Yanni’s keeps it extra greek by serving the slightly-more-Greek lemon potatoes, thickly sliced, fried, and seasoned with lemon and salt.
South Street Souvlaki, South Street
South Street Souvlaki has been operating for 40 years, which must mean they’re doing something right.
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Kanella, Center City
Kanella is one of the restaurants that Philadelphian’s just love. Even now, when we can’t enjoy it the way we usually do, eating their spanakopita, lamb and baklava feels as comforting as calling an old friend.
Effie’s Restaurant, Center City
Sometimes Greek food feels like it’s most appropriate in the summer, but Effie’s avgolemono soup, made with chicken, rice and gently cooked egg, feels like stepping into the sun during a long, grey winter.
Estia, Center City
Unlike most of the restaurants on this list, which keep it pretty casual, Estia is a bit more up-scale. Their large, awning-covered outdoor dining space is perfect for sipping on their Greek wines and cocktails, all paired with leveled-up classics like perfectly grilled octopus, braised lamb shanks, and extra-generous family platters that serve 3-4 people.
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Yeeroh, South Street
If you’re working from home, you might have laid off the fast casual spots for lunch, but Yeeroh is an excellent and very quick option for those days where you just can’t cook another meal.
Greek Lady, University City
Every college town needs a casual, delicious spot serving hummus, dolmades, and other Greek treats to hungry college students, including Penn. Since 1982, Greek Lady has been just that, but in a very Philly way, since they also serve cheesesteaks.
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(@yiroyiro_philly)Yiro Yiro, multiple locations
Yiro Yiro’s catchline is “a day without Yiros: a Greek tragedy” which is a pretty food piece of marketing if we do say so. We’re also fans of their Greek yogurt bar, which lets you build your own little greek parfait. Do not skip the sour cherry preserves.
Yia, It’s All Greek To Me, Media
Yia’s extensive menu hits all the must-haves: homemade moussaka, Greek salad, chicken souvlaki, and even a pita-wrapped burger for kids.
