Greek street food, long regarded as some of the finest in the world, has faced tough competition this year, with the popular souvlaki dropping to 55th place in Taste Atlas’s latest street food rankings, according to keeptalkinggreece.com.
Leading the list is Garantita, a traditional Algerian dish made from chickpea flour, oil, spices, and water. Topped with beaten egg and baked until golden brown, it’s typically served hot with harissa and cumin. This flavorful dish has overtaken well-known Greek favorites such as souvlaki, gyros, kontosouvli, and kokoretsi.
Despite souvlaki’s decline, Greek cuisine remains well-represented. Kontosouvli has secured the 19th spot, gyros ranks at 23rd, and kokoretsi appears further down at 96th place.
China takes second place with guotie (pan-fried dumplings), followed by siomay from Indonesia in third. Mexico’s quesabirria comes in fourth, while India’s parotta rounds out the top five.
Taste Atlas describes kontosouvli as a traditional Greek dish featuring large chunks of pork marinated in a blend of garlic, oregano, thyme, rosemary, paprika, olive oil, lemon juice, and red wine. The meat is skewered and grilled over an open flame, resulting in a crispy crust and tender, juicy interior. It’s commonly served with pita bread, tzatziki sauce, and a village salad. While originally prepared for Easter, kontosouvli is now a year-round favorite in Greek taverns.
Although souvlaki’s position has dropped, Greece’s street food culture continues to shine on the global stage.
Source: keeptalkinggreece.com
