With a much-deserved fame as the Greek culinary capital and a vibrant nightlife, it is no surprise that Thessaloniki street food is worth discovering.

Thessaloniki’s street food corresponds to the city’s diverse culinary tradition and its bohemian, streetlife culture and features literally innumerable varieties of both Greek classics and their local versions as well as many local delicacies.

It has recently become a special research subject for the students of the prestigious University of Gastronomic Studies in Italy. The city’s street food star is koulouri: a sesame seed-coated bread roll, crunchy on the outside and chewy on the inside, eaten plain or with some cheese or jam.


This simple snack heeds from Byzantine times and is available anywhere in Greece, but the best is, probably, found in Thessaloniki. The koulouri street vendors are a staple of the city’s landscape, and the snack is so popular that it has largely become an unofficial symbol of the city.

Bougatsa, a pie made of hand-made layers of filo pastry, is both the city’s power breakfast and a favourite snack after a night out. Thessaloniki’s bougatsa is known for its varied fillings: the most popular ones are with goat cheese and with custard cream (served with a sugar and cinnamon icing), followed by the more traditional spinach or minced-meat fillings.  

Bougatsa shops are ubiquitous and they cannot be missed; but the best are the traditional ones that are open from 3:00 am to midday.

The national fast food of gyros is also omnipresent and Thessaloniki’s oriental culinary tradition is a guarantee for a true culinary delight. In contrast to the generic Athens type, the Thessaloniki gyros shops are highly customized; you don’t just order nonchalantly "a gyro sandwich," as they offer a variety of rolls, meat and spreads to go with. Yummy!