There are some good street food joints where, if we look beyond the basics of their menus—namely burgers, fries, and other items served in buns—we can discover some unique, and perhaps even somewhat gastronomic, dishes. A stroll through downtown Athens convinced me that I could enjoy excellent carbonara at a sandwich shop, delicious arancini at a focaccieria, and tacos with airy lobster tempura at a burger joint. Here are six street food restaurants and the standout dishes that set them apart, while emphasising that everything else on the menu is also made from scratch by the chef.
Arancini at Focacceria Napul`è
At Focacceria Napul`è, chef Francesco Granata bakes fresh focaccia daily, prepares his own porchetta, and offers a wide variety of artisan charcuterie and sauces for customers to enjoy the perfect Italian sandwich. Additionally, he serves mouth-watering arancini that can be enjoyed by hand. Arancini—meaning "little oranges" in Italian—are a Sicilian specialty found in reputable traditional trattorias and restaurants both in Italy and beyond. They are made from risotto that is expertly shaped into a ball, with a crispy exterior and a rich risotto filling inside. At Focacceria Napul`è, they are available in four different versions: peanut-paste mortadella, "carbonara" (with guanciale, egg, and pecorino), calabrese (with scamorza, parmesan, eggplant, `nduja, tomato sauce, and basil) and pizzaiolo (with tomato sauce, parmigiano reggiano, fresh basil, oregano and scamorza affumicata).
Info: Petraki 30, Athens, Tel: 2103316161, Open: Daily 11:00 a.m. - 19:00 p.m., Price: €3.90 to €4.50 per piece.
Peking Duck at Thess Bao
The duck is prepared confit and then placed on the plate to caramelise, a process that requires attention to detail and a significant amount of time. It is then topped with grated peanuts and coconut, served on a steamed bun, and accompanied by a delicious "homemade" ketchup made from BBQ sauce, hoisin, sriracha, and honey. Chef Dimitris Pamporis enhances the flavours and freshness of the bun with a touch of cucumber and finely chopped fresh onions. The Peking Duck at Thess Bao could easily be served—whether inside or outside its bun—at an excellent Chinese restaurant anywhere in the world.
Info: Perikleous 30-32, Athens, Tel: 2103214717, Open: Daily, 12:00 p.m. – 2:00 a.m., Price: €7.50 per piece.
Carbonara at Black Salami
I initially went for a sandwich, but when I saw that they serve carbonara, with the description suggesting it was genuine Italian, I decided I wouldn`t miss the opportunity to try it, and at the first bite, I was left utterly amased. Black Salami`s carbonara has "nervous" spaghetti, a rich, dense sauce made from free-range egg yolks, spicy pecorino crosta nera, and a generous amount of (unfortunately) freshly ground pepper. Instead of traditional guanciale, it uses crispy, smoky pancetta from Serres. With a substantial portion, it was a delightful surprise—a dish I often seek in Italian restaurants but usually find disappointing—yet I discovered it at its best at Black Salami.
Info: Zoodochou Pigis 71, Exarchia, Tel: 2114187956, Open: Monday-Friday 9:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m., Saturday 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m., Sunday 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m., Price: €7 per serving.
Lobster tacos at Lobby Athens
Tender lobster encased in airy tempura, accompanied by sweet and sour sauerkraut, a little mayo, fresh horseradish for flavour, pico de gallo for freshness, and crispy onions for added texture. These elements are placed by chef Haris Zefgoulis inside a soft taco shell—not served in a traditional Japanese or Mexican restaurant, but at Lobby Athens, where the menu showcases well-curated burgers featuring fish-inspired Greek ingredients and some Japanese meats.
Info: Voulis 30, Athens, Tel: 2141006225, Open: Daily, 10:00 a.m. – 1:00 a.m., Price: €12 per piece.
Soft ice cream with truffle aroma at Ortsag
At Ortsag Soft, you`ll find street food dishes from all over the world, making it perhaps the most gastronomic restaurant of its kind in Athens. However, its desserts are a chapter unto themselves. A few months ago, I tried a sensational soft ice cream topped with caramelised truffle-flavoured popcorn, which was of a very high quality despite the seemingly simple techniques involved. Although it`s no longer on the menu, chef Alexis Tsiotinis has replaced it with soft-serve ice cream made from beer, honey caramel, and toasted brioche, which also sounds excellent.
Info: Kerameikou 93-95, Athens, Tel: 2103412658, Open: Tuesday-Friday 5:00 p.m. – 12:00 a.m., Saturday and Sunday 1:00 p.m. – 12:00 a.m., Price: €5 per item.
Ramen at Pink Flamingo
While the menu may be centred around dumplings and bao buns, chef Vassilis Kalidis has recently introduced Ramen-style soups that are so delicious they could their own in any Asian restaurant. There are two varieties: one with udon noodles (the thicker ones) with fresh shrimp, lemongrass, cilantro, coconut milk, and lime, which is more like a Thai curry dish, despite being labeled as Ramen. The other is made with concentrated chicken broth, dumplings filled with pork and fresh herbs, vegetables, cilantro, and soy sauce.
Info: Skoufa 2-4, Athens, Tel: 2103316177, Open: Tuesday-Saturday 6:00 p.m. – 12:00 a.m., Sunday 12:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m., Price: €12 to €14 per serving.
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