The top Crete restaurants: Delicious local specialties and where to taste them

One of the best things to do in Crete is, hands down, to taste the local delicacies. You bet there is a hearty amount of dishes you should definitely try!


Thanks to the variety of local produce and the traditional recipes that have remained untouched through the centuries, in Crete, you can eat amazing food!


So, don’t leave Crete without eating…


DAKOS
Dakos or Koukouvagia or Kouloukopsomo, as some of the locals like to call it, is one of the most famous local dishes. Dakos is basically a barley rusk, soaked in water, sprinkled with olive oil and topped with tomatoes and mizithra, a local soft cheese. Dusted with salt, oregano, and pepper, it is usually served as a starter.


KALITSOUNIA
Kalitsounia are tiny cheese pies, shaped into cups or stars. They consist of pastry dough, filled with local soft cheeses, such as mizithra or anthotiro and they are topped with local honey. Although Kalitsounia is a savory delicacy, the honey deliciously transforms it into a sweet one! Thus, it is usually served as a dessert or a starter, accompanied with raki, a local alcoholic beverage.


COCHLIOI BOURBOUNISTOI
Cochlioi Bourbounistoi are basically fried snails! It might not be the traditional Greek treat you had in mind, but this is one of the most delicious and unique local delicacies. The snails are initially fried with flour in olive oil and then sprinkled with wine or vinegar.


GAMOPILAFO
This specialty used to be served in traditional Cretan weddings, but today you can find it in almost every tavern in Crete. Gamopilafo is rice cooked in meat (lamb, roster or goat) broth with lemon juice and stakovoutiro, a rich local butter. It is usually served with meat.


CRETAN CHEESES
Crete is popular for its cheese produce! Almost every region, town and village in Crete has its own cheese. Made of goat or sheep milk, Cretan cheeses are delicious and a basic ingredient of the best traditional recipes. Definitely try graviera, a rich hard cheese and mizithra, a tasty soft cheese.


KREATOTOURTA
Kreatotourta is one of the most hearty local delicacies! It is basically a pie stuffed with goat, lamb, several kinds of cheeses and cinnamon. This dish is usually made after Easter, as a way to use the leftovers of the traditional roasted lamb.


SFAKIANES PITES
Sfakianes pites (or Sfakia pies) are yummy thin fried pies stuffed with several Cretan cheeses, such as mizithra and anthotiro. They are usually topped with thyme, honey and walnuts and served as a “meze” (complement) for raki or as a dessert.


HIRINA APAKIA
Hirina Apakia (smoked pork) is one of the Cretan delicacies that have a quite long preparation process. The pork is marinated in vinegar and cooked on a fire lit up using locally produced herbs. The result is a delicious smoked pork with a slight herbal taste, thanks to the herbs.