Athens, Greece · food guide
Is Souvlaki Halal? What Meat Is on the Skewer
It depends on the meat, and like gyros, souvlaki is often pork. Souvlaki simply means small pieces of meat grilled on a skewer. In Athens the classic is pork, but chicken souvlaki is just as widely available, and some places do lamb. Ask, and pick chicken or lamb.
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What to know
- Pork souvlaki (souvlaki choirinó) is the traditional default in much of Greece.
- Chicken souvlaki (souvlaki kotópoulo) is everywhere, an easy pork-free choice.
- It's usually served on the skewer, in a pita like a gyros, or on a plate with sides.
- The accompaniments, pita, tzatziki, salad, fries, are not the issue; the meat is. If you'd rather skip the meat question entirely, there's plenty of Greek food without pork.
How to order
Just specify the meat: chicken or lamb. In tourist areas staff are used to the question, and halal grills in immigrant neighborhoods offer halal chicken and lamb skewers, our guide to halal food in Athens points to the right areas.
FAQ
Is souvlaki pork?
Often, yes, pork is the classic souvlaki meat in Greece. But chicken souvlaki is equally common; ask for it if you avoid pork.
Is souvlaki halal?
The chicken or lamb version can be, if the meat is halal-sourced. The pork version is not. Always ask which meat you're getting.
What's the difference between souvlaki and gyros?
Souvlaki is meat grilled on a skewer; gyros is meat stacked and carved off a vertical spit. Both are frequently pork in Greece, so the same "ask for chicken or lamb" rule applies.
How do I order chicken souvlaki in Greek?
Say "souvlaki kotópoulo" (chicken) or "arní" for lamb; avoid choirinó (pork).
A note on how we talk about food: this guide is general traveler information about typical recipes, not a ruling on any specific shop's kitchen. Recipes vary from place to place, always confirm directly with the venue.
Restaurants are chosen for quality and reputation. If you follow a specific diet, or want to know whether any dish or drink contains alcohol, please check directly with the venue.
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