Greek restaurants in Kansas City are abundant. Whether you’re coming from Missouri or Kansas, from north or south, there’s a local spot nearby serving up Mediterranean classics.
In fact, there are so many Greek restaurants in Kansas City that it can be hard to pick. Where should you go, and what should you look for? That all depends on the type of Mediterranean food you are craving. No single restaurant has been able to claim the consensus top spot in the Greek dining scene, but one thing is for sure: Greek food in KC doesn’t disappoint.
Defining Greek and Mediterranean Food
Mediterranean cooking is one of the oldest culinary traditions in the modern restaurant scene. It’s actually a more expansive category of cuisine than many people realize. In the broadest sense, Mediterranean food includes all of the countries that touch the Mediterranean Sea: Greece, Turkey, Syria, Israel, Egypt, Algeria, Libya, Tunisia, Morocco, Spain and France. French and Spanish food are so distinct and widespread in America that we don’t often include them in this category.
The most popular Mediterranean food in Kansas City is Greek food, which has a long history itself. The first Greek cookbook can be traced back to 330 B.C. There are hundreds of years of history packed into each item on the menu at a Greek restaurant in Kansas City.
The food is heavily dependent on the seasons. This style of cooking developed well before any modern technologies, meaning the meats, grains and vegetables used needed to be fresh. Preservatives, aside from the use of salt to keep some meat fresh, were nonexistent. Even as modern technology has enabled cooking to detach itself from the seasons, Greek food has maintained an emphasis on fresh ingredients.
Greek cooking employs a hefty helping of vegetables, olive oils, fish and wines. The end result is a plate with a blend of citrus acidity, fresh herbs, hearty grains and light meats. Freshness is a hallmark of Mediterranean food in Kansas City. It’s a healthy style of cooking, generally speaking, but it doesn’t sacrifice any of the robust flavors. Because of this, a Greek restaurant in Kansas City offers the perfect type of food for a flavorful lunch or light, healthy dinner.
Finding a Greek Restaurant in Kansas City
When it comes to choosing a restaurant, you have plenty of options. There are Greek restaurants in Kansas City in the River Market, Crossroads, Westport, Plaza and Waldo. You can find good food in the Kansas suburbs or on the Missouri side of the metro.
Here’s a list of options, grouped by area.
Kansas City Greek Restaurants in the River Market, Downtown and Crossroads:
Greek Food in Westport and Plaza:
South KC Greek Restaurants:
North KC Greek Restaurants:
There are even more Greek restaurants in Kansas City if you venture out through the suburbs on the Kansas or Missouri side of state line. Places like Sahara Mediterranean Food in Lees Summit and Holy Land Café in Lenexa are worth the drive.
Greek Food in Kansas City to Try
Traditional Greek food is made up of dishes like hummus, baklava and gyros. There are going to be plenty of menu options across the various Greek restaurants in Kansas City, and each restaurant will put their own spin on classic plates. You should always order whatever sounds best to you, but these are a few classics we recommend:
- Hummus: Start your meal with a plate of hummus. This creamy dipping sauce is made with crushed chickpeas. It is typically topped with olive oil or some sort of spicy sauce. You can dip just about anything in hummus, but it is traditionally enjoyed with slices of pita bread.
- Gyros: This Greek entrée is made by thinly slicing meat off a rotisserie. Typically, gyros are made with lamb. The meat is then added to lettuce, tomatoes and some sort of sauce, and then wrapped in warm pita bread.
- Dolma: Each chef has his or her own way of creating dolma, but what it all boils down to is stuffed vegetables. This could be onions, zucchinis or peppers filled with meat, rice or some sort of dairy.
- Moussaka: This is the lasagna of Greek food. The bottom layer is meat, like ground beef, that is then covered with thinly sliced potatoes or eggplants and covered in cheese.
- Lokma: Fried dough covered in syrup. Enough said.
- Baklava: A sweet, layered pastry stuffed with sweet nuts and either honey or syrup. It makes for a perfect desert at the end of your meal at a Greek restaurant in Kansas City.
You’ll find even more options on any Greek menu, but this list gives you a good place to start. Get out there and enjoy the Greek food in Kansas City — there’s plenty to try!