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Discovering high quality halal meals in Europe can generally be a wrestle for Muslim vacationers. Happily, in Athens, the elevated demand for halal-certified institutions signifies that the Greek capital has a few of the greatest halal choices I’ve come throughout.

The town is a mecca for foodies, irrespective of their dietary necessities. It was this culinary range that inspired me to start out my Athens meals excursions a while in the past. Since then, I’ve observed an increasing number of Turkish, Center Jap and Mediterranean-inspired halal eateries popping up!

Hold studying to find the must-visit halal eating places in Athens, Greece.

Cappadocia Grill Cafe

I had a lingering longing for some Turkish meals the final time I used to be in Athens, which led me to find Cappadocia Grill Cafe between Filopappou and Kallithea.

So far as halal eating places in Athens go, this spot is among the many greatest within the enterprise that I’ve come throughout. Seeing because the climate was onside, I made a decision to sit down exterior on one of many cozy, carpet-covered couches. The complete space was filled with locals, which is all the time a inexperienced flag for me.

It felt fallacious to come back right here and check out something aside from their kebabs, and I went for the urfa selection consisting of beef cooked with paprika and cumin. Not solely was the meat portion big, however it was additionally served alongside loads of pita, tomatoes, and purple onion.

The delicate spicy kick and oh-so-juicy meat had been sensational. Although I might have fortunately feasted on the meat alone, it was even higher when wrapped in doughy pita with the intense flavors of the sharp onion and acidic tomatoes.

Cappadocia Grill Cafe (€€) – Leof. El. Venizelou 15, Kallithea 176 71, Greece – Open each Monday and from Wednesday to Friday from 12:00 pm to 12:00 am, Tuesday from 4:30 pm to 12:00 am, and each Saturday and Sunday from 12:30 pm to 12:00 am.

Namaste Indian Restaurant

Photograph credit score: Namaste Indian Restaurant

Indian eateries are sometimes dependable spots for securing halal meat, they usually had a ton of appropriate choices at Namaste Indian Restaurant within the Makriyianni neighborhood. It’s only a quick stroll from the Acropolis, and I discovered it simply as I arrived on the close by metro station.

This place completely encapsulates what I imagined a up to date Indian restaurant to seem like. The smooth furnishings and stylish impartial partitions got a trace of Indian aptitude with the tasteful wall artwork and colourful lampshades.

I selected one of many many halal dishes on supply, choosing the butter hen. If I haven’t had Indian meals shortly, that is sometimes the meal I lengthy for probably the most.

On this event, it ticked all my containers for the dreamiest butter hen: succulent hen chunks, a barely candy but wealthy gravy, and a dousing of recent cream. In fact, I had so as to add some fluffy basmati rice to stability the flavors.

Namaste Indian Restaurant (€€) – Lempesi 12, Athina 117 42, Greece – Open each Monday to Thursday and Sunday from 1:00 pm to 11:45 pm and each Friday and Saturday from 1:00 pm to 12:00 am.

Sara Kurdish Restaurant 

Earlier than I visited Sara Kurdish Restaurant, I’d by no means tried Iranian or Iraqi meals, however let me inform you, this humble Omonia spot made me marvel if I’d been lacking out all this time!

I observed a small queue forming on the buffet-style counter inside as I walked by, and I made a decision to attempt it out as I used to be searching for one thing fast and simple. The road moved fairly swiftly, and as soon as I bought to the highest, I requested the server for some recommendation about what to order.

He advised sampling the dolma and lentil soup, neither of which I’d tasted earlier than. First up was the creamy, textured soup, stuffed with nourishing flavors from nutty lentils, fruity Aleppo pepper, and zingy tomatoes. Though the solar was shining, it felt like a comforting winter dish.

This soup set the usual excessive, however the dolma was the star of the present for me. Inside every tightly-packed grape leaf was a fusion of sturdy beef, sticky rice, and tangy onions, all soaked in a herbaceous lemon sauce.

Sara Kurdish Restaurant (€) – Deligiorgi 39, Athina 104 37, Greece – Open day-after-day from 11:00 am to 11:00 pm.

Inexperienced Kebab

Photograph credit score: Inexperienced Kebab

Conventional halal-friendly Greek meals isn’t as tough to come back by as you would possibly assume. Inexperienced Kebab, within the coronary heart of town heart, is among the many most interesting halal eating places in Athens serving up favorites like halal gyros and souvlaki.

Inside, they’ve a simplistic, vivid eating room with wicker wooden-framed chairs and pale grey partitions. I snagged one of many window-side tables, which missed the enchanting and bustling streets of the Kolonos space.

Straight away, I knew I used to be going to go for the hen gyros, which the waiter knowledgeable me was certainly one of their best-sellers. If each gyro was as tasty as this one was, I might simply eat them each single day!

As a long-time fan of gyros, it might probably take lots to actually blow me away, however the style of the moist, thinly sliced hen was excellent. When combined with the opposite parts, the pita typically takes a backseat, however this one was so tender and pillowy.

It was full to the brim with flavorful marinated hen, zesty tomatoes, and crispy lettuce. What actually made it was the handful of evenly salted fries and the way they mixed with the refreshing flavors of the chunky tzatziki that oozed out with each chunk.

Inexperienced Kebab (€) – Ioulianou 81, Athina 104 39, Greece – Open each Monday from 12:30 pm to 11:00 pm, Tuesday to Saturday from 12:30 pm to 10:30 pm, closed each Sunday.

Conclusion

Whether or not you’re craving for some conventional Greek meals or are dying to search out some hearty Asian fare, there are some glorious halal eating places in Athens to select from. The halal choices listed here are solely enhancing, so I’ve a sense I’ll quickly discover a lot extra spots so as to add to this listing!