Souvlaki

Allergens at a glance

• OftenGlutenWrapped in wheat pita; the skewer alone is usually wheat-free.
• OftenMilkTzatziki (yoghurt sauce) in the pita or on the plate.
• SometimesMustardSome marinades and sauces include mustard.
• SometimesSulphitesWine or vinegar in some marinades.
• SometimesFishChips (fries) in the pita may share a fryer with fish or seafood.

Usually in the standard recipe. Often in many versions. Sometimes in some kitchens, or a cross-contact risk.

Diets

• Not halal as standard in Greece: pork is the default meat. Chicken and lamb are common alternatives.
• Ask for the skewer on a plate without pita if you avoid gluten, and check the fryer for the chips.
• Vegetarians: some grill houses do halloumi or vegetable skewers, but they share the grill.

Recipes change from kitchen to kitchen. If you have an allergy, confirm every ingredient with the restaurant before you order.

What is souvlaki?

Souvlaki means "little skewer": cubes of meat, most often pork in Greece, marinated in olive oil, lemon, oregano and garlic, then grilled over charcoal. You'll get it as bare skewers with bread and lemon, as a plate with chips (fries), salad and tzatziki, or wrapped in a warm, oiled pita. It's the everyday Greek fast food.

What's in it

The meat is pork shoulder or neck in most of Greece; chicken (κοτόπουλο, kotópoulo) is the next most common, with lamb and beef less so. The marinade is olive oil, lemon juice, dried oregano, garlic, salt and pepper, and some cooks add wine, vinegar or mustard.

A pita souvlaki usually holds the meat, tomato, red onion, tzatziki, parsley or paprika, and often a few chips tucked inside.

Watch the naming:

• Kalamaki (καλαμάκι): in Athens, this is what the skewer itself is called. Ordering "a souvlaki" there can get you a pita wrap.
• Gyros (γύρος): shaved meat from a vertical spit, not a skewer, but sold at the same shops.
• Kebab (κεμπάπ): a minced meat skewer, closer to Turkish köfte.

Allergens and diets

The skewer itself is usually just meat, oil, lemon and herbs. The allergens tend to come with what's around it.

Pita is wheat. Greek pita bread for souvlaki is pan-fried or grilled with oil and sometimes brushed with more. Tzatziki is strained yoghurt, so milk. The chips inside the pita are often cooked in a shared fryer, which is a cross-contact point if you're coeliac (celiac) or allergic to fish.

Marinades vary between grill houses. Mustard, wine and vinegar all appear in some, and ready-made marinades can include other ingredients. If your allergy is to anything beyond the obvious, ask what the meat is marinated in.

On the menu

Look for σουβλάκι (souvláki) or καλαμάκι (kalamáki), then the meat: χοιρινό (choirinó, pork), κοτόπουλο (kotópoulo, chicken). Πίτα (píta) means wrapped, μερίδα (merída) means a plate portion. Skewers are priced individually and are cheap; locals order several.

Last checked 1 November 2026. Spotted something wrong? Email support@inventum.com.au.