The Ultimate Vegan Guide to Greek Food in Rhodes

Being vegan in Greece is like dating someone hot but emotionally unavailable: full of promise… but sometimes a little confusing. One minute you’re swooning over olive oil-drizzled stuffed tomatoes, and the next you’re told the green beans were cooked in chicken stock. Excuse me, what now?

But don’t panic, plant-lover. This is your vegan survival guide to Greek food—what to order, what to ask, and how to eat really, really well in Rhodes without accidentally ingesting half a sheep.

🫒 First, The Basics: Is Greece Vegan-Friendly?

Surprisingly—yes. While Greece loves its grilled meats and cheese mountains, it also has a deep-rooted tradition of plant-based dishes, especially thanks to religious fasting customs (known as “nistisimo”) where no meat, dairy, or eggs are consumed.

Translation? There are loads of vegan-friendly traditional foods—they’re just not always labelled that way.

🥙 Vegan Dishes You’ll LOVE (And Can Actually Eat Without Interrogation)

1. Gemista (Stuffed Tomatoes & Peppers)

Tomatoes and peppers baked with herby rice in olive oil. Delicious, filling, and naturally vegan (as long as there’s no sneaky mince added).

🍅 Always ask: “Gemista me kreas?” (With meat?) – If the answer is no, you’re good to go.

2. Dolmades (Stuffed Vine Leaves)

Little parcels of rice, onion, and herbs wrapped in vine leaves. Served warm or cold, drizzled with olive oil and lemon.

🌿 Perfect meze option. Avoid if you see them labelled as “dolmades me kima” – that means mince inside.

3. Gigantes Plaki (Giant Baked Beans)

Massive butter beans slow-cooked in tomato sauce with herbs. Warm, hearty, and absolutely delicious.

🫘 Beans, tomato, olive oil. It’s not fancy, but it’s 10/10 comfort food.

4. Fava (Yellow Split Pea Purée)

Creamy, lemony dip made from yellow split peas—not actual fava beans. Often topped with olive oil, onion, or capers.

🍋 Pairs beautifully with warm bread, olives, and smugness.

5. Revithia (Chickpea Stew)

A simple, satisfying stew made with chickpeas, lemon, and olive oil—especially popular in the Dodecanese.

🍲 Naturally vegan, nourishing, and will make you feel like someone’s yiayia made it for you.

6. Briam (Greek Ratatouille)

Layers of potatoes, courgettes, aubergine, onion, and tomato baked with olive oil and herbs.
🥔 Think of it as Greek roasted veg—but better. Much better.

7. Skordalia (Garlic Potato Dip)

A thick, garlicky purée of mashed potato, olive oil, and vinegar—traditionally served with beetroot or fried courgette.

🧄 It’s mashed potato... but with attitude.

8. Ladera (Anything Cooked in Olive Oil)

The secret to vegan Greek eating? Look for dishes described as “ladera”—meaning slow-cooked in olive oil and tomato. These are often meat-free by default.

🫒 Keyword to remember: Ladera = plant-based goldmine.

❌ Vegan Traps: What Looks Safe But Isn’t

1. Greek Salad

You’d think this is a win, right? Wrong. That big ol’ slab of feta is a dairy bomb, and sometimes the olives are stuffed with cheese. Ask for it “choris feta” (without feta).

🥗 Still delicious without the cheese. The tomatoes in Greece are doing God’s work.

2. Spanakopita (Spinach Pie)

Looks veg-friendly. It’s not. Almost always contains feta and egg. Same goes for tiropita (cheese pie).

🥧 Just... don’t. Unless you’re vegetarian, not vegan.

3. Tzatziki

So fresh, so cool… so full of Greek yoghurt. Skip it unless you find a vegan version (rare, but they exist at modern cafes and vegan-friendly spots).

🧊 Looks innocent. Lies to your face.

4. Loukoumades (Greek Doughnuts)

Traditionally vegan! BUT—some places fry them in shared oil or drizzle them in honey (not maple). Ask first or look for the “nistisimo” version.

🍯 When made right: soft, golden, crunchy perfection.

5. Meze Mix Platters

They look vegan-friendly… until the surprise sausage slices and mystery meatballs arrive. Always ask for “nistisimo” options or order items separately.

🎲 Too risky. Build your own meze instead.

🧁 Vegan Sweets in Greece? Yes, Actually.

• Halva – Made from tahini and sugar. Naturally vegan and surprisingly addictive.
• Fruit Preserves (Glyko tou Koutaliou) – Traditional sweet spoonfuls of preserved fruit in syrup.
• Pasteli – Sesame and honey bars (great if you’re okay with honey). Some vegan versions use agave or syrup instead.

🍬 Not your average dessert menu, but still dreamy.

💬 How to Say “I’m Vegan” in Greek

Because relying on Google Translate doesn’t always work when someone’s waving a souvlaki in your face:

🗣️ “Eímai vegan, den tróo kréas, psári, galaktokomiká í avgá.”
Translation: I’m vegan, I don’t eat meat, fish, dairy or eggs.

OR keep it short and sweet:
🗣️ “Nistisímo parakaló” – Fasting-friendly, please (usually means plant-based).

🧭 Bonus Tips for Eating Vegan in Rhodes

✔️ Ask for the "daily specials" – often the best ladera dishes aren’t even on the menu.
✔️ Explore local bakeries – some have fasting-friendly pies and snacks.
✔️ For modern vegan cafés, stick to Rhodes Town or larger tourist areas—Faliraki is slowly catching up!
✔️ Don’t forget your Google Translate app or a good old phrase card. (Or just memorise “Nistisímo!” and say it with confidence.)

🥗 Plan Your Perfect Plant-Based Greek Holiday

Pair this guide with some of our other faves:
👉 Best Restaurants in Faliraki for Every Budget (many with vegan options!)
👉 The Greek Food You HAVE to Try – And What to Avoid
👉 Car Hire in Rhodes – so you can hunt down the good village tavernas
👉 Excursions Page – yes, we know which boat trips include vegan food
👉 Glossary Page – for all the confusing Greek food terms, decoded

📸 Tag Us in Your Vegan Foodie Finds!

Stumbled on a dreamy vegan gem in Rhodes? Show us on Instagram @falirakitravel– we’ll shout you out and probably ask for directions.