Craving gyros, moussaka, or some deliciously sweet baklava? You're in luck. America has first-rate Greek restaurants from coast to coast, and many have been running for generations. Here we scout out the top spots to get your Greek food fix, from snug tavernas to retro diners. 

Our selections are based on genuine user reviews, awards and accolades, and the first-hand experience of our team. They're also regularly checked and updated.

Enter the down-to-earth dining room at The Olive Branch and you'll immediately feel at home. It's a family-run spot, and the classic Mediterranean food is – they promise – 'crafted with love'. Must-try dishes include the gyro plate, complete with tzatziki, wild rice, and fruit, and the stuffed grape leaves (a Greek delicacy).

The best of the Frontier State's Greek food can be found on wheels. Food truck Zorba on the Run parks up in Fairbanks for the summer season, and punters tuck into its offerings at shaded picnic benches. The gyros get high praise, with diners dubbing them the best in town. Staff have even coined their very own term for the truck's tasty morsels: 'zorbalicious'!

The pitas and dressings at George's Kitchen – a laid-back neighbourhood spot whipping up Greek staples – are made from scratch. But that's not the only reason to swing by. There's a super-friendly vibe, and the menu offers up delights such as saganaki, a tempting fried cheese dish (pictured), and spanakopita, a layered spinach and feta pie.

Kosmos has been doling out Greek favorites since 2005 and, since it's owned and operated by a Greek family, you know you're getting the real deal. The place offers few frills, but it doesn't matter when the food is this good. Winning menu items include the spicy feta dip and the chicken souvlaki – it comes with mountains of Greek fries or rice (your choice), plus tzatziki and pita. The Parthenon-inspired façade, with its columns and statues, is fun too.

Named for a little seaside village on the isle of Samos, this Frisco mainstay deals in elevated Greek cuisine served in a rustic, country-style dining room. The owners have gone the extra mile to make diners feel as though they're really in a Mediterranean bolthole – Grecian pottery, hanging pots and pans, a roaring hearth – and the food is second to none. The crispy zucchini cakes and the lamb chops with lemon-oregano vinaigrette are top picks.

You can't go wrong with a Greek-inspired diner, and Chef Zorba's has time on its side; the friendly joint in Congress Park has been running since the 1970s, and it serves American comfort food alongside tasty Greek specialties. Tuck into the gyro sandwich, which sees delicate slices of beef and lamb carved straight from the spit. The avgolemono soup, with lemon, chicken, and rice, comes highly recommended too.

YiaYia's promises the 'most authentic Greek food in Connecticut' – a bold claim, but one that diners agree with. The name, which comes from the Greek word for grandma, reflects the fresh, full-of-heart home cooking that's on offer here. Simple but delicious, the Greek salad has giant Kalamata olives, feta, and vegetables, while the spinach pie gets rave reviews. Flower garlands, lace curtains, and Greek landscape canvases decorate the charming dining room.

Daily specials keep Greek food fans coming back to this chilled-out diner. It's been whipping up Greek classics since 1981, when John and Elena Alexopoulos first founded the place, and family recipes are still at the heart of the menu. Greek dishes like moussaka and gyros go down a treat, and there's also classic American comfort food on the menu.

The popping blue-and-white tones of this Miami bistro will have you dreaming of the Santorini skyline – which is deliberate, of course, since Mandolin specializes in Aegean cuisine. From seasonal seafood dishes to mezze, there are plenty of tasty dishes to try. Customer favorites include the crowd-pleasing grilled octopus, the lamb chops over orzo pilaf, and the manti dumplings (featuring beef, garlic yogurt, Aleppo pepper, and burnt butter). It's not cheap here, but with dishes as good as these, it's well worth it.

Seafood is the focus of this upscale Greek tavern in Atlanta. Here, fish fans can feast on everything from sautéed shrimp (served with a kicking combo of tomato, ouzo, and feta) to salt-crusted sea bass. Meat lovers, meanwhile, should go for the hyped lamb pie: 12-hour braised meat parceled up with kefalotyri cheese and filo pastry. Best of all, you'll eat amid shiny white columns, and beneath an inky ceiling filled with stars.

A no-fuss takeout joint that focuses on the classics, Yamas Mediterranean Cuisine is the go-to place in Honolulu for fast, fresh, super-tasty Greek food. Top menu picks here are the perfectly crispy falafel pita (pictured), the oh-so-delicious garlic fries, and the gyros, which comes loaded with tender, flavorful meat. Craving something sweet? Try the baklava – it's delicious, and the portions are huge.

Looking for delectable Greek cuisine in Boise? Head to Meraki for colorful plates of street food. It's a modern spot, with bold blue chairs and whitewashed walls, and its menu is a true celebration of Greece. Graze on dishes like souvlaki – you can choose your meat, or even go veggie, and eat it with tzatziki and pita. The traditional pork gyros and classic Greek salad are fail-safe options too.

Chicago's Greektown is packed tight with top-notch places – but Greek Islands is the best of the bunch and, so it claims, 'America's most popular Greek restaurant'. Products like olive oil, cheese, and herbs are imported from Greece, and diners love the tasty dishes whipped up with these choice ingredients. The traditional grilled octopus, saganaki cheese, and moussaka are menu highlights.

You'll feel like you've been whisked away to a real Greek taverna at this jolly spot on Indy's Northwest Side. It's run by local resident Tina Konduris and her family, and they've filled the space with Greek landscape paintings and decorated columns. When it comes to the food, you won't be disappointed. The baklava gets rave reviews, as does the gyro piato: seasoned meat served with tomatoes, red onions, tzatziki, and pita.

Head to Des Moines' East Village and you'll find this down-to-earth Greek joint. It turns out all the staples, from gyros to baklava – but the highlight is the saganaki. The cheese is dipped in egg batter and fried, then served with a dramatic flame. The restaurant is famed for its super-friendly staff and homey dining room too.

This strip-mall joint might not look much from the outside, but the food here is out of this world. Customers love the giant gyros, stuffed with tender meat, vegetables, and tzatziki, and there's high praise for the friendly owner too. The crispy falafel and Greek salad are top choices.

This small chain now has locations coast to coast, and it's still the best place in the Louisville area to get your Greek fix. It works on a build-your-own concept, with diners filling bowls or stuffing pitas with their choice of protein, vegetables, feta, and tzatziki. Get a side of Greek fries – finished with garlic salt, feta, and red wine vinegar – and finish off the meal with a temping baklava cheesecake.

Promising a 'taste of the Mediterranean' in the heart of the Big Easy, Acropolis on Freret is decked out in sea blue and stuffed with paintings of boats bobbing on the water. But it's the food that keeps diners pouring back. Signature dishes like the moussaka and the gyros plate are sure bets, while the creamy six-onion soup, topped with puff pastry, is a wonderful winter warmer.

With its muted blue façade and Greek flag flying out front, Taverna Khione is inviting before you even step inside. Once you do, you'll be greeted by a cozy dining room and the smell of delicious Greek cuisine. The menu changes with the seasons, but you can always mop up tzatziki with homemade bread or peruse the extensive Greek wine list.

Baltimore's Ikaros Restaurant is a true stalwart: it's had the same head chef since 1969, and he's had plenty of practice conjuring up all manner of Greek delights. The chicken gyro sandwich, the lamb shanks, and the orzo pasta salad come especially recommended, and the charming dining room has plenty of nods to Greece – think columns, archways, and blue-and-white accents.

Delicate small plates are doled out at this fancy Greek spot, which prides itself on its imported Mediterranean produce – think feta, seafood, and hard-to-find Greek wines. Diners wax lyrical about the intimate setting and, of course, the authentic Greek food. Small plates like the kolokithakia (zucchini chips with tzatziki) are lavished with praise, while the succulent sea bass is the entrée of choice.

Motor City has a thriving Greektown, and the area's Golden Fleece restaurant is the place to be. It's a neighborhood institution that's been running for decades, and it focuses on no-fuss Greek staples like pastisio: a type of Greek lasagna with a rich meat layer and oozy béchamel sauce. The tavern-like interior, with its wall art and wooden bar, is cozy too.

Since 1991, Gardens of Salonica has set the Twin Cities' standard for great Greek food. It's focused on locally sourced, organic produce, and the menu is built on traditional dishes like souvlaki, gyros, and briam – colorful, Greek-style roasted vegetables. The lovely interior, with its molded ceiling and many plants, is an added bonus.

Keifer's Downtown has been turning out Mediterranean staples for four decades, and it proudly claims to serve 'Jackson's favorite Greek food'. Here, you'll tuck into typical Greek eats, from gyros loaded with pork and beef, to salads piled high with feta and olives. The made-to-order sandwiches are a must-try too, with a heap of curly fries on the side.

The charming setting of Olympia Kebob House – with its oak panels, ornate bar, and exposed brick – is reason alone to visit. But, of course, the food is the real draw, and Olympia's gyros have been voted the best around on more than one occasion. Given that the restaurant has been running for 35 years, it's well-versed in whipping up Greek staples like flaming saganaki cheese, stuffed peppers, and shish kebabs.

The star of this laid-back Missoula restaurant is the tzatziki, which is made from scratch every day, and whose recipe has been in the family for decades. Acropolis Gyros has been serving the people of Missoula for some 20 years, and its menu has stood the test of time. Loyal punters swear by the lamb gyros, loaded with that special tzatziki, and the Greek fries with oregano and vinegar.

Jim & Jennie's Greek Village is as charming and convivial as its name suggests. The restaurateur duo moved from Pyrgos in Greece to Omaha in 1974, and they've been treating the city to top-notch Greek food since the 1980s. All the dishes are made in-house, including classic appetizers like keftedes (Greek-style meatballs) and calamari, and mains such as a generous souvlaki platter.

You can find nearly every cuisine imaginable in Sin City, and Greek is no exception. The best spot to enjoy gyros and moussaka is Yassou Greek Grill, established in 2005. It's a family-owned joint that wins points for its friendly vibe and fail-safe food. The My Big Fat Gyro is the king of the menu: it comes stuffed with beef, lamb, feta cheese, and tzatziki. The souvlaki combo (pictured) is a favorite with diners too.

Family-owned Amphora is all about creative Greek cuisine, serving up traditional Mediterranean food with new spins and seasonings. The Thracian chicken dinner (pictured) is one of the restaurant's most popular menu items, and the vegetable ka-bob dinner and calamari get the thumbs-up from customers too. The owner, Peter, always makes diners feel welcome, and the staff are friendly and attentive.

Varka describes itself as a 'Mediterranean fish house', with a menu packed with seafood and Greek specialties. The lobster gyro, finished with cucumber-tomato relish and mint tzatziki, is something extra special, and the Varka chips, made with eggplant and zucchini, are pretty tempting too. You'll dine in a cozy, understated setting with exposed wood beams and heavy blue drapes. 

You'll find all your Greek favorites on the menu at Yamas Greek Rotisserie, from traditional soups and salads to gyros, moussaka, and orzo. Can't decide? Plump for the Greek Sampler, which pairs pita with dolmades, tzatziki, Greek salad, and more. Of course, you should leave room for the classic baklava too.

The Big Apple's Taverna Kyclades, with locations in Astoria and Bayside, is super-stylish – think white-washed walls, clean lines, and a sleek bar. And, luckily, the food matches up to the smart appearance. Seafood is king here, and the scallops come highly recommended, as does the European bass. The wine list, with varietals from Greece, California, and Italy, is pretty impressive too.

Charming Taverna Agora is inspired by 'the tastes, sounds, and sights' of small Greek villages – and you can see it in everything from the olive branch painted on the wall to the menu packed with Greek delicacies, and the traditional music that plays while you eat. The menu is full of delights, but diners rave about the tomahawk pork chop, which is finished with spinach and feta, and doused in rosemary aioli.

GP's Greek Kitchen may be a simple joint, but its food hits just the right spot – in fact, it's got a perfect Yelp score and rave reviews. A standout dish is the Athenian gyro, which sees pillowy pita filled with meat and vegetables, plus paprika, mustard, and tzatziki. The traditional avgolemono soup with lemon, chicken, and rice is a winner too.

Whether you choose to hole up next to the fireplace or soak up some sunshine on the patio, Taki's Greek Kitchen is a welcoming spot for a delicious Mediterranean meal. It prides itself on perfectly executing the classics, from moussaka to pastitsio, and there's an impressive selection of Greek wines to boot. The braised lamb shank with orzo and kefalotiri cheese is not to be missed, either.

It's not fancy at cash-only joint Greek House, but this hidden-gem restaurant's tasty menu more than holds its own. The gyros plate is a fail-safe option if you're in the mood for some comfort food – pita is piled high with meat, salad, and tzatziki – and the classic Greek salad is a highlight too. What's more, the staff are always friendly.

Cretan food is the specialty at Eleni's Philoxenia in Portland – and staff here say it's among the healthiest cuisine on the planet. The menu is packed with seasonal vegetables, Greek olive oil, and seafood, and the wild shrimp dish, served with roasted peppers in a rich tomato sauce, is a fan favorite. Want to pair your meal with a glass of something special? There are plenty of delicious Greek wines to sample.

This veteran spot promises to serve as a 'little corner of Greece' in Philly, and was opened by Greek immigrant Kostas Kravvaritis back in 1997. Decades on, the restaurant is still in the same family, and its focus on honest Greek home cooking remains. Regular diners love the grilled octopus, served with rice, roast potatoes, and vegetables, as well as the stuffed eggplant with tomato sauce and feta.

It may not look like much from the outside – but step through the door of Cranston's Athenian Deli & Restaurant, and you'll be met with tray after tray of appetizing Greek dishes, all arranged behind a counter staffed by some of the friendliest folks around. The locals love the chicken shish kebab, which comes with grilled pita bread. Looking for a satisfying handheld lunch? The spinach pie is a must-try.

Sophisticated Stella's is a favorite with Charleston locals. It honors 'rustic and modern' Greek cuisine, and has a menu full of mezze bites and Greek staples – everything from stuffed grape leaves and saganaki cheese to hilopites, a traditional Greek pasta dish with beans, cherry tomatoes, and olives. Teal leather seats, a glossy bar, and plenty of greenery make for a stylish setting.

As the name suggests, gyros are the focus of this simple place in Rapid City. You can get yours filled with lamb or chicken, spicy sauce, and even fries, and opt for a side of dolmades and a dessert of pistachio baklava. The Gyro Hub gets hordes of five-star reviews on Yelp, with customers praising the unfussy venue and the fabulous food.

Dedicated to bringing 'authentic Greek street fare' to Music City, GReKo Greek Street Food is a friendly spot run by the Darsinos family. The menu is inspired by the street food of Nemea, the little Peloponnese village the family originally hail from. Diners recommend the Athenian chicken: rotisserie meat drizzled with honey-lemon sauce.

Helen Greek Food & Wine feels every inch the Greek taverna with its exposed-brick walls and array of fancy wine bottles on display. And, happily, the food follows suit. The restaurant has won awards for its dishes, which range from Cypriot meatballs and feta-brined chicken to Greek fries smothered in turmeric, feta, and herbs.

Describing itself as a Greek small plates restaurant, Manoli's has a focus on seasonal ingredients and hyper-local produce. The dishes are made for sharing: diners can graze on fancy plates like orzo with a trio of cheeses, caramelized onions, and breadcrumbs, or perhaps Greek sausage with fig sauce and potato purée. When it comes to larger plates, the lamb riblets with caper chimichurri are a favored choice.

Another classic Greek diner, this retro spot is well-loved in the little city of Winooski. You'll find signature diner eats – from hot sandwiches and burgers to breakfasts – plus a whole roster of Greek dishes. The lamb gyro is a must-try, while The Athena skillet, complete with feta-topped eggs, will start your day off just right.

This small chain has a smattering of locations in the Capital Region, and each is as brilliant as the next. The Virginia outpost is in Arlington, and is loved for its cozy setting (complete with string lights and wooden booths) and, of course, its delicious small plates. Tuck into seafood dishes like fried calamari with shawarma spice, or fill up on meaty offerings like steak souvlaki and kicking lamb sliders – a house favorite.

It's as much about drinks as it is about food at this bright restaurant in Seattle's Capitol Hill region. Tsipouro (a kind of Greek brandy), ouzo (an anise-flavored aperitif), and a selection of Greek wines are all on offer, and they're paired with treats such as oysters, veggie moussaka, and Mediterranean-style sea bass. Diners rave about the perfectly made tzatziki too.

Theo Yianni's promises 'the best homemade Greek food at the best price', and customers agree. Classics like the gyros platter, the baklava, and the Greek salad are praised by regulars, but there are some menu surprises too. The spot bridges the gap between Mediterranean cuisine and American comfort food with dishes like Greek spaghetti, which features a housemade meat sauce with cinnamon, garlic, onion, and tomatoes.

Parthenon claims it was the first to bring the gyro to the state of Wisconsin, and it prides itself on its made-from-scratch dishes. Unsurprisingly, these classic Greek sandwiches are the most popular dish: the meat is carved and spiced with hand-ground peppercorns, and the tzatziki is produced in-house. You can also get cheese fries – this is Wisconsin, after all.

Casper's Sweet Zoey serves traditional dishes from across the Mediterranean and Middle East – and its menu includes some delicious Greek delights. The cheerful joint has a near-perfect Yelp score, with the homemade baklava tipped as a menu highlight. The gyro sandwich and platter are winning choices too.

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