ExploFood · Europe
What to eat in Cyprus
Five dishes to try in Cyprus, the most typical first. Two are vegetarian.
Five dishes to try in Cyprus
Halloumi Χαλλούμι
Firm brined cheese grilled or fried until golden.
How to have it: Eaten grilled in meze or with watermelon in summer; sold fresh at village producers.
Kleftiko Κλέφτικο
Lamb slow-baked with potatoes in a sealed clay oven.
How to have it: A Sunday dish in village tavernas; some only make it on weekends, so ask ahead.
Souvlaki Σουβλάκι
Grilled pork skewers in a pitta with salad, lemon and tahini.
How to have it: Cypriot pitta is a large pocket; ask for 'misi-misi' to get half souvlaki, half sheftalia.
Sheftalia Σεφταλιά
Minced pork and herb sausages wrapped in caul fat and charcoal-grilled.
How to have it: Part of every Cypriot meze and grill house menu.
Loukoumades Λουκουμάδες
Small fried dough balls soaked in honey or syrup.
How to have it: Sold hot at festivals and village fairs (panigyria), sometimes topped with cinnamon.
What to eat next door
Plan the trip
Questions
What food is Cyprus famous for?
Halloumi (firm brined cheese grilled or fried until golden) comes first on our list, followed by Kleftiko, Souvlaki, Sheftalia and Loukoumades.
What is the national dish of Cyprus?
Ask ten people and you get several answers. The dish we put first for Cyprus is Halloumi: firm brined cheese grilled or fried until golden. Eaten grilled in meze or with watermelon in summer; sold fresh at village producers.
Which dishes in Cyprus are vegetarian?
Two of the five on this page are vegetarian as usually made: Halloumi and Loukoumades. Recipes vary, so ask about stock, lard or fish sauce.
What street food should I try in Cyprus?
Souvlaki (grilled pork skewers in a pitta with salad, lemon and tahini).
How reliable is this list?
The dishes are hand-picked from general knowledge in the Explo app, where you can also tick off the ones you have tried. Recipes vary by region and by family, so take it as a starting point.
Keep exploring
Practical · 3 min readEat your way through a country: how to find the national dishesFood is the fastest way into a place. How to find a country's signature dishes, order them well, eat safely and keep a record of what you have tried.
Planning · 4 min readHow to choose the best time to visit anywhereWeather is only one part of it. Learn how to weigh seasons, crowds, prices and events, with real examples of the best months for popular destinations.
Planning · 4 min readHow to build a travel bucket list you'll actually useTurn a long wish list into a short plan: sort places by ease, season and effort, pick your next three, and keep the list alive after every trip.- Country guidesCountry guidesBest months, weather, holidays and plugs for every country.
- Free toolWhere can I go?Every country your passport opens, sorted by how easy it is.
Tick off every dish you try in Cyprus
Explo is a free app: light up the countries you have visited, keep the dishes you have tried, and check visa rules, weather and holidays before you go.
Get ExploDishes are hand-picked from general knowledge in the Explo app, with links to Wikipedia. Recipes and names vary by region.