Food retains a special place in the city of Thessaloniki, as it is renown for a wide variety of tastes in the dishes served here. The quality and the uniqueness are also standard in the recipes prepared in tavernas and restaurants in the city.
Prior to referring to the local cuisine and dishes, it would quite helpful to give general information on the tendency prevailing in the cooking of the city.
As there is a large number of refugees originating from the Minor Asia and Pontos, settled in the city, the local cuisine carries mostly characteristics of the Oriental cuisine. As result the dishes served are rich in oil, with a quite strong taste of spices that are mainly used in Oriental kitchen.