What Is Souvlaki? Well, It’s Practically a Standing Ovation on a Stick

Meat on a Stick That’s Basically a Hug in Your Mouth

Souvlaki. It’s meat on a stick. That’s it. And yet somehow it’s the entire reason humans invented lunch. One bite and your taste buds start dancing like Zorba on espresso. Lemon hits like a Greek sunbeam. Garlic punches your nostrils awake. Oregano whispers, “You’re welcome.” The smell of char? Basically, a vacation in Santorini, minus the airfare and sunburn.

Toronto gets it. Office warriors, night owls, last-minute party planners—souvlaki feeds them all. GREEK&CO in Downtown Toronto makes it ridiculously easy. Halal chicken skewers, loaded plates, party trays for 10–100 people. Basically, if Zeus had a Yelp account, he’d leave five stars and a crying emoji.

Meet Souvlaki. The Tiny Stick That Started A Cult Following

Let’s keep it simple. 

What is souvlaki? Small cubes of meat grilled on a stick. That’s literally it. That’s Greek culinary minimalism at its finest. In Greece, pork is king. Toronto went rogue with chicken, lamb, and even plant-based cubes for your vegan friend who cries at food commercials.

GREEK&CO’s chicken souvlaki? Absolute legend. Juicy enough to make a Kardashian Instagram jealous. Lemon-garlic-oregano combo hits harder than a Greek tragedy. 

You can eat it straight off the stick like a civilised barbarian. Wrap it in a pita like a cosy blanket. Or turn it into a full plate with rice, potatoes, and salad and call it a victory feast.

Discover the 10 popular Greek foods you should try.

Souvlaki Vs Gyro. The Never-Ending Toronto Office Debate

Some offices argue about this like it’s a UN crisis. Someone says “gyro.” Someone says “souvlaki.” Somebody drops a stapler. Calm down, people. Here’s the difference:

Souvlaki uses cubes of meat cooked on a skewer.
Gyro uses layers of meat stacked on a vertical rotisserie. The meat cooks slowly. The edges crisp. The cook shaves the outside into thin ribbons. The smell feels deeper. The texture feels softer. The flavour comes from the fat that drips and bastes the stack.

So.

• Souvlaki: Cubes of meat. Grilled. Charred. Juicy. Basically James Bond in edible form.

• Gyro: Meat stacked on a vertical rotisserie. Slow-cooked. Crispy edges. Shaved thin. The kind of meat that deserves its own Netflix special.

GREEK&CO offers chicken gyro and pork gyro. Both sell as pita wraps and as dinner plates. The chicken gyro feels light. The pork gyro feels rich. Souvlaki stays bolder with its lemon scent and firmer bite. Gyro stays softer with a slower-cooked feel. Neither replaces the other. They sit in different lanes.

Souvlaki vs Kebab: Greek Cousin vs That Loud Cousin Who Won’t Leave

Kebabs are everywhere. They’re the Kardashians of skewers: flashy, dramatic, impossible to ignore. Souvlaki is the chill Greek cousin who shows up with homemade baklava, wine, and zero drama. Same family, totally different vibes. Lemon, garlic, oregano, olive oil. Pure sunshine on a stick.

Souvlaki fits inside the wider idea of “skewered meat” but stands as its own Greek version. It uses small cuts of meat in clean, bright marinades. It leans into lemon, oregano, garlic, and olive oil. The taste feels light and sunny. Kebab families often use deeper spices. Cumin. Coriander. Sumac. Paprika. The vibe shifts a lot from country to country.

If someone asks what is the difference between kebab and souvlaki, tell them: kebab is the cousin who insists on karaoke. Souvlaki is the cousin who quietly steals your heart and leaves you wondering why you didn’t invite them sooner. Or… tell them this.

• Kebab is a big family.

• Souvlaki is the Greek cousin.

So Let’s Talk Chicken. What Is Chicken Souvlaki Really

Chicken souvlaki is serious business. Cubes of halal chicken breast soak in a marinade that could probably double as Greek cologne: lemon, garlic, oregano, olive oil. Then it hits the grill. Charred edges, juicy centre, smells like a beach in Mykonos.

The flavour comes from simple ingredients that work hard.

• Lemon for brightness

• Garlic for warmth

• Oregano for aroma

• Olive oil for a soft finish

The experience feels clean. The taste hits fast. The meat stays firm. You feel the grill marks with each bite. It works in a pita wrap. It works on a dinner plate. It works piled on a catering tray for 10 to 100 guests.

GREEK&CO sells chicken souvlaki at 5.50 per skewer with a minimum of 10. This works well for offices. You can add rice. You can add potatoes. You can add salad. You can add dips like tzatziki, spicy feta, roasted garlic hummus, or roasted beet hummus.

What Is Souvlaki Seasoning Really Made Of

People love the flavour. People try to copy it at home. People fail. The seasoning stays simple. The magic sits in the balance.

What is souvlaki seasoning?

• Lemon

• Garlic

• Oregano

• Olive oil

• Salt

• Pepper

Sometimes cooks add red wine vinegar. Sometimes not. Souvlaki tastes bright. Clean. Fresh. It never feels heavy. The marinade sits on the meat before grilling. The fire sets the flavour. The char lifts the herbs. The lemon stays sharp. The garlic softens in the heat. You get a warm, citrusy smell that fills the kitchen.

At GREEK&CO, the flavour stays classic. You taste oregano right away. You feel the lemon on the first bite. The garlic rests in the back. It lets the chicken speak. It never takes over.

Three Ways To Eat It. All Of Them A Good Time

Souvlaki works in different forms. This is why Toronto keeps ordering it for events. People can build their own plates. People can grab a pita and run. People can stay neat with a fork. People can stand with a skewer in hand.

1. Straight Off the Skewer

Grab it. Bite it. Feel the char. Feel the lemon. Feel like a Greek god for 0.7 seconds. Perfect for parties, office lunches, or when you just need to show off your chopstick skills (or lack thereof).

2. In a Warm Pita

Wrap it in soft pita. Add tomato. Add onion. Add tzatziki. It’s basically edible therapy. The flavor hits every part of your mouth at once. GREEK&CO serves chicken souvlaki, pork gyro, falafel, and Chicago-style lamb or beef in pita. Basically a handheld festival.

3. On a Full Plate

Rice, potatoes, salad, tzatziki, and souvlaki on top. It’s a balanced meal. The rice adds weight. Potatoes add warmth. Salad adds sass. Tzatziki keeps it cool. GREEK&CO offers regular and large chicken souvlaki dinners. Basically, a Greek banquet you didn’t have to fight a minotaur to get.

Quick note: In some parts of Greece, people call souvlaki sticks kalamaki. Toronto says “souvlaki.” Both work. Both are delicious.

How To Order Souvlaki In Toronto Without Thinking Too Hard

Toronto eats fast. Toronto books catering even faster. GREEK&CO makes this easy with trays, skewers, dips, salads, and party packages.

Here is how to order smart.

Proteins

• Chicken Souvlaki Skewers. 5.50 per skewer. Halal.

• Chicken Gyro. 5.50 per serving.

• Pork Gyro. 5.50 per serving.

• Falafel. 5.50 for five pieces. Vegan.

• Roasted Chicken Breast. 90 for ten pieces.

Chicken souvlaki remains the crowd favourite. It works for mixed groups. It pleases picky eaters. It stays halal.

Sides That Always Win

• City Greek Salad. Crisp, bright, salty from the feta.

• Potatoes. Soft. Warm. Lemon forward.

• Rice. Fluffy. Neutral. Works with everything.

• Seasonal Grilled Vegetables for vegan guests.

• Greek Fries with feta and oregano for the fun people in the room.

Dips That Disappear First

• Tzatziki

• Spicy Feta

• Roasted Beet Hummus

• Roasted Garlic Hummus

• Hot Sauce

• Kalamata Olives

People always take more dip than expected. Add extra.

Party Packages

For stress-free ordering, choose a group pack.

• 10 guests for 244

• 20 guests for 490

• 30 guests for 721

• 50 guests for 1141

• 80 to 100 guests for 1950

Every package includes skewers, salads, rice, potatoes, pita, and dips. The larger packages include more dips and extra proteins like pork gyro.

A Sample Office Order That Makes You Look Like A Hero

You plan a meeting. Twenty people show up. You want food that stays fresh. You want something simple. You want something flavourful.

Here is a build.

For 20 people.

• 40 Chicken Souvlaki Skewers

• One City Greek Salad

• One Potatoes Tray

• One Rice Tray

• Pita

• One Tzatziki

• One Spicy Feta

People get protein. People get carbs. People get veggies. People stack their own plates. People eat fast without making a mess. This combination feels balanced and bright. No one leaves heavy. No one leaves hungry.

FAQs You Actually Want Answers To

Is pork traditional in Greece

Yes. Pork is the classic souvlaki in Greece.

Is chicken common

Yes. Chicken works well in modern menus. Chicken fits dietary needs. Chicken keeps the marinade bright.

What sauces go with souvlaki

Tzatziki remains the most common. Spicy feta works well. Hummus pairs smoothly. GREEK&CO offers all of these.

Is gyro the same as souvlaki

No. Gyro cooks on a vertical rotisserie. Souvlaki cooks on a skewer.

Does GREEK&CO offer halal chicken souvlaki

Yes. Our chicken souvlaki skewers are halal.

Your Taste Buds Called. They Want Souvlaki. ASAP.

Listen. Your taste buds just slid into your DMs. They said, “We want souvlaki. We want it now. Lemon. Garlic. Char. Fire. Don’t make us call Dionysus.” Toronto moves fast. Lunch moves faster. GREEK&CO brings skewers, pita, dips, and party trays so good even Zeus would ghost Olympus just to grab a plate.

Office meeting? Hand out chicken souvlaki like a hero. Party of 50? Consider yourself the demigod of catering. Solo binge-watching night? Yeah, you can eat 10 skewers by yourself. No judgment.

Stop overthinking. Stop pretending you’re full. Order now. Your inbox can wait. Your stomach can’t. Your taste buds already have a toga on and are ready to dance.