Taste Atlas: The World’s Best Salad Is Greek – And It’s Not the One You Think

Move over, Greek salad—there’s a new champion in town. According to the latest Taste Atlas rankings, the title of best salad in the world goes to Dakos, the beloved Cretan specialty. And that’s not all—Greek cuisine claims both the first and second spots on the global list.

The Taste Atlas list of the Top 50 Salads in the World features four Greek entries, with two more making appearances further down the rankings.

Here’s how Greek salads ranked:

• Dakos – 1st place

• Horiatiki (Greek salad) – 2nd place

• Boiled greens (Horta) – 27th place

• Potato salad – 40th place

• Beet salad – 63rd place

• Tuna salad – 70th place

According to Taste Atlas, Dakos is:

“A traditional Cretan dish made with dried barley rusks topped with crumbled mizithra cheese, chopped ripe tomatoes, whole olives, capers, fresh oregano, and generous drizzles of high-quality olive oil. The rusk is often gently rubbed with garlic and sprinkled with sea salt. It’s typically served as a meze or a light dinner.”

The Top 10 Salads in the World, according to Taste Atlas:

1. Dakos – Greece

2. Horiatiki (Greek Salad) – Greece

3. Houria – Tunisia

4. Caprese – Italy

5. Fattoush – Lebanon

6. Shopska – Bulgaria

7. Pecel – Indonesia

8. Smacked Cucumber – Tibet

9. Piyaz – Turkey

10. Mechouia – Tunisia

Greece’s culinary influence continues to shine on the international stage, proving once again that when it comes to flavor, simplicity, and freshness, few do it better. And while the classic horiatiki remains a global favorite, it's the rustic charm of Dakos that has captured hearts—and appetites—around the world.