Kiki's
Greek restaurant · Chinatown ·
Saganaki, lamb chops, octopus, and carafes of house wine.
Saganaki, lamb chops, octopus, and carafes of house wine.
"If you’re looking for this restaurant by reading the words printed on the awnings of Division Street, you’ll need to know Cantonese: “Kiki’s Greek Tavern” is written only in Chinese characters. Olive green doors and stone walls on the eatery’s interior are a better tell, and are touches that suit the Mediterranean cuisine of Kiki’s well. The restaurant’s Greek cuisine is straightforward and delicious, so whether you order seafood, lamb, or salad, you really can’t go wrong. Passersby Dasha Faires, Caitlin McMullen, and Kristi Garced are all frequent patrons." - Passerbuys
"In the short but extremely well-documented evolution of Dimes Square, there are the newcomers (Casino, Le Dive) and the classics (Dimes, Kiki’s). And long after people have moved on to create a new “microneighborhood” elsewhere, Kiki’s will still be here: the perfect fried cheese and tzatziki-eating destination before a night out on the Lower East Side. This Greek spot is cavernous, just the right level of loud, and it upholds the age-old tradition of serving house wine. On a weekend night, there’s going to be a line out the door, and an hour wait at the very least. Put your name down and go grab a $16 glass of skin contact wine at Le Dive first—it’ll make the liter of house red at Kiki’s taste even better." - willa moore, sonal shah, bryan kim, will hartman
"Usually, people don’t go to Kiki’s to be alone. People go to this Greek spot on the Lower East Side to bathe in house wine, and share a meat platter with 15 of their closest friends. But what about on an evening when you'd just like to eat saganaki smothered in honey all by yourself? You go early. You go before the regular suspects have even eaten breakfast. Kiki's is walk-in only, so there's no advanced planning required. Keep it in mind the next time you leave work and realize you'd like a greek salad and lemony grilled octopus, without a side of scene. Get a table by the window, for some Dimes Square people-watching at a safe and solitary distance." - will hartman, willa moore, neha talreja
"Kiki’s has some of the best people-watching on the LES, and it also has solid, straightforward Greek food. Come with a date or a group, share some octopus and pork chops, and definitely explore the sub-$30 carafes of house wines. There'll be a wait when you stop by, but just kill some time at one of the million bars within walking distance. That's what they're there for." - team infatuation
"Yes, this little Greek spot is still packed every night, and contrary to what some people on TikTok might say, it doesn’t “suck now.” Is it the best Greek food in New York City? No. But you can get pretty good little lamb chops for under $30 and a carafe of wine for $27, and more importantly, try out a slightly off-the-walls outfit. Know that they don’t take reservations, so you will have to wait for a table, and that once you get in, it will be filled with packs of shrieking patrons having sooooo much fun." - carina finn koeppicus, bryan kim, hannah albertine, will hartman