We say "kataifi" and you say "yum." We say "moussaka" and you cheer "delicious."
We "feta fries" and you ask "where, when, how much do they cost, can I eat them on my own, should I share them, do I have to share them, and how long after I finish will I want a second order?"
Granted, that's a lot to say in one run-on breath, but the LA Greek Fest can have that sort of eat-happy, highly understandable effect on fry-loving, feta-fancying revelers.
We mean, feta fries. Who wouldn't, is our question.
Of course, well-made food isn't the only feature of the hugely attended festival, which is in its 19th year in 2017, but you can bet that many of the 20,000 people who show up are seeking a plate of spanokopita, or some tiropita, or another phyllo-tastic meal, the kind of delicacy that seems even more flavorful when enjoyed at a festival.
The party, which is an open-air affair at Saint Sophia Cathedral in the Byzantine-Latino Quarter, is five bucks to enter each day, and if you just come for the entertainment, and not the vittles, you'll find plenty to watch, from bouzouki player Alex Galas and the Omega Band to the Saint Sophia Dancers.
And are there Greek dancing workshops? The kind that will give you helpful pointers on when to move and where? That's right, you, out there dancing among other jubilant strangers? You bet there are: That's one of the smile-summoning staples of this come-together festival.
The Scene
Want to find new things to do in Los Angeles? The Scene's lifestyle stories have you covered. Here's your go-to source on where the fun is across SoCal and for the weekend.
But if you're simply there for a licorice-deep taste of ouzo, or a rich Greek coffee, or to try every hearty dish you can, from pastitso to feta fries, that's a perfect reason to attend, too, even if you stay firmly in your seat while dancers frolic nearby.
The convivial nature of the festival reaches all. Dance your way to Pico and Normandie, or simply drive as you think about baklava and feta fries, and find your place at the big party through Sunday, Oct. 8.
