Greek Food Bazaar - Reading

The City of Reading is located on the ancestral home of the Lenape people.

Dining room filled with circular tables with white tablecloths, nearly every table filled with people at the Greek Food Bazaar in Reading, PA.

In Pennsylvania, we don’t just eat. We celebrate food. From giant street fairs to small gatherings, there’s a good chance you’ll find a food festival happening on any given PA weekend.

Where we live in Berks County, we’ve got events celebrating hamburgers, soup, and French fries. It’s also home to one of the longest-running celebrations of Greek culture in the Commonwealth.

For 55 years, Sts. Constantine & Helen Greek Orthodox Church in Reading has been hosting the annual Greek Food Bazaar. The event is a three-day celebration of Greek culture held each October.

tent filled with vendors selling trinkets and candy.

The Bazaar spreads out throughout the church building and its various classrooms and social areas. A temporary tent not only marks the entrance but is also home to multiple vendors and limited seating.

table covered with a white tablecloth with a yellow floral centerpiece from the Greek Food Bazaar in Reading, PA.

But the main dining area is the social hall inside. Large white streamers hang above the rows of round tables with black tablecloths. At the front of the room is a stage and small dance floor. We missed out on the live music this year; instead, a DJ played Greek pop music for all those enjoying their dinners.

styrofoam plate with half a chicken, a helping of pasta, and a side of green beans from the Greek Food Bazaar in Reading, PA.

The main dining area is also where you’ll find fish and chicken dinners, each served with a choice of pastitsio, rice pilaf, and green beans with a side salad and dinner roll. That’s not a bad value for $15.

The chicken is excellent, and they don’t skimp on the portions with guests getting half chicken with every order. The pastitsio with its bechamel sauce is delicious, and even the rice and green beans exceed expectations.

Inside the Taverna, guests will find even more dinner options, including moussaka (eggplant and potatoes), spanakopita, stuffed grape leaves, and more. I’ve tried nearly every item on the menu over the years, and I usually gravitate back to the moussaka.

Gyro in aluminum foil next to a styrofoam clamshell filled with fries from the Greek Food Bazaar in Reading, PA.

But this year, I went for a gyro. There is a whole team of men and women gathered around a table in the kitchen as they assemble the pita, meat, and vegetables into the traditional Greek street food.

The same $15 gets a gyro with a side of fries and a drink. Our seven-year-old called the fries the best around, and I have to admit, they are addictive. They’re generously seasoned with salt, pepper, garlic powder, and oregano.

rows of cylindrical pastries drizzled in chocolate from the Greek Food Bazaar in Reading, PA.

Make sure to save room for dessert, though. The bakers are busy in the weeks leading up the festival, churning out thousands of cookies, bread loaves, and other baked goods. The baklava is the best around.

styrofoam container with six donut holes rolled in honey and almonds.

Of course you can take those home with you, but you’ll want to enjoy the loukoumathes fresh. Loukoumathes, or honey balls, are fried donut holes covered in honey and almond pieces. It’s not something I’ve found at restaurants or bakeries nearby so it’s a must-have every year.

Wall filled with frames with four to six photos in each frame at Sts. Constantine & Helen Church in Reading, PA.

Other rooms in the church are filled with vendors selling jewelry, artwork, books, and other gifts. There’s also a room dedicated to the history of the church. The walls are lined with frames filled with black-and-white photos with displays of artifacts from the church’s past.

Room full of people sitting at round tables watching children dance in traditional Greek garb.

The future of the church was also on display during our visit. The children’s dance group came out as we were getting ready to leave, and the young boys and girls showed off traditional dances as they twirled around to the delight of everyone in the main dining room.

With free admission, solid entertainment, and reasonable food prices, we have made the Greek Food Bazaar an annual tradition in our family.

When You Go

Sts. Constantine & Helen church is located at 1001 E. Wyomissing Blvd in Reading, PA.
The church parking lot fills up quickly, but there is on-street parking plus additional parking across the street at Berks Catholic High School.
If you go at peak times – especially the dinner rush – expect long lines. Though the lines move efficiently, it can still take 10-15 minutes to get through the longest lines.
Tables also fill up quickly in the main dining room. Extra tables in the tent are usually the last to fill up, but you won’t have the music and entertainment.
The church also offers a drive-through option: order ahead online and pick up at the front door.