"Chrisostomos Orfanoudakis cooks Sfakian lamb in a wood oven for about €35 - a 13-time Greek Cuisine Award winner worth the harbour walk."
About Chrisostomos
Chrisostomos Orfanoudakis grew up in Sfakia, the mountainous south of Crete where his father bred livestock, and he cooks from his mother's recipes rather than a culinary-school playbook. His restaurant sits at the corner of Defkalionos and Ikarou by the eastern moat, a short walk from the Venetian harbour, and it has built a reputation as one of the most decorated traditional kitchens in Chania. It is a 13-time winner of the Greek Cuisine Award and took the FNL Best Restaurant Awards in 2023 and 2024.
The Kitchen
The kitchen runs on a wood-fired oven, and that oven sets the menu. The standout is lamb tsigariasto, tender pieces slow-cooked in their own juices in a clay pot in the southern Cretan style; alongside it sit goat tsigariasto with staka, lamb ofto, and mutton wrapped in paper and baked until it falls off the bone. Bitter stamnagathi greens, hand-kneaded bread from the oven and Sfakian olive oil round out a card that reads like a map of the island's south. Most main dishes land around €12 to €18, and a full meal with starters runs roughly €30 to €35 a head.
Orfanoudakis sources much of what he cooks from Sfakia, where he was raised, so the meat and the greens carry a clear provenance rather than a generic taverna label. The cooking is unembellished on purpose: the point is the quality of the raw material and the patience of the oven, not plating. That focus is what the awards keep recognising, and it is why the room outperforms the harbour-front tavernas that trade on location alone.
The Room
Chrisostomos is a warm, traditional room near the water, lit softly and dressed without fuss, where the noise rises pleasantly when it fills with families and groups. Tables are close enough to feel lively but service stays friendly and quick, and there is no dress code beyond holiday-smart. Portions are generous and shared easily, which makes it as natural for a table of friends as for two. Booking by phone is wise in high season, when the harbour district fills and the oven tables go first.
Best for an Authentic Cretan Night
Choose Chrisostomos for a relaxed, atmospheric dinner that still delivers serious cooking, whether that is a first dinner on holiday or a celebration with a group. Three things make it work: the wood-oven lamb and goat are the real southern-Cretan article rather than tourist taverna fare; the value is striking at roughly €35 a head; and the harbour-adjacent setting carries the evening without you paying a view premium. Big shared plates suit a table of friends. For more of the island, see our Chania dining guide and nearby Heraklion.
Not for
Not for anyone after refined plating or a quiet tasting menu: this is hearty, rustic Cretan cooking in big portions, the room gets loud when full, and the wood oven sets the pace, not the diner.
Frequently Asked
Is Chrisostomos worth it?
Yes, and it is a standout for traditional Cretan cooking in Chania. The kitchen has won the Greek Cuisine Award 13 times and the FNL Best Restaurant Awards in 2023 and 2024, which is unusual recognition for a taverna. At about €30 to €35 a head for wood-oven lamb and goat sourced from Sfakia, the value is excellent. Go hungry, order the lamb tsigariasto, and book by phone in summer. See more Chania tables.
How hard is it to book Chrisostomos?
Not difficult outside peak season, but worth a call in July and August. The restaurant sits near the busy Venetian harbour, so summer evenings fill with holidaymakers and the wood-oven dishes can sell through. Phone ahead on +30 28210 57035 for a weekend or a larger group, and arrive earlier rather than later if you have not reserved. In spring and autumn a walk-in is usually fine, even at prime times.
What is the dress code at Chrisostomos?
There is no formal dress code. This is a traditional Cretan taverna near the harbour, so holiday-smart or simple casual is exactly right, and nobody dresses up. Comfort matters more than formality here, especially given the generous, shared style of the food. Come as you would to any relaxed Mediterranean dinner and focus on the menu rather than the wardrobe.
What does a meal at Chrisostomos cost?
Plan for roughly €30 to €35 per person for a full meal with starters, a main and a drink. Most main dishes sit around €12 to €18, with the wood-oven lamb and goat at the upper end and meze and greens filling out the table. Portions are large and meant to be shared, so a group often spends less per head than the menu suggests. It is strong value for the quality and the recognition.
What should I order at Chrisostomos?
Start with the lamb tsigariasto, the southern-Cretan dish of lamb slow-cooked in its own juices in a clay pot, which is the kitchen's signature. Add goat tsigariasto with staka, lamb ofto, or the mutton baked in paper, and order the bitter stamnagathi greens and the wood-oven bread alongside. Finish with whatever the kitchen is baking that night. The Sfakian sourcing is the thread that ties the menu together.
Reserve a Table
Reserve at Chrisostomos
Phone · +30 28210 57035
Affiliate disclosure: Restaurants for Kings may earn a commission when you book through our reservation links, at no cost to you. Our scores are editorial and never paid for.
Practical Information
AddressDefkalionos & Ikarou, Anatoliki Tafros, Chania 731 00
NeighbourhoodEastern moat, near the Venetian harbour
CuisineTraditional Cretan (Sfakian)
Average spendabout €30–35 per person
Dress CodeHoliday-smart, no rules
ReservationPhone · advised in summer
Recognition13x Greek Cuisine Award · FNL 2023 & 2024
