Humility, trust and mutual respect. These are just a few of the key ingredients that allow husband-and-wife of 31 years, Christos and Tracy Konahos, to work together as they make magic in the kitchens of their four restaurants at the Ballito Lifestyle Centre.

Operating partners of Attikos Mediterranean Grill and Yori Oki Sushi and Grill at Eat Street, and owners of Mia Coquina and Bite the Bao at The Market, Christos and Tracy have built a strong reputation on the North Coast as hardworking, dedicated restaurateurs with high standards.
The phenomenal successes of these restaurants are a testament to their incredible teamwork and strong bond.

Born to Greek parents in Potchefstroom, Christos and his family moved to Johannesburg where he studied marketing after school before entering the corporate world. 

Tracy was born in Zimbabwe and lived in Umhlanga for a few years before moving to Johannesburg where she spent most of her childhood. She worked in the corporate world for several years, stepping away to start her own business when her son was a baby. She and Christos have been together since they were 21 years old.

The couple have two children – a daughter, Amber (30) and a son, Alexi (24). Their decision to step away from their corporate jobs in Johannesburg and start their own procurement business was driven by a desire to be more available for their children. Family is everything to them.
As the years passed, Tracy and Christos found their way into the restaurant industry. “Food has always been a big part of our lives,” says Christos. “We love food and cooking, and we are both self-taught.

Christos met Bruce Rencken six years ago and Attikos Mediterranean Grill was conceptualised and launched. An authentic Greek eatery with a casual, contemporary and elegant Mediterranean look and feel, the restaurant was an instant success. However, just two months after they opened COVID arrived.

“It was a difficult time – as it was for everyone – but we managed to survive and feel fortunate to be here today,” he says. 

In 2022, they opened a second restaurant, called Yori Oki. “Opening a Japanese fusion restaurant, with sushi and grilled food, had been in our minds for many years,” says Tracy, who had been planning and cooking many of the dishes that are now on the Yori Oki menu before it opened. This small, intimate restaurant features a beautifully designed space in which to indulge in the flavour, perfection and precision of Japan, on both a sensory and culinary level. Again, it was a success from the get-go.

In November 2023 Christos and Tracy opened Mia Coquina at The Market, serving delicious breakfasts, lunches and dinners (and amazing baked treats which Tracy takes great pride in producing), and they recently created Bite the Bao where they serve Asian-inspired street food, including dumplings, potstickers, wontons and homemade boba teas. “It’s a little store but it packs a big flavour punch and adds variety to the options available at The Market,” says Christos.

Despite running four very different establishments, the couple attributes their success not only to how their food is made but also to how they run each restaurant. “We make everything ourselves – from the bread and the mayonnaise to the dim sum and Teriyaki sauce – nothing comes out of a bottle,” says Tracy.

It also has a lot to do with their ability to work as a team. “This is a hard industry, but I believe working with your partner makes it easier. Your spouse is the person you should be able to trust and rely on most in the world. We each have our strengths and weaknesses, and we complement each other. I love working with my wife because women have different ways of doing things and can often find solutions that we can’t,” says Christos.

Asked what they get up to when they aren’t at work, Christos and Tracy say they enjoy spending time at home, sleeping, cooking, chatting and spending time with their children and grandchildren.

“We don’t go out much, because of our industry, so quiet family time is very important to us,” says Christos.

So, who cooks at home? “My wife makes the most amazing food. I don’t cook as well as her, but I don’t tell other people that,” laughs Christos.