Cancel

    Open app

    Search

    Ayola - New Montgomery

    3.8 (698 reviews)
    ModerateGreek, Mediterranean
    Closed 10:00 am - 3:00 pm

    Order Ayola - New Montgomery Takeout or Delivery

    Ayola - New Montgomery Photos

    Business Info

    AYOLA - NEW MONTGOMERY ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Casual
    Dogs allowed
    Good for kids

    You might also consider

    More like Ayola - New Montgomery

    Recommended Reviews - Ayola - New Montgomery

    Your trust is our priority, so businesses can't pay to alter or remove their reviews. Learn more about reviews.
    Yelp app icon
    Browse more easily on the app
    Review Feed Illustration

    Reviews With Photos

    The fries is on point but I haven't try the gyro yet. I got a 9" but it's not 9". False advertisement!
    Jenny J.

    I can only comment on the food since it was for Togo and I didn't pick it up. We ordered a beef/lamb and chicken shawarma wrap/gyro. My co-worker said it was okay but we both agreed that the chicken shawarma one was bland. I lost my appetite while eating it. It was super saucy too so it keeps on dripping sauce onto my pants and just everywhere. They have 7inches and 9inches. So we paid $2 more for the 9 inches and it wasn't 9". I felt like I got ripped off. I love Mediterranean foods so this one is disappointing. This also happens during dream force week so i don't know if that plays a part in the food quality. But the FRENCH FRIES are on point!!! Very crispy on the outside and soft on the inside! I'll go back for their French fries. Pls add me if you like my vibe!

    Falafel Bowl
    Elizabeth L.

    Food comes out quick, maybe less than 5 minutes. There's not much seating inside, but you can bring it over to any of the nearby parks like Salesforce or Yerba Buena. I ordered the falafel rice bowl which was around 15$. The rice and falafels were dry, and the salad was really watery. The tzatziki really only tasted like yogurt which, I get that its the main ingredient, but nothing else really came through. Overall was bland until you added the spicy sauce - it was honestly a godsend that made the food palpable. Good portion though.

    Menu
    Fred L.

    Took a colleague here for lunch and I am happy to say that their Gyro's are still great as is their customer service. This time I got the 9inch lamb/beef gyro and the garlic fries. I typically get the 7inch one but I was really hungry but I ended up not being able to finish it. So be aware that the 9 inch version is a lot of food. The garlic fries were really great. If you like it spicy and want an extra kick (like me), grab some of the hot sauce on the counter on your way out. This primarily is a take-out joint so don't come here expecting to sit down. I still highly recommend Ayola.

    Yummy falafel. Not dry
    Elaine S.

    Great lunch spot in downtown sf with lots of healthy options. I usually get either the Troy salad, or a platter. I'm leaning towards platter now since you get slightly less lettuce if you pick the green salad as an option but lots of other stuff added. So total amount of food is better for the price imo. Don't skip the fries. Idk how they do it but they're fluffy inside, crispy outside and super seasoned. I had. A bad batch once where they were kinda soggy n not seasoned, but that might've been an off day. I love coming here when I want something healthy and light but not a full blown salad. Their falafels are super light and crunchy!! I'm used to them being hockey pucks but the outside is thin and crispy and inside wasn't dry at all. Highly recommend. Eggplant salad was ok. A little mushy but it was fine. Perhaps a tad of lemon juice would help. My bf always gets the gyro wraps

    Lunch time
    Carla D.

    Super hungry, but not really wanting to walk far to grab lunch in between sessions, so I opted for Ayola. It's a take out place, and clearly they're experts on being super efficient when it comes to getting those on their lunch hour in and out. They have salads, pitas, and a few starters on their menu. I opted to get a chicken gyro and spanakopita (which came with a side of tzatziki). For a gyro, spanakopita, and a can of soda, it came to $15 and change. I won't fault the establishment for this, but prices in San Francisco are super expensive. After about five minutes of waiting, my lunch was done and I headed to the office to eat outside. I dug into my chicken gyro and it was good, not the best I've ever had, but not the worst. I will say that I wasn't super impressed with the tzatziki. It was definitely missing something. Maybe it was a lack of garlic or the sauce not tasting super tangy. Whatever the reason, it wasn't memorable. I bit into the spanakopita and it was good. The phyllo was crispy and the spinach/feta mixture was good. Pros: -Ease and efficiency of the line -Gyro was ok -Spanakopita was good Cons: -Tzatziki sauce was missing something Tips: I should have gotten a piece of baklava.

    Liz B.

    Great and very convenient lunch spot! I'm a fan of Greek food so I thought why not check them out. Friendly cashier and a clear, big menu up above. Pretty inexpensive and a short wait. It's a very small shop so try to get there just before the lunch rush or prepare to get up close and personal with other hungry customers. I got the falafel sandwich and a side of fries. Good portion size, enough for leftovers. Not bad! They have some type of sauce on the counter for you to take. I recommend grabbing some because my stuff wasn't that flavorful. I'd go back and maybe try the gyros, (singular, pronounced YEE-ros, and yes they have a button at the counter to educate you).

    Great place for quick takeout!
    Vignesh B.

    I always get the falafel pita sandwich and it's fantastic! It's a super efficient takeout place with solid Mediterranean food. They're quick and the guy at the counter is super nice. It's my go to place when I have to grab a quick lunch and go back. My only minor pain is that the sandwiches are sometimes messy to eat (because it's a pita wrap basically that can make some of the stuffing to come out) but I can live with that. Totally recommend it!!

    7" chicken gyro
    Nicola B.

    I was passing by and noticed their sandwich board which makes a bold claim: "the best fries in town". That's one way to get me in the door! It's a small spot, takeout only. They're super efficient, you can tell they've got their routine down. I ordered a 7" chicken gyro with fries and was out the door with my food in 3 minutes flat. I took my spoils over to Yerba Buena Park to eat, just a few minutes' walk away. This is up there as one of the best gyros I've had. The pita is super soft, only a little floury, nice texture without being difficult to bite into. The chicken is well marinated and super flavourful. I do wish there'd been a little more of it, but there was plenty for my appetite. Plenty of salad too: fresh lettuce, tomatoes and a little onion. The tzatziki was delicious, flavourful and bright, the perfect addition of creaminess. The fries! We are beginning from a big superlative here but I will hand it to them, these are excellent fries. Crispy on the outside, fluffy on the inside, nicely seasoned with salt and pepper so they're ready to eat, no sauce necessary. I jammed a few in my sandwich too - excellent. I kept eating long after I was full. A fantastic lunch.

    4-Item Make Your Own Combo Platter: Pita, Tabouleh Salad, Falafel, Tzatziki, Hummus ($12), add Chicken Breast (+$3.35)
    Elena N.

    Got our office lunch on Friday, September 30th from Ayola. It arrived via Forkable around 12 noon. 4-Item Make Your Own Combo Platter ($12): Served with pita and your choice of dishes *Item 1: Tabouleh Salad *Item 2: Falafel *Item 3: Tzatziki *Item 4: Hummus *Add: Chicken Breast (+$3.35) I love variety, so this was perfect for me. I enjoyed the hummus. It was creamy and flavorful. The tabouleh was also good. Gave everything I ate with it a nice texture and freshness. The chicken was okay. Not much flavor. I found it kind of bland. You definitely need to add hummus and hot sauce to it. The falafel was all right as well. Crispy on the outside, but I found this bland too. And it was a little too dense for me. I gave my coworker one and he seemed to like it though. The tzatziki was the most disappointing. It didn't have that tart flavor I love. It was more reminiscent of a creamy mayo, which I found it a little odd. Overall, Ayola was okay. I'm glad I was able to try a variety of things, but I think there are better options for Mediterranean in the area.

    Combo platter $12 so tasty
    Kristin E.

    The food is absolutely delicious here. Take a look at my picture and see what you can get for 12 bucks. It has a variety of flavors sweet spicy sour everything is so so good. I absolutely recommend coming here.

    9-inch Lamb & Beef Gyros Sandwich with Fries
    Ed U.

    One good thing about working in the FiDi during the week between Christmas and New Year's Day - in fact, the only good thing about working that week - is being able to go to some of the nearby spots that otherwise have long queues during the regular lunch hour. That finally gave me an excuse to try Ayola next to the Pac Bell building on New Montgomery. It's such a tiny place that I didn't think it could possibly be worth the wait. But this week, I simply walked in, ordered and even sat down at the one and only table to eat it because no one else came in. I had the 9-inch Lamb & Beef Gyros Sandwich for $7.35 (see photo). While I'm not preoccupied with size except when I'm looking in the rear view mirror where objects appear larger than they appear, I figured the dollar premium was worth the extra two inches. It was quite tasty with the pita quite thick and soft, the tzatziki sauce refreshing, and the meat flavorful enough even if I couldn't tell the beef from the lamb. For another $2.50, you can get a can of soda and a bag of fries. I'm not sure why they give you so many fries, piping hot and very thick, but if you need your starch, by all means, go for it. Now I know Sunrise Deli and now Gyro King are nearby, but I think Ayola is a worthy cure for my Zorba-like, plate-smashing urges. FOOD - 4 stars...a fine gyros, nothing fancy in the fixings AMBIANCE - 2.5 stars...it's a closet, isn't it? SERVICE - 3 stars...transactional but with a smile TOTAL - 4 stars...ooompah!

    Combo plate
    Linda K.

    Seeked out Ayola for a Wednesday lunch with some old buddies and found the small joint packed with people. Once you walk in, the people behind the register are not afraid to command for the next person to spit out their order and pay immediately. The man asked me what I wanted and I glanced at the board and reported the first one I saw - the Combo Platter. After I paid, I walked away and thought, damn! I want the Gyro platter! Oh well, next time! Either way, the reviews for Ayola are not a joke! They are very fast and very efficient. There are no names that are being called, just the number. So don't walk outside after you order and don't put the ticket in your pocket, once they call you, they expect you there. If you're not there, they will begin to question their slips and you see their tense faces become annoyed. Since there were no seating here, the buddies and I decided to visit a POPOS on 2nd and Market. Yes, this is a private owned public place for you to sit and enjoy lunch with your friends! The combo platter came with four sections. Salad with cheese and tomatoes, the fried vegetarian balls, and two sections of hummus. They were all delicious and the fried balls were 10xs better after sinking it into the hummus. I wish that I could have easy access Ayola all the time! But at least they're quick, so I can get to and from my work place and still have time to slowly enjoy my food!

    Lamb Gyros Bowl - decent but not to rave about

    See all

    4 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    10 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 1

    3 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 3
    Oh no 0

    5 months ago

    The nicest people and the best gyro I've had. Don't skip the fries for harissa. The best

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 4
    Thanks 1
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    5 years ago

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 0
    Love this 3
    Oh no 0

    7 years ago

    Helpful 10
    Thanks 0
    Love this 8
    Oh no 0

    4 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 1
    Photo of Liz B.
    227
    610
    1608

    8 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 8
    Oh no 0

    7 years ago

    Helpful 17
    Thanks 0
    Love this 16
    Oh no 0

    8 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    5 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    7 years ago

    Helpful 20
    Thanks 0
    Love this 14
    Oh no 0

    10 years ago

    Helpful 24
    Thanks 0
    Love this 20
    Oh no 0

    8 years ago

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    7 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    8 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    15 years ago

    Helpful 8
    Thanks 0
    Love this 9
    Oh no 0

    10 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Niina G.
    28
    199
    140

    7 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    8 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    8 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Nique F.
    4734
    1413
    4013

    9 years ago

    Helpful 20
    Thanks 0
    Love this 15
    Oh no 0

    10 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    8 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    7 years ago

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Antonio H.
    181
    62
    10

    8 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    8 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    7 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    7 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    7 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    9 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    9 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    9 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 3
    Oh no 0

    10 years ago

    Helpful 5
    Thanks 0
    Love this 6
    Oh no 0

    10 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    Page 1 of 18

    Ayola - New Montgomery Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - Ayola - New Montgomery

    Is this place halal?

    Only the chicken gyros or chicken shawarma

    Are your falafels vegan?

    Our falafels pitas and other orders are vegan friendly! Just make sure to say you don't want the tzatziki sauce on any falafel order. The tahini sauce is made from sesame seeds but the tzatziki is made with yogurt and is not vegan friendly. Hope… 

    Don’t See Your Question? Ask Away!

    You might also consider

    Beit Rima

    Beit Rima

    4.5
    (1k reviews)
    2.0 mi
    $$

    Overall really good Mediterranean food - I came to try Beit Rima after hearing great reviews from…read morefriends and loved how flavorful and generous the portions are. My friend and I got the fattoush salad to share along with the Chicken Shish Tawook plate and Musakhan for entrees. The salad was a nice fresh start and the charred dates added a nice sweetness. Loved the juicy chicken kebobs with a side of their delicious hummus. The musakhan had to be my favorite bite though, the chicken is so tender and flavorful and goes really well with the toasted pita. I would come back just for this dish alone! It's a counter-order restaurant which i didn't expect but it makes it a super quick sit-down restaurant to stop at and I loved sitting on their outdoor patio considering it was a nice sunny SF Sunday!

    I'd give this place about 3.5 stars. The food was good, but…read moreI've definitely had better elsewhere. I ordered the chicken and beef kabob plate, and while the meat was flavorful, I wish they included more hummus. At around $25- $30 per plate, I expected a more generous portion. I ordered takeout and arrived about an hour later because the app never updated to show my order was ready. Surprisingly, the restaurant wasn't very busy, and they didn't start preparing my food until I got there. I mentioned that I had placed the order an hour earlier and expected it to be ready, but the server seemed to brush off my concern, which was disappointing. One highlight was the hot sauce. I'm not sure if it's house-made or not, but it's so good. The pita, however, was a letdown. I prefer my pita soft, fluffy, and warm, but this one was hard and grainy. Overall, it's a cute restaurant with decent food, but it isn't my top choice.

    Photos
    Dining area
    Dining area
    Chicken Shish Tawook Plate
    Chicken Shish Tawook Plate
    Inside

    See all

    Inside
    La Mediterranee

    La Mediterranee

    4.2
    (1.9k reviews)
    1.8 mi
    $$

    La Méditerranée is a true gem in San Francisco. From the moment you walk in, you're greeted with a…read morewarm, welcoming, family-style atmosphere that immediately makes you feel at home. Service attentive and friendly, adding to the overall experience. The food is excellent, with rich, authentic Armenian and Mediterranean flavors. A standout is the Armenian coffee--strong, rich, aromatic, and perfectly prepared with mini bakhlava. It's the perfect way to end a meal. A place of both comfort and quality.

    This place is fantastic! It's cozy (but not loud or cramped) and the food is varied and delicious…read more My recent trip included a sampling plate of all 4 fillo offerings (the cheese karni and the Levantine meat tart were the best), Armenian potato salad, lemon chicken rice soup, and the saffron chicken kebab over rice pilaf (dinner special of the night). The kebabs were made with chicken breast, but very tender and moist, and the side of hummus was fresh, creamy and delicious. We also tried the sangria which was great- not too sweet and decently strong (not watered down bad wine). For dessert, the lemon cake was tasty but odd that dried cranberries were sprinkled into the whipped cream. I appreciated the variety offered on the menu- not just typical Greek food you find everywhere else that touts "Mediterranean food". The service was super nice and efficient, and I like that it has been family owned and run (sadly an increasingly rare San Francisco characteristic these days)- you can tell the difference in the quality and thought put into the experience.

    Photos
    La Mediterranee
    Falafel Plate
    Falafel Plate
    Armenian coffee and Mini Baklava Bites (2 Piece)

    See all

    Armenian coffee and Mini Baklava Bites (2 Piece)
    Old Jerusalem Restaurant

    Old Jerusalem Restaurant

    4.2
    (1.3k reviews)
    2.8 mi
    $$
    Family-owned & operated
    Outdoor seating

    Old Jerusalem is so yummy! Our eyes were differently bigger than our stomachs. We ordered the…read moreStuffed Falafel, Mosabaha, Meat Combo, Mousakhan, and Kunafa. There was complimentary bread which was insanely good and fluffy and warm plus tahini and an onion tomato sauce I think along with radishes and olives. We are not olive ppl sadly but I tried one and it was pretty okay. The service was great and all the servers were super attentive and accommodating. The Stuffed falafel was so good and huge 1 is enough for 2 people. The mosabaha was very refreshing and so good. The meat combo was good overall and everything was very herbally spiced, I wasn't impressed by the lamb tho but the kebab, hummus, and chicken were great! I haven't had Mousakhan before so not sure how it should taste but to me it was sweet and savory with really well cooked chicken. I honestly felt pretty healthy overall cause I was eating hella veggies and everything tasted so fresh. The kunafa was good we got it crispy and was yummy imo but was a lil oily (I think this is normal tho). Arab food isn't really spicy but it is spiced and very herbal which I felt in the food here, I appreciate that chili sauce is provided for the spice lovers. Overall, would highly recommend. It was about $100ish for everything and they recently increased their prices but tbh the portion sizes are huge and I feel like it is so worth it we had hella leftovers. If we had 4 ppl instead of 2 it would've been perfect portions for everyone.

    We've come across and heard about Old Jerusalem before and felt like having middle eastern food…read moretonight, so we took a chance and tried them out. When we arrived at around 7:30 pm, there were tables available. It's a comfortable cafe-like restaurant with mural paintings on the wall. Service was friendly and helpful. Unfortunately, the food wasn't as good as the ambiance and waitstaff. ***OUR PICKS*** BEEF SHAWERMA ENTREE ~ the beef was overly salted, saffron rice was ok, hummus was really thick, like peanut butter. My guy ordered this and thought it was average. 3/5 LAMB SHISH KEBAB WRAP ~ this was my dish. I ate one half of the wrap and it only held two cubes of lamb meat. The lettuce and tomatoes made the wrap bland. The meat was seasoned, but everything was plain, so it needed more seasoning. Honestly, this was missing flavor! I'll have to add something to it when I eat the rest of this wrap at home. 2.5/5 HALF ROASTED CHICKEN AND RICE ~ Our friend ordered this dish. It needed more sumac. This tasted like plain roasted chicken. Maybe it needs more seasoning while marinating. It wasn't dry, so that's a relief. Rice was ok and it wasn't dry or soggy. 3.5 We've been spoiled and have had better food in San Francisco and the Bay Area. Nothing stood out for any of us. Prices are a bit high for what you get. Sadly, probably won't be back.

    Photos
    Mansaf
    Mansaf
    Lamb Chops
    Lamb Chops
    Shish Taouk Plate

    See all

    Shish Taouk Plate
    Truly Mediterranean

    Truly Mediterranean

    4.1
    (1.5k reviews)
    1.9 mi
    $$

    Set your expectations right and this place is close to perfect: it's a small counter spot near 16th…read moreSt BART, mostly takeout, a few stools inside and a couple of tables out front. It is not a sit-down restaurant and doesn't pretend to be. What it is, is consistently excellent food at prices that still make sense in a city where that's getting rare. We're regulars, and we usually go on Sunday evenings after my girlfriend gets off work. Falafel wrap and chicken shawarma are our usual order -- the falafel has that crisp-shell, tender-middle thing going, and the wraps are generously built. We've branched out plenty and everything we've tried has been good. The other reason we keep showing up is the people. Turna usually takes our order, and she is genuinely lovely -- friendly in a way that isn't a customer-service script. My girlfriend and I always walk out in a better mood than we walked in with, which is worth a lot. Practical notes: halal, lots of vegetarian and vegan-friendly options, open until midnight Fri/Sat, and they cater. Grab some napkins if you're eating the wrap on the move -- it's a big one, and that's a compliment.

    Solid Mediterranean spot. The meat tastes fresh, and you can actually see it being prepped when you…read moreorder, which is always a good sign. I'm a big fan of the chicken shawarma--it's really flavorful and hits the spot when it's done right. That said, on a couple of my previous orders the meat was a bit on the dry side, but I still find myself coming back because when it's on point, it's really good. Staff is friendly, and most of the time you can stand on their ledges to eat or sit outside. There were 2 small tables that seat 2-3 per table. Pro tip: ask for the tahini and hot sauce on the side and load it into your wrap--it takes it up a notch.

    Photos
    Truly Mediterranean
    Falafel
    Falafel
    DELUXE LAMB SHAWARMA WRAP

    See all

    DELUXE LAMB SHAWARMA WRAP
    Kokkari Estiatorio

    Kokkari Estiatorio

    4.4
    (5.6k reviews)
    0.7 mi
    $$$$

    Visiting Kokkari Estiatorio had been on my restaurant bucket list for years, and when it was my…read moreturn to choose a spot for our celebratory team lunch, no one was opposed to dining at Kokkari Estiatorio. I booked our table about a month in advance, which turned out to be the right move because the restaurant was bustling during the lunch hour. To start, we ordered four small plates to share among our party of four: meatballs, saganaki, spanakotiropita, and a pair of dips (melitzanosolata and favasalata) with pita. Everything was excellent, and our spread was inclusive of a wide variety of flavors and textures: salty, creamy, acidic, sweet, crunchy. The meatballs and the dips are definitely a must-order and are ideal for sharing. The spanakotiropita were larger and more filling than expected, so if I were to order those again, I'd dial it back and stick with small plates rather than a full-sized entree. The saganaki was a showstopper; it is served sizzling and crackling on a cast iron dish and had a nice salty flavor that allowed the cheese to be served on its own. For my main dish, I ordered the braised goat - which is not something I'd typically order because goat meat is usually tough - but I was intrigued how it was prepared as a stew. The dish almost reminded me of a Moroccan tagine - the goat was braised to peak tenderness and bathed in a slightly fruity and well-spiced sauce; dotted with pieces of melted feta; and served on top of a bed of baked orzo, which was served fresh-from-the oven in a mini cast iron dish. I was so full after our meal that I had to walk it off for a few blocks, but I cannot wait for our next special occasion so we can come back and celebrate with another feast at Kokkari Estiatorio.

    I was so happy to return here after like 12 years! I love their lamb chops, salads, desserts and…read moreappetizers. Yes, it's a somewhat expensive dining experience but you are paying for top notch service and great quality food. I am not talking about these cheap midnight specials in Las Vegas. This is type of food where you take your time eating to savor your food to taste the silky texture of the meat or let the sauce soak into the octopus appetizer to soften it and tastes good. I would have ordered a salad but with the health scare of salads recall made me hesitant to order any, although the specials sounded great! You can still cannot go wrong as every dish was great experience and great execution. Love the melted cheeses in appetizer and custard in dessert with pistachio ice cream! The meats really shined as we asked for medium rare and both steak and lamb chops cooked perfectly. Would I go back? , oh yeah and splurge on this place for sure. It just felt special to me. That flourless cake by kitchen I was debating should I take the whole thing and run? lol Restroom is a maze I do must say as you take an elevator one level down.

    Photos
    Inside with roasting lamb in the back
    Inside with roasting lamb in the back
    Grilled sea bass, deboned with head and tail removed
    Grilled sea bass, deboned with head and tail removed
    Kotopoulo Souvlaki/Chicken Souvlaki

    See all

    Kotopoulo Souvlaki/Chicken Souvlaki
    Souvla

    Souvla

    4.1
    (1.9k reviews)
    1.5 mi
    $$

    This place is so reliable. Good service up front. You can order and eat inside or in their cute…read morebackyard. They keep the options limited but you can mix and match your style. It's a pick your protein and pick your style. I usually get the chicken wrap. But occasionally get the salad with chicken. Their hot sauce is delicious too! We often grab it to go and eat it up the hill in Alamo Square for a lunch with a great view on a nice day. Souvla offers very tasty food with good ingredients prepared faithfully time after time. It's an easy go-to choice for me and my wife on a sunny weekend day.

    This place you can eat here or order to-go and pick up at their pickup window. The only saving…read moregrace of this place is the food comes fast. We ordered the Chicken Sandwich, Lamb Sandwich, Greek Fries, Juicy Potatoes, and Baklava Crumbles & Syrup. The Chicken Sandwich was very mediocre since it was pretty much just Shredded Chicken with Veggies and the Pita Bread, which also was a weird texture and meh in flavor. The Lamb Sandwich was was also very meh. The Lamb itself was on the tough side of life and this didn't really have any flavor to it besides the taste of Feta Cheese. The Greek Fries were the best thing and those were also pretty okay. They were nice and crispy but that was all. The Juicy Potatoes were indeed juicy, but that was really it. The problem was that they didn't have any flavor. The Baklava Crumbles and Syrup was okay. The Frozen Yogurt was okay and the Baklava that went with it was very meh in terms of taste and texture. This was definitely the worst Baklava tasting thing that I have tasted before and wish that there was the Pilo Dough to give it some texture instead of being mushy. Overall, very mediocre in taste and overpriced in terms of taste.

    Photos
    The inside of the restaurant.
    The inside of the restaurant.
    Plain Frozen Greek Yogurt
    Plain Frozen Greek Yogurt
    Greek beer

    See all

    Greek beer
    Mezze and Mooore

    Mezze and Mooore

    4.7
    (313 reviews)
    1.9 mi
    $$

    I'm generally pretty indifferent about mediterranean food, but this place really impressed me!…read more Every dish I tried had amazing flavors, and everything was prepared perfectly. We started off with the hummus and the moussaka (eggplant and tomato sauce). The hummus was pretty standard, but still great, and the moussaka was SO delicious. This was definitely the standout dish to me, and I'd hiiiighly recommend it. For mains, I was doing Meatless Monday, so I got the super falafel wrap. This wrap was also sooo delicious and massive! The falafel was really flavorful, and all the toppings and tahini sauce were just perfect additions. The restaurant itself is really pleasant and bright, great for pretty much any occasion. Service was also good (you order via QR code, but they bring the food out to you) and prices are reasonable given the quality and portion size. Definitely a new fav spot in SF!

    After reading all the glowing Yelp reviews, I walked into Mezze & Mooore on a Monday night…read moreexpecting a five-star experience. The food was delivered. The service apparently called out sick. Let's start with the good news: the food was genuinely delicious. Everything tasted fresh and thoughtfully prepared. The mint lemonade was bright and refreshing. The chicken skewers were flavorful and perfectly cooked (though surprisingly small). The halumi salad with eggplant was a generous portion. Now for the "Mooore" part. I was hoping the restaurant's name was also a mission statement. However, we could have used more attentive service. More follow-through. More toilet paper... Unfortunately, once we were seated, we were essentially released into the wild. Ordering is done by scanning a QR code, which is perfectly fine in theory. In practice, it felt like sending requests into the void. A drink I ordered never appeared. Nobody checked on the table, so I had to get up and walk to the counter to ask about it. Later, I had to make another trip to remind them we had ordered dessert. Then another trip when we wanted a to-go box. Apparently, the evening's theme was "interactive dining," where the guests perform most of the customer service duties themselves. Tips are forced when you first order online - no refunds on that. The bathroom offered its own adventure. The trash bin was overflowing with dirty paper towels, and there was little to no toilet paper available. As the daughter of a health inspector, knowing that staff use the same facility, I would have given this a poor hygiene grade. What made the experience frustrating was that the food was good enough to make you want to come back. But when your guests spend half the meal looking for someone to help them, it takes away from what could have been a 'more' pleasant evening.

    Photos
    Interior looking at counter
    Interior looking at counter
    Bread @colorful.eats
    Bread @colorful.eats
    Chicken Shawarma @colorful.eats

    See all

    Chicken Shawarma @colorful.eats
    Bursa

    Bursa

    4.3
    (1.1k reviews)
    4.9 mi
    $$

    Oh my god what a taste ! Now I know that Bursa is one of the best Mediterranean restaurants in San…read moreFrancisco! The food is absolutely amazing--every dish is fresh, flavorful, and prepared with great attention to detail. You can really taste the quality of the ingredients. The staff is incredibly friendly, welcoming, and attentive, making the entire dining experience enjoyable from start to finish. The restaurant is also spotless, with a clean, comfortable atmosphere that makes you want to come back again. If you're looking for authentic Mediterranean cuisine, outstanding service, and a warm, inviting environment, Bursa is a must-visit. Highly recommended!

    Does a 40min wait justify the top tier food of Bursa? Yes, so make sure to bring a ton of…read moreconversational topics to talk about or you'll be sitting on your hands for a hot minute. I arrived around 5:45PM and they had a few spots open. They have a good amount of tables, and the interior decor makes the entire spot feel elevated. I placed my order around 6PM and received my food around 6:40PM. I ordered a falafel appetizer and paired it with a Mixed Grill Kebab and a Beyti. The falafel was really crunchy and flavorful, and overall tasted freshly made. The Beyti was a more riskier dish we ordered, as we aren't as familiar with Mediterranean cuisine. It's basically the meat from the Kofte Kebab wrapped in a bread, with seasoned yogurt as dipping sauce. Since we were familiar with the Kofte taste, this dish was a good twist on the flavor and I would definitely recommend it, especially as a shareable plate! The Mixed Grill Kebeb took the show, because how can a chicken breast be so juicy? We ordered this one to taste all this establishment had to offer, and the chicken was arguably better than the lamb. The chicken breast was super juicy and flavorful, but the lamb felt a little under-seasoned and could've used a little bit more salt. Not a big fan of the gamey taste of lamb, but the lamb chop here had very little - to a point where it tasted GOOD. The seasoning they use is magical, and the hints of cumin mask the taste exceptionally well. Did I mention big portions and good service? I love how this place diverges from the small SF portions and gives you a fulfilling meal with leftovers if needed. We are so accustomed to not taking home leftovers when I remember getting leftovers everytime pre covid! Bursa is an amazing place to take the parents, the inlaws, or even visiting friends to experience one of the many pockets of SF's vibrant districts while getting yummy food without paying tech bro prices. I look forward to coming back, but wish I didn't exhaust all my conversation topics before finishing my meal.

    Photos
    Inside - Valentine's Day decorations
    Inside - Valentine's Day decorations
    Falafel Salad
    Falafel Salad
    View of Interior of the restaurant

    See all

    View of Interior of the restaurant

    Ayola - New Montgomery - greek - Updated August 2026

    Loading...
    Loading...
    Loading...