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    Ayola

    4.0 (313 reviews)
    InexpensiveGreek, Mediterranean, Salad
    Open 10:00 am - 3:00 pm

    Order Ayola Takeout or Delivery

    Ayola Photos

    Business Info

    AYOLA ATMOSPHERE

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

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    Recommended Reviews - Ayola

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    Reviews With Photos

    Fries and gyro 14" sandwich
    Kenneth C.

    This was one of my favorite lunch spots when I went into the city for work. It's in a crowded street so I can imagine it would be difficult to find parking if you're driving. I always walked from my office so it's never an issue. The cashier is always friendly with customers. There's a couple tables in the restaurant. It's really catered for takeout orders during the lunch rush. Which is great because the food always comes out quick! My go-to order is a large gyro wrap and french fries. The french fries are superb. The best texture and taste. The gyro wrap is also great. It's extremely filling. I usually eat 3/4 of it on a day when I'm hungry. There's also a hot sauce that's self-serve by the door. I always grab it so I can smother my fries and wrap for extra flavor.

    Gyro
    Nicola B.

    The perfect gyro! I've eaten here a few times now and it's quickly become a go-to when I'm in town. It's (relatively) cheap and (extremely) cheerful, just a great lunch. I prefer the chicken gyro, 7" will do you, it's tender and delicious and the salad toppings are really fresh. I love how they prepare the pita too, it's the perfect thickness and nicely grilled. This most recent visit, they didn't have chicken which was a shame, but the lamb and beef gyro is great too. Sometimes I find red meat too heavy but it wasn't greasy and it was just as well seasoned as the chicken. Their sign about having the best fries in town was what got me in the door, out of sheer curiosity. Well, I'm here to tell you that I haven't tried many fries in town but I've tried MANY fries in the world, and theirs are fantastic. Lightly seasoned, fresh and crispy, and fluffy in the middle. They know what they're doing here and it's consistent.

    Great food! Chicken shawarma
    Michael Angelo R.

    I love the chicken shawarma bowl. The service was quick. People are friendly. The food tastes fresh. Perfect for lunch!

    Falafel with a side of crispy, salted fries. Those are half of the fries, delicious!
    B K.

    I was craving a falafel, so of course as I'm on Kearny St. there's a popular falafel place next to Ayola. I passed it up for Ayola because you can get the best French fries here w your falafel. I got mine crispy & salted, DELICIOUS! Sababa doesn't have fries, and is expensive. Just look at the small falafel and half my fries. So good! Can't wait to go back.

    Menu - As of 1/19/2022
    Shannon P.

    Looking for a healthier lunch option? Ayola is a solid spot in FiDi. Quick service. Simple menu. Also most items come with complimentary pita bread

    Baklava
    Amy L.

    I did not like my chicken gyro at all.. maybe it's the fact that I don't know what authentic chicken gyro should taste but I didn't like that my chicken tasted rubbery and it didn't taste like real chicken. It tasted like it was made of soy chicken but it definitely didn't have the consistency of real chicken that I would expect to taste. The gyro also felt like it wasn't saucy enough nor did it have any type of unique taste or kick to it even though I did lather hot sauce on it. I'm used to the gyro being warm (or at least the meat being warm) but this gyro was completely cold and just didn't fulfill my expectations. My friend got fries wirh his order of gyro and I thought the fries were delicious and well seasoned so that was one plus. There is a free baklava if you check in! I don't think I will be coming back again but if I do, I would want to try their falafel!

    Gyros Pita Sandwich
    Alexandra D.

    This place always hit the spot! The fries are amazing so so crispy on the outside and delicious. I always get the gyro as the meat is juicy and flavorful and the pita pillowy soft. I placed a large order for the office and they labeled and packaged everything very well. I was extremely satisfied. I also got to speak with the owner as I claimed my free baklava from Yelp checkin and he was very sweet and helpful. Definitely recommend this place.

    Montage #1 of images from Ayola on Kearny Street
    Ed U.

    I'd make a terrible Greek. I can't dance, even if Anthony Quinn was holding onto my shoulder as he kicked up his heels on a beach in Crete. My everyday plates are Corelle, so they bounce when you try to smash them. Nope, I'd make a lousy Greek, which may mean you have to take my review of Ayola with a grain of salt or maybe a grain of orzo. But hey, I'm a big fan of the one on New Montgomery where they do something nearly magical with their fries, so I'm not sure why this one doesn't make me want to go "Ooom-pah!" Part of it, I have to admit, is location, as this Ayola stands in the shadow of Baladie on the same block where their gyros wraps are outstanding as you gaze at the mural of Petra. Here you just gaze at the condiment stand. On my first visit, I went for what I knew best, the $7.95 Lamb & Beef Gyros, the nine-incher as we say in the trade (..I have no idea what trade I'm taking about) with a splooge of tzatziki sauce (photo: http://bit.ly/1COyXgo). It was certainly big enough with a decent amount of meat shaved from the spit (presumably), but the pita wrap was crusty to the point of jaw-tiring. What's more, the fries were dry like Sahara-dry (photo: http://bit.ly/1CcfJMh). Needless to say, I was not all that motivated to come back until recently when I had a hankering for some Greek eats for lunch but wanted to be a bit more mindful of the calorie count. This time I ordered the $8.75 Neptune Salad described as a "Greek salad with tuna". Well, not quite but it was still pretty good. It was actually a pile of chopped Romaine with a few tomato wedges and even fewer Kalamata olives thrown in. On top was this mass of tuna that looked like it came from a can. Not that I'm complaining as I eat canned tuna voluntarily, but I had no idea Charlie the Tuna even knew the God of the Seas. Anyway, their special house dressing was on the side as were a couple of grilled pita wedges (photo: http://bit.ly/16Nld7Q). And halelujah, the fries were almost back to their magical form - hot, lightly crisped and oh-so plentiful (photo: http://bit.ly/16Nll7a). It was enough for me to reconsider the gyros at some point when I can afford the carbs. In the meantime, I sat up in the balcony where they set up a counter for diners to have a panoramic view of the first floor. It's the nearest I'm getting to a vacation for the next couple of months. FOOD - 3 stars...kinda hit-and-miss with their gyros and fries but the salad is pretty decent AMBIANCE - 3 stars...small space, not that comfortable but the view from the balcony is just...oh who am I kidding? SERVICE - 3 stars...order and pick up, no big whoop TOTAL - 3 stars...will Anthony Quinn ask me to dance?

    Lamb and beef meat in a gyros!
    Tiffany D.

    Lamb and beef meat all in one gyros was so yummy! It's my first time that I have a mix of lamb and beef meat mixed together and in a gyros! That yogurt in the gyros was at a good, tasty amount and add that hot sauce they provide on the side, then the combination is perfection! I literally devoured the gyros in 10 minutes. The cashier thought that I was rushing and told me to take my time, but I was eating it voraciously not only because it was way past my lunch hour, (it was 3:30 for my lunch break) it was also too delicious to put the gyros down, but in my mouth! Their meat had flavor and it wasn't dry. Of course, the hot sauce and yogurt sauce helped superbly! The pita bread was toasted to a warm crisp! Adequate seating with a mini, upstair seating area! Pondering on what to get for lunch? Their gyros is better than your average sandwich shop!

    9 inches
    Sandy B.

    Staff was super nice and friendly. Food came super fast after I ordered. Ordered 2 9" inches for 3 people to share. $8 dollars for the 9" and 7 for the 7" with fries and drink is additional $3 dollars. The fries are a must get, super yummy! Also I love their hot sauce. I can dip that in anything. I really like the **Gyros Pita. It's made with Lamb and beef with tzatziki sauce. And comes with With lettuce, tomatoes, cucumbers and red onions. Very tasty. **Chicken Gyros Pita Sandwich with herbs and tzatziki sauce. I didn't think it was as flavorful. I think it was lacking Tzatziki Sauce in the chicken.

    Gyro Pita
    Adam B.

    A satisfying gyro option in the FiDi. The gyro meat and tzatziki are quite rich compared to the omnipresent cold cut sandwiches nearby. Gyro Pita: The pita tastes very fresh; it is thin and chewy. Much better than those puffy pitas from the grocery store. The gyro meat was thinly shaved, though not particular crispy. I imagine they have such high turnover that it doesn't get much of a chance to sear on the spit. Still quite tasty though. The tzatziki was creamy and delicious. A bit too much romaine lettuce; I had to sweep half of it off. Falafel: Perfectly crispy on the outside then firm and grainy on the inside. It was a tad dryer than I like, but still enjoyable. Fries: Medium thickness. Not a limp fry in the batch. What really made these was dipping them in the smoky hot sauce instead of regular ketchup.

    Sparta salad (greek salad with chicken) and fresh pita! It was very hot when i got it!
    Sky S.

    I don't know why I've never tried this Greek restaurant before. But I tried it twice this past week. I tried the gyros platter salad and the falafel. The portions are quite generous. The gyros meat is tasty and the salad tasted great. I couldn't finish, had to save the falafel for snacking on later! :) My second visit, I had the sparta salad--the chicken was just ok, the spices on it were great but it was a bit dry. I would stick with the gyros meats/dishes if I go again. I would recommend and I think the prices are fair for the amount of food (and the area).

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    4 months ago

    I've been going to both locations for years. Friendly service, great food. Possibly the best French fries in SF

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    2 years ago

    The food was amazing and the staff were very polite. Definitely recommend. Nice inside also.

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    Ayola Reviews in Other Languages

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    RT Rotisserie - Fat Rice; half Rotisserie Chicken

    RT Rotisserie

    4.2(884 reviews)
    1.4 miHayes Valley
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    Order their Rotisserie chicken! It's a waste to order anything else because that's their specialty…read moreand it's just so good. I came with a group of 7, and they were able to seat us pretty quickly. We ordered: A whole rotisserie chicken, the RTR Rice Bowl, the Chicken soup, the fried chicken sandwich, the seared broccoli, the rotisserie fat rice, and the shredded cabbage & almond. Best Dishes: The Rotisserie chicken and the Shredded cabbage & almond. The rotisserie chicken skin is really crispy and delicious, we were all fighting over who gets to eat the skin. The chicken is so juicy, it's really the best rotisserie chicken I've had. We understand why this place is so well regarded. The shredded cabbage is definitely the best side and we should've gotten another order, as we quickly finished ours and were basically licking the bowl clean. Worst: The rotisserie fat rice and the chicken soup. The rice was basically untouched and none of us wanted to eat it. It's ok, just falls short compared to the other sides. The soup was also ok, it's just a huge bowl and it felt like a waste stuffing ourselves with that when there were other better dishes. The rice bowl was pretty good, and is really good value. It's yummy and a good meal for 12.50. It's a very casual place, you order at the cashier and find a table and seat yourself there. Great for a quick lunch.

    Giving this a solid 3.5 stars (but I'll round it up for Yelp purposes) hehe…read more The atmosphere is nice and cozy but man does it get packed quickly! The service was quick and kind. Never a moment where old dishes or cups were sitting on the table. To eat, my friend and I had the sweet potato, baked potato, quarter chicken (dark meat), artichoke, brussel sprouts, and the sorbet : ) 1. Sweet potato was sweet and flavorful 2. Baked potato was good but needed extra salt or butter to really jazz it up. 3. Quarter chicken was sooo juicy and flavorful 4. Artichoke needed some level of salt to even out the heavy lemon but well cooked nonetheless 5. Brussel sprouts were flawless 6. The sorbet is amazing! It's how I expect strawberry ice cream to taste but lighter and fresher. Overall, would I come back? Absolutely Would I recommend it to a friend? Already done lol

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    Inside View of Restaurant

    RT Rotisserie - RTR Salad $10.50 + Chicken $4.25; iced tea $4.00

    RTR Salad $10.50 + Chicken $4.25; iced tea $4.00

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    Roasted Cauliflower $9.50

    MIXT - Sanoma Salad

    MIXT

    3.5(287 reviews)
    2.4 miMission
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    I came in specifically for the seasonal items and let me tell you... mission fully accomplished…read more My two picks were the Sonoma Salad and the Bangkok Bowl, and WOW -- both delivered in totally different (but equally amazing) ways. If you're craving something refreshing, light, and fruity, the Sonoma is a must. The pears take it to the next level and give it that perfect sweet, crisp bite that makes every forkful feel extra refreshing. It's the kind of bowl you order when you want to feel bright and satisfied. Now if you're in the mood for something warm, crunchy, and nutty, the Bangkok Bowl is your girl. The texture, the richness, the cozy vibes -- chef's kiss. It's hearty without being heavy and hits all the comfort-food notes. And can we talk about portions?! These bowls are NO joke. I swear I made a huge dent in mine, looked down thinking I was almost done... only to realize I basically still had a whole second meal left. Instant take-home win. On top of all that, the staff is super friendly, the space is clean, bright, and welcoming, and the whole experience just feels good from start to finish. I came for the seasonal menu but I'll definitely be back for everything else too. If you're debating what to order: Sonoma for fresh + fruity, Bangkok for warm + crunchy -- you truly can't go wrong!

    Came to the viral sensation of eating healthy at this location and boy it was very tasty ... fresh…read moresustainable ingredients... warm or cold do your your way .. or their way ... either way your won't be disappointed.... Warm and inviting in the heart of Sf ... staff and management are very welcoming .. my guy who did my version of a Greek salad did not disappoint... 10/10 ... very spacious location too for one or for a small party .. come and try Mixt .. where bold flavors awaits to meet you pallet .

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    Blue Barn

    Blue Barn

    3.8(77 reviews)
    3.1 miCole Valley

    Because of the girth of their abundant salads, the Blue Barn on Polk provided me salvation during…read morethe pandemic on more than one occasion. Sure, their price point was on the high side, but even a cursory review of the ingredients made me recognize the focus on quality was not a one-off. Riding the N-Judah MUNI line westward, I passed by this particular location often and stopped by for a quick lunch. I must've forgotten how big their salads were because I was overwhelmed by the size of the bowl for the $19.95 Thai Chicken Salad. It was quite a fresh and satisfying mix between the thin slices of chili-lime Mary's chicken, carrot, snow peas, cabbage, scallion, herb mix, peanuts, sesame seeds, crispy wonton strips, and house romaine, all tossed with peanut-sambal dressing (Photo 10). I couldn't finish it, not even close. Further illustrating my lack of common sense, I ordered the $4.25 side of French Fries which came piled in a slightly smaller bowl (Photo 9). They were tasty but a lot. I ate upstairs where I found myself in solitude. They had takeout boxes next to the utensils, so I ended up packing away most of the food in two containers. They kindly gave me a bag on the way out. FOOD - 4 stars...hefty portions of fresh ingredients AMBIANCE - 4 stars...the privacy of the second floor was nice SERVICE - 4.5 stars...friendly and attentive TOTAL - 4 stars...abundance thy name is Blue Barn RELATED - Exploring the Sunset? Here's a collection of places I've visited and reviewed: https://yelp.to/LgUQWjvgIW

    First time having their BLT and loved! The addition of goat cheese and the basil aioli really…read moreelevates the simpleness of this sandwich. Love their salads as well. $30 for a salad is a bit steep though. This is once you add protein but it's still. Portion size is quite big so there's that.

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    Inside

    Ayola - greek - Updated June 2026

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