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Ayola #2
Categories: Restaurants Greek Restaurants Mediterranean Greek, Mediterranean [Edit]
327 Kearny St(between Bush St & Pine St)
San Francisco, CA 94108
Neighborhood: Financial District
(415) 391-1154
- Hours:
Mon-Fri 11 am - 5 pm
Sat 11 am - 3 pm
- Good for Groups:
- No
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Attire:
- Casual
- Price Range:
-
$
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Takes Reservations:
- No
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- No
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Good For:
- Lunch
- Alcohol:
- No
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Ambience:
- Casual
- Has TV:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
About This Business:
Specializing in Middle Eastern dishes and family recipe's from the kitchen of the Der Bedrossian family for more than 30 years. Try our Chicken… read more »
161 reviews for Ayola #2
Review Highlights
161 reviews in English
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Review from Amy Z.
San Francisco, CA
1/28/2012
I've been on a Mediterranean kick lately (probably because I'm planning a trip to Morocco) so I've been craving hummus, salad, and lamb. Sorry Mary.
Huge portions at fair prices and the service is always really quick. Each meal that I've had has been fresh and tasty. I've turned a few of my co-workers on to the place, and their experiences have been the same.
Added bonus is that the staff is really pleasant too! -
Review from Wendy L.
Berkeley, CA
1/25/2012
REALLY YUMMY FRIES!! thick and steak cut, seasoned with lots of salt. Definitely my style. However, I recommend skipping the ketchup and getting plenty of the spicy red sauce for dipping.
I tried the gyros sandwich, and enjoyed it about as much as I've ever enjoyed Mediterranean food. The gyros was moist and flavorful, and the bread was toasty and warm. I also ended up pouring a bunch of the red sauce on my sandwich.
Service was really fast and friendly, and since it's about one block away from my workplace, I will be returning soon. -
Review from Mariam H.
San Francisco, CA
9/2/2011
I've eaten here a few times now for lunch time.
The combo is a good deal in the area Shawarma + Soda+ fries for about 10 bucks.
Chicken shawarma was juicy and the bread was soft. I drenched mine with the spicy sauce. Owner was polite and kindly answered my questions on what was halal on the menu. Appreciated that. -
Review from James C.
San Francisco, CA
1/20/2012
The lamb and beef gyros here are money! Definitely get a ton of that red sauce that they have too as it really adds a nice kick. It's not very spicy but it's very tomato-y and really delicious.
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Review from David W.
12/9/2011
This is the typical kind of food you'd expect from a Mediterranean food place, but what differentiates them is the DELICIOUS red spicy sauce they've got sitting out. If you like spice, you will want to be dousing every bite of your falafel/shawarma/gyros in this. Every. Bite.
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Review from Richa A.
11/30/2011
I had the macedonian chicken salad and it wasn't great -- the apple pieces did not feel fresh and the feta was part of the dressing, not really a substantial amount. So maybe don't come here for the salads.
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Review from Margot K.
San Francisco, CA
12/6/2011
I was a big fan of the first location when I worked over by New Montgomery and I was thrilled to find the second location close to my current office! Ayola is great and affordable making it my #1 go to lunch spot. I love their Lamb Gyro, it is the perfect amount of meat, a soft delicious pita and fresh lettuce, tomato and cucumber and tasty Tzatziki sauce. The salads are also awesome and come with warm pita. There are tons of great lunch spots on this street but somehow I always end up at Ayola #2!
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Review from John R.
7/19/2011
It's noon...I'm starving...I work near here...
7 inch Chicken Gyro (with herbs and tzatziki sauce) for $6.95. Add fries and a 12 oz. can of soda to any sandwich for $2.50. I usually split the fries with other people and I usually opt for the sparkling water. Judge away.
Hunger problem solved. And a delicious solution for sure.
It's a pretty short story. Next review will have aliens and a comedic chain smoking Dachsund, I promise (can't promise). -
Review from Lucy D.
San Francisco, CA
7/20/2011
My friend and I both got the 7" gyro w/ the fries and drink and that came out to be just under $10 per person. The gyro tasted like another other gyro but the fries were delicious. They were crispy and not overly seasoned. We sat upstairs and someone brought us our food 5 minutes after we ordered. The people who work here are really nice!
We came just before noon to beat the lunch rush but there wasn't much a rush as we ate. There was a line of about 6 people at some point that cleared up quickly. Needless to say, if you want to get food fast, this is definitely a great option. Simple food place in the financial district without a ridiculous price. -
Review from Elaine C.
San Francisco, CA
7/12/2011
Soo, I tried the Chicken Gyros for the first time today. I like the Falafel Sammich more. Falafels and tahini sauce are amazing. Moist, crunchy, flavorful, etc. Words cannot explain the mouthgasm I have at this place.
Also, there's friendly service and good food. The Financial District can get really hectic during lunch hours, so fast service is a requirement. Ayola #2 has been my favorite stop for a filling lunch so far.
Fries are really tasty here. I don't know why, but it's seriously good. The value deal ($2.25 for a soda and fries) on top of whatever you're getting is a great value, considering fries alone are $2.00.
Also, I like eating at the counter upstairs. Fun and convenient for people watching. The tables on the first floor are very close to each other. Very close. Be aware of that. -
Review from Umilia M.
San Francisco, CA
5/14/2011
I came here for lunch the other day, and I'm definitely a fan.
I had the chicken schwarma, it was full of moist chicken breast, and a tasty sauce. The fries were crispy with a little bit of spiciness. Our food came out really fast, and the staff was friendly.
We ate at the counter in the upstairs area (which I don't recommend if you're inclined to vertigo), and it was light, airy and clean. There are also a few small tables outside, great for people-watching. -
Review from Julie F.
9/21/2011 7 Check-ins Here
I've been craving Ayola since I went to the first location a few weeks ago. #2 is closer to my work so stopped in for the gyro combo (9inch) with fries and a soda. Glad the consistency of the food - same as location #1! Fries are bomb!
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Review from H. D.
San Francisco, CA
6/22/2011 2 Check-ins Here
I love WFH days just coz I love the lively spirit in the financial district. This place had good reviews over the other Greek place next door so we believed in our fellow yelpers and walked in.
Service is excellent as I changed my order while the server was already bringing my order out. Owner smiled and changed it with no fuss. Lamb/beef shawerma was great. I loved how it wasn't in typical lavash bread. Bread was crunchy, spicy sauce was flavorful.
ps. Chicken shish is halal for all good Muslim folks. -
Review from Rachel G.
New York, NY
6/16/2011
Tried Ayola today for the first time. I went for a falafel pita and added chicken so that I could try both. The verdict?
Falafel: 4/5
Certainly not the best falafel I have had (that honor is reserved for East Side Pocket in Providence, RI) but it was quite tasty and well-prepared.
Chicken: 3/5
The chicken was nice and moist, but did not taste like it had been seasoned at all. I wouldn't order it again. Maybe the shawarma meats are better.
Other considerations:
Good: the lettuce and tomatoes were fresh and the sauces were pretty standard/good. There was no line when I went at 11:50am on a Thursday.
Bad: my goal was to have a half-chicken, half-falafel pita, but I was told the only way to have both was to order a falafel pocket and add chicken for $2.00. Fine. But, I am fairly certain the result was that I got fewer falafel pieces so that the chicken could fit into the wrap, while being charged for the full number of falafel PLUS the additional chicken. I say this because the pita was by no means bulging, and if the standard 7 inch pita contains only the three falafels I received, then it would be pretty limp. This was not a huge issue, but enough to make me feel like I was getting slightly ripped off, and enough to bump an otherwise "good value" lunch into something I'd think hard about ordering again.
I'll go ahead and give this 4 stars, but 3.5 is probably more accurate. -
Review from Andy D.
Alamo, CA
8/17/2011
Gyro is awesome. Red sauce makes it even better. Fresh, simple, you can tell what the ingredients are. Crazy fast to go orders at lunch time.
Only thing that could be improved is a new credit card machine that doesn't require signatures under $20. -
Review from Brad Y.
3/31/2011 3 Check-ins Here
PRETTTTTTTTY damn good!
Decent prices is what I'm mainly concerned about - you can get an entire meal (Gyro, Fries, and 12 oz. Soda) for less that $10! The bread was warm and flaky, the meat was tender and juicy..Take the food to go and eat it outside on a bright, sunny day. You can't go wrong! -
Review from Bruno C.
Berkeley, CA
11/9/2011
I come here at least once a week, look at the menu as if I don't know what to get, and order the gyro sandwich. I don't think I've tried anything else. It's simply great, and it's ready in 30 seconds if there is no line. With the red spicy sauce it's even better.
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Review from Sus.annah B.
San Francisco, CA
2/15/2011
Hmmm, I have been here before after all - seems I tried this place before trying Baladie, probably on a Saturday. I guess that's why Baladie looked so different all the times I'd been here since, heh.
I went there (again?) on a Saturday and here's what I think of this place versus Baladie:
Price: Ayola, but not by much, not enough to make a difference - besides, see "size..."
Gyro, Size: Baladie, with their burrito-sized (and wrapped) versions.
Gyro, Bread: A tie - Ayola's more traditional-style bread is flavorful but there's a little too much of it, while Baladie's lavash-wrap-to-filling ratio is far more favorable (and still quite good).
Gyro, Quality: Ayola, by a hair.
Gyro, Taste: Baladie by several hairs, the meat has a little more flavor, there's more onion and they'll make it spicy. I do appreciate Ayola's tendency not to overdo it with the sauces though, unlike Baladie at times.
Fries: Another tie - Ayola's fries are more like Belgian frites and hold up better than Baladie's, while Baladie is more of a semi-shoestring variety with a lot more spice. Were it not for the spices, Ayola would win out here, but both styles have their merits.
Dolmas: Baladie - haven't tried the ones at Ayola yet, but for $3.75 for 4 of them, I'm not in a hurry and Baladie will do just fine.
Hours: During the week, Baladie is open when I get off work, while Ayola closes at 5 so, yeah, Baladie for sure.
Overall, Baladie wins out, but Ayola has a lot to offer also. If Baladie took Ayola's meat, used slightly less sauce and adopted Ayola's fries but kept the spices, I think I'd have a nearly perfect gyro meal (the perfect one being my first from somewhere in Sepulveda over 20 years ago, and maybe the one I had in SOMA some drunken evening that I need to find again to verify its worthiness).
I'm sure I'll find myself here on some random Saturday again between 11 and 3.Listed in: Union Square-ish - Not Just…
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Review from Don W.
Oakland, CA
3/8/2011
All I've had at Ayola is the lamb and beef gyros/fries combo (many, many times!) They cut their gyros straight off the spit, the way it's supposed to be prepared, unlike some other places I've been to in SF that sell that weak ass pre-packaged/cut junk. Sacrilege! It's always tasty, served hot, and you're never left waiting long for your order, which is key at a place that serves the lunchtime crowd.
The fries are pretty much run of the mill, but they do have a somewhat strange, yet satisfying crunchy texture on the outside, while still being soft and moist on the inside. And that crunchy/moist contrast is the basis for a good fry. They could have a smidge more flavor, though, as they're a bit on the bland side. But then, you can't always have it all. :)
If you're in the mood for a hot tasty gyros combo, served quickly at a standard downtown SF lunch price of $7-$10, you should definitely check this place out. -
Review from Angel S.
Long Island, NY
Ayola was quite the pleasant surprise. Maybe it helped that I wasn't expecting much, but what I got for a very reasonable price was a deliciously rich and flavorful chicken shawarma filled with tender and juicy chicken, even better than the one from Oasis (which was also good). My colleague also raved about the lamb gyro as well. This is definitely one of the better lunch options in the FiDi.
Whatever you order, make sure to take advantage of the turkish hot sauce, some seriously good stuff.
The place is small and unassuming, not the type of place one would expect to be good, especially since the neighboring places (except Muracci's) are mediocre. I see myself not just coming back, but likely being a regular.Listed in: TOP 10 FIDI LUNCH SPOTS
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Review from Jon H.
San Francisco, CA
8/5/2011
I'm not sure what everybody is talking about when they had the most amazing gyros here. What the heck are you comparing to? I had the 7-inch gyros ($6.25) and the meat was cold, bland and dry. Maybe it was just a bad batch? Thankfully they had hot sauce on the takeout table which helped add flavor to it. The only redeeming thing was the additional $2.50 for the fries + soda can. The fries were thick-cut with a slight crisp on the outside (but not thick like a potato wedge). It tastes good because it was heavily salted. The fries itself combined were larger than the gyro and was what made the meal filling. Skip the gyro, go for the fries.
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Review from Eve O.
Oakland, CA
12/3/2010
Are you like, freaking starving? Tired of Caesar, mall crowds, walking all the way down to Whole Foods, and/or being all proud of yourself for eating just veggies at lunch then inevitably launching into outright starvation right around two o'clock, left to surreptitiously plunder the dregs of the mornings donuts, slicing off one quarter at a time as though by having stuffed yourself with 6 boston cremes in 25% increments you've negated the catastrophic caloric intake now swimming around your guts and mitigated the outright mayhem about to decend upon your bowels?
Do you have $8 dollars? Well then good, because Ayola has a solution: gyros patter. Yeah dude. You'll leave fortified, happy, and full of chickpeas. GLORY.
Wait. Want bread? Sumac deficient? SCHWARMA - ACTIVATE.Listed in: Lunchtime Demands Vegetables
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Review from linda t.
8/18/2011
The Gyro is delicious, the fries are to die for, and the spicy sauce is scary addictive. I love this place, the owners are super cool, and they are the fastest folks EVER when it comes to getting you your order. I also come here w/ my co-workers and we walk in around 15-20 at a time, and we're all out within like 5-10 minutes with our food in hand (INCREDIBLE!). Overall, AWESOME -- and great value for the price!
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Review from Emily C.
Daly City, CA
11/17/2011
Oh man, gyros and shawarmas make me giddy with joy. I was so excited when I found out that this place was only a block away from my office. I ordered the chicken gyro combo meal, which came with an order of fries and a drink of my choice (for an additional $2.25). The total price ended up around 8 to 9 dollars. Very fast and friendly service, which is always nice. The fries? Delicious! One of the best fries I've ever had. It was crispy with a small kick of spice. The chicken gyro was good, but I was slightly disappointed how the chicken was only lukewarm. I think it could have also used a little bit more flavoring... I don't know, something about it was a bit too bland. To compensate for that, I slathered it with the spicy sauce that they provide you on the side. The spicy sauce was GOOD. I can drink it straight out of a cup if I could. (Well, not really, but you get the point...) I will be back. I think next time I will try the shawarma and see if it will be more flavorful.
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Review from Adrienne g.
San Francisco, CA
8/31/2010
The 2 words that best describe Ayola? 1) Crunchy 2) Lots
Thick, chewy Pita
LOTS of fresh CRUNCHY lettuce
TONS ( another word for lots ) of flavorful hummus
CRUNCHY (on the outside) falafel patties that were heavy, dense, & packed full ( aka LOTS ) of flavor. LOTS of patties in the sandwich so you get a bit of falafel in each bite
And what goes better w/ my fried chickpea patties? Fried potatoes!
Super CRUNCHY-on-the-outside-soft-on-the-inside fries! Loaded w/ LOTS of salt & pepper - these things are phenomenal! They must flash fry these things - there are CRUNCHY blisters all over these fries - absolutely deeeeelish!
ADD more spicy sauce on the side to make it LOTS - this is 1 of my fav falafels! Hands down!Listed in: F-A-LAF-ELS Rock!
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Review from Jennifer D.
San Francisco, CA
3/8/2011
Delicious!
I ordered the lamb and beef gyro and it was pure goodness! Not dry and theres a tub of extra hot sauce to go. My co-worker bought hummus and it was so so so good with Costco pita chips. You can order the 5 or 7 inch gyro. I ordered the 5 inch and it was good. I like this place a lot and I want to try their chicken gyro next time. It was moist and delectable. My memory of this gyro makes me want to get one right now.
I believe there's another Ayola down Montgomery too. Cheap eat and so so delicious! -
Review from Scott B.
San Francisco, CA
8/4/2011
Great Gyros, Really fast for lunch.
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Review from Jan J.
Roseville, CA
8/25/2011
Had the chicken gyro, and it was really refreshing and tasty. The small is a perfect portion size, and you can add one of their plastic-cup fulls of side dish for 2.25 (it included 4 pita slices, which unfortunately were very hard). I tried the eggplant side, which was not all that great. It's served cold and topped with some cheese that you can't really taste through the eggplant.
I would say it's great value fast food. Service was prompt and the lady at the counter nice and helpful. -
Review from Steven C.
Good old artificially made gyro. Its like the good sausage, youre not quite sure whats in it.
For the price, with fries, the large Gyro will feel you up and its quite tasty.
I used to really like Baladie's down the street, but after this place opened up, it killed them. -
Review from molly p.
San Francisco, CA
Updated - 6/14/2011 10 Check-ins Here
Back to four stars after several more consistently good lunches. The gyro is really good, as are the Sparta and Trojan salads.
2 Previous Reviews: Show all »
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5/26/2011
Just for today, I'm going with 3 stars, because the chicken gyro wasn't very good. I'm still a big… Read more »
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Review from Anna P.
San Francisco, CA
6/5/2011
The best gyros in town!
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Review from Melody T.
7/31/2010
Good for lunch during the week. Usually pretty hard to find a seat, but been lucky the last 2 times. Not too bad, about $6 for a small chicken gyro.. tasty! The fact that the beef is mixed with the lamb sort of freaks me out so I just go with the chicken...always tempted to get the fries as well, surprised they dont offer a **super size** that includes fries and extra tzaziki... but i am a fan! Hard to find greek food out here that's not kokkari..
fan! -
Review from Brandy B.
San Francisco, CA
5/13/2010
Greek/Mediterranean food and Japanese anything are basically my weaknesses (along with beer, rice, and b-boiz....lol)! So upon arriving in SF (I'm a newbie), this was one of the first places that stood out to me in the BIG BOOK OF ADMIN MENUS!!! So I strolled down to this place one sunny day and ordered a Troy Salad!
I immediately fell in love... It was huge, and I devoured the whole thing!!! It was a massacre and I didn't even feel guilty. :) I got the salad, a side of tzatziki for 8 bucks! It was literally like an LB and a half!!! I immediately wanted a nap after this salad (which is a good thing and doesn't usually occur after a salad). I would go, just based on the gyro meat. Its PHENOM! ;)
Oh I went back and had them do a salad with falafel balls! Tore that up too! I'm basically going to be a regular here, so if you want good food and to see this sweet face, then you should try it too! -
Review from Anne M.
Pittsburg, CA
12/10/2010
I am VERY pleased with the 7" lamb/beef gyro I just ate. The gyro itself was delicious. Make sure to get a little tub of their hot sauce because that really takes the gyro's flavor over the top.
What was most impressive to me is how they package their food for take-out orders. With hot food that is best when crunchy, most of the time, it's soggy by the time I get back to my office. This was definitely not the case with my lunch today from Ayola #2. The put a paper cover on the gyro so it doesn't drip on the french fries, and the french fries are in a small-ish paper bag places in a larger paper bag, so that they can release their steam without getting soggy.
Bonus points for having a cute guy taking orders. I will most definitely be back to get my gyro on. -
Review from X X.
San Francisco, CA
4/20/2011
Here's a pet peeve of mine. Going to a place that says Greek cuisine, only to find out its not freakin real Greek food! It's like going to a Mexican restaurant and the owner and chef is Chinese. This place is middle eastern food NOT Greek. It's just OK nothing special, I was expecting pretty decent food but its really not all that. I had the chicken gyro with what they call hot sauce. The tzagiki is runny-yuck. If you don't know what real middle eastern or mediterranean food tastes like then you will like this place and feel its just fine. If you know these types of foods you will compare this to a taco bell of the middle east!
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Review from Lolia S.
San Francisco, CA
12/2/2009 1 photo
Maybe shawerma isn't the thing to get here? They have gyros, falafel, salads, and sides.
I didn't see any vertical spits but decided to try the small 7" chicken shawerma ($5.95, a 9" is $6.95, add fries and soda for $2.25). The shawerma doesn't come in a lavash wrap and the portion is much smaller than most other places in town (Baladie, Yumma's, Sunrise Deli, etc.).
The chicken pieces were a bit dry and not that flavorful. They could use more sumac. The sandwich, served on a soft, fluffy pocketless pita (might be Kontos brand) had lettuce, tomatoes, cucumbers, red onions and a thin and tasty tzatziki sauce. You can also specify whether you'd like it spicy or not.
It's a messy meal since the fillings aren't wrapped and there's quite a bit of sauce to contend with. Overall, it was an okay shawerma experience.
The place has little décor and the food arrives quickly. Seating is limited as it caters mostly to the to go, downtown lunch crowd. -
Review from Brianna H.
Huntington Beach, CA
3/30/2010
Perfect for a quick and affordable lunch.
Great gyros, crispy fries, and a great babaganoush.
Quick service, fresh food, friendly cashier. There are only a couple of tables, but there is also an upstairs.
I wouldn't trek here, but if I were nearby and craving some falafel and hummus, this would be my first stop. -
Review from Valeria R.
San Francisco, CA
7/24/2008
At most of the other places along this stretch of Kearny, it's necessary to call in your order ahead of time unless you want to stand around for 15 minutes waiting for your food. Not so at Ayola. Within minutes of paying, you are being handed your bag. Speedy and efficient.
Yesterday I was in the mood for a gyro platter and wanted to try theirs in comparison to my usual Baladie. Ayola comes in just a tad behind. Baladie's portions are a bit bigger, their gyros a bit juicier and their price a dollar less. Ayola is good, but Baladie wins by a nose.
Today I went back for their Macedonian salad of apples, walnuts, warm chicken and feta. It was excellent. Better than comparable salads at Working Girls nearby for about the same price. Good ratio of greens to toppings, and the perfect amount of vinaigrette. Ayola wins this one by a good margin. I'm eager to sample their other salads.
Only complaint: Their pitas don't open. What is up with that?! -
Review from Jennifer W.
Berkeley, CA
2/27/2010
So here we are again:
stuck in the rain with only fifteen minutes on the clock to grab a quick bite.
This is my one stop solution. I order in one minute. My food gets here in 4 minutes. I finish my gyros in 10 minutes. My tummy and wallet is satisfied. I spend 6.52$ -
Review from margot b.
San Francisco, CA
2/3/2008
I work right around the corner from this place, and while the neighborhood has tons of lunch options, someone (myself included) from my office goes for Ayola at least once or twice a week. Great food.
They have a nice assortment of salads. I personally am stuck on the Greek with grilled chicken (tomatoes, red onion, kalamata olives, feta). There is a similar one with poached calamari rings in a light vinaigrette that is also fantastic. The salads are always crisp and incredibly fresh tasting and come with a side of soft, warm pita bread. The hummus and falafel both kick ass. Have not had the gyro but my husband has and says it's one of the most decent gyros in the city.
The kicker though, is their delicious french fries. Every time a co-worker and I head over to pick up a salad, it is a true act of discipline to not get an order of fries to share. They are coated in salt and pepper and are warm and soft inside and crispy and golden outside. They are seriously dangerous, those Ayola fries.
A solid 4.5 star choice for fast, classic, delicious Greek food.Listed in: Cheap Eats San Francisco
