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Categories: Greek, Mediterranean [Edit]
Neighborhood: EdgewaterBryn Mawr (Red)
Mon-Sun. 10:00 a.m. - 10:00 p.m.
Oppressive - is the level of heat in this place on a hot summer day, the air-conditioning seems to be non-existent, so be ware and maybe get some take out on a hot summer day...
Beyond the unacceptable climate control the interior of this place is quite different, I feel like I have walked into a time warp of some sort with the 8 track juke box (unplugged and covered in years of filth...)
The Decor is fantastic many hard core pictures of Chicago's finest bearing heavy fire power, I mean full on assault rifles and flack jackets, now there are a lot of crazys on Bryn Mawr, I have lived in this neighborhood for about 3 years, something tells me 10 to 20 or even more years ago this neighborhood was not quite as nice as it is today and there were more then just Crazy's in the street... It is obvious that Hella's has been there to bear witness to all of this unsavory history!
In addition to fun pictures and posters the booths are vintage and comforting and the large TV is always playing sporting events from around the world, Soccer anyone? Last time it was ladies track and field, just adding to the ambiance for sure!
The Guys who work and run this place are old skool to say the least and I love it! I have eaten here a few times recently and the last time my friend and I were starving, I called down with our order and when we walked in it was all set up on the table ready to go, all we had to do was grab a cold can of coke from the fridge and dig in...
The Fries are crisp golden and flavorful, a true delight and the order of fries is almost overwhelming, I was not able to finish them all...
The gyro sandwich is very happy as it swims in wonderful tzatziki sauce, the meat is piled high and overflowing, a very good sign when you must extricate pieces of gyro meat and eat them before you even consider eating this behemoth of flavor and satisfaction! plenty of meat and just the right amount of freshness and flavor kicked in from crisp fresh tomato and onion at the foot of the heap...
The combo is reasonably priced at $7.50 I believe, for sandwich soda and fries!
I have also had the combo plate with both gyro meat and kabob cubed steak and that was graciously portioned as well, either will strike your fancy if you like large portions large flavor and large hospitality!
I almost want to give this 5 stars but I can't if for no reason other then the limiting climate, go on a fair spring or fall evening and all will be delightful!
it aint no four star but I don't go to those anyhow. Besides, Hellas is lke a car crash. Just cant help but stare & watch the action.
I go with my low budget friends (is low income a better term?) and for that it's ideal Gyros, GREAT! Chicken (in Bert Natarus form) samidg Gosh Darn Good.
Cleanliness, however is an ISN'T. I need to remember a Steamworks towel for the bench next time & my own Handywipes (r) for the table.
Clue: the restrooms have CLOSED sign on them for reason and it's not too keep the street people out: it's a reminder that Waysides on Wisconsin Interstates smell better
Walking into Hella brings me back to being a kid in the late 70s in Rogers Park and my days at the illustrious Granda Movie Theater. A palace of a place straight out of the 20s era.
http://memory.loc.gov/...
A big bucket of popcorn, following the sis up the winding, golden staircase while admiring the red velvet curtains and ropes to the 2nd balcony where we sat watching Willie Wonka, The Spy Who Loved Me, The Wizard of Oz and many more.
Afterwards,we walked off that stuffed feeling, during what seemed then to be the longest walk in the wold, down to Hellas to split a gyros and flaming saganaki.
I distinctly recall the smell. That greasy gooey goodness that immediately tells your gut it best be preparin' to gas up and out in all directions in . . . oh say 3-12 hours.
Don't even try and tell me you don't get Gyros burps that burn the hair off of your neighbors lap dog. Malarchy!
So anyway, Hellas.
Hella's tzatziki sauce is quite unique. I always order extra extra because I can never finish the meat -- which is grill to perfection, just the right amount of chewy and never slimey. Extra t-sauce for my doggie bag of tummy torture the next day.
When I was a kid they had the best fountain cokes in cool "Have a Coke and a Smile!" glasses adorned with messages on the bottom and chok fulla chipped ice.
Man, I miss going to the Granada.
Gyro geniuses. I don't know what else to say.
Things I love about this place:
-The make a damn good gyro. I can't speak for anything else on the menu because this is all I get. They even throw in some sport peppers.
-I dunno how or why this is, but they make the tastiest french fries around. If you get an order to go, ask for the salt and ketchup. You won't regret.
-The two old dudes are just amazing. Especially the guy with a badass handlebar mustache. He's my new role model.
-There is a sign on the wall behind the register that's easily the best sign I've seen in a business establishment in a long time.
I just moved into the neighborhood a couple weeks ago and Hella's is my first favorite restaurant in Edgewater.
Hella's is a real manly kind of place. Most of the clientele is male everytime I've been there, spanning all social and occupational strata from cops to drug dealers (pretend to watch the tv and keep an eye out, you'll see it on occasion), brought together in their manly love of sipping 40s, eating greasy but really well made and tasty food, watching sports, and admiring Scarface posters. All the food is prepared by two guys who appear to be aged versions of the Super Mario Brothers.
Sure, the gyros are good, but where Hella's really shines is on the dinner menu. Try the beef stew -- you get about 3 days worth of deliciously greasy food for 8 bucks. My girlfriend says the chicken fingers are good too. My one complaint is that there is no discount on buying beer by the six pack, and the double cheeseburger isn't quite as good as I hoped.
This place is an open sewer.....but damn they make a good gyro. You will sweat because there is little to no air conditioning, you will wait a long time for food that should not take so much time, you will wonder how long that 8-track jukebox has been sitting in the corner collecting that film of scum, and you will probably wonder as I did, why in the totally random assortment of crap adorning the walls there are 2 Scarface posters. You will also receive for $7.50 a huge gyro piled high with greasy delicious meat, slathered in sauce and accompanied by a basket of crispy fresh fries and a soda. Consider yourself informed.
i have never seen a joint like this get so many five-star ratings in my life -- and also totally agree!
yes, the gyros are delicious and the fries outstanding... but the best thing about hellas? the tzatziki sauce. i dunno, it just tastes like heaven. creamy, dill-y, not overwhelming. plus, they fry up the pita , like all good gyros places should but don't anymore. i get extra cup with an order of fries, chicken fingers, you name it. if it came in jars, i would buy it.
plus, they sell 3 kinds of root beer. just doesn't get any better.
The same owner & location for over 31 years is something to be very proud of in the finicky city of Chicago. The place is super clean- has never had a health code problem; it feels dark because of the decor, and it reminds me of the food area of the roller rink I hung out in as a kid.
It's family-friendly, but never gets too loud.
Jesse- the stern-looking guy behind the counter, is SUPER sweet! He reminds me of Chef from the muppets because of his intense neutral face, lol. Anything you want, Jesse & the OWNER, Gus, will make it perfect for you!
The prices will AMAZE you! Lamb Chops are the most expensive item at under $12 with fries or rice, oven roasted potatoes, green beans & French bread. Next most expensive is the Lamb Stew (YUMMY) dinner at about $9.50- The GYROS are to DIE FOR at 4.95 straight or you can get combo plates...
Would you like a beer with that? 12oz Domestics for $2.75 / Imports: $3.35 or a honkin' 32oz MGD for $6.
If you're by the Bryn Mawr Red Line stop in Edgewater & wanting great food, excellent service at a really reasonable price, go grab yourself a comfy booth in Hellas Gyros and be happy you found out about the place. They're open every single day from 11am-10pm.
I don't know how many plays on the word "Hella" there have been in these reviews but i'm thinking a lot, but not quite so many that there can't be at least one more... and to that end: This place is Hella Scary
Hella scary on the surface, and no doubt hella scary below the surface of the greasy laden grill, counters, appliances, ceilings and everything in between. This place would be perfectly cast in films such as fight club, jeepers creepers, or some equally grim, dark movie material.
What can I say that hasn't already been said about Hella's "unique" niche market that I would affectionately term the "ultimate greasy spoon". It is shocking in appearance but the food (and location) is such that i've been a few times since working in the area, and no doubt i'll be back for more. It's a test of strength, will and determination, that the question of whether or not your body will endure whatever germs and bacteria that this place throws at you that makes a man a man (or woman and woman, etc.). The answer for me, thus far, is Yes. Yes it has.
Oh and the super thin, steak&shake-esque burgers? Delightful. the delectable, crispy french fries where he will salt, pepper, *and* ketchup, inside the paper bag which holds the fries? Oh yes he did. The gruff and tumble cook/owner who will, with the efficiency of five line cooks, multitask and take, make and run the till of 10 different orders at at time, and not miss a beat. There're a few stars right there, folks.
This place is an icon of something. What that something is i've no clue but there's gotta be an award out there somewhere where this place gets its proper dues. This place is the Billy Goat squared...or cubed, whatever, this place was the Billy Goat before Billy even gave birth to said Goat imo.
This place is saturated with character and good food. My gyro was great.
Has anyone else found themselves staring at the dirty jar filled with some kind of liquid in the broken down cooler? Yeah, I have while I waited for my food. This place HAS to be breaking every health violation. But the burgers...mmm.
I have a slight addiciton to cheeseburgers. I need one every now and then , or I get cranky. Hella's is in my neighborhood and does a damn good job quenching my addiction. The patties are damn thin, so get a double. Why not? It's $4, tax included. I love that.
Seriously, stop in this place. It took me back like a decade. I bet that's how long that jar's been there. It has a tube running into it, too. Hell, I'll give a star for that jar.
This transcends slurp 'n' burp. It's scarf 'n' barf, which I almost did after I ate a fish sandwich and some mushrooms.
I know, I'm a fool. I deserved it. But I was in the mood and I'd heard that for low grade slop this was tops.
Eh, skip it. It's pretty disgusting. Way too greasy. Stale oil for frying. Just BLECH.
Overheard at Hellas Gyros (edited for sense):
I didn't know Elmhurst was a western suburb. When the bitch said Elmhurst and North Avenue, I thought it was just up the street. Bitch, I'm passing Aurora, fuckin Schaumburg, and you know there's no Metra trains that time of night.
I ask for my money, and bitch says, "You mean I have to pay first? I'll have to go to a cash station." And you know I'm already pissed off, so this is the last straw. He says "How much," and I'm like "200 dollars plus tip," and he gets out $300. But I'm still pissed off.
He's so fucked up, he doesn't even know I'm not a woman. "Ride my dick" he says. Well, I'm riding his dick, and he doesn't even notice my junk bouncing on his belly.
The above snippets are part of a conversation held by a 300 lb. black transvestite in a two-piece white outfit, talking at the top of her lungs on her cell phone. And not only does no one complain, they don't even seem to notice. By the way, this is at 2 pm on a Saturday afternoon. Finally, the manager gets her attention, and I think he's going to throw her out, but it's just that her order is ready. I can't imagine what she ordered, since she was there before me and got her food after I got mine. But it was the only thing that ended her conversation.
I wish I could say this was the only black transvestite hooker I saw at Hellas, but as she was leaving, another one came in, accompanied by a white gentlemen approximately 3 times her age. Did I mention that this is at 2 pm on a Saturday afternoon? Is there a union hall nearby?
If there was a last gyros stand on the way to hell, Hellas would be it. Nothing has been changed since the restaurant opened, which could have been in 1970 or 1950. The walls are covered with wood paneling which has not been cleaned since ... well, ever. The floor is cracked and the booths are wobbly. There's an "out of order" sign on the door to the bathrooms, which translates as "Abandon all hope, ye who enter here." Along with the requisite map of Greece, the walls are festooned with pictures of James Bond, Scarface, and the Virgin Mary. Every surface is nonstick, due to a not-so-thin layer of grease which covers everything. If there was a horrific murder at Hellas, the blood would bead up. Or should that read, the last time there was a horrific murder at Hellas...
But for all that, the food is pretty terrific. Especially if you're drunk. If you're not drunk, you can buy beer there. The place closes at 10pm, so you probably won't be too drunk anyway. Take out is good and quick. Dining in is not for the faint of heart.
Combo -- any sandwich, fries, and soda -- 7 bucks. Tax included.
Hellas YES Gyros. This place won't ever change, and I find that . . . comforting. Today, workin' at home, refrigerator on the blink, literally no food in my apt, I start to think . . . Gyros. Oh, hellas yes.
Are the Gyros here $6.95 or $7.50? Two, smeared, greasy menus proclaim two different prices, and .25 extra for "to go". What? In all, there are three different menus in here, with varying degrees of overlap. And it's supremely dirty in here, a grimy Jim McMahon poster beams down over the waiting area - how long has that been there, 15-20 years? The display cabinet is apparently used for storing clutter the guy couldn't fit into his house.
However, the Gyros reign supreme, and there is beer for late-night "dining". Don't go here for dinner, it's "supper" all the way, but it is still crazy-delicious after all these years.
I call this place "Hell YES Gyros!"
YUM Gyros! This place has been in this 'hood thru thick and thin…
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Ate here after a long weekend of binge drinking, and what can I say? It definitely hit the spot. I've been looking for a place serving the kind of awesome gyros and fries most commonly served as street food in Europe, and I do believe Hellas is as close as I've come in Chicago.
I got the gyros with the works and fries, and both came out steaming hot and overflowing their red plastic lattice baskets. The fries are as good as everyone says - crispy and delicious - though the ketchup did taste disconcertingly like tomato soup. The gyros were savory and dripping with tzatziki and accompanied with tomatoes, onions and hot peppers. I ended up picking off most of the accoutrements (if you can call them that in a place like this) due to the sheer difficulty of fitting the overstuffed pita into my mouth.
$8 for gyro, fries & soda - not bad for one of the best hangover helpers I've ever met.
3 stars for the deliciousness, minus 2 stars for being worried about contracting something from sitting too long in those ratty old booths.
The inside of this place isn't nearly as decrepit as these reviews lead you to believe. I would have been fine with their dining area if I wasn't taking my order to go.
Fast service... edible food. Not something I would *intentionally* look for - but the price is very reasonable for what you get, and sometimes you just need a good, old-fashioned greasy gutload. I had a double cheeseburger and fries - maybe their gyros are better.
This place is super filthy. There are phone books caked with grime sitting but a few feet from the gyro spits (or whatever those rotating metallic rods are called).
I want to be clear on how gross this place is because it makes my five star ranking all the more important. This place is dirtier than a crack house. Maybe even dirtier than a KFC bathroom. YES, it's true.
But I don't care! Because they make a fantastic gyro. Tons of meat, great hot peppers, piles of onions and a fresh pita.
The chef making me the gyro was literally smoking a cigarette while he carved the meat. What a bad-ass.
Hellas is... uh... *cough* hella good. They have good cheap food. Burgers, Gyros, Spinach Pie and a bunch of other stuff. The food is kinda greasy, but that's to be expected in a place like this. If it wasn't greasy, it just wouldn't be right. The prices are low. The food gets made quick.
The characters inside are interesting, but the decor is a bit grimy. It's not unclean, but everything is old and shows its age. It's not really the kind of place I enjoy sitting down to have a meal at, but the food is good and inexpensive so I order food to go often.
If you're in the neighborhood, check it out.
I love the decor, the fact that they sell 40's of Miller Light, the gyros are AWESOME, and the huge tv playing random shows pointed directly at the owner's crusty booth. The cook waves at me whenever I walk by on my way home.
The prices are good and the fries are amazing. It is my favorite place on Bryn Mawr.
Whenever I crave for gyros, I would come here since it's close and the gyro here is good. I definitely like the gyro here more than Dengeos
I dine in here few times with friends and I must say it's quite dirty inside. However, I do not mind since their gyros just taste so good. Not to mention, the people work there are quite nice.
I really love watching the old guy with white mustache cutting the lamb meat since he cut the meat so fast and with style. I definitely would not want to mess with him. (^_^)
Minus 1 star for the dirty place.
Ah, Hella's how do I love thee? Let me count the ways:
1. The dingy, underlit 1970s decor. Faux wood panelling, giant drink fridges, dingy stalls, the Galaga arcadegame. It's almost like walking unto a set for The Blues Brothers...if the Blues Brothers had been filmed on the northside.
2. The surly cook who gives you the stink-eye when you order and brusquely hustles you over to the counter to pay
3. The stereotypical older Greek gentleman who owns the place
4. The random collection of hangers-on and patrons who inhabit the stalls
5. The omnipresent rabbit-eared TV tuned to whatever Chicago sports team is playing
6. The greasy, cheap gyros and fries
I love Hella's. The food is cheap and still delicious. The fries are always my favorite part of the meal. I do usually take my food to go because the environment isn't exactly one you would want to stay and eat your food. Make sure you know what you want and that your order isn't horribly complicated because the guys behind the counter generally are in a hurry to get stuff out as quick as possible and can be a bit cantankerous at times.
All in all if you happen to live in Edgewater and you are looking for some cheap and good fast food I would stop by Hella's.
P.S. I can't wait for the face lift it will make my favorite Edgewater hang out even more hang outier (I know it's not a real word!).
Remembering some good Yelp reviews, I stopped in Hellas on the way back to my place. The atmosphere is skeevy indeed (out of date and pretty dirty), so I opted for takeout. The cook and other Greek gentlemen who work there were nice enough. My chicken pita was awesome, including the hot peppers. My only (tiny) complaint is that it was so soaked with sauce that it barely stayed together. But despite the messy eating experience, it was delicious. Next time I'll have to try the fries that other Yelpers are raving about. Take your dripping, greasy bag of gyros and enjoy these babies at home.
You people seem to follow each other in your reviews. The place is dated but not unlike just about EVERY other restaurant I've visited in Chicago unless it's within the southern limits of about 2800 N (where your city basically ends). The place is "greasy" only because the grill is below the front window, which is rather strange in my opinion.
I give it 4 stars for good food and consistency. I've visited twice over a 2 month span and I got exactly what I ordered the last time (good food at realistic prices) which I can't say for the restaurants in the "trendier" areas (i.e. Andersonville) where you have some good food and order the same on the next visit and it's totally different and bad (= illegal immigrant turnover).
I give an extra star for the cook telling the guy who stumbled in complaining that it was hot in there that "it's because you're so fat". My sentiments exactly about the a/c blowing wigs off in every Chicago establishment. You're all too fat! The temperature was very naturally comfortable in there for my 6',200# butt.
Love their gyros! Sure the guys that work here are the type that you would never want to meet in a dark alley and the decor is well...Iet's just say I always get my order "to go" and leave it at that but they do have some of the best gyros on the north side.
also known as "el greg" (only to me and the wife)- today's burger was too mustardy and the fries were too salty, which was unfortunate as the place has never failed before in providing me with the good and greasy.
the decor alone is worth a visit. they should charge admission.
Great typical grease here, gyros and cheeseburgers are the best things on the menu. However, the dumpsters out back are probably cleaner than the interior of this gem. Crappy panelling, duct tape holding the floor and walls together, flickering gloomy fluorescent lighting, and a permiable grease on everything inside. It stinks of grease and filth in here. It's an authenic grease pit to be sure if that's your thing...Get your food to go or the atmosphere of the place is bound to ruin your appetite. Bonus: beer in the cooler. Bon apetite...
We basically buy one thing - Gyros to go - and love it. Other items are good as I try them. But I go for the Gyros.
(They do NOT use that OK but always the same semi common Gyros brand that a ton of Diners etc have put in)
They make their own gyros - and its one of the best tasting on the far north side of the city (Those who liked the "Gyros on a Spit" in east lakeview/bdwy before that long time place finally went out of biz will taste some similarity)
Safe to eat there - but see no reason to do so - especially if you live near by
I stopped in here today for lunch not really knowing what to expect, only knowing that I was hungry and had an hour for lunch. The guy behind the counter had a pretty difficult to make out Greek accent, but was extremely friendly. I ordered the gyros, which were pretty good- both the meat and the dressing were flavorful. I can't give the place any points for decor, and they did have a suspicious looking sign on the back door indicating that the bathrooms were "out of order: The plus side was the my food was prepared quickly and was dirt cheap. I finished my meal and then enjoyed a little Ms. Pacman/Galaga action on their old school arcade games. Wouldn't mind going back, unless I wasn't in the mood for a little (read: a lot) of grease with my meal.
So I was sitting around the condo this afternoon, feeling quite peckish. Having ordered Apart Pizza many times, I thought I might head up to Edgewater and check out the shop itself and have lunch. As I exited the Red Line at Bryn Mawr, I looked across the street and saw a green awing that read,"Hella's, Home of the Gyro". Being a guy that loves a good gyro, I decided to call an audible and try it out. Man, am I glad I did. Hella's provided me the best gyro I have ever tasted. The pita was perfect, the sauce plentiful and it had a twist that I never thought would be good on a gyro, sports peppers. The peppers gave the gyro an extra push into awesomeness. I will definitely be back. In fact, I'm going to have to try extra hard to not go back for dinner. I would definitely recommend this place to anyone that wants a great gyro. All the stuff in the other reviews about the restaurant itself is true. That gyro, it makes up for all of it. It's awesome.
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