LA Greek Fest

My wife and I were excited to come to the Greek festival for the first time. We drive in from long beach and we’re looking forward to all the great events and awesome food. We were extremely disappointed there were only 3 to 4 booths set up. Let of lamb was extremely dry and the chicken souvlaki was just as dry if not drier. We came, we saw, we true it. Check!

The food and desserts are delicious. The church is beautiful. Lots of live music and overall well run. Bring cash, the credit card readers were acting up.

Probably not coming back. Lines are really long for overpriced food.

When coming to the Greek festival, be sure to check out some of the history of Saint Sophia Cathedral. Be prepared to be in awe as you enter in to this marvelous Worship Center. Father Bakas gives a 25 minute lecture on the Greek Orthodox tradition and the Cathedral itself every hour. The air conditioner in the church works great as well, so you can cool down while getting a history lesson.
Come hungry because there are several traditional Greek dishes to be had, including lamb, chicken, and pork. If you’re not in the mood for a large plate of food, there are appetizers available at various booths. The one gripe I have about this festival is that they usually run out of the popular dishes early on in the evening, I have experienced this 3 out of the 5 years I have been to this event.
Don’t miss the stage with traditional Greek dancing and music, there’s a lot of history with the Greek culture dating back more than several thousand years. If you’re not the shy type, you can also get involved with the lessons that day provide during the event to learn Greek dancing.

L.A. Greek Fest
I have been meaning to go since i heard of it last year 2013.
I finally decided to go today, their website has a map of the Area along with
where the event is being held and where the free parking is located.
i went to the closest available lot (Lot#3) and saw wthat there was still
a lot of space in it but there was no way to get in, so i drove around, i saw
signs that point to Event Parking so i followed it, it didn’t lead to an
Open parking lot so i had to back out.
I finally found Parking in Lot#5, i had to walk 6 blocks to get to the Event,
the Parking Lot itself was clean and there was a security guard there, but
the 6 block walk from the parking Lot#5 to the St. Sophia Church, where the
Event was bring held was thru the dirty, smelly (smells like horse?/dog dung)
street of Pico,
I wouldn’t Feel safe walking thru this neighborhood at night.
I finally made it to the Mariposa Street Entrance, i went to the
entrance booth and the man and woman ther smiled at me and asked for $ 5.00
for the admission Fee, i handed them the $ 5.00, i then asked them why
there is no visible entrance to the closer parking lots and they promptly
ignored me and started to talk to each other, i waited a bit and asked
them again and they acted like i wasn’t there.
i felt like all they cared about was just taking my $ 5.00 after which they
no longer cared about me.
the event started at 12:00pm, i got there at 12:45pm, there wasn’t a lot
of people around. i took pictures. i have been waNting to try out their
Rack of lamb so i went to a booth and ordered it, i saw the size of their
chicken skewer on pita which they are selling for $ 9.99, the rack of
lamb was $ 15.00. so i expected the rack of lamb (3pcs) to each be about
the size of a pork chop, i was dissapointed at the plate i received,
the 3 lamb were so small and the portion of the rice and salad was really
small, for $ 15.00, i expected the portions to be bigger and more fillin,
a bottle of water cost $ 2.00, sigh… what a ripoff. i immediately left
after finishing off the ridiculously tiny meal, i went to one of the
stores on my way back to my car and bought a 32oz orange gatorade for $ 1.99.
i’m glad to have come here, i now know to NEVER come to another L.A. Greek
Fest again.
i can understand that it’s a fund-​raising event for the St. Sofia Church
but they should be able to give a visitor value for the price they are paying for,
all the «Fun Cultural» events are scheduled for later in the afternoon, (Greek dancers and book signing, i could care less at this point.
Would i recommend this event to my Friends? NO!
in fact i called one of my friends who i know was planning on coming to this event and told not to bother coming.
I was not impressed, i wish i could get my money back. i went to a fast food place to eat my lunch since my $ 15 «Rack of lamb» (see picture NOTE: the size of the lamb compared to the plastic fork.), i was full from a $ 6.50 meal then the lunch i got from this place.

Like going to Greece minus long flights.

First time I tried so much food all very tasty great music and beers only thing missing was vendors selling art or handmade items

Went here with two friends and it was CRAZY hot! Fortunately, they closed a few of the surrounding streets, so parking wasn’t an issue and there wasn’t a long walk to get to the festival. I believe they also had a charter bus shuttle that took you from your parking spot to the festival.
The festival itself was huge. Tons of Greek people, food, drinks, music, etc. I came with 2 friends and we tried a variety of things (I don’t even know if I can recall everything!)
I remember really enjoying the lamb (Jessica W. mentioned it was the best she’s ever had!) It came with 3 pieces, perfect for our group. We got a pork and chicken kabob (standard, yet delicious), and I also remember a bomb order of octopus. Cooked perfectly with the best seasonings. We drank the ouzo lemonade (which I think they accidentally made ouzo Sprite instead), but it was still good, strong, and not lacking in ouzo.
After you get stuffed from all the food, you can walk around inside their auditorium, full of vendors that sell their crafts. By the time you’re done walking around, it’s time to grab some loukoumades and baklava for dessert. Loukoumades (though not the healthiest option out there) were awesome. Some of the desserts we tried were either a little too sweet or just not to our liking (wasn’t a HUGE fan of the sweet dessert covered with noodles).
Overall, a super fun, energetic, and lively festival with amazing food and people.

Greek Food & Party Fest. Monster Gyros. Pork Souvlaka. Seafood Shrimp Santorini. Feta Fries. Loukoumades Honey Donuts. The grandmas are out tonight cooking up a storm, traditionally. Tip? Eat everything. $ 5 most things. Greek rock and dancing tent. Greek yogurt on phone from typing this. (Save Now button.)
12 hours later, post-​partem. I wasn’t drunk when I wrote the above. I was simply overbloated on all that fantastic food. I was too topsy-​turvy to play the carnival games or dance under the tent. If you read this now, go to «LA Greek Fest» today, Sunday, the last day. #likereally

Opa! A whole lotta delicious fun. Hey, I’d should know. I ate 47 things.
I was impressed. It’s pro, not rinky-​dink. Situated on the premises of Saint Sophia, one of the most beautiful churches I’ve ever seen… parking was easy with a courtesy shuttle bus, using my online ticket avoided waiting in line… easy.
No shortage of speakers, live music can be heard constantly throughout the LA Eat Greek Fest… and great sound throughout. About 25 food and drink booths, and plenty to choose from priced between $ 5 – 8. I started with grilled octopus ($ 8) with an ouzo lemonade ($ 6), and before I was thru — I had the Saganaki ($ 5), the «red sangria» fries ($ 5), a glass of Greek wine ($ 6), yogurt with honey ($ 3), and because I was absolutely busting — an order of moussaka ($ 5) «to go».
Service was very nice and kind, and good energy from all. One of the highlights, outside of eating, was finally seeing the inside of Saint Sophia, which is breathtaking and shouldn’t be missed. A guided tour is also offered.
Recommend for 2 – 3 hours, a little Greek dancing, and out before the ouzo lands you on you on your a$$.

1 star: Eek! Methinks not.
Wow. Greekfest. You have gone way downhill in my absence.
So we’ve been big fans of the Greek Fest at St. Sophia’s in the past, but for some reason or another we missed the past few years. So we specifically made plans to attend this year, but didn’t actually go until Sunday (the final day). We’d always had a good time at Greek Fest, and were looking forward to it immensely.
Where was the saganaki? Where was the grilled octopus?
The baked goods (and most of the smart people) were inside the air conditioned gymnasium, which made sense considering it was around 100 degrees that day. The prices had gone way up and the portions were way down.
In fact, that was true about everything at LA Greek Fest in 2012. Prices are up, portions are down, and variety was also way down.
The fried doughnuts (loukoumades), which are usually my favorite part, were disappointing as well. How is there no honey in the syrup anymore? Really? What gives? Has the cost-​cutting come to this?
This will be our last year going to LA Greek Fest. I’m not spending $ 20 to eat 3 midget lamb chops and a finger-​full of feta fries. I’m not okay with a 2″ square of moussaka for 10 bucks. I’m not spending $ 8 bucks for a few measly fried balls of dough with some watery sugar syrup poured over them.
I understand that people go to Greek Fest and spend money to support whatever your particular kiosk is supporting, but surely you are aware that Papa Cristo’s is right across the street.
It used to feel like Greek Fest was about having some fun and being generous with the portions and dishing out some culture with the food at the same time, but this year, it really felt like every booth was making a conscious effort to count french fries, or skimp on ingredients, and it really took all the fun out of the experience.

Love this annual festival for the culture, food, music, people! We went on Sunday afternoon, and the food, including the Chicken kabobs, moussaka and spinaccopia were all very dry, but the great ambiance far overshadowed the mediocre food!

Opa! This was so much fun!
Being new to LA (I moved here a year ago to go to school), I have been itching to meet some other greeks! I volunteered at the wine tasting booth, and it was a lot of fun as I got to meet people and get to know more about greek wines! Loved the nescafe frappé i had (like ones I would have in Cyprus on the beach!) and the pastries were awesome and not too expensive! I had a gyro and it was delicious! The live music was also so awesome, reminded me of my childhood growing up at a greek school on the east coast. Father John was such a good singer, and seeing Thanos Petrelis live was awesome! I was right in front of the stage so I had a great view of his handsome face! haha
Cannot wait til next year, I want to volunteer again and take part in this greek fest again!

Stin iyá sas! *Takes swig of ouzo* Opa!
Just returned from their free Zorba Night after finally dragging my parents along for their virgin visit.
Brandon D. and I have been coming for years, but Dad fears change and Mom tends to not go if Dad won’t. Churches are the perfect bait to get Mom to go anywhere, and the chance to visit St. Sophia’s gorgeous and highly-​ornate church, with its vivid murals and mosaics, its crystal chandeliers, gold-​covered moldings, and priests who will talk your ear off about anything and everything.
Anyway, after they had finally had their fill of the church, we charged into the roasted lamb-​scented air whilst Sirtaki music played on a continuous loop for the dance competition that was going on, ready to prey upon some unsuspecting filo-​wrapped goodness.
At first my mom asked about getting gyros (which were running $ 8 apiece), but I insisted on other fare.
For $ 25 we picked up the Zorba’s Feast from the Food Court booth and it was enough for all of us to share and be delightfully full.
It came with two souvlaki skewers (chicken or lamb), briama (stewed vegetables), pastitsio, one tyropita, one spanakopita, rice, six dolmathes (two with meat, the other four cold vegetarian), and big salad with chunks of feta.
The ladies working the booth were definitely not stingy with the helpings. Probably helped that we weren’t like the drunk guys in front of us who kept shouting, «Where are the lambchops? Why don’t you have lambchops here?!»
Pretty great food for a church carnival. Mmm mmm mmmm!
Didn’t see them making saganaki this year instead the menu reads «saganaki bites» priced at 3 for $ 5. Looks like they’re making them a sort of cheese puff instead of the cheese flambéed with brandy.
This year the fair has guarded parking lots throughout the neighborhoods with ongoing, free shuttle service. As our little group made our way on foot, one of those white vans was just about to go by, but the driver rolled down the window and loudly queried, «Shuttle?» We said sure, he proceeded to hold up traffic behind him as he jumped out, threw open the doors for us, waited for us to climb in (not to mention his helping my mom, with her bad knees, up the step and into her seat) before he slammed the door, got back behind the wheel and drove us straight to the entrance.
My parents were quite pleased with their first visit, and I’m happy that it lived up to their rather finicky expectations.

I have been going for 10 years, I am looking forward to this year 2012 because there was not one last year. I think it is fabulous and the food is good.
People need to remember it is a Festival not a 5 star gourmet restaurant, or Greek food in Astoria, Queens. They have great music and entertainment, the church is Beautiful and a treat in itself, like a museum with a tour which is free.
I recommend checking it out.

This festival is put on by St. Sophia’s in the LA Crenshaw area, hosted by Tom Hanks & Rita Wilson every year in mid September.
Something great to do when you got time to kill. Not recommended if your not use to L.A.

The LA Greek Fest is a lot of fun. This year, it was $ 3. There’s music, dancing, carnival rides and various vendors.
I ordered the lamb kabob from one of the bigger vendors. It was dry. I ended up throwing it away.
What I should have done was order food from a vendor who cooked on the spot. I found a couple of them after I had eaten.
Be sure to take a jacket because it can get pretty cold. The music can get a little loud.

$ 3 Bucks to Enter
Bad
— No organized parking so you could be searching for a while for parking.
— Expensive Food.$ 7 for one item. $ 3 for another $ 7 for another so $ 15 bucks for one meal.
— Some of the exhibits were not even greek. Huh? They had turkish and persian items.
The Good
— Very different Greek food. I mean we aren’t talking gyros.
Things You have never tried before. Worth the experience
— Awesome music and everybody was festive and dancing. Group dancing in a circle. Awesome.
— They had beer. Big plus
— They had alot of activities for the kids.
I was gonna rate this place 3 stars but I’m upgrading it to 4 because they let me try food I have not had before.

Having been to many Greek Fests, this is one of the best I have experienced to date. This years edition starts tomorrow, Friday Sept 10 2010, and runs through Sunday. I normally don’t write reviews from 2 or 3 years ago, but wanted to give yall a heads up on a cool time.
The Good;
The food is not just gyros and spanakopita (aka spankurpeter), but full on dinners. Desert: not just baklava but many other sweet choices.
The booze. Not only beer and wine, but ouzo, and margaritas … AND they sell wine by the bottle. Man o man I love the Greeks.
The church (Greek Fests seem to always be on church grounds). Not a church kinda fella, but this is really beautiful. Check it out.
Music and dancing. I personally love Greek music, and Greeks from 3 yrs to 80 love to dance, so its quite the show.
The people. Not exactly breaking news… but ppl in LA like to party and socialize with fellow strangers more so than OC peeps. It’s a very friendly vibe.
The Bad;
Parking (was free, still?). It’s LA. If you get there in the afternoon its not so bad, and they have plenty of signage and helpful ppl directing you. There are also lots of shuttles (check their website).
Lines for food and a place to sit to enjoy said food. At least when you are in line the music is within viewing and listening distance. Look for a place to stake out as soon as you get there. Ok, AFTER you take possession of that 1^st bottle of wine.
Not cheap, although admission is only $ 5 ($ 3 on Fri) if you come very hungry and thirsty you may end up dropping $ 50−75+ for 2 ppl, more if you purchase stuff from the merch kiosks.
The ugly;
I am originally from Detroit so «older» neighborhoods don’t frighten me, but if they do don’t venture beyond the direct routes from/​to the fwy. It aint South Central, but its pretty close to it.
Definitely a highly recommended annual LA event. Go, eat, drink, dance, and party with a fun diverse LA crowd.
OPRAH! er… I mean… OPA!

I went to a Greek festival in San Jose a couple years ago because my younger brother wanted to get extra credit for his class. I had no idea LA had a Greek Fest! I was pretty excited and wanted to check it out when I saw a posting for it on
.
Last night (Friday) was Zorba Night and admission was free. We parked a couple street away at a school and surprisingly parking was free as well; a shuttle took us to the festival. The Saint Sophia Cathedral is BEAUTIFUL. If it hadn’t been for Greek Fest I probably wouldn’t have had the opportunity to stop and look. My friend and I then walked around the different stands; there was beer, wine, gyros, dinner combo plates, souvenirs (t-​shirts, rings, hand crafts, etc.), etc. I was looking for the desserts and found them indoors at the «Dining Hall.» My friend and I spent $ 7 each and got to try 4 different types of desserts; it wasn’t cheap, but it was worth it to try something new. Most of the items were $ 2 – 4 per individual serving.
The festival isn’t that big (about 30 stands), but it did attract a good number of people; there’s a small area for carnival rides and games for the kids. There was dancing under the large main tent and there was another smaller tent on the other side of the row of vendors where a DJ was playing Latin music and people were dancing there was well. If you’ve never gone before, definitely go check it out and see for yourself.