Ayola

In town visiting and staying at the W. Wanted something a little lighter and not just a run of the mill café salad. Read the reviews and gave it a shot, Sparta salad was perfect and with warm pita bread. My only regret was that I didn’t grab some hummus for it… But there’s always tomorrow

Ayola adds a little variety to the neighborhood with Mediterranean dishes — falafel, Greek salads, hummus, tzatziki, and so on. This little Greek spot is essentially the size of a takeout counter. There are only a few seats by the window, but there are public parklets nearby for you to enjoy your lunch.
I usually order a gyro or a shawarma. I’m still not quite clear what is the difference between the two. Hopefully someone will clearly explain it to me one day, but everyone seems to have a slightly different explanation of each.
Gyros & Shawarmas are about $ 8 for 7 inches, and $ 9 for 9 inches. It is a marginal difference, but the extra dollar is worth the extra 2 inches. I typically order the 7 inch. I once ordered the 9 inch, hoping to eat half and save the rest for later, but ended up devouring the entire sandwich.
The shaved gyro meat of lamb & beef are tasty and have good flavor. I couldn’t tell the difference between lamb & beef, but I took that as a good sign, since I couldn’t detect any gamey taste.
The chicken gyro is quite good too. The chicken shawarma, as far as I can tell, is made with roasted chicken instead. The lettuce, tomatoes, cucumbers, & red onions taste very fresh and crisp. I usually request it without red onions, but sometimes they forget to take them out. Their tzatziki is creamy, yet refreshing. I’ve tried to make my own tzatziki and it was okay, but of course, not as good as theirs. The best part is the warm, soft, thick pita bread.
Their fries are delicious as well. I’m not even a big fan of fries, but I can appreciate that they’re served hot and seasoned well. They’re more of a thick cut with a slightly mushy center.
They even have containers of sauces right on the counter, so you can help yourself without having to pump your own sauce.
The office ordered catering for a meeting once, so I decided to take the opportunity to try all the things I was curious to try. (Speaking of boring meetings, does it bother anyone else to see people show up to take their order & give a rushed, ‘Sorry so busy, I can’t stay.’ Right, yet not too busy for free food.)
Anyways, I opted for the 4-​Item Combo Platter with pita for $ 10.75.
I chose Dolmas, Tzatziki, Hummus & Baklava, and added Gyro Meat for $ 3.
I slathered some tart hummus on the pita bread. Not bad.
Then I dunked the pita into the tzatziki and sandwiched it with some gyro meat. Pretty good.
The dolmas were too tart for me. I’ve always been curious to try stuffed grape leaves. I wasn’t quite sure what they were filled with, but I was expecting them to be more salty than sour.
Surprisingly it was more food than I could finish, so I ate the leftovers for a snack later that day.
I was most looking forward to trying the baklava. The sweet layers of crunchy pastry & sweet, crushed walnut filling with some pistachio dust on top was so good. I actually took it home to share with Mr. Joy, who has a slight walnut allergy, but he didn’t have a reaction to it. For an extra $ 2, this is a pretty good way to satisfy a sweet tooth.
There is usually a line around lunchtime, but there are lines everywhere at noon. Their line actually appears long because they have limited space, so it’s not unusual to see people lining out the door, but the service is actually pretty quick. I’ll stick to the gyros, but it’ll be pretty hard to resist the baklava going forward.

I work a few blocks away from this place and order lunch from here probably 3 times a week. It’s SO bomb. I usually order the 3-​item sampler and have tried just about every side on the menu. The dolmas, spanakopita and French fries are my favorite, but the baba ganoush and tabouleh are awesome too. They also have great shawarma if you’re looking for something more filling.
When I went in today, they had run out of spanakopita so they gave me free baklava. They’re always so nice when I pick up my order and the food is ready in no time. If you find yourself in FiDi and in need of a good lunch to go, I highly recommend Ayola.

I needed a quick meal before a meeting and this was the perfect place to grab one. Cheap, fast, easy, and good. I got a gyro and it was pretty filling. The gyro was really good and tender, the veggies were pretty fresh and the pita was good. I’m not a fan of tiziki sauce, so I had them put just a little bit. Even with just a little the gyro was full of flavor. They also have hot sauce too. That is really good, but grab a cup of water because it’s on the spicy side.
Overall, it was a delicious quick meal.

I’ve been lacking in the Mediterranean and Greek Department for my taste buds. So I decided to reconnect with that side.
Also honestly I was getting hangry as well. I decided to stop by Ayola since it was closer and had more reviews than the other place across the street and I’m glad I did.
I asked the cashier what’s the most popular item which is their gyros but he said his personal favorite is the chicken shawarma so I decided to go with that. We also ordered falafels as well.
The service was nice and the food came out fast. The food was really good although I would like a bit more seasoning with my food. The hot sauce they have is spicy and delicious. The falafels were super crunchy on the outside but soft on the inside and it wasn’t like 50% batter or anything. It was like 99.99% batter so you could taste the filling inside.
If you’re ever by Kearny or China Town area check them out for the perfect lunch spot!

The gyros meat was quite dry. There was nothing special about the salad or the pita bread. The only thing that surprised me in a good way was that the fries were quite crispy.

The fries at this place are *ridiculously* good. I often tell others that I would make a second trip to this place to get an order of their fries to go along with a sandwich or burger that I purchased somewhere else — they are really that good (and, don’t forget the sauce). They always think I’m joking, but I’m really not.
Weird as it seems, I really like the «Hortopita». I am not a vegetarian: this is just a really tasty roasted eggplant and salad-​ish mix rolled into a pita that I really like, especially when coupled with their most excellent fries.

I am shocked that I haven’t written a review of this place yet! I go here at least once a week! They have a sign out front that says they have the best fries in town and they aren’t joking. They practically melt in your mouth. And the hot sauce that goes with it is perfect to dunk them into. The salads are a good portion and not over priced. The gyro meat is great on them but the chicken is tasty as well. The place is small so it can get packed but they go really fast so you aren’t waiting for more than a couple of minutes.

Ayola is a small little place with reasonably priced food. Because the furnishing is old and the cramp seating arrangement, I couldn’t really eat my gyro comfortably. I just wanted to eat and get out.
Also, I ordered a 7 inch gyro but noticed the cashier charged me for a 9 inch. When I told the cashier about it, she said, «Don’t worry, we put in your order for the 7 inch» and I still paid for the 9 inch. When my order came, I got the 7 inch. Which by the way tasted like a chicken caesar salad but with a different type of dressing.
I’ll probably come back another time and order something else on the menu to see how the food is.

The lamb/​beef gyro is so dank. Must be the hot sauce, so addicting!
Also has fast service during the busy lunch hour.

I had a Gyro Platter.
The meat was quite good. The Salad was good as well.
The sauces were not bad but less «garlicy» than I’m used to from Mediterranean restaurants in Montréal.
Overall, it was good! If I’m in SF again and have hankering for Mediterranean food, I know where to go.

My favorite is the Troy salad. Such good Gyro meat without the mess of a wrap! The salad itself isn’t anything to write home about — lettuce, some feta cheese, onions, a couple tomatoes and a couple of olives. But like I said, the meat is so good you don’t need fancy toppings.
Also, they’re fast during the lunch hour which is sometimes all you need on a work day.

OK so I was craving for something light (like fries) and my director and several coworkers recommended me this spot. I looked them up, saw the menu, looked at reviews and pictures and BAM! Forced myself to be a little hungrier so I can get a wrap also.
Place is small but it didn’t need anymore room. Waiting for the food while smelling everything… ooweee! Hunger!
Got myself a 7 inch Chicken Shawarma *spicy* with fries. Oh man. Blown away.
The shawarma was goooood! It’ll get a lil messy though but luckily I was eating it at a empty desk at work. It is HOT. Temp wise. Spicy level on point. I’m currently sweating right now (love spicy food… my body doesn’t). Sauce on point. Everything on point in it.
Fries: damn… its good! This was the item that my director told me about. Legit! Currently dipping it in the hot sauce.
Whoever said the good stuff about the sauce: you are correct. Its good!
All in all… I will be back!

Solid lunch spot on our office lunch list. I’ve gotten delivery from Ayola several times through DoorDash and usually bounce back and forth between either the chicken shawarma or a combo platter.
Recommend:
CHICKEN SHAWARMA is offered in either 7″ or 9″. I always get the 7″ but I also spring for the fries + soda combo. The fries are crispy outside and soft on the inside. I usually can’t finish the whole meal because of the fries so I would save half of the shawarma for a late afternoon snack. Yay! Be forewarned that it gets messy eating this since they don’t skimp on the chicken so have a fork or fingers ready to pick up the aftermath of your chicken falling off your shawarma.
COMBO PLATTER is a great way to get a bunch of sides as samplers. I think they have a set combo platter that has: hummus, dolmas, eggplant salad, falafel, and tzatziki sauce. AND it comes with pita bread. I also believe there is baba ganoush in the combo but it isn’t listed on the menu. Really good deal if you’re too indecisive to pick and choose items. It’s also a great value since there’s at least 5 items. After trying the combo once, on my second time, I decided to do a choose my own 4-​item platter to try out the spanakopita, tabouleh salad, baklava, and falafel (again!).
Reviewing the sides alone (from most favorite to least):
–Baklava: Delicious dessert that is flaky on top and sweet in the middle.
–Spanakopita: Very flaky pastry with a savory spinach filling.
–Falafel: Excellent. Crispy outside and flavorful inside. I like to dip it in the tzatziki sauce.
–Baba ganoush: Slightly smoky flavor. Good to eat on its own.
–Dolmas: I like the inside filling but the outside had a tad too much lemon juice.
–Eggplant salad: Alright. Only enjoyed the eggplant.
–Hummus: Average. But to be fair, I was full from the rest of the combo platter.
–Tabouleh salad: Tasted rather plain to me but if you love parsley, then it’s your salad.

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 2^nd 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!

Este lugar de cocina griega está cerquísima de mi oficina. Así que, cuando vi que me tocaba liderar a uno de los grupos de comida que formamos cuando estamos de visita en San Francisco, busqué a ver qué opciones teníamos cercanas. Y el Ayola era una que complacía a todo el mundo.
El sitio es chiquitísimo, y es relativamente fácil pasárselo, así que permanece atento mientras caminas por la acera. Aunque hay un par de mesas dentro, hace un calor terrorífico, así que lo mejor es que trates de pedir para llevar.
Es un restaurante griego, así que encontrarás comida rápida semejante a la turca. Yo pedí el gyro y la verdad es que estaba absolutamente delicioso.

Ayola is a great, quick lunch go-​to in SOMA. I usually go for a chicken gyros. Their french fries ARE that good, but I try to stay away from french fries in general.
You can also order ahead and pick-​up when you’re ready on Eat24 and Order Ahead.

Finally found it again! I ate here once before and loved it. It’s a lot less busy at 10:30 am compared to 1:30, but the food and service are just as great.

A solid to-​go lunch spot with fast service, it’s easy to get in and out in 5 – 10 minutes, even in the middle of the lunch rush, when it seems to be jam-​packed, but things keep moving!
The falafel is a great choice, and I like that I can get a smaller sandwich if I want. The fries are amazeballs, and are my downfall when trying to go for a healthyish lunch.

Ayola’s chicken gyro twice in one week? Yup.
Just be warned, the handhelds are messy, so make sure you have lots of napkins when consuming!
The spot is strictly take-​out, but there’s a park nearby where you can enjoy your food when the weather permits, or just take it back to the office like I did. I highly suggest you order your food ahead of time as the line tends to wrap outside the small eatery right around. Eat24 lets you choose, pay and tip all in a quick transaction with your food being ready for pick-​up a short time after. Super convenient.
Back to the gyro. It comes in two sizes, 7″ or 9″. The first time around I went for the smaller portion and regretted my decision quickly after. It’s filled with lettuce, tzatziki sauce and a nice heap of tender chicken and surrounded by a giant piece of pita bread and served in a piece of foil. Because they don’t skimp, once you take your initial bite, things begin to fall out if you’re not careful. This is not a bad thing, but just have a fork nearby to pick up the remnants or you’ll look like a caveman scooping up leftovers with your fingers. I did just that in front of my co-​workers, but couldn’t let anything go to waste.
If chicken isn’t your things, they have a beef, lamb, vegetarian and eggplant versions available for the choosing as well. Someone said I had to order the fries, but I haven’t had the opportunity to try them yet. I guess it calls for another trip to Ayola for lunch before I leave!

Used Eat24 from their Unilocal business page for the first time and set a large order for pick up for myself and 4 other colleagues. Placed and paid for the order with ease from their Unilocal page and by the time we took the elevator to the main floor and walked ½ a block over the meal was basically ready to go — so convenient.
We ordered an array of items but I was looking for something fast and simple, and given the positive reviews for the Gyros (pronounced Yee-​ros) I went with the standard Beef/​Lamb Gyro in the large size (9 inches) and have to say it definitely hit the spot. Nice amount of met and tzatziki sauce, good tomatoes, not too much onion and the right amount of lettuce.
All around a SUPER quick, convenient, and delicious lunch option
Eatcrest Out!

Soooo lecker & frisch! Ein Kollege hat mich in die schmackhafte Welt von Ayola eingeführt. Ich muss sagen meine Falafel und das Gyros meines Kollegen haben uns die Mittagspause sehr genießen lassen.
Einzig das etwas längere Warten könnte man noch optimieren.