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Ayola

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

Order Ayola Takeout or Delivery

Ayola Photos

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AYOLA ATMOSPHERE

What's the vibe?
Moderate noise
Casual
Outdoor seating
Good for kids

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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.

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).

Yan Z.

The best gyro and salad in SF! Not really a salad person, but here it is so good and fresh and the gyro meat is amazing. Their cherry tomatoes are super sweet, their cucumbers are the crunchy variety with the NOT waxy skin, and their lettuce is always so fresh. Their pita bread is also very good even though it's nothing something they make in house.

Gyro Pita

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1 month ago

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2 years ago

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3 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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Ayola - greek - Updated May 2026

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