Ela may refer to (Hellas), the ancient Greek name for their homeland. It is derived from the mythological figure Hellen, the ancestor of the Greek people. Ela is a strip mall, small Greek eatery that serves slow, fast food. Meaning some of the more complex foods are prepared ahead of time and rewarmed. Courteous service where you belly up to the counter, order, and pick up. There are a few tables, but mostly a take out joint. 1) Spanakopita; Only top layer of very thin, multi-layered philo dough is light, crispy. Rest of the layers stick together and is gummy. Filling seems to be slightly gamey Feta goat cheese that has a heavy Philadelphia cream cheese consistency & blanched spinach. I've had an excellent home made version that was airy and light with most of the multi-layered Philo being crispy. More spinach to lighten up the cheese blend. The extra touch was high quality butter brushed on the Spanakopita at the very end to add perfume. 2) Lamb Gyro: The roasted lamb was subtly gamey, extra hard and chewy as though it were over cooked. There was refreshing lettuce, cucumber, tomato, onion. Opted for the Tzatziki (tsah tsee kee) which is a yogurt-cucumber sauce. All wrapped by a grilled, thick, soft, slightly sweetened Pita flat bread 3) Moussaka: It's similar to a Lasagna since it is multi-layered, but instead of flat pasta, slices of eggplant are used along with zucchini, potato. Hint of nutmeg. Béchamel sauce is the binding element. Unfortunately, most of the texture was gummy, and the flavours didn't have a satisfying Umami. 4) Baklava: There was a soapy, off taste that ruined this usually light, flaky, nut, honey, sugar syrup, Philo pastry based dessert. Eaten on February 24, 2026. 5) Zagori Sparkling Mineral Water: Well carbonated to add a refreshing acidity. First time having great Greek water. I had high hopes this may have had the same owner as long gone Inotheke in Santa Monica where the food was great. When I mentioned Inotheke to an amiable server, she had no idea of a connection. Unfortunately, the food at Ela often lacks a depth of fine flavours as well as cooking technique that doesn't complement the food. 3-stars read more

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This continues to be one of my favorite spots in the neighborhood. Their bowls and gyros are decently priced and the quality that goes into the ingredients and preparation are noticeable. I try to pick up a lamb, rice and tahini bowl almost every week. Everything including the salad with it is always perfectly cooked and flavored. The restaurant is clean and the staff is friendly. Pretty much the perfect strip mall hole in the wall. read more

I've been coming here for over a year now and this place is just so good and authentic and everything is made with such clean ingredients. Even when I am on a restrictive diet I can come here and enjoy. I really love it so so much! read more

Ela is consistently great for takeouts. The food and service quality speak for themselves.

Best Greek spot on the Westside !!! Insanely good, the avgolemono soup, Greek salad and gyro are to die for!! And this is coming from a Greek girl read more

Their beef brisket gyro is delicious! And, the falafel is good. The spanakopita was a bit disappointing. The filo-dough was not flaky and the spinach was nonexistent. It was basically a cheese turnover. I am looking forward to trying their bowls and salads. read more

Delicious food, lovely staff. My partner and I are regulars here now because it's so tasty!

I really wanted to like my lunch but if I hadn't ordered Mousaka I wouldn't have known what it was. I received a plate of mushy something with 3 times too much sauce. The quality was good and the flavors were correct but there was so much sauce it was almost inedible. I tried to enjoy it because I spent $19.85 for a portion of something. I could see eggplant and ground beef but honestly, it was disgusting. I like Greek food and love Mousaka. But the owners have to pay attention to their products. It's sad that this bowl of slug was called Mousaka. Very sad. read more

God bless this place !! Came here during my lunch break . First time eating a lamb Greek sandwich! To start of , I got greeted with joy and kindness. Placed my order took a bite & then boom all the flavors exploded in my mouth ! Out of the nowhere my Wednesday didn't seem so bad. Every bite was fresh and soo good! Will be back ! read more

Ela Greek Eats - Lamb Sandwich - Greek Near Me - Venice, California

Best Chicken Gyro in memory. Very nice service. Has only 3 tables but it wasn't crowded because it was after 1 pm. read more

So good! Delicious Mediterranean/Greek food near LMU and Otis College of Art and Design. It's a very small spot in a strip mall. There are a few small tables inside and a small bar area for a quick bite and go. The staff is super nice and accommodating to help you choose the best items. It is reasonably priced and a must go to if you're in the area looking for a good meal. read more

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Ella Greek is one of those places that is unassumingly amazing. It's located at a strip mall off a busy street and one could easily be deceived into thinking this is a place that would be just another Greek restaurant in a strip mall. But you would be wrong. Ella Greek is probably some of the best Greek food I've experienced in a long time. The first time I asked what the cashier recommended and when she responded in a thick Greek accent my expectations rose. Thankfully, they were still met. I've since tried the chicken options which are great, but I can't stop myself from ordering the lamb gyro/bowl moving forward. Everything from the pita, to the meat, and tzatziki is top notch and a total treat for a decent price. If you're in the area looking for some high quality Mediterranean food - this is the spot. read more

This was our first visit, and we ordered quite a spread: gigantes, the salmon bowl with quinoa pilgouri salad and tahini, the shaved beef brisket bowl with rice and tzatziki, the lamb gyro with tahini (though it came with tzatziki instead), the traditional Greek salad, Greek lemon potatoes, moussaka, chicken avgolemono soup, spanakopita, and baklava. It was definitely more food than we needed for four people, but we were eager to try as much as possible. Overall, everything was fantastic, and I would gladly order it all again--except for the soup. Three out of four of us found it too sour. I've had avgolemono soup before and, based on the reviews, I was expecting it to be my favorite, but it missed the mark. The restaurant has limited parking outside and a cozy amount of seating inside. There's no restroom available, so keep that in mind if you plan to dine in. The service was warm and accommodating; we requested hot water, which isn't typically offered, but they made it work for us. The food was excellent, though on the pricier side. If you're looking for ambiance, however, this may not be the place, as the focus is clearly on the food. read more

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I had the Greek bowl tonight with quinoa and the chopped Greek salad. It was excellent. They've changed the salad with the Greek bowls. It has lots of sliced cherry sized tomatoes, and fine chopped cucumbers, An excellent improvement! So fresh and tasty. read more

Ela Greek Eats - Chicken Excohiko - Greek Near Me - Venice, California

AMAZING greek food in Venice! Such a great option for lunch or dinner take-out. Friendly staff and delicious options. Food is ready very quickly and great prices! I enjoyed the falafel platter - the falafel was the perfect amount of moist and flavorful, the hummus and other accoutrements were all so delicious. My partner enjoyed the Lamb Gyro and was impressed with how delicious it was as well! Will absolutely be ordering from Ela again and recommending it to all of our friends in the area. read more

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I don't post many reviews. But I've been coming to this place for 6 years or so. I went in today and spoke with Carlos. I had already ordered, and I was talking about how great the lemon potatoes are, but that I'm trying to lose a couple lbs. He insisted I take some on the house. I can't say no to that. I wasn't expecting that sort of generosity, nor did I deserve it to be frank. But I'm happy I have em. This place has the best Greek food in Venice. I'm not saying it because of his generosity, but for the fact that it is the best. Pita, the best. Beef gyro, the best. Lemon potatoes, the best around(not even close). Local business and owner....the best. Thank you! For the past 6 years.... read more

Ela Greek Eats - Beef gyro and lemon potatoes - Greek Near Me - Venice, California

Incredible! My gf is Greek, grew up on her mom's(born and raised in Greece) traditional Greek cooking, has spent a lot of time in Greece, she couldn't believe how could this place was! And the service was great, really cool place read more

One of our favorite places to order take out from. High quality, fresh ingredients, good portion size, delicious. Love the lamb bowl. I'm not even a quinoa fan but their quinoa is so good. Black eyed peas are delicious. Spanakopita is really solid. All the sauces are great. I hope it's open forever! read more

10/10 beef bowl with white rice and the sesame sauce Service was chill They opened 30 mins early read more

Ela Greek Eats - Greek Near Me - Venice, California

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Do yourself a favor. Get the lamb here. In a bowl. In a salad. In a wrap. On the side. Just get it in some capacity. Those slow roasted, juicy, tender, and mouth watering flavors make the lamb the undeniable option at Ela. The chicken bowl with rice was also solid (I just added my side of lamb to that bowl). The rice and veggies were fresh and had nice, authentic, zesty spices. And the chicken was pretty good. But next time, I'll just get double lamb. The lamb stole the show. Ela's also has that hole-in-the-wall type charm. More of a to-go spot with its lack of space, but there are a few seats and tables inside if you choose to dine in. I wouldn't recommend dining in with more than 3 people here though. An excellent option for a healthy, fresh, and authentic meal. I'll for sure be back! read more

Ela Greek Eats - Chicken Bowls, Side Lamb, Roasted Beet Salad - Greek Near Me - Venice, California

Some friends came from Greece and wanted to try the chicken gyro. I warned them that it was tasteless and nothing compared to Greece. And boy I was right, I didn't eat anything thank God cause I already ate from this hole. But my friends were laughing just taking a first bite. Mint in the tzatziki? baby tomatoes with no taste? And $16 for a gyro is a complete joke. read more

Normally you don't get such high quality food and interesting flavors at a fast casual. This place is next level. We get the beef brisket gyro at least once a week and the avgolemono soup is some of the best I've had (including in Greece). The Greek salad is insanely good as well. Tomatoes are pure magic. read more

Decided to try this place out as I love Greek food and it is right next door to Wholefoods and my local smoke shop. So glad I stopped in! The food here is delicious and is very quickly made - I was in and out in 5 minutes. I got the lamb bowl with quinoa and tahini sauce and it was impeccable, bursting with flavor. The lamb was diced nicely and had the most perfect crunch to it. Can't wait to come back. read more

Ela Greek Eats - Lamb bowl with quinoa - Greek Near Me - Venice, California

I am very dissatisfied and disappointed. I ordered their Lamb Youvesti, and unfortunately the lamb was rotten. The smell was just unbearable. I don't know how the chef and the cashier were okay with serving me this smelly food. Then comes the gigantes, you cannot mess that one up. However, they've given me barely any. I could count the amount of beans I was given. I mean come on it's beans, fill the plate up. Sorry to say, this will be my last time to order from there. read more

Ela Greek Eats - Gigantes - Greek Near Me - Venice, California

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I love this place so much. It's pretty tiny but never real crowded inside. I think the wait for the meal isn't very long either. I'll come on my lunch hour and never have waited more than a few minutes for my meal. I love their Lamb gyro. Some much fresh veggies, banging flavors, and a lot of meat. It's somewhat higher price but still very filling and amazing flavor. I like how consistently good their food, ingredients and service is. And will I be back? Indubitably read more

Ela Greek Eats - Shredded Lamb Gyro Sandwich Ela Fries - Greek Near Me - Venice, California

Came here for a casual dinner on a Thursday night. I'd been wanting to try Ela Greek Eats for awhile and the food didn't disappoint. The ambiance here is very casual. It's a small storefront in a strip meal in Venice. There is street parking nearby and a car park where Ela is situated, although with very few spaces. The food is cheap and cheerful (most things are under $20). I got the falafel bowl the first time I came, which included falafel, salad, quinoa, and assorted vegetables drizzled with a yoghurt sauce. The falafel was well made and everything was fresh and went well together. My husband got the chicken shawarma, which he enjoyed. We also shared the lemon potatoes, which were delicious and satisfying. They have a sign that says there is no public bathroom for customers, so it's best not to eat here. The ambiance is very casual; it's more of a spot where you eat quickly and leave. Service here is friendly. Would recommend this spot if you're wanting cheap, somewhat healthy food, and want to get takeaway. read more

Ela Greek Eats - Falafel Bowl - Greek Near Me - Venice, California

Delicious food! I got a gyro with lamb and it was so delicious that I can't wait to have it again next time. Fast service and great recommendations on the menu. Very chill place. Not noisy at all! read more

Ela Greek Eats - Greek Near Me - Venice, California

Excellent! No wonder the high reviews. Fresh, fast service. They don't have a lot of the traditional Greek dishes but they have enough of the staples. Little too salty but otherwise really delicious. read more

Delicious food, quick service, fair prices. Highly recommend if you want a casual spot for Mediterranean.

This place is in a really random plaza, so it is truly a gem. Very delicious! We accidentally ordered the chicken, but they're known for the lamb, so we ordered a side of lamb, and the portion is so big. I wish I took a photo of it. The bowl was really good, I really liked the salad that comes in the bowl. The citrisy flavors really compliment the sauce they use and the meats. If I lived near the area, I can see my self ordering from here very often! read more

Ela Greek Eats - Greek Near Me - Venice, California

Ela is one of my go-to lunch spots. Pretty simple and healthy menu. I've become one of their regulars this year because of the healthy food, and quick and efficient service. Even if you go there and order, your food will be ready in 5mins. There are a few tables inside but it's not suitable for a big group. It's also very clean inside! Parking is available. read more

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If you like Gyros and Mediterranean food! Look no further. This has been my spot for years for Lamb Gyros! Oh my God, the taste of the crackle and the flavor with the yogurt sauce, and all the vegetables on a nice warm pita is absolute heaven! Go here you need this! read more

Very filling bowl and very healthy! Gotten it delivered so many times and decided to come in and was surprised with how small it was but was in and out! read more

best gyro i've ever had!!! shop is cute (though seating is limited). food is fresh, service is fast, hummus is thoroughly seasoned, gyro is loaded. absolutely coming back. read more

Ela Greek Eats - Shredded Lamb Gyro Sandwich - Greek Near Me - Venice, California

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Best bowl in Los Angeles, lamb with quinoa and tzatziki. Wowwwwwwwwwww, can't believe this place is not always full. read more

The greek salad was excellent. Dressing great, feta, olives tomatoes & peppers cut big. All fresh flavorful, delicious and nutritious. My friend enjoyed her gyro I had ordered and had stood inside waiting on the salad for like 3 minutes, then the girl asked me to put a mask on, and I didnt and I waited outside instead. Though she should've asked me to put it on as I walked in or before I ordered, not 5 minutes later and make the customer uncomfortable. Simple menu. Clean. Cool interior. Food good. Just the Mask rationale is arbitrary. read more

Ela Greek Eats - Greek Near Me - Venice, California

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Ela Greek Eats is one of the places I have not patronized since the pandemic hit, so I made it a point to get some curbside food and check in on how they were doing. I was relieved to find they are busy with several people waiting, picking up, or ordering at 1pm during a weekday. Everyone behind the counter wore masks, but depending on the clientele, some were not spaced and some were. I got the falafel bowl with tzatziki and quinoa and salad, that ended up being my favorite of all the items I ordered! The salad was fresh and the falafel were light and crisp. The spanakopita was very good, with flakey filo and a spinach and feta filling. The chicken exohiko was drier than the last time I ate it here, with less mushrooms, carrots, and celery, and more chicken, slivered nuts and pesto. The chicken itself was moist, but I preferred the creamier version they served pre pandemic. The moussaka was redolent with nutmeg and spices, a comfort food if ever there was one, topped with bechamel and potatoes, filled with eggplant and zucchini. This was easily enough for 2 servings. read more

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Great food, friendly staff, sparkling clean, convenient locaion (just far enough from the beach to not be slammed 24/7). Highly recommended!

This place is amazing. The chicken bowl. Falafel bowl. Lemon potatoes. Greek salad. Spanokopita. Omg so so good! There's not a whole lot of seating so usually I call in about 15-20 mins before then pick up and eat at home with a good movie! Highly recommend read more

LAMB GYRO melted in my mouth Xtra Tzakiki cuz I'm Xtra Dont complain about the price, it's in a nice little plaza with some parking in expensive rent and high quality food that tastes decadent! read more