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Leo's Taverna Express

4.0 (235 reviews)
InexpensiveGreek, Mediterranean
Closed • 10:30 am - 6:30 pm
Updated 3 months ago

Leo's Taverna Express Photos

Business Info

LEO'S TAVERNA EXPRESS ATMOSPHERE

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

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Recommended Reviews - Leo's Taverna Express

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Gyro sandwich.
GLENN F.

Just delicious and made to order. Cousin Debbie has been taking about Leo's for years. But today was the first time I ate there and it was delicious. Lots of meat, lots of lettuce and onions, Greek sauce on a soft tasty pita bread! We ordered the set meal that included French Fries with a tasty salted seasoning, and a drink! For $15.00 a deal. Try it out tell me how satisfied you are after. Thanks Leo I'll be back.

Part of the Menu as of January 2024
Rachael K.

If you're in the mood for Greek food, Leo's Taverna Express is a convenient place for a solid gyro. TIP: CASH ONLY! Make sure you take cash. [Location] Leo's Taverna Express is in front of Don Quixote. Parking is free and usually easy to find, though some times are much busier than others. [Service] The several times I've visited, there has been a super friendly gentleman that worked alone. He is very welcoming and quick at his job. I was surprised when two young women greeted me on my most recent visit this month. I was a little nervous the food wouldn't be as good, but I was ready to eat. Regardless of who is working, I find that the staff is kind and helpful. [Food] I usually get the gyro value meal. Since my initial visit, prices have been steadily climbing. I don't hold it against this business because inflation! I still think the food is worth the price point. Why the dock of 1 star? The food didn't taste the same on my most recent visit. The fries didn't have that lovely slightly-feta-cheesy Greek flair. They tasted of salt. The texture was perfect though! The pita bread may have changed as well. It is larger, and the portion was quite generous but it didn't taste as good nor was it as soft. The meat wasn't as flavorful either. Overall though, I will continue to support Leo's Taverna Express! The food is pretty good, as it the customer experience.

Outside
S M.

Today I got to try the Gyro Plate and it tasted good and healthy. Nice people working there also.

12-4-23 menu board
Scot U.

Pretty good Gyros! Located outside in the food court area at Ala Moana Don Quixote. A take out kiosk but after ordering, you can sit at the numerous tables tight next to it. Ordered the #1 Gyro Sandwich (my first time eating here), and it was totally fine. Tasty and filling. With a can of soda, the total was just under $13. Seem to be a popular place as there is a constant stream of people arriving and ordering food! My food came in under 5 minutes wait by Leo, the hard working one man show! Support the small businesses like these and at the same time, bring some joy to our tummies! :D

Located outside of Don Quijote
Charity L.

Quick service Greek food located outside of Don Quijote. Called in my order of a gyro combo($13) and picked it up about 15 minutes later with no wait. Their combo is totally worth it. For $13 you get, fries, gyro, and canned drink. There's so much fries and the gyro is pretty large that I couldn't even finish all of it. It's a one man operation that works pretty efficiently but if you're in a rush or don't feel like possibly waiting in line I'd recommend you call in your order.

Wina G.

Kiosk outside of the Keheka Don Quixote food court. We used go sometimes go to the downtown one but this location much more convenient. It's a one man show so you'll have to wait a bit for the food. The menu offers gyros sandwiches, falafel, moussaka, chicken, spanakopita and other yummy items. We like to get a gyros sandwich for a quick take away but today we got the moussaka plate $14.55 Nice helping of layered eggplant topped with a béchamel sauce, rice pilaf, green salad, hummus and a pita. The béchamel was a little bland but the moussaka made up for it. Hubby and I shared- it was just right. Good place to fulfill your hankering for Greek food!

#6. Gyros Plate
Liz W.

Ordered take away through a food delivery service. Delivered fast, order was accurate. The lamb plate is delicious - piled high with meat, rice and a great hummus. The side salad was ok - I am not a fan of the bottled store bought ranch, but what can ya do? The tzatziki sauce made up for it. Light, refreshing and tasty. I would definitely order from Leo's again.

Jaimie S.

It's been here for years!!! I don't usually make my way around this side but when I do I always try to get a Gyro from Leo's. The flavor is perfect with loaded meat and perfect amount of sauce. The veggies in the sandwhich are also always fresh. The customer service is mediocre. But the speed of service is good, they get the food out pretty quick. It's a small stand alone shop in front of Don Quixote, there are so many different foods in the area. Parking is limited in front but there is also parking across the street in the parking lot. It's a simple gyro sandwhich, but it's very tasty. Don't knock it til you try it.

View from the parking lot
Nadine C.

Lunch in Honolulu, Hawaii... There are so many food vendors outside of Don Quijote on Kaheka Street. Leo's Taverna Express is one of them. Serving up Greek Cuisine, I waited in shared outdoor seating area until Leo's opened at 10:30am. When the window of the kiosk opened, I ordered a Gyro Sandwich. In no time, the young man handed me a foil covered package and I took a seat. The meat was tender and served hot. The fresh veggies were crunchy. The sauce was mild and creamy. The pita held everything together well. Overall, it was okay. Maybe it needed more flavor? Maybe I should have ordered the moussaka, baklava, or spanakopita? It's very convenient - not like driving out to Hawaii Kai, Kailua, or Kahala for Greek food. ...and the shared parking lot is free - not like downtown. So, I'll probably be back!

High quality authentic baklava with pistachios
Carina R.

The best place on the island to get authentic high quality baklava. Truly can't find any other restaurant that make it like them

Falafel plate, Came with Pita Bread

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Reviews are generally positive. Many highlight the gyro sandwiches, generous portions, and friendly service.

Read the full review summary in the app

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Ask the Community - Leo's Taverna Express

I just called no one answered so we drove there and they are closed. Did this location close down?

Not closed. Hours are Daily - 1030am to 630pm

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3.9(305 reviews)
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We got the recommendation to come here through IG! For starters, we ordered the Bocconcino Whipped…read moreBurrata. My husband ordered the Grilled Day Boat Scallops and I ordered the Greek Salad with a side of Brussels Sprouts for our entrees. The Bocconcino Whipped Burrata was a recommendation from our waitress and this was my favorite dish! So thankful she recommended it. I have never had anything like it before. The dip is made from roasted beets, walnuts, and pomegranate molasses. Because it was whipped, the texture was so light. It was perfect. The Greek Salad and Brussels Sprouts were only ok. I did not expect there to be as many tomatoes as there were and I wasn't really a fan of it for the price. My husband enjoyed the scallops and he recommends giving it a try. TLDR: definitely get the Bocconcino Whipped Burrata!

Amazing food for Hawaii but just a tad pricey. We had 6 people and ordered the spread you see…read moreaanddd they took of the cost of the octopus and pasta but the total bill came close to $700 with 2 drinks. Parking is free w validation for 3 hours on the second floor of the building. Servers were helpful except a bit forgetful since they forgot both our Octopus and pasta until we asked. And also forgot that we came for our bday celebration even though we said it on our online reservations and also when we came in to be seated. The spread of humus tasted amazing especially the beets and barrata one. Portions were on the smaller side but we were all pretty stuffed with all that we ordered for 6 adults. Ambiance was nice as well and we sat fairly comfortably.

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Roots And Greens

4.5(125 reviews)
0.3 mi•Ala Moana
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Went to eat in food court last night and wanted to eat healthy so looked about and saw Roots and…read moreGreens and read the reviews and decided to give it a try. Two young guys were behind the counter and I was their only customer. Not knowing the routine, I asked and the guy said to pick my base and said I could have half rice and half greens, which I went with. I then had 4 choices so added pickled onions, eggs, hummus, and a tomato salad. Then added on dressing. When I asked if I got the protein as a part of it, I was told yes, so I chose the steak. It was a huge salad and everything was fresh and will last me for several days. The reason I am taking off a star and giving 4 instead of 5 is because I was charged extra for the protein which should have been explained. With my tip it was $23. I will go back though, it was very good. But the people dishing up the food should offer more explanations.

First of all I'm really glad this addition was added to the food court because there are limited…read morehealthy options and Roots and Greens provides some refreshing new options. I want this place to stick around! That being said I did not really like my meal. I want to believe it's on me for choosing the wrong combo but I had a couple of issues. First, at least when I went, the rice was sitting out in a separate dish and was room temperature. I would like the rice to at least be warm, even better if it had some fragrant flavor like saffron rice should but I didn't taste it. Second, I got the falafel, which is something best served fresh or it gets dried out, unfortunately it was very dry even when dipping in the tzatziki so I did not finish it. The harissa sauce mixed with tzatziki was really good so I'm hopeful that a fresh and hot falafel with warm rice would have been much better than what I had today. Willing to try again. The staff was young but sweet and helpful, no complaints there.

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Yamas Mediterranean Cuisine - Super gyro with lamb

Yamas Mediterranean Cuisine

4.3(661 reviews)
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I am so glad that we finally visited Yamas; it is located in the Enchanted Lake Shopping Center in…read moreKailua with lots of free parking. The restaurant is super clean and spacious, and they play some awesome classic rock music. You order and pay at the counter and they will bring you the food; the lady at the counter was extremely friendly and very efficient. You need to bus your own table when you're done, just place the used dishes, glasses and utensils in the labeled plastic tubs, not a big deal at all. Now, the food is the star. We order baba ganoush with pita, super gyro with zucchini fries, and a soup and salad combo. The baba ganoush was so delicious, and the pita was warm and soft. The super gyro has so much yummy meat in it that the pita can hardly hold them, and the zucchini fries were crispy and not oily. It also comes with a couple really good tzatziki sauces. My wife really enjoyed the avgolemono (lemon and chicken) soup and greek salad. She was so pleased with the combo that she had to order an extra takeout combo for her friend to try. On top of all that, we finished our great meal with a baklava sundae; two fresh crispy baklava pastries with a scoop of vanilla ice cream drizzled with cinnamon and honey. This desert is a must order. The restaurant is mixed in with a lot of other restaurants and shops in a large strip mall, so it maybe easy to miss. The prices are really reasonable and the portions are good. If you like Mediterranean food; this is the place. You will love it.

My wife enjoyed our meal at Yama's a couple of days ago and really enjoyed the food. We started…read morewith the dalmas (stuffed grape leaves), which had good flavor while a bit too mushy for our taste. We each ordered gyros. My wife also had garlic fries and I had the baba ganoush. We also both added on the spanakopitas, which are huge, and the flaky pastry was amazing. The fries we cooked well with a crisp outside and a soft, fluffy inside. The only suggestion might be to sauté the garlic as it was a bit strong. The gyros had soft pita bread and meat very flavorful with perfect tsatziki sauce. I do want to add as a person close to many blind individuals, I know businesses are allowed to ask two questions about SERVICE animals: (1) is the dog a service animal required because of a disability, and (2) what work or task has the dog been trained to perform (copied directly from the the ada.gov website). Based on another reviewer (who gave 1 star), the restaurant asked the correct (legal) question. They should be complimented for following the law.

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Ruscello at Nordstrom

Ruscello at Nordstrom

4.1(1.2k reviews)
0.5 mi•Ala Moana
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The calamari was so crispy and the tomato bisque was delicious. Indoor and some outdoor seating…read moreafter a big shopping day at Nordstrom! Located on the 3rd floor. Met here with some friends while at Ala Moana and this is a great spot for a quick bite or a full meal! They've got burgers, sandwiches, salads, and pasta entrees as well. We ended it with the brownie sundae and it was delicious. The chocolate syrup came separate and you can drizzle it over yourself! So fun. Service was great and they were attentive with a great ambiance around to make you feel comfortable. Will be back when I'm shopping at Ala Moana next time!

Husband and I used to go to Nordstrom cafe back in the day. Their tomato basil bisque is so…read moredelicious that we keep coming back for more. Too bad they don't have the fresh baked cookies anymore, those were lit! Reservations through open table was quick but reservation times limited around dinner. Since it's been so hot, I'm glad we were seated indoors. We had gotten seated around 6:15pm and enjoyed the beautiful sunset over the park. Anyway, we ordered the crispy Brussels sprouts for a starter and I had the bisque. The sprouts were definitely crispy and stayed that way even as we made our way through the entrees. I ordered a plantation iced tea and the server kept filling it up, nice touch as I wasn't expecting it. I know the old cafe did but in this day and age where everything is so expensive.. you go Nordstrom! I ordered the chicken parm and my husband ordered the special, beef sandwich with some kind of blueberry compote. He enjoyed it and I took home half my chicken since I was full by the time I ate half. Weak sauce, I know. Back in the day I would have scarfed the whole thing down. Overall, enjoyable experience that we know we'll continue to go over the next years.

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What a hidden gem! How did I not know about this place sooner?! Vibe was chill and casual…read more Being on vacation, it was so nice to find amazing Persian food right here in Honolulu. Everything was fresh, delicious, and full of flavor. The service was great, and the staff was super sweet and welcoming. We ordered the Gheymeh, Ghormeh Sabzi, beef & lamb kabob, and chicken jujeh kabob--and all I can say is... the plates were CLEAN! Every single thing was delicious. And I can't forget the salad and that dressing! So good! I will definitely be back whenever I'm in Honolulu. If you're looking for really good Persian/Middle Eastern food, Bar Koko is a MUST! Highly recommend.

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4.2(1.2k reviews)
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A Birthday Brunch to Remember at Orchids…read more Came back to Orchids to celebrate a milestone birthday, and what a beautiful experience it was. The oceanfront setting with breathtaking views of Diamond Head is hard to beat. Halekulani's service is impeccable from the moment you arrive on the property and step out of your car. Genuine aloha hospitality at its finest. Now, let's talk about the food! I always scope out all the stations first to strategize how I can try as many things as possible. There's a salad bar, sushi, poke and sashimi bar, made-to-order hand roll station, seafood station, assorted pastries, carving station with ham, turkey, and prime rib, whole kalua pig, paella, omelet station, dessert station, and ice cream bar. And I'm sure I'm forgetting a few things! The service throughout brunch was exceptional. Our servers checked on us regularly, refolded our napkins whenever we left the table, and made sure our glasses were never empty. It's those little touches that make the experience feel special. There was also a pianist playing live music. As I happened to walk past, he started playing "Happy Birthday." It was almost as if he knew. That little moment filled my heart, while all the delicious food filled my tummy. Go find yourself a reason to celebrate and make a reservation for Sunday brunch at Orchids. Some experiences are worth treating yourself to.

My absolute favorite restaurant on planet Earth. I have been going to this restaurant since I was a…read morelittle girl. The service is the best you can ever receive. The timing of the service is a talent. The food all comes at the same time, and the drinks are delicious. The food quality itself is top-tier. We went during our most recent trip to Hawaii. We had breakfast our last day at Orchids and were extremely satisfied. I had their Belgian waffle and Portuguese sausage. Incredible! I will tell you, if you go to Orchids, plan to go for Sunday brunch. It's the most incredible experience. The views are stunning and you won't be disappointed. Come hungry and stay for the vibes and drinks. Incredible restaurant!

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Leo's Taverna Express - greek - Updated October 2026

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