Im obsessed with Grandma's hummus from the supermarket so of course I thought I'd head to the source! I ordered a bunch of the sides to make my own mezze platter. Hummus was bomb as usual, Tzatziki was creamy, falafel is some of my favorite in Austin, dolmas had a nice sweet touch to them since they add currant, pita and Tabouleh were pretty standard. The only miss for me was the Baba Ganoush, which seemed to have a creamier and more garlicky(?) taste than what I am used to. Oh, and they gave me some sort of garlic dip to go with the falafel that was super tasty as well. Parking is plentiful and seating was widely available since I was the only one dining at a late lunch time. Free coffee and tea was a nice touch. read more

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Quick stop at The Med Chef (5908 Aurora) while in North Austin. So good! Nikki the owner from Turkey cooking and running operations for 15 years here We stopped here 3 yrs ago for a gyro and now they have a couple of tables indoors which is great because of the heat outside. And their hummus is the best (Gramdma's Hummus is the only hummus we buy. HEB and central Market) read more

The Mediterranean Chef - Mediterranean Near Me - Austin, Texas

Was excited to try this place. Checked googles maps to see where they were and if they were open. Said yes so I went and found the door locked. Not a big deal, these things happen. HOWEVER, some woman came out and began grilling me with questions like I was doing something wrong. I explained that I was lead to believe it was an open restaurant and came to support her business lol. She then began leaning into my truck to see my phone screen as if I was lying about google saying they were open. I asked her to please back away out of my vehicle but she continued leaning in wayyyy past her welcome. She finally left and glared at me through the front door as she locked it. This review has nothing to do with their food, only the insane customer service I got over a trivial matter. She didn't even have to come out there, I was already finding a new place and was preparing to leave. Just weird as fuck read more

SO FRESH! I had been meaning to stop here for a long time (not easily noticeable from the main road). Finally, I drove by hungry AND with some time. SO GLAD I DID! The staff was friendly and patient with my special order. I was craving falafel but also wanted lots of veggies on it. They were very accommodating &, for a SMALL charge (less than $1) they FILLED IT! (see pic) Wrap was delicious, with very fresh veggies. Also had to try the baklava & it was gooey & delicious! That alone would be worth coming back for! Drink selection is limited, but FREE! Turkish tea, coffee & bottled water (also free!) TIP: I added a tiny bit (each) of the cinnamon & cardamom they had at the coffee/tea bar. AMAZING flavors together! Will DEFINITELY be back! I LOVE FALAFEL! AND their sauce on it is delicious &plentiful (some places don't put enough on for me). THEY CATER... so I've bookmarked them for that, too! read more

The Mediterranean Chef - Falafel wrap with EXTRA VEGGIES (special request) - Mediterranean Near Me - Austin, Texas

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Stopped in for a falafel wrap. The falafel balls are the best I've had. Crispy outside, soft and moist inside. Surrounded by fresh hummus and other fresh made ingredients, yum. Got to chat with founder Nikki and partner, great stories and great food. read more

This is the best gyro wrap and hummus in Austin. I love this place so much, and the owner and her employees are so friendly and helpful. Do yourself a favor and try it! Or try grandmas hummus in HEB, no other hummus compares read more

Updating my previous review to reaffirm that this place is still one of the most legendary and underrated Mediterranean cafes in all of Austin. Since I left my first review in 2016 they had closed to do some pretty big renovations and through COVID and everything in between I just hadn't had the chance to make it back until today. The menu is still just as it was in 2016 including the pricing, and I'll be damned if the Nikki Special isn't one of the tastiest and most unique Mediterranean dishes around to this day. I also decided to order a 9 oz of their babaganoush and the guy even threw in a free tub of their famous hummus and pita! This place is the real. deal. read more

The Mediterranean Chef - Their bread and butter (well, pita and dip) which is what this cafe primarily does to make their money. - Mediterranean Near Me - Austin, Texas

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Amazing greek salad and hummus plate. Chicken gyros did not disappoint either. Friendly staff and food wait was not bad at all. Enjoyed some tea while we waited. I would definitely recommend this place if your a Mediterranean food lover. The baklava was very good dessert as well. read more

What a find! In its category (inexpensive local casual healthy friendly deliciousness with easy parking), this place is As Good As It Gets. Thanks to Nickie B and Richard A for luring me to this place with their 5 star Yelp reviews. It ain't pretty. But you'll be greeted warmly with a big smile by owner and chef Nikki. Nikki is Turkish American and loves Mexico. NOTE THE HOURS: Monday - Wednesday: 10:00 am - 7:30 pm Thursday: Closed for construction Friday: 10:00 am - 3:00 pm Saturday and Sunday: Closed Nikki started selling her celebrated humus and babaganush (vegan AND gluten free!) at the Farmers Market 12 years ago and they met with such success that her products grace the shelves of Whole Foods, Central Market, HEB and many other markets all over Texas today. The restaurant was an afterthought that came about 7 years ago. It's not central to her business, but it gives her a chance to interact with the community and meet the people who enjoy her food. And I completely truly wholeheartedly enjoy her food. Nothing on the menu is over $10. The portions are generous. Should you order the Nikki Special or the Greek Salad, consider sharing one portion with your lunch partner. There's Turkish coffee (not on the menu but I saw it being served) and Baklava for after. And Nikki caters! Nikki loves spicy peppers (jalapenos) and I'm a Mexican. I thought I was being overly cautious when I ordered medium spicy but it was just right for me, so take care... you can always order extra! My Greek Salad (I ordered + lamb) was so good and so huge that I had it for lunch and then finished it for dinner. Two excellent meals. The place really is on a residential street on a cul de sac. There was an assembly line of people preparing her products for retail and everyone seemed busy and happy. read more

The Mediterranean Chef - Super busy place! Lots of cooks, an assembly line and a sweet manager. - Mediterranean Near Me - Austin, Texas

The food was delicious, we had the lamb gyros spice level hot. I like it spicy and it was not too spicy for us at all. I buy grandma's hummus made at The Mediterranean Chef Cafe from HEB but didn't realize it was from here. It's the absolute best hummus I've ever had and I try my best to make it at home and it's close but not it. The service was great, food came out quickly and it is well priced for the large portions. Looking forward to trying the falafel next time. read more

This place is so hard to miss if you didn't know what you were looking for. The place is small and quaint and is literally in a neighborhood - only residential houses around. Don't let it fool you though, the food here is amazing! I got the Nikki special and it was so delicious. It's a huge portion and I definitely got enough to take for home. It's an open pita bread Mediterranean salad with the balsamic vinaigrette. I got it in the hot flavor and it's not that spicy. It does creep on you ever so slightly, like a slow spice burn, not an immediate hot sauce sting. The servers are super nice and there's free coffee/tea on the side! Personally I wasn't a fan of the tea because it was a little bitter - or was brewed for too long, I'm not entirely sure. But I'm sure you can add assortments in there if needed. I left feeling light yet full and extremely satisfied. Definitely one of Austin's hidden gems! read more

The Mediterranean Chef - Mediterranean Near Me - Austin, Texas

Just had dinner at the Mediterranean Chef last night. Fantastic food and great service. Nice indoor dining as well as they provide free Turkish tea and coffee as well as a free bottle of water with every meal. The owner is a great chef and host. read more

The Mediterranean Chef - Indoor dining at The Mediterranean Chef. They also have outdoor dining as well. - Mediterranean Near Me - Austin, Texas

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Came to get some hummus! Let me just start off by saying that it is absolutely my fav hummus ever! They do distribute to Heb stores and you can buy it there. But I bought it right at the source Bc they we're sold out at Central Market! There is no dine in, but you can call and pay/pick up! Will be back to get more when I am out! They staff is very kind and helpful. They do follow covid protocol so you cannot go into the building and they wear masks/bring out to your car. read more

OMG this place is excellent! We happened upon it while searching for a Mediterranean restaurant near us, that we had not already tried. Yelp made our day by taking us to this location that we had no idea existed. It is literally in a residential neighborhood, on a dead end street across from the McCallum parking lot (Koenig Ln), behind a church. It was so good that we ate lunch here and then came back for dinner :-). The Nikki special is a HUGE gyro salad with am equally huge pita on the bottom. We tried the beef and the lamb and were equally pleased with both. If you want more protein they will add an extra serving of meat for a small up charge ($2 maybe). The Nikki salad (open faced Gyro) also comes with your choice of their made in-house Balsamic Greek or Balsamic Vinaigrette dressing. We also LOVED their Hummus and Dolmas. Both were excellent and exceeded our expectations. Even my teenager was impressed. Tips: -FREE Indian Black Tea - super good with or without the natural sugar -Yes they offer FREE water. One reviewer said they did not. -This is NOT a fancy place, so do not get dressed up -The Baklava is made in-house and is excellent -You pay at the end, after you are done eating read more

Tucked away iff the main road it would be easy to drive by without noticing you just passed what is easily one of the best Mediterranean restaurants in the city. A very basic seating area with a neighborhood feel, this is a family owned spot that also uses the space as a conveyer belt for producing products (mamas hummus) for grocery stores. I highly suggest the Nikkis Special with lamb and if extremely hungry add a portion of falafel. All of it is made fresh and you can watch them slice your lamb. Awesome spot for lunch or to take out for dinner. read more

We order takeout every time we drive to the airport. Love the falafel wrap. The sauces make it and the falafel is moist. Docking two stars because I found a cockroach in the bathroom. Then I noticed Orkin pest control signs EVERYWHERE. Oh man, now I'm not sure... hopefully the kitchen is roach free. read more

This place is hidden on a dead end street, so you don't really pass by it ever... Which is why I never heard about it! The decor is unusual for a Mediterranean restaurant. There's funky pop art everywhere plus painted skateboards on the walls. You order at the counter, eat, and then pay at the counter when you're finished eating. I ordered some plates a la carte: 2 dolmas, pita bread, and their famous hummus. Everything was so delicious, and you could tell that everything was also very fresh. The didn't have any free water that I could see, just some bottled water and drinks, but they do have free complimentary Turkish tea which was pretty good. The only bad thing about this place is that they have odd hours (close really early at 7pm) and it's more expensive compared to other Mediterranean restaurants in Austin. read more

The Mediterranean Chef - Dolmas, hummus, pita - Mediterranean Near Me - Austin, Texas

Overview: Great flavor. Great service! Tried the falafel and a piece of baklava. Would definitely go back!! The place is small so if you are trying to get a table at lunch time, come early or plan on taking your stuff to go. Service was quick and personable. Good energy. Portion sizes are big. I tried the falafel wrap and a piece of the baklava. The falafel was everything I wanted it to be. Crunchy and loads of flavor. Nom nom nom. I wanted the wrap to be a little softer but that's just a personal preference on my end. The baklava was pretty good - light and flaky. Not overly sweet. Try it out! Hoping I can use them for catering needs in the future. :-) read more

Happy and relaxed vibe in this small local Austin restaurant. Stopped in today for lunch for the first time, and now wondering why I haven't been before? The Turkish-style lamb gyro sandwich was delicious. The lamb was perfectly seasoned and cooked, I loved the greens fresh dill in the salad, and the creamy feta pulls it all together nicely. I also tried a dolmade - the tomatoes added flavor and kept it moist (no one wants a dry dolma). Took advantage of the free serve-yourself hot tea to aid digestion. At first I thought it was a bit odd that customers need to line up once to order, and then again to pay. But I realised this was so you could buy some freshly-made Grandma's hommus to take home and enjoy later (we did). It was fun to watch the staff work on that hommus production line in the kitchen while we ate. Always nice when the staff seem generally happy, which this smiling team did. read more

I haven't been here in ages and I was in the mood for some lamb so I stopped and ordered Nikki Special, an open-faced gyro salad served on a bed of pita and topped with the house tatziki sauce, chopped lettuce, diced tomatoes, feta crumbles, Kalamata olives, sliced jalapénos and a sautéed onion/garlic mix with 4.5oz lamb gyro meat sautéed in siracha. I chose the in-house Greek salad dressing. The Maine Root Spricy Ginger Brew accompanied it very well. The devil on my left shoulder was doing a great job of encouraging me to dive into the Baklava but the little angel on my right shoulder kept telling me to refrain from such sinful desires especially since I had just left my doctor's office and gotten a good report. Indeed, I'm going to return and try to leave the little angel at home. read more

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The cutest neighborhood cafe with DELICIOUS, fresh, homemade food. I was craving lamb gyro and got the Nikki Special and it was incredibly tasty. I will 100% be coming back. The dolmas was so unique and flavorful. Fries were hot and crispy. The homemade Persian tea was to die for. They owners were so kind and friendly - they've been here 12 years and now we know why. 100% will be eating again for lunch and dinner! read more

I had a pretty underwhelming experience here. I ordered a beef/lamb gyro, spinach pie, and humus. Way too much food, but I was starving. The gyro was unusual in that it had olives and feta. I feel like normally those are good toppings, but perhaps I am a gyro purist or simpleton and just want to taste the juicy, flavorful meat, since that's the main draw for me. There was fresh dill in the tzatziki sauce, which I actually really loved, except for the fact that there was so much of it, it weighed down the wrap and made the pita bread kind of soggy. The spinach pie was different as well, and had a pretty tasty filling and sesame seeds sprinkled on top. I tried a bite of the meat pie and was not a fan at all. It didn't even taste like it had meat. The humus was good, and they gave us a good amount of pita bread to go with it. My friend's chicken gyro without tzatziki was a lot tastier since it wasn't soggy, and the flavor of the chicken came through. I think simpler would be better, to keep from having strong/competing flavors. It's not bad food by any means, just not executed to my liking. read more

The food is great but it's stopped its retail trade except for call-ahead takeout. It used to be a regular restaurant, but it's just manufacturing for HEB now. read more

Wow wow wow. If we had a place like this in Houston I would go once a week. Very quick service and everything brought out fresh when it is ready. Everything tasted really good, fresh, and delish. I had just about everything in the small lunch menu aside for Nikki's special. I had to have a separate paragraph just for the gyro and spinach pie. They were the best I've had hands down in Austin. Of course they are a little different than Niko Niko of Houston so I won't compare it to them but on par. The juices were oozing from my mouth and the sauces were oozing from the gyro and when they met it was a match made in gyro land. I'm glad this little garage like restaurant was found by using Yelp so big shout out to all those Yelpers who helped me find it!! See you next time I'm in Austin I guess. read more

The Mediterranean Chef - I ran out of battery but was able to snap a shot of the fresh appetizers and pita bread. - Mediterranean Near Me - Austin, Texas

Fabulous cooking and wonderfully fresh! Always a joy and pleasure to be with owner Nikki and her exceptional fare

Delicious fresh Mediterranean fare in my general area... Yum! Chef/owner is a native of Istanbul... Many have enjoyed Grandma's Hummus from Central Market and Farmers' markets, now there is a Cafe with many other tasty items. I had spanikopita, falafel and a zesty tzatziki sauce. Check out Yelp reviews on their hummus http://www.yelp.com/biz/the-mediterranean-chef-austin Mx coke-heads will be happy to see the half liter size bottles... read more

The Mediterranean Chef - Mediterranean Near Me - Austin, Texas

Dolmas are a yes! Greek salad is a yes! Falafel is a hell yes! Grandmas Humus is superb! Baklava umm... let me get one! Honey infused with tea rosebuds. Smells good. Looks good. Tastes amazing, bit of cinnamon. Foodgasm!!! And the guest service by Rob is freaking fantastic. He let us try different things and explained how and what things are made from. Oh and he gives you a wonderful surprise your first time here! read more

The Mediterranean Chef - Greek salad! Yum. - Mediterranean Near Me - Austin, Texas

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In addition to the fact that I love the Grandma's Hummus brand (which you can see being made in living colour when you visit Med Chef), I love what they've done in creating a casual, fresh, and fun dine-in experience. When you walk through the door, you'll see the machine that packages what I consider to be the best hummus you can buy in Austin (Grandma's). But--an even better surprise is that the team behind this amazing product is whipping up some insanely fresh, healthy, and delicious Greek/Mediterranean food to either eat-in or take-out. Building off of two meat staples--gyro (beef and lamb) and chicken--they offer a small menu with a handful of well-thought-out options. And don't worry vegetarians--plenty for you, too. My favorite of these is Nikki's Special: ultra fresh lettuce/veggies, your choice of meat, feta, and amazing house-made dressing piled high on a a round of pita bread. You can choose mild, medium, or spicy. The continued great news is that the spicy is actually SPICY. The staff is insanely friendly. You'll want to return again and again. read more

The Mediterranean Chef - The Nikki Special - Mediterranean Near Me - Austin, Texas

Checked the website, checked yelp, the place looked good so I walked over. I get there and there is a sign on the door saying "don not come in". Another read "no indoor dining". And another "call to place order." They have a website. Could hav spit that there. But nope. I guess that's too hard. They should stop calling it a cafe. read more

This is a great hidden gem in Austin that fortunately not many others have found out about. You have probably already seen their food at your local store but don't realize it. This is the place that makes all the Grandma's Hummus. But in addition to this, they offer a small selection of some really great Greek and Mediterranean food. The gyros and other lunch specials have large portions at a price that can't be beat. The environment is open and casual. The staff is super friendly because why not. They get to make hummus all day while listening to music. It is also really interesting to watch the process of the hummus making while you enjoy your meal. This place is 5 stars all the way and you should also grab some hummus to take with you on the way out. read more

The Mediterranean Chef - The place where the magic happens. - Mediterranean Near Me - Austin, Texas

ONE OF THE BEST MEDITERRANEAN RESTAURANTS I'VE BEEN TO!! please do yourself a favor and just eat here. the food is fantastic and the customer service is amazing. i can't even explain how great this place is. i just want to comment that the hummus and falafel was so good. especially the falafel. it was really light and crispy, i wish i had ordered more. shoutout to the guy (with long hair and a mustache) who took our order because he was so kind and friendly. top notch customer service skills. read more

The Mediterranean Chef - the med chef gyro - Mediterranean Near Me - Austin, Texas

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Hummus? My god, yes. Gyros? Yes. Dolmas? Almost yes. Hole in the wall gem? Yessssss. JUST YES. Let me just say that after visiting this place I've replaced my regular hummus with theirs.....which you might have seen at your local grocery store because it's THAT good. That sh*t is crack. I would eat it by the spoonful. No, I do eat it by the spoonful. Don't judge, just make the trip. Tell them it's your first time and you'll get some of the crack hummus for free. Also, no one really eats here. So, if you do, you'll most likely have the place to yourself. And its BYOB. read more

The Mediterranean Chef - the infamous crack hummus - Mediterranean Near Me - Austin, Texas

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I stumbled on this place this week while looking for vegan options. Oh my word! I have travelled to Greece and NEVER had hummus like theirs! I ordered al a carte for lunch of falafels, hummus, dolmas, and pita bread. Why didn't I order some to take home? Go there! As soon as you can. Seriously great flavors and very warm welcoming staff. read more

The place can be a bit tricky to find, as it's tucked back off 2222, and the parking lot is a bit small. But don't let these things deter you. This is definitely a place worth checking out. Ambiance is a casual, open kitchen experience and is super clean (always a clear sign of a well run joint). You can tell this is a catering/wholesale operation that has some casual dine-in tables on the side. This means you can see all of the food prepped right in front of you, and they are constantly making new batches so everything is super fresh. We sampled the hummus (best I can remember having), tzatziki sauce (so good you can eat it by the spoonful), ordered the beef/lamb and chicken gyros, and got a meat pie to-go (as well as some hummus for later =P). The gyros were great! Very unique and complex flavors with an olive tapenade and sliced fresh jalapeño that makes them stand out from any other gyoros I've had. The meat pie was excellent (especially with some Sriracha sauce, shhh don't tell). This is a place I will definitely be going back to, and telling others about! read more

Forgive me, but I'm going to resort to a Yelp trope here...this place is a hidden gem! (No, really!) On my last night at my friend's in Austin, we didn't have a clear idea of what we wanted, so I whipped out the trusty Yelp app to look for recommendations. The Mediterranean Chef had good reviews and my friend had never heard of it or been there, so we decided to check it out. When I say hidden in this case, I'm speaking literally, given that we drove past it and had to circle back around to find it. If you've read the other reviews, you'll know that the Mediterranean Chef falls into the hole in the wall with good food category--you don't come here for the curb (or dining room) appeal, you come for huge portions of delicious Greek food. I ordered the Nikki special, and at roughly $10, it offered a great bang for the buck. The special basically consists of a Greek salad on a pita that's, quite literally, a foot in diameter. Lettuce, tomatoes, feta, and, of course, black olives are all part of this massive concoction, which is dressed with a tangy Greek dressing. Despite the reasonable price tag, it was extremely flavorful and, of course, filling. My friend ordered the Greek salad with falafel, and the falafel was delish as well--crispy and light yet substantial. And, of course, the baklava is a must! It's as flaky and sticky and nutty as good baklava can be, making for a great end to a satisfying meal. If you eat in, the dining room is extremely bare-bones, consisting of a few plastic tables and chairs with no decorations of any kind save boxes of supplies stacked against the wall. However, don't let that deter you--the food and prices are well worth a visit, and you can always opt for take-out. From talking to the owner and seeing the open kitchen, he does a good business selling his hummus (which, btw, is also delicious) to local grocers, as well as a decent catering business. If I were a local, I would definitely seek out his products and services, but as it were, I enjoyed a delicious one-off-meal, so I can't complain. read more

The Mediterranean Chef - Nikki special w/ chicken - Mediterranean Near Me - Austin, Texas

The Mediterranean Chef offers a good lunch in a simple friendly setting. When I asked for vegetarian options, I was pointed to the falafel wrap, which I think is their only choice. It was pretty good and filling without being too heavy. The hot Turkish tea was a new cell touch - complimentary with lunch. Service was pleasant. The benches can be moved around to rearrange seating for groups. There is a dedicated parking lot as well as overflow parking on the street. Will be back now and then. read more

The place is an absolute dive....you are literally eating in the back of a commercial kitchen with some tables. Limited menu but all prepared fresh as you can see since you are in the kitchen. The food was not very good. The spinach pie was okay, the meat pie and Dolhma poor. Overall definitely would not return. read more

The Mediterranean Chef - View of "restaurant"/kitchen - Mediterranean Near Me - Austin, Texas

This is by FAR the best Mediterranean food I've ever had. I greatly enjoy Mediterranean food. I've been to a LOT of Mediterranean restaurants/food trucks/hole-in-the-walls in Austin. Nothing compares. Taste: 10/10 Portion size: 10/10 Price: 9/10 Atmosphere: 9/10 *atmosphere is like a chill coffee shop with an open kitchen and insanely good food* 9/10 because if you're looking for a place really quiet, it's slightly loud during their peak time. Otherwise, it's a beautifully Austin Mediterranean experience! The owner, Nikki, is super enthusiastic and friendly. Overall bang for your buck: 9.5/10 read more

The Mediterranean Chef - Watching these guys make the food in front of me is oddly satisfying. - Mediterranean Near Me - Austin, Texas

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Probably the best gyro Iv ever had. And I love me some gyros. This place is an absolute gem. From the moment you walk in, you are treated with exceptional customer service. The owner Nikki is incredibly attentive and so so so nice. I cannot reiterate how kind and thoughtful she is with all of her customers. Her excellent service along with the laid back and welcoming environment make it feel like you're having a meal at home or at a friends house. Apart from the service, the food is FANTASTIC. Everything is beyond fresh and is served with really great tasting ingredients. So much so that the freshness just makes all the dishes. We've had the Nikki's special and the Gyros and can honestly say they are beyond delicious. I can not recommend this place enough!!! read more

Mediterranean food is my favorite, so I looked forward to trying this place for the first time. I walked in and was greeted by a friendly hello, but there was no sign of a board with food items, and no sign of any menus, so when I was asked what I wanted to order, I said I had no idea. I was met by a blank stare and I asked for a menu which was tucked away to the side. By the time I had decided, the first lady was gone and there was another guy staring over my shoulder and out of the window. It was an awkward moment. I waited for his attention but he was zoned out. None of this really bothered me, but it should be easier for first-timers. I ordered a salad, with Gyro meat. It was very fresh. My problem was with the gyro meat, It was tiny squares. Like the size of your thumbnail tiny. I had ordered a double portion of meat but there wasn't much. (When it came to paying they charged me for a single portion, so I'm guessing that's what I got (you pay at the end by the way)). I wish the meat was in the long cuts you get from the "elephant leg" on the spinning roast. Anyway, I'm glad they are popular with other people, we need more Mediterranean places around here! They certainly won't miss my custom. read more