The Yummiest Greek in Irvine

My Greek Kitchen

★★★★★ 4.5 (577) • $$

"I've driven past this place frequently and never noticed this great restaurant before. In fact, the day of discovery was motivated by two equally important actions: First, eat something before the long drive to Pasadena (I was initially aiming for the next door 7-Eleven, and to get off 17th Street and cut through the neighborhood. The Gyro lunch special sign in the window didn't hurt either as I made a split-second decision to change course. Inside, it's smallish, a few tables as well as a few outside. A nice girl helped me dial in my order. My first question was, what kind of onions come on it? When she said red onions, I was excited, I only like red onions raw. Then, I asked for light tomatoes, assuming they'd be diced like most other establishments. Wrong! They're grilled and thus more better. I was quoted up to a ten-minute wait, but I had barely grabbed napkins and put a lid on my drink when they called my name. It was hot outside and warm inside, so I chose to sit indoors. I was impressed by how hot the fries were and how crispy they were, too. The Tzasiki sauce was a generous portion, and a fork was also included. The Gyro was wrapped in foil, and I didn't realize how generously packed it was until I realized there was no way I could eat it initially until I whittled the contents down with the fork. Off to a great start! Basically, it was scrumptious, shaved off the rotisserie and flavorful. The sauce is very fresh and full of cucumber. They also sell 4oz. sides in case you want more. I couldn't eat all the fries either. Anyhow, this was the first of many planned trips. Their other dishes, kabobs, and sides look amazing too. I'd suggest splitting the special and get a second Gyro because that's a lot of fries."

Luna Grill

★★★★☆ 4.1 (620) • $$

"Luna Grill was just okay. I ordered a salad and was immediately disappointed when I saw the dressing came in a clear plastic packet. It tasted exactly how it looked--bland and watery, completely ruining the salad. The ingredients were fresh, but without a proper dressing, it just felt uninspired. Service was good and the space was clean with a modern casual vibe but I expected something much better food-wise. It's convenient if you're in a hurry but there are definitely better Mediterranean options."

Greek Islands Cuisine

★★★★☆ 3.5 (131) • $

"I'm going to strongly disagree with many of the bad reviews this place has received. Today they catered a lunch for me at a client in Irvine. Both my client and I were beyond pleased. All 12 of my meeting attendees wanted to know where the food came from.The stuffed grape leaves were warm, freshly wrapped with a creamy center. The falafel was perfectly seasoned,the right amount of crunch with a creamy center. The hummus, zaziki and other accompaniments were delicious.The pita sandwiches were well received. With them we served basmati rice/Greek salad - all delicious. The baklava for desert was a perfect finish.Based on today's experience I am now a regular customer. I host many luncheons in Irvine and this place turned out to be a great find.Thank you for making my event successful."

Luna Grill

★★★★☆ 4.1 (874) • $$

"I love Mediterranean food and this place hits the spot. Got the chicken kebab plate and it was delicious! The chicken was overall pretty soft and not dry. It was a good, big portion of food, filling. Everything was great. The sauce for the pita bread was so good! I used it for the chicken as well, so so good!"

CAVA

★★★★☆ 4.1 (337) • $$

"Got the diy bowl! Brown rice, lentils, super greens: lentils are so good! Rice is rice I think when mixed w lentils I'm not sure I can tell if it's white or not. Crazy feta:So good and garlicky. Ahh the dips are always good. For health reasons maybe not a go to. 5/5Red pepper hummus:Always good and I always get this 5/5Roasted eggplant:Always good. I think this is gonna be part of my gotos. 5/5Grilled steak: it was pretty mid. Most pieces were bland some had a nice char. 2/5All the toppings: tomato is my favoriteHot harissa vinaigrette: this was very sour almost like tabasco. 2/5Either yogurt dill or lemon herb tahini: this was also sour but not as sour. Tasted some mint? It was ok 2.5/5The pita has been nerfed. I swear it used to be so good!"

Christakis Greek Cuisine

★★★★★ 4.5 • $$

"My all time favorite Greek food in OC...it's been a while since we have been here but we got a night with our kids and decided to come here out of many other places bc we missed the food and the atmosphere...Our sever Alex and the owner along with other staff are always on top of things on taking orders, bringing out food and checking on us and cleaning the table...We tried their scallops dish tonight and also the lamb rack is always my favorite...I love sitting at the patio...it's transformed me to somewhere far with their live music and the cute decoration."

Pita GR - Brea

★★★★☆ 4.2 (122) • $$

"Located in a busy big plaza. Parking was abundant. The restaurant opened slightly earlier than posted hours. The counter server was very friendly and patient. The food was served with a slight delay. I guess because I went in before the kitchen's preparation.The food was very delicious and fresh.The restaurant was clean with medium lighting. Overall, it was satisfying. Will come again! 4.7 out of 5."

Tastes of Greece

★★★★☆ 4.1 (633) • $$

"Authentic Greek cooking, delightful staff, and high quality food. From the pita with olive oil and feta, to our beet salad, vegetable plate, and handmade bread with stuffed cheese - everything is made with care, so tasty!"

Athens West

★★★★☆ 3.8 (426) • $

"Wow the food here was super good! Normally I prefer Middle Eastern food over Greek food but the Greek food here was top notch and super flavorful! I ordered the 2 kebab plate for $16.99 and paid the $2.50 up charge to get a steak kebab in addition to the chicken kebab. Both kebabs were perfectly cooked and very flavorful. The steak was medium and tender and not overcooked at all - it was perfect! I also liked how there were red peppers and onions layered with the kebab. So tasty! The chicken was also perfect. The stars of the show in addition to the kebabs were the side dishes that came with it: orzo pasta (DELICIOUS!), tzatziki sauce (oh soooo flavorful! I wiped the container clean it was so good!), and a really delicious greek salad with kalamata olives, feta cheese, onions, cucumbers, a peppercini and lettuce with a really yummy dressing. They had multiple slices of pita bread as well which was soft and super fresh. Overall, this was a super delicious meal and I think this restaurant deserves 5 stars. I will FOR SURE come back here! I also noticed many people getting takeout too. There's plenty of seating inside and they give free cups for water. The ambiance is casual but nice. I'm so glad I tried this restaurant and can't wait to return!"

Harry's Cafe

★★★☆☆ 3.3 (275) • $

"Great place, many choices, reasonably priced and a famous spot, lots of customers Customer service was friendly and they came to our table to refill coffee without having to be asked. I'll come back again"

Chicken Maison

★★★★★ 4.6 (585) • $$

"Cleaning eating fresh food and healthy food! You might think this is just another place to get chicken, but the flavor and the cook is so consistently good. We had this three nights in a row when we were visiting. We are on a clean diet right now so we had the half chicken, steamed vegetables and a baked potato. We felt the portions were very good for the size and really enjoyed our meals. Even if you're not on a diet, this is as good as chicken gets!"

Olive Pit Grill - Huntington Beach

★★★★☆ 4 • $$

"This is my absolute favorite Mediterranean restaurant...and I have pretty much been to them all! The food and the service both perfection! For sure you gotta start with the grilled octopus appetizer. It is amazing served with a flavorful but light sauce. The fried zucchini are also so so good! I've had almost everything here. There really isn't anything that I don't love! The wraps, the fish, and all of the kabobs, the steak, chicken, lamb...and I actually don't even like lamb, but I love it here! The humus, and all of the sides, especially the beer battered french fries, and then the best dessert here is the baklava ice cream. Everything is fresh and super delicious!"

Tap24 Bar & Grill

★★★★☆ 3.5 (126) • $$

"Lilly is AMAZING! She was so helpful and attentive to our needs! We had appetizers( try the pork belly sliders! Wow) the ambience was super surprising cause the place was empty! This is definitely a hidden gem!!!! Try it out!!!!!"

H.B. Pita Grill

★★★★☆ 4.4 • $$

"Love getting catered food from here. Value is awesome to feed my family of 17 and a party of 50 or more. Call ahead and they'll prepare everything. You can order and eat there since there are seats but I love to enjoy their fresh food in the comfort of my home."

Charlie's Gyros

★★★★★ 4.7 (415) • $$

"Ok. I could've sworn I wrote a review long time ago. Hmmm! Anyway, we came here after a night at the Old Crow Smokehouse because their kitchen was closed and we were hungry. This place looked open and people were ordering, so we stopped by. (I've been here before, long time ago! So I knew the food was good!)We ordered (I got the lamb & beef gyro plate & my friend got a wrap), sat outside & then a bunch more people showed up! (That always happens when I go somewhere! lol!)The guys were fun to watch. He noticed us taking pics so he was giving us a show! lol! The food was yummy! Met some cool people outside. Good conversation! We got the baklava too! Mmmm! We'll be back for sure! Thanks guys, for being open late!"

Kentro Greek Kitchen

★★★★☆ 4.3 • $$

"This place wants to be fine dining but they wanted to save on labor so there still a front counter.The food? Tastes good.The decor? Could almost call it a young-adult date night. Not formal enough to be extra, not doner-shop casual, a semi-cute place to get past the small-talk.The prices? Ouch.Paying that much for a zankou-tier gyro is harsh. Lamb was tasty but once again, ouch."

Apola Greek Grill

★★★★☆ 3.9 (560) • $$

"I was craving a chicken gyro since I had one the day before from an event and I wanted more but didn't want to be amongst the busy crowd. Upon entering the establishment, my friend and I were warmly welcomed by the staff with genuine smiles, setting a pleasant tone for our dining experience. I decided to indulge in the pita chicken gyro with a side of fries, a choice that exceeded all expectations. The chicken was flawlessly cooked, tender, and bursting with flavors that harmonized seamlessly. Every bite exuded a delightful umami sensation that left me craving more. Their chicken gyro definitely exceeded my expectations and was so much better than the one I had the day before. The overall ambiance of the venue was tranquil and inviting, a perfect setting for enjoying a meal without distraction. I even ordered food to go for my fiancé and they agreed that it was delicious. I had a great experience and I highly recommend it if you're looking for a gyro filled with delicious goodness."

The Great Greek Mediterranean Grill

★★★★☆ 4.3 (6)

"Just as good as their Santa Ana location- generous portions. Love their Gyros, roasted potatoes and Greek salad. Kids like their chicken strips and fries. Service is friendly and quick. So glad this place is in the neighborhood. Stop by and patronize the great Greek in Irvine location."

Chicken Maison

★★★★★ 4.8 (811) • $$

"Shout-out to "Joe" who made us feel like family.* Healthy, amazing food at a great price.* Chicken feast: Two delicious whole chickens cut into 16 pieces. Eight sides included. Honey glazed pita chips added for desert. * Clean, busy, obviously popular. Outdoor and indoor seating.* Thank you Joe. We look forward to seeing you again."

Mediterranean Guys

★★★★☆ 4.4 (523) • $$

"One of my favorite spots in the area. Great friendly service - Giovanni! Love his recommendations. Great sized portions. Plenty of proteins, sides, and topping options. Freshly made so it does take about 10 min. Everything is fresh and made to order. Clean and casual. Plenty of parking, easy to find, and yogurtland is next door for dessert! (I ordered the chicken and steak kabob to go)"

Ouzo & Feta

★★★★★ 4.5 (555) • $$

"Our friend took us to this restaurant to have dinner and listen to the live band, unfortunately the live band is on vacation this month. This place has a cool vibes to it. It has some beautiful pictures of the Greek Isles on the wall and in the bathroom wall. Our server was good. We ordered Mousaka, Stuffed Bell Pepper, Greek Salad with Gyro. Every dish was delicious! The Gyro was tender and moist. The Mousaka was well seasoned. Definitely will come back. This is one of the better Greek restaurant in OC."

Nostimo Greek Mediterranean Cuisine Food Truck

★★★★☆ 4.3 (97) • $$

"I feel weird doing a review on a food truck that I have no clue where it will be next...but here it goes!AMBIANCE: That depends on where you find the truck! It was at my office in Irvine so it was a beautiful day, sunny with some moderate clouds...... :) 5/5SERVICE: Very friendly, I was greeted when I got up to the window and they were nice enough to sub out my Tzatziki sauce for Tahini since I can't have dairy, so very nice sir!! 5/5FOOD: I ordered the grilled chicken pita and WOW, with the tahini sauce, Yummerz!! The chicken was super tender and juicy (makes me want to eat another one typing this). Unfortunately that's all I ate, so I can't review more food, but I will try more things next time. If you see the truck...go get ya some!!!"

Bravo Avo Greek & Mediterranean Restaurant

★★★★☆ 4.4 (528) • $$

"I've only ordered takeout so far, so I can't speak to the ambiance, but the quality of the food and service has been outstanding each time. I tried their gyro sandwich a few months ago when I was having an insatiable hankering for a gyro, and it did not disappoint. The sandwich is generously filled with flavorful gyro meat, fresh and crisp veggies, and comes with a side of tzatziki. It's the perfect portion size that fills you up without feeling like you need a nap afterwards.I recently tried their Combo Bravo, which includes a generous portion of sliced gyro meat, seasoned chicken breast, and tender zucchini on top of a bed of rice, a side salad with dressing, a warm pita, and a side of tzatziki. It was a well-rounded meal with a little bit of everything.I also really enjoy those little "thank you" stickers that they put onto their to-go containers. It warms my heart to support a local business that clearly takes great pride in their food and service. Hot Tip: They participate in the Shop and Dine Lake Forest BOGO gift card program, which makes everything basically 50% off. Am I girl-mathing right?"

Luna Grill

★★★★☆ 4.1 (514) • $$

"Great service. Very attentive staff. Naomi checked in at each table to ensure guests were enjoying their meal. Great food!"

Nick The Greek

★★★★☆ 4 (171) • $$

"I ordered Nick the Greek through DoorDash. I had never tried it previous to this. Portion size was definitely solid and the ingredients were fresh. It was a tasty meal. I do wish the bowl was less oily. I was hoping it was a healthier option but it was really oily. I guess it still is fairly healthy compared to other fast food options. It is most certainly filling and the protein was definitely there. I would order again for a fast easy meal."

Pita Pitaki

★★★★★ 4.7 (536) • $$

"Fantastic. Had the dolmas and tzatziki which delicious. Hubs had the lamb shank with orzo and I had the gyro platter with Greek salad. Everything was well prepared, service was fast and nice. We expected much less from "fast" food and were happily surprised. Def will return when we come to the antique market"

The Little Greek by Christakis

★★★★☆ 4.1 (81) • $$

"Fresh and crunchy veggies, tender and juicy meat, Creamy Sauce... I mean this place has it all! I had the Chicken Souvlaki Plate, and it was delicious. Probably the best Greek food I've had in OC so far. This place is located inside Mess Hall. If you haven't been, it's a food court that has a nice selection and is a great place to grab lunch or a get a drink after work. But, I'll definitely be coming back soon, to try more menu items at this location!"

Rumari

★★★★☆ 4.3 (84)

"Had dinner here last night and we LOVED IT!!! Hands down best Italian meal I've had in a while! Service was excellent and he even made suggestions that were spot on. The Caesar salad was probably the BEST SALAD I've ever had! It was romaine lettuce slightly grilled. The bread with the pesto! We in the area often and will definitely be back. Honestly if I lived closer I'd be there every day lol."

The Great Greek Mediterranean Grill

★★★★★ 4.7 (277) • $$

"Good, but great is reserved for exceptional.To clarify:Gyro Plate with a fresh side salad, which included red onions, tomatoes iceberg lettuce, Kalamata olives and dressing; and rice pilaf. I was most disappointed by the gyro as it was dry and the meat shaved thinly.Steak Souvlaki included two skewers of tender filet. The accompanying fries were seasoned well and crispy.Hummus was also lacking in flavor, although the pita was good.Lemon potatoes were good and served as wedges.The tzatziki was good, but could benefit from additional cucumbers, lemon juice and olive oil.Baklava was dry; however, the flavors were good."

Greek Bistro

★★★★★ 4.8 • $$

"The 5 star reviews from fellow Yelp enthusiasts was a very good incentive for me to try a Greek Eatery with Greek food being a favorite of mine. As you can see from the menu available on-line, there are many options to consider for those choosing to stop in for a visit.For starters, it is very conveniently located just off the I5 in Laguna Hills. Parking is plentiful, depending on the time of day. I say this as there are many businesses that appear to be well frequented including several restaurants. A very good sign of how many folks visit Greek Bistro. I arrived early with only a few patrons, but it was completely packed by the time that I left. It has a family restaurant vibe with seating and tables very comfortably placed.For this occasion, I was served by Dika, who could not have been nicer or more attentive. He did a great job explaining some of the items on the menu that were particularly good options. I took one suggestion for the appetizer, Dolma, which was a good call. It was well prepared and was accompanied with Pita bread and a healthy serving of Tzatziki. The Dolma was moist and a good ratio of meat with the other ingredients. If I have one suggestion, it would be for additional spices. It was light in this area and this would have made it stand out.For my entree, I chose a combination plate that included skewers of ground beef, chicken and grilled vegetables accompanied with rice and pickled vegetables and Pita bread. All of the proteins and vegetables were cooked perfectly with a good moisture. The entire meal was served hot and presented well. As with the Dolma, while good, I found that the seasoning on the proteins were also very light. One of the reasons for selecting the ground meat was to sample their seasonings and preparation. Unfortunately, I didn't get a sense seasonings on it or the chicken. Though juicy, it wasn't something that made these proteins stand out.To close the meal, I had a sampling of the Baklava which was exceptional. It is very rare for me to have dessert, but I wanted to give it a try. This was flaky, fresh and very exceptionally prepared. If you are a Baklava fan, this won't disappoint.Overall, I thought the 4 stars was appropriate. The restaurant had a team of folks that provided very good service, prepared and presented the dishes with attention. As I mentioned, the proteins could have used some of the seasonings very pronounced in Mediterranean food. That said, it appears to be a local favorite. Enjoy!"

Olive Pit Grill - Brea

★★★★☆ 4.1 (805) • $$

"Olive Pit Grill in Brea is a hidden gem for Mediterranean food lovers! And the atmosphere is super cute and chic. Indoor + outdoor patios are VERY spacious!We got a LOT, but here were our absolute favorites and must-orders:Mains- Grilled Wild Salmon Salad (incredibly good - best salad I've ever had)- Lamb Pizza- Lamb ChopsSide- Fried Asparagus with garlic aioliDessert- Tiramisu with baklava baseThe staff was also SUPER friendly - our waiter was so helpful and the bartender is the BEST!!This place feels luxury beginning to end but actually has affordable prices. We will be back AGAIN AND AGAIN!!"

Luna Grill University Center

★★★★☆ 4.3 (360) • $$

"Food is pretty pricey but what isn't pricey nowadays. Every time I dine here, I get the santorini bowl with gyro meat and a side of tahini sauce to drizzle on top. It's so delicious and filling. The service is very friendly and whenever I come here for lunch on a weekday at 11am, there are always seats available to dine-in. The seating area is very clean and comfortable as well."