Leo’s Taverna

Maybe my opinion is biased because Greek is my favorite food. I mean, I’ve never had a bad gyro. I ordered the lunch special, it came with a Gyro, Fries and Drink. I recommend this place if you want great taste with a great value.

I haven’t eaten much Greek food I must admit. Since my boyfriend and I were in the area for a dentist appointment (luckily he had nothing wrong, just grinding teeth at night), we figured we’d eat nearby and immediately we were drawn to the small Greek restaurant. We hardly get to have Greek so we were rather excited. We ordered Spanakopita, a gyro, and a falafel plate. I never had Spanakopita before and I loved it! The gyro was also excellent, and the falafel was good. I hadn’t had falafel in a while so the taste threw me off for a bit, maybe I’m just used to the Greek place we used to go to that got shut down? Kind of like how we go to several different Thai places because they have the same items but made differently. Like a different cook’s version of the same thing.
I was pretty happy with my experience. Also the hummus was excellent and the pita was really good. If I had any complaint the price was a little on the pricey side so I guess it’s more like 4.5 stars. The atmosphere is pretty chill, some may not like the it, but since we enjoy informal dining it worked really well with us.

Oh Leo’s. Please make some real tzaziki instead of watered down ranch! I make my own at home, not really all that difficult and it makes a world of difference. I think they are Armenian, maybe that’s what they use in Armenia? Everything else they do they do right. They have fun items to buy and use at home on a shelf to the left of the register, that’s cool. Flaky pastry, roast chicken, veggie options, not a bad place at all.

Omg food was great. Best gyro I had on this island. But yes the French fries wasn’t that good.

What an expensive drag, fueled by poor ingredients, driving itself and its dilapidated equipment into the ground.
The gyro is what this place is known for. The main, archetype Greek food that no Greek-​themed restaurant should dare get wrong. This place does it embarrassingly badly, on all levels, from the lukewarm, dry lamb, bland tomatoes and tasteless lettuce. The gyro is dripping with sauce that has little taste authentic to Greek/​Turkish food.
The fries are ok. Not traditional by any level.
The bread, supplied by Kronos, is cold. It should be hot, steaming with heat to add character to the gyro.
By all accounts, this place is done. Crashing into the ground. Fast. Put it out of its misery by visiting Donner Shack, the establishment that gets high marks for everything this place fails miserably at doing.

One of my absolute favorite gyros ever. The meat was super flavorful, and abundant. The sauce was perfect and the veggies were crisp. The garlic fries were well seasoned, crispy on the outside and fluffy on the inside.
The only reason I am not giving them 5 stars is service was a little slow and the the women handing the food out were very rude.

We were only in Honolulu for 2 ½ days but we love this place so much we came back twice. Elizabeth is one of the owners and she helped us out a lot by suggesting meals we would like. Everything on the menu we tried is very good, from from kebabs to Seabass to gyros. We will seek it out again the next time we go to Honolulu!

Good but not great. I’m kinda spoiled ’cause I’ve eaten real Greek in Greece and all over Germany where there’s plenty of Greek places. For American Greek, it’s okay.
The owner, an Albanian, was helpful enough. I had a lamb shish, It was okay but not great.
Don’t think I’d go back although this is one of the few Aegean/​Mediterranean places I’ve found in Honolulu.

Felt like it was overpriced for what you get, place was empty at lunch, wonder if everyone feels the same as me. Rather go to the other Greek place on King & Alaska run by the asian lady

After being a vegetarian for just a couple weeks my plan failed short and I fell full-​frontly to a Gyro sandwich… it was incredible as it has always been it was something very different from what I have been used to. Thought i was so lucky to be around and nearby for the unique greatness and sure it goes well with Bakalava the traditional classic all-​time famous pastry. Really am more than just a fan and was very glad to be able to make a visit every now and then: D

Is a 2 star fair?
If you are really looking for a slightly different cuisine from the usual Asian & local plate lunch delicacies that litter the food haven known as Downtown Honolulu/​Chinatown area? Or you are just sick of fast food all together???
Then Leo’s Taverna is one of the place for you or maybe not– depending on whom you are going with that day.
I am spoiled– I’ll admit it when IT comes to a great food experience– I have lived in Athens for a few months and I have eaten in Chicago’s Greek town before going to great live theater shows like Joseph and Les Mis. So when I compare a place like this — it can be understandable that they are not as authentic as in Athens or as good a major downtown/​metro location that has just huge volume like a NY or Chicago.
If you are with friends that really don’t like pizza or are on some kind of weird diet and they are from Turkey or the Mediterranean area in general– then Leo’s is a good reasonable compromise to eating out together so that everyone is happy.
The food is good if you know what you are ordering and are prepared ahead of time for what it will look like and taste like. It won’t be as flaming sizzling hot like show quality Benny Hanna. It won’t have all of the herd tastes that are so unique to authentic food– but it will be made in the style that is comfort food to those who enjoy lots of humas and kabobs.
The food is good– made well in a good style for fast food Greek. The Tskiki (sp?) sauce hits the spot with me — that I like the taste and kick which has not been used yet to my knowledge in all of the prepackaged foods like BK. I love the fries– I know– Darin!!! Why are you eating FRIES at a Greek Restaurant??? My answer– I’m not as bad as Will Smith eating fries in a Chinese restaurant in the Men In Black movies. Also– It comes in the gryo combo.
Humas can’t be beat or it was already beat chicpeas and now it is just beat.
The portions are really small– don’t expect to share when they give you just 1 little pita half shell. It really is on the pricy side for food that would be cheaper if this was the mainland. Just know ahead of time that the dishes are small and then on the smaller side. There is a reason whey people that eat like this lose weight.
Last few times there– the table tops were clean and wiped, but the floor had stuff on it.
The lights and ceiling fans bother my eyes some and make me tired quickly– so I try not to stay too long eating there and try instead for take out.
Is it ok?- yes– the food is good and different.
Have I experienced way better?- OHHHH YES!
Will others like it? Yes– if you like this kind of food.
Will I go there again? Yes– I work down by this location so I go enough times.

I’m surprised that there’s amazing Greek food in Honolulu! But it’s being pleasantly surprised. The menu is quite extensive and they offer a variety of choices. I tried the vegetarian combo, because I wanted to try a sampler of everything. The hummus, the eggplant dip (I can’t spell the name of it), and the dolmas are really good and fresh. I will definitely be coming back!

This is a great place to grab lunch on your lunch break. Everyone is very nice. The lamb souvlaki sandwich is just perfect! They also have a lot of different plate lunches to choose from. I lived in Israel for a while and ate a lot of souvlaki, and this place makes me feel at home. Yum!

It’s ok and the service is not so friendly IMO. I’ve said it before, service can lose or gain a star. The food is just bleh nothing to write home about. They watch you like a hawk when you get your fountain drink because they don’t allow refills and their are a lot of homeless people so I understand that. The food and service needs to step up!

I’ve been going here since I started working downtown in 2010, so I’m a little surprised I haven’t reviewed this place yet. An okay place for Greek food, but it’s not bad to fill a quick craving.
Likes: I like the gyro here. Their garlic fries used to be really good, but they changed it some time ago and now they’re just good (provided they’re not soggy).
Dislikes: I’ve tried the other plates, and I’m not really a fan. The hummus isn’t that good either. They can also take a very long time to prepare your food, especially during the lunch rush hour.
Favorites: Value meal.
Only go here for the value meal. Otherwise, I’d rather go to Kan Zaman.

It was terrible– don’t do it!
Tasteless, pricey, time consuming.
The workers were nice, but they did take a while to make my chicken plate & chicken souvlaki.
Downtown parking is always tough :(
but theirseating area was roomy and somewhat clean!

You know, this place is just ok. I came here yesterday for lunch because I was craving a Gyros Salad. I was actually very disappointed with it. Although the salad was given to me in a larger box, and I was impressed at first, the salad itself did not fill up much of the box.
There was a good amount of lamb, but it was thinly sliced. It tasted pretty good though, so I’m not really complaining about that. The veggies, however, were a big disappointment. My entire salad seemed to have consisted of the inside layers of the Romaine stalk. It was a very bitter salad. On top of that, the onions and tomatoes were very thinly sliced, so that was another big disappointment. They serve it with a piece of pita bread as well, so I might as well have ordered the Gyro instead of the salad.
Also, the dressing was very watery. Major disappointment. I only came here because I had an amazing Gyros Salad from the Good and Healthy café on King Street on Friday, and I didn’t have time yesterday to walk down there to get another one. I know now, that Good and Healthy will always be worth the walk for a quality salad, and they’re FAST too.
Here, the overall time it took to make my salad was a little over five minutes, even though I was first in line. That’s not as quick as I would like considering how I only have a half-​hour lunch break, it’s a simple salad (just throw some ingredients in a box along with some dressing YOU DON’T EVEN HAVE TO TOSS IT FOR ME), and I was the ONLY ONE in line!
I might come back here another time and try something else, but until then, three stars.
Minus one star for the food quality being sub-​par, and minus one star for the lady at the cash register being rather cold an abrasive when she took my order. She was cold even when she gave me my food at the end, and I tried to be friendly with her. She couldn’t even smile, and she seemed to just want to rush me out of the place! How very disappointing.

So I go in here about 4 times a year. Each time I am reminded of why I am not a regular.
Enviroment– it was as hot in here as it was outside and today is, according to Guy Hagi, a scorcher! The place has always looked quaint, as in this studio apartment is on a quaint corner (Hotel St. and Maunakea).
Food– never impresses. Today I had the double chicken kabob plate. The chicken was very good. Rice was beyond bland, it was grainy but tasted like water. Hummus was an embarrassment to the people Greece and the Middle East. I’ve mad hummus this bad and while doing so I have apologized to the Greek Gods explaining that I am a mere mortal and should have known better. The salad was equally unimpressive, the dressing isn’t even home made OR Greek. The baklavah is ok, but just ok.
Staff– they are ok, nice BUT slow. This wouldn’t be a problem if the food was worth the wait. But it is not.
Overall this place is tortuously hot, slow and the food isn’t good. I spent my time staring outside looking for a breeze and jelous of the wiser people who just went with Hula Dogs next door.

I starting working in Downtown Honolulu at the end of November and trying Leo’s has been on my lunch radar for weeks. I finally took a break from the usual (boring) red cabbage salad and treated myself to my favorite Greek delectable: spanakopita (spinach pastry)!
Instead of just ordering the spanakopita, I ordered the plate and expected all of the Mediterranean trimmings like rice pilaf, pita and hummus. I was a bit disappointed to find a very non-​Greek salad (ranch dressing? What?!) occupying half of my plate. Ranch does not compliment spanakopitas at all. Where’s the greek salad dressing? Come on, not even ONE kalamata olive or a sprinkle of feta?
I’m the fool for expecting an Athenian experience for $ 5.75, but a girl can dream.
While I wasn’t 100% satisfied, I did enjoy my spanakopita and I appreciated that the nice lady didn’t charge me for a side of tzatziki sauce.

11.19.13.
Two entrances:
1) Bishop St — this will take you through the back of the restaurant; just keep going, you’ll eventually get to the front
2) Fort Street-​ish entrance — by the Hana Lunch sign; this will take you into the «front» of the restaurant
The register/​order counter is right in front of the kitchen. If you don’t know what to order, use the blown-​up pictures of plates & meals that front all of the windows. This probably explains why this place is so dim… There is a lot of seating space though where you can comfortably sit with a group of 4 or more.
I ordered the Gyro Plate (not pictured in the restaurant, ~$ 9). It comes with the lamb/​beef strips over rice, a small salad, a dollop of humus topped with an olive!, & pita bread! Everything was super yummy, & def lasted for 2 meals for me. I did think the humus was a little bland compared to some other mediterranean places… the olive was a nice touch though!
The service here was fast, a little impatient when I was trying to order, but I wasn’t super offended. Overall the quality of food was good; I think I would come back again to try some of their other items since it seemed like they had a good variety of plates!
Unilocal 365 Challenge: #322/​365