Gyro House SE Portland — Restaurant in Portland

I have been to their other location in Beaverton/Hillsboro on many occasions. That location is terrific: clean, well-managed, pleasant ambiance, excellent service, and great food.

Unfortunately, the location on SE 82nd is almost the exact opposite of the one in Beaverton/Hillsboro. In fact, it is the epitome of what I expect on 82nd. The first thing I noticed when entering this location is that it looked like crap. Cheap tables and chairs, unattractive wall art, dirty walls, and a floor that both needs to be replaced. Just to be clear, I don't mind a rundown place that serves good food. However, the place was dirty and the employees are lazy.

When we got up to the cash register to order, the young woman couldn't have been less friendly. My son and I ordered and paid: the cashier never even said thank you. When I asked for water, she sullenly handed me two tiny plastic cups: no mention of where the water was located.

Unlike Gyro House's other location, at this location they just call out your number instead of bringing the food to your table. If the employees ever managed to get out from behind the counter, they might have noticed how filthy all of the tables were. While there were plenty of open tables to sit at, they were all dirty. I got a bunch of napkins, poured some water on them, and cleaned off one table for my son and me to sit at.

My son got the chicken gyro and I had the lamb gyro. The only reason I'm not giving them one star is that the food was good (not as good as the other location, but still very good). The gyros were huge, meaty, and well seasoned. My only complaint was that they went a little light on the sauce . . .

Would I go back here? Maybe, but I would definitely do takeout. And I wouldn't give my normal 20% tip: unfortunately, I had already given them 20% because you pay when you order (I didn't know that they didn't bring the food or that the tables were...

The last time my wife and I ordered from Gyro House, I wasn't even writing for Yelp yet, meaning I shamefully didn't give this place the incredible praise that it deserves. There is no shortage of Mediterranean food options in Portland, from restaurants to street carts, but this one stands out among most of the rest, for several reasons, all of which I was reminded this last weekend. Here's the short list:

Easily the best babaghanooj I've had anywhere. No contest. There's an "edge" to it that is not easily described - spiced by not spicy. Trust me on this one.

Non-awful falafels; these ones are actually soft and moist, and not the hard, dry kind you get elsewhere.

Kafta kabobs that are grilled perfectly, giving it that rugged, savory char flavor.

Flavorful tzatziki drizzled in correct proportion, without making everything soggy.

Fantastically tart, mouth-tingling hummus that has you coming back for more, again and again!

In fact, the only point on which I would knock them is the sadly deficient number of included pita bread pieces: two is simply not enough for a two-person vegetarian mezza platter!

Out of all the tzatziki-slingers in the area, Gyro House is the best for a quick, grab-and-go Mediterranean meal that competes, and defeats, just about every other competitor. I could eat this five days in a row and not get tired of it...and I am sorely tempted to head back there again tonight!...

Never order delivery or take away from here. Long time customer with them in house but things have charged obviously, first time trying take away in a while and order was wrong and I pointed out that they gave me order of the customer in front of me. One time miss, I think ah well, and move on. Next time order delivering, now I will never order from them again in person or by delivery. Only half the order came. The driver says the restaurant gave him only one, the restaurant says the driver must have ate it, restaurant tells me to call the help number on the order for a refund. Called and it goes back to the restaurant number, ordered directly from their restaurant website so the phone number for "help" goes directly to the restaurant. I didn't care who's at fault it, I just wanted either a replacement so I could have dinner or credit for dinner that didn't come. Got neither, nor any kind of service. Tried calling again and to be nice on the phone, guy on the line tells me "well it happens a lot, tell you the truth, call the number for refund." When his number IS the number for help on the order. Their food and service used to be good, maybe they're too busy to care now. Don't waist time here, save your money and go...