Ararat Kebab & Gyros — Restaurant in San Francisco

If you’re drifting down O’Farrell with a belly full of existential dread and a craving for something wrapped in pita and purpose, Ararat Kebab & Gyros might just be your salvation—or your new obsession.

First Impression: This isn’t some polished Mission-style “Mediterranean fusion” place with $19 hummus. No. This is the real, warm, straight-to-the-soul kinda joint. Tiny, no-frills, smells like grilled onions and someone’s auntie's secret spice blend. The kind of spot where the guy behind the counter knows what you want by your walk.

The Food: Let’s start with the gyro—because damn. That meat? Juicy. Seasoned like it’s been whispering with garlic and paprika for days. The pita’s soft but has enough char to say, “Yeah, I saw a grill.” Throw in tzatziki that slaps and a handful of crisp lettuce and onions? You’re not eating fast food—you’re eating a small miracle.

Falafel: Crunchy outside, fluffy inside, kissed by cumin. You know the drill.

Lentil Soup: Earthy, warm, feels like it should come with a wool blanket and forgiveness.

Salmon Plate: Surprisingly top-tier. Generous, tender, and grilled like someone back there cares.

The Vibe: Low-key. Functional. You’re here to eat, not Instagram. It feels like a permanent fixture in a neighborhood that’s seen everything. There’s a kindness to it. A softness under the hard edges of the city.

Late Night Rating: 11/10 if you're stoned, drunk, hungover, emotionally volatile, or just... hungry for truth wrapped in foil.

Final Verdict: Ararat is one of those places that holds the city together in quiet ways. Not flashy, not trending—just damn good food served by people who know what they’re doing. If SF ever loses this spot, it loses a bit...

Ararat just opened and their food is delicious. So far I've had the lentil soup, falafel wrap, and a falafel plate.

The lentil soup is comforting and filling! And adding a bit of lemon gives it such a nice acidity. It also comes with warm pita bread. I'm not a soup person so for me to say this is good soup says a lot.

The falafels are good, too. They're crunchy on the outside and densely packed on the inside. The wrap is great off your not too hungry. The plate is great when you are. Unlike the other plates, the falafel plate comes with hummus and babaghannush. I've never hat babaghannush before because I don't like eggplant. But I didn't know the plate came with it because the menu they have on the screen doesn't provide specifics.

It was delicious! I may still not like eggplant but I really like babaghannush. It provided a brightness to an overall carb-y meal. The salad was also good, especially with the tahini dressing.

They've remodeled the space from what it was before when it was an Indian restaurant. Is much brighter and more inviting. Service is very friendly, too.

I would've gotten some baklava, but I had real mochi donuts earlier and that was enough sweets for me. I'm definitely coming back to try their street style wrap...

I had always ordered from DoorDash, but we went in today around 7.30pm. The sun was still setting, it was good to be there. The neighborhood around has homeless folks which might make you feel unsafe, parking on the street is tricky because of the same, I would recommend the parking structure for peace of mind. Coming back to the restaurant, the outside chaos has nothing to with this gem of a place, total calmness and very sweet Kurdish women. Food was great as usual. Adana kebab plate and the Ararat mix kebab plate were what we ordered, both were good. Also, their sauce is to die for. We finally ordered some dessert too because it was too tempting not to, the caramel milk cake, was splendid, definitely get that, highly recommend, they also had a pistachio milk cake and dough cake with a walnut, these were good as well, but if you have a sweet tooth like me, the caramel cake is the way to go, if you want a little lower intensity, then the baked dough with nut and sugar syrup or the pistachio milk cake will be your choice. All in all, great people, great restaurant. Keep up the good work, and be consistent, this restaurant will do wonders, I am sure, highly...