To compile this list, we asked ourselves which Tustin Greek spots we’d preserve for future food lovers. What gyros, souvlaki, and flaky spanakopita shout ‘authentic’ the loudest? Some picks feel inevitable—of course we’re including that family-run taverna and bustling bakery. But Tustin’s Hellenic scene offers surprises beyond the expected, proving great Greek food isn’t just about what you can grab on the go. Here are 20 essential restaurants to begin with.
Luna Grill Lake Forest
$$ | (949) 770-5862 | WEBSITE
The consistently good, comforting food at Luna Grill Lake Forest is the stuff of Tustin legend, on par with the reliable sunshine and freeway traffic. The welcoming atmosphere—bright with natural light and softened by warm wood accents—envelops you like a familiar embrace as you savor through bites of salmon and fresh vegetables, occasionally interrupted by sips of cool water.
It’s the kind of meal you have to enjoy with friends, if only because the friendly staff like Kevin and Yani make you want to share the experience.
Luna Grill University Center
$ | (949) 861-2667 | WEBSITE
Unless someone discovers the original recipe tablets, we might never know who first paired feta with spice. But we can tell you who does it perfectly, and spoiler—it’s the place with crayons on the tables. Eating a burrata bowl with extra sauce (specifically that one bite with the exact right amount of creamy tang) at Luna Grill before a family outing, especially when Ellie or Dani remembers your usual order, will forever be a comforting ritual. Don’t trust anyone who says otherwise.
Willy’s Eatery
$ | (714) 535-6713 | WEBSITE
You’ll always find two things at Willy’s Eatery: a cozy, homey atmosphere that feels like stepping into a friend’s kitchen and breakfast that’s worth getting up early for. Their signature Popeye omelette starts with fluffy eggs packed with spinach, tomatoes, and crumbled feta, served alongside crispy potatoes and buttery toast. One bite makes clear why regulars keep coming back year after year. Just don’t skip chatting with owner Antonio if you want the full welcoming experience.
The Great Greek Mediterranean Grill – Irvine, CA
$ | (949) 932-0119 | WEBSITE
When The Great Greek Mediterranean Grill opened in Irvine, it was a revelation. Suddenly, “going out for Greek” meant generous combo trays and lemon potatoes in a space that felt like a cheerful neighborhood gathering spot. Years later, their take on the gyro has lost none of its appeal. Tender lamb and beef mingle with fresh herbs, crisp vegetables, and creamy tzatziki in a wrap that pushes the word “sandwich” to its limits.
The friendly staff, including Jackie and Sarai, make every visit feel like coming home, while the hearty portions ensure you leave completely satisfied—whether you’re dining in or ordering catering for the office.
Greek Islands Cuisine
$ | (949) 474-1976 | WEBSITE
Like any good Greek meal, the lunch that draws everyone to Greek Islands Cuisine is deceptively straightforward: A salmon plate that’s so fresh it’s almost oceanic, a generous but balanced pour of that homemade dressing, and a crisp side salad with bright ingredients. And forget the usual suspects. That well-seasoned gyro meat that comes on the side is actually what lingers in regulars’ memories all afternoon.
Pita Pita
$ | (949) 592-0095 | WEBSITE
The chicken kabob platter was among the classics that made Pita Pita—one of Tustin’s most reliable Greek spots—a neighborhood favorite back when it first opened. It’s still so popular, they don’t need to highlight it on their menu board. Served hot, this local staple is essentially a generous feast with tender grilled chicken, pillowy pita, and dollops of lemon garlic potatoes that shine like the clean countertops behind the friendly staff.
Chicken Maisón
$ | (714) 754-5480 | WEBSITE
The old joke about Tustin not having authentic Greek food ignores the most glorious spot of all: Chicken Maisón. The heavenly baked chicken with fresh pita bread and Greek yogurt at this welcoming restaurant involves a perfectly roasted half chicken served with warm pita and a generous dollop of creamy yogurt. It’s the only chicken dish we know of where eating it with your hands is not just acceptable but encouraged behavior.
Luna Grill Anaheim
$$ | (714) 922-6985 | WEBSITE
Seeing a gleaming display of fresh salmon and shrimp is a clear sign you’ve arrived at Luna Grill. So is spotting a steady stream of families and lunch-goers flowing through the clean, well-lit space. This popular Mediterranean spot offers consistently friendly service and fresh flavors, all of which attract hungry diners like bees to blossoms.
Watch Areli and Sean skillfully assemble vibrant bowls and plates with a dash of chipotle sauce, and always order one more side of crispy fries than you think you need.
The Great Greek Mediterranean Grill Santa Ana, CA
$ | (714) 957-5757 | WEBSITE
We’re convinced this lamb suvlaki plate is the best way to spend $18 in this city, especially when $18 doesn’t get you much at all. The Great Greek Mediterranean Grill assembles dozens of these miniature symphonies per day: tender grilled lamb skewers resting on fluffy rice, drizzled with creamy tzatziki, and accompanied by warm pita triangles. It’s the perfect balance of savory and fresh, hearty and light, and casual and satisfying, all for the price of a movie ticket.
Byblos Cafe
$$ | (714) 538-7180 | WEBSITE
Byblos Cafe has cultivated a loyal following for two signature offerings: pistachio olive oil ice cream and a welcoming hookah lounge. This enduring Tustin establishment pioneered the concept of healthy Mediterranean dining in the area, championing high-quality ingredients free from seed oils. More significantly, it introduced locals to one of the most satisfyingly simple pleasures on the menu: a creamy, smoky baba ganoush.
Its straightforward appeal has inspired countless Mediterranean spreads across Orange County, but Byblos Cafe’s rendition remains the benchmark, allowing the essential flavors of eggplant and tahini to truly stand out.
Kentro Greek Kitchen
$$ | (714) 278-0944 | WEBSITE
Few moments match when the sizzling platter arrives at your table at Kentro Greek Kitchen. A meal at this welcoming Fullerton spot is filled with flavorful moments—the aromatic spanakorizo, cracking open the warm pita, regulars chatting at nearby tables—but it’s the tender pork pita and refreshing Mythos Greek beer that steal the show. There are heartier and lighter dishes to be had, but the classic moussaka is our personal Goldilocks (with extra tzatziki, please).
Luna Grill Market Place
$ | (714) 352-5544 | WEBSITE
Wrapping chicken and shrimp in that soft pita seems so obvious now, it’s easy to forget how satisfying a well-made kabob plate can be when you first discover it. More impressive, though, is that even after multiple visits, eating the garlic shrimp still tastes like catching up with a familiar favorite.
The flavorful shrimp carries a gentle garlic aroma from the grill, the apple walnut salad is laced with crisp freshness, and the helpful service from staff like Claudia and Khari adds a welcoming warmth that ties everything together.
Cava
$ | (714) 782-7478 | WEBSITE
Lunch in Tustin is a quick, satisfying affair, and there’s no better place to experience it than at Cava with a Greens+Grain bowl in front of you. A vibrant mix of fresh grains, crisp vegetables, and generous portions of Harissa honey chicken with amazing sauces, this bowl is so thoughtfully composed we’d categorize it as comfort food. It’s the perfect thing to enjoy while doing more important things. Like savoring every bite.
Christakis Greek Cuisine
$$ | (714) 731-6600 | WEBSITE
Christakis Greek Cuisine has been serving Tustin since 1998, which we imagine is the same year people started debating this neighborhood gem’s most popular item, the lamb chop medium rare. It’s the perfect char and juicy tenderness that elevates the simple, grilled cut with a side of lemon potatoes to local favorite status, even if the seafood lovers might prefer the salmon instead. Us? We’ll admit that the family-style serving dominates the table, but it’s so satisfying we don’t mind.
The Little Greek by Christakis
$ | (714) 941-5420 | WEBSITE
It’s unclear who first discovered that tender chicken and creamy tzatziki complement each other like sunshine and the Aegean Sea, but it’s The Little Greek by Christakis that has perfected this classic Greek pairing in Orange County.
Our regular order is the Chicken Souvlaki Plate: juicy, perfectly grilled chicken skewers served with fluffy rice pilaf, a generous fresh salad with that tangy red wine vinaigrette, and those soft, pillowy pita breads that are ideal for scooping up every last bit of that homemade tzatziki sauce. The lamb gyro is equally satisfying—tender meat wrapped in warm pita with crisp veggies and that same creamy sauce that ties everything together.
Each visit confirms why this spot has become our favorite for quick, delicious Greek food that feels both comforting and wholesome.
Nick the Greek
$ | (714) 853-1020 | WEBSITE
There are many reasons to visit Tustin, such as exploring the charming Old Town or browsing the farmers market on Saturdays. But our top priority is always a Greek food fix at Nick the Greek, the popular spot that serves classic dishes with quick service and hands them over fresh. The best part is the thick, soft pita bread that comes with meals, which holds the flavorful fillings perfectly and tastes good enough to eat on its own.
SPITZ
$ | (714) 843-7562 | WEBSITE
Tustin has been a proving ground for many Mediterranean spots—falafel joints, kebab houses, gyro counters all dot the landscape. But none have the vibrancy of SPITZ. Their Doner Basket is a study in generosity, with harissa sauce that tingles and not a single bland bite to be found. And no matter how many wraps the server recommends, order two more.
My Greek Kitchen
$ | (949) 722-3911 | WEBSITE
This reliably satisfying Greek spot is as synonymous with Tustin as strip malls and the 5 freeway. With tender gyros, crispy fries, and generous veggie plates served on disposable tableware, the chicken lemon BBQ plate might not seem too different from other Greek takeout joints around town, but it’s superior in one crucial way: the portions. It’s the heaping, overflowing combination of perfectly cooked meat and flavorful sides that elevate this meal from just another dinner to the dinner.
Apola Greek Grill
$ | (833) 328-4976 | WEBSITE
Some people bring fast food to gatherings. Some bring pizza. Tustin locals bring a tray from Apola. We could fill an entire paragraph listing the beloved gyros and sides at this Greek grill, but we’ll start with the one that disappears first. Known as The Works wrap, this generous creation is filled with seasoned beef and lamb, wrapped in warm pita that will inevitably drip garlic sauce onto your shirt. Not that you’ll mind.
H.B. Pita Grill
$ | (714) 964-7482 | WEBSITE
When you eat at H.B. Pita Grill, you order the Shawarma Fries. This is widely accepted as a fact by Orange County locals, office workers, big families, late-night diners migrating from nearby bars, and of course, anyone who appreciates crispy fries topped with juicy chicken, garlicky tzatziki, and a generous sprinkle of Mediterranean spices. Oddly enough, the one thing these fries aren’t are dry—unless you really suck at eating fast.