Daphne’s California Greek

I was inclined to write a review because of all the bad reviews written. I don’t understand any of them! I’m a foodie through and through (and cooking is my passion) and I’ve NEVER been disappointed with Daphne’s.
Their Gyro’s are delicious, especially when paired up with some fire feta (you have to ask for it). Also, the lemon chicken soup is fantastic and rather addictive. Just writing this review, I’ll be headed there after work!

I was so optimistically looking forward to a neighborhood Greek place but this was a huge let down. The quality of the food and taste were sub-​standard. No thanks.

I found out this place closed down & ended up going down the street to Mediterranean Café! :)

I used to go to Daphne’s more often years ago when I used to live up in OC. I don’t know if all locations have changed, or if it was just this one, but some of the flavors of the items there weren’t quite what they used to be. I got the veggie combo plate, which had dolmas, spanakopita, pita with hummus, falafel and a thick tzatziki style sauce, yellow rice, and tabouleh. The spanakopita and falafel were good, the bread and rice were the same, but the dolmas and the tabouleh kind of didn’t taste so fresh. The hummus and tzatziki sauces were meh, also didn’t have a very fresh taste to them. It was pretty empty here around 6 pm on a Sunday, which I guess I can understand with all the other yummy stuff nearby– just came here to have a quick bite before a long night shift. I was full, but not totally satisfied with my meal. Staff were friendly and the food came out quickly. There is free parking available in the back of the restaurant.

I have been to a few different locations and have been decently satisfied with my Daphne’s experience.
This time around I came in to order a gyro plate and a gyro a la carte, both items togo. I got the roasted veggies and greek salad as my plate sides.
The cashier who took my order was not very helpful, not very friendly, and really just looked to be bored. It was probably around 6PM on a weekday and I was one of two customers in the store. Maybe her attitude improves when the store is busy but I was totally not impressed.
I used the restroom while I was waiting which was clean and well stocked. When I got out I saw my order up and the cashier no where to be found. I waited as I watched my order become cold and she finally came out from the back to package it all up for me.
The food itself tasted pretty good. Although the veggies did not look very appetizing they were seasoned and cooked well, and the salad was delicious. The gyro meat was cold… but still tasty and the pita was… uhh, pita haha. My bf enjoyed his gyro although it looked a little weak to me. Tony’s Greek restaurant in Mission Gorge has more loaded gyros that to me seem more authentic as well.
Overall, the food is not the deterrent here, it truly is the lame customer service that may keep me from returning.

It had been about two years since I last visited, and I suspect it will be at least that long before I return.
We both did the «Chicken Kabobs» with steamed veggies & rice for lunch. The veggies looked and tasted terrible, as if poorly kept from the night before. The chicken was rubbery, and the marinade far saltier than I recall. Pita bread was barely warm. However, I can say that the rice was fine, and the cashier was very friendly/​courteous.
The major attribute for this place is its parking lot (behind restaurant). In fact, we decided to come because of a lack of parking near some of the other Greek grills in Hillcrest.
Four years ago, I use to be a regular at this Daphne’s, but the food, and menu now seem very dated.

Kinda regret straying for Alexis’ in Hillcrest to try someplace new. Ordered the gyro plate, a California salad with gyro meat, and a lemon soup. All were served room
temperature/​on the cold side which was disappointing because the restaurant was practically empty. However, I give them an additional star for their friendly service, parking and nifty soda machine.

I love the staff at this location! Always nice and pleasant! Me and my daughter love the Street Pita Happy Hour on Wednesdays! Great deal, both the Chicken and Gyro street pitas taste great! We cannot drive by without my daughter asking to stop there! :)

this place is a decent spot for greek if you’re looking for some fast food. San diego does have better greek food though. If given the choice I would pass and hit up better quality spots for the same price, ie. kebob shop. I know some people love this spot so maybe I need to try more things on the menu. I usually stick with the lamb plates. I usually avoid chains unless they are done right.

Daphne’s is my perfect trifecta for lunch: healthy, cheap and quick. I am obsessed with the fire feta, pesto hummus and lemon chicken (avgolemono) soup. I also love the healthy grilled veggies, street pitas and chicken kebabs. They offer fries and falafel if you need your fried fix, but the majority of the food is grilled, which I love!
I’ve been on a roll with Daphne’s for the past couple months. It’s centrally located, they have parking (if you know Hillcrest, you know why this is exciting), the food is fresh and it has flavor! Most Greek/​Mediterranean food in California has no spice or heat. Daphne’s solves my gripe with fire feta! You can spice up your food for a mere $ 0.79 (side of fire feta without pita). I’m sold!
It’s clear they try to increase evening traffic with the three-​course dinner and it works! Great variety and portions for $ 8.99. Daphne’s has become my pre-​drinking meal of choice! The food will give you a good base to drink on, but is still light and healthy.
I know it’s a chain… if you can get over that fact, it’s really good! The entire chain was sold a few years back and the new owners have lowered prices. Give them another chance! I hate recommending this over local spots like Mediterranean Café and Alexi’s, but the fire feta calls to me and I must answer…

This is my first time at Daphne’s. The parking for this place SUCKS!!! The little bit of parking is shared with a bunch of other stores. The spaces are tiny. Don’t go there if you drive anything bigger than a Smart Car.
Other than the parking, the restaurant is great. It is bright and clean. I ordered the grilled salmon with rice and tabouli. I couldn’t believe how big my piece of fish was. It was very thick and bigger than my hand. I almost didn’t finish it.
I have never had tabouli before. The servers were nice and explained what was in it. I enjoyed it. The rice was a little over cooked for my tastes but that is just me.
I would recommend this restaurant for a quick bite.

We just needed to grab something to hold us over till dinner which would be at a real restaurant. BFD was too crowded so we thought about Mediterranean Café, which we probably should’ve gone to. But the partner suggested here since there’s a parking lot in back and it was just after 12, so the lunch crowds would be all around, but not here. Should’ve tipped us off.
This place has changed. What happened to the blue and white? It’s now yuppy earth tones and reminded me of some commercial fast food place. NOTE To SELF: Beware of places with pictures of perfectly made food.
The space use to be a Baja Fresh. Self-​service drinks. We split a gyros sandwich and a flatbread BBQ chicken pizza.
He: Where’s the chicken? Lettuce on a gyros? That’s just filler.
We were surprised to find lettuce in our gyros and the tzatziki sauce came in a little portion cup and was watery. Perhaps pre-​made and just sits in the fridge? The sauce on the pizza was good, a little on the sweet side, but it didn’t look appetizing.
The staff is friendly but since it’s a chain, it’s really about the quality of the food. I just don’t see it. I doubt we’d ever come back and it’s a good thing we didn’t sign up for the frequent diner card.

No one was in there when i ordered but they forgot me and only 2 other people walked in after me. I had to go ask about my order and the girl said «oh, sorry.»
I was famished and looked forward to my gyro… I was sad because it wasn’t good.

Not impressed. I ordered the gyro pita with a side of fries and a drink, and the meat was all bits and small chunks, not hearty strips as I’d remembered it being in past visits. When I tried to lift the pita up to my mouth, it pretty much fell apart and I had to eat it with a fork. Additionally, I can’t say it really tasted like anything except tzatziki sauce.
It had been a few years since I had eaten at a Daphne’s and I can’t say I’m in a hurry to go back. For almost $ 9.00 there are better things I can eat for lunch.

I went there because some kid thew a bunch of coupons at me for $ 2 off.
Food took 20 minutes to prepare, and even then my meal was paltry. I ate another meal after just to feel partially satisfied.
I have been there before and was more impressed, so I guess the service is hit or miss. The décor is Greek, but music is hip-​hop. It throws one off, ya digg?
If you are in for a truly Californian hit-​or-​miss Greek extravaganza, this is your place.
2.5 starz

I love Daphne’s!
This summer they have special summer salads and I absolutely adore the Summer Berry Salad that has strawberries, blueberries, cranberries, shredded chicken and a yummy vinaigrette.
At every greek restaurant, I always try the Lemon Chicken Soup. It’s only $ 1.25 and they only thing I don’t like… is the portion of the cup. Can I have more please? I’ve been good :)
$ 7 3-​course dinner’s are always a win because I can have TWO lemon chicken soups and have a chocolate caramel pecan (O.M.G.)
This site is so much larger than the other Daphne’s I’ve been to and so much brighter. The staff always do their second rounds to ask if everything’s ok.

I’ve never really had any issues with Daphne’s, but I must admit, I don’t frequent this place that much, and this was actually my first time at this particular location.
Picture a lovely Sunday in San Diego, my roommate and my boy had just wrapped up a leisurely sunglasses-​searching expedition through the Spring Valley swap meet. I was hungover, as I tend to be on most Sundays, but I was dead set on not chasing the hangover with a day o’ fun. We had just wrapped up a conversation with my grandpa on how tango is the next closest thing to sex at which point he invited me to attend a lesson with him, WTF? Starving and barely satiated by the Fantas we purchased at a mobile cooler, we set out to find a place to ease our hunger pains.
You guys want ‘shitty wok?’ Yeah, okay, I’ve never been there, but I’m sure they have something a temporary vegetarian such as myself could sink my teeth into. As we cruised up Washington, a collective lightbulb seemed to ignite above my two companions’ heads and our course diverted to Daphne’s.
I got the falafel greek salad and it was pretty good, especially considering my only previous experience with falafel had been while working with Pita Pit in a pita with extra bacon. Mmmmmm, bacon.
I found it ironic that the cashier asked me if I’d like wheat pita or regular, but didn’t pose the same question to anyone else. What is it about vegetarian eating that makes people assume you’re trying to be healthy? Honestly, I’ve eaten worse since Lent started then I had when meat was a major staple in my diet. But I digress, as I have this entire review. And for that, I apologize. My only gripe was the the tzatziki was a bit watery. The end.

Fresh, healthy, cheap, filling…
I’ve been to a number of different Daphne’s locations– they are generally the same. At this one, I discovered their $ 6 dinner menu– how can you go wrong?
I had the lemon chicken soup, followed by the «street gyros” — basically small versions of the regular gyros, along with rice and greek salad, finished off with the baklava. All was fresh and beyond what I would expect for that price. Healthy and a great value… have been back twice since they started offering this dinner menu.

I had catered food from this place at a few weeks ago and it was so yummy that I was excited to check it out.
I read about their $ 6 dinner special and was like Hell yeah!
It’s pretty much a fast food joint. You order at a counter and then they bring it to you. I have to admit the food wasn’t very good. I was all ready to love it but it was quite bland. The regular hummus w/​pita starter was good but I didn’t like the fire feta hummus.
The street gyro was like a mini gyro and had little flavor. The pita was really doughy. The chicken kebab was ok — pretty moist — but not a ton of flavor. The little salad that came with it was pretty bad… basically whitish, hard lettuce. I didn’t eat it. The rice and fries were good.
The baklava and the other little dessert we got were tasty.
Unfortunately, I won’t be coming back. Cost-​wise, it is a good deal for dinner, but the flavor isn’t there. Sorry Daphne’s. :(
The only reason I didn’t give it 1 star is because the catered food was quite good (how is that possible?)
P. S. If you insist on going to Daphne’s, sign up for their PIta Club (or whatever) online and they send you a coupon for a free meal on your birthday.

I’ve been loving this place for 10+ years ever since my now wife introduced me. I know its a chain restaurant and quick service style, but damn its good! We’ve been to independent Greek restaurants, but never really liked one enough to come back.
ORDER: Water with lemons (FREE) + two chicken lemon soups ($ 2) + one fire feta ($ 1) + two Gyros & Chicken Kabob combos ($ 16.58) — 1 Buy Get 1 Free coupon ($-8.29) + TAX = $ 11.19 Delicious Dinner for Two!!!
(I would like to take this moment to thank my wife for supporting my cheapass ways, she’s not one of those shallow beehotches/​future trophy wives you would meet at a downtown club in San Diego)
Economy must be hitting this place hard… I swear there were only two employees: the cook and a shift manager. Cook was cooking, while the other was doing cashiering, serving, and cleaning. I was going to order an extra pita and baklava, but I got impatient and left the line. Usually theres more employees… maybe they called in sick?
FYI: They have a new «3-​Course» Dinner Prix Fixe Menu for only $ 6…definitely worth checking out when couponless!
FYI2: Steak Kabobs are little tough and overcooked.