Taki’s Mad Greek

Popular Ballard business serving delicious, fresh food. Nice variations on best know Greek dishes, from generous plates to hefty pita sandwiches. Dine in or pick up, reasonable prices.

I often call in an order for pick up when I’m too lazy to cook. Usually I order the lamb gyro and it’s always delicious. I’ve only ever seen one man working there– I think he owns the place. He’s professional, accommodating and sometimes funny. Looking forward to trying more of the menu.

I’m not sure if they decided to name this place «Taki» after the décor, or if the «mad» is in reference to the lady working the register (also the waitress and person who will mumble indecipherably at you).
First things first: The food is good, but the experience of having to deal with the lady who works there can make for thinking twice about going. I have yet to experience a bad meal in regards to food quality.
A note about the décor: based on the pictures hanging, one would be lead to believe that Taki is the Eric Clapton of cute little Greek guitars (they probably have a name, but for reference, they look like ukulele’s).
On a recent trip, I ordered the gyro platter, and was asked if I wanted it open faced or a sandwich. I told her to surprise me. My response clearly agitated her, and she again asked me what I wanted. I told her that I did not care if I was served the gyro platter open faced or as a sandwich. She became visibly more frustrated and informed me that I had to make a choice. I asked her to explain the difference to me between an open face gyro platter and a gyro sandwich. I was curious, as there is an item called «gyro sandwich» and I was ordering the «gyro platter.» Sensing an opportunity to engage, I asked her which one she liked and why.
I was clearly confused about the «gyro sandwich» and «gyro platter» sandwich option on the menu. I always thought platter meant it was open faced…
Asking this women, whom I believe is the owner Taki’s wife questions about the food, what she likes and why clearly agitates her and causes great frustration. For takeout orders, she nearly demands the customer order from the regular menus that normally are reserved for seated customers, and not the take-​out menus located next to cash register when ordering a meal to-​go.
Another issue, after you order your takeout at the register, she makes you go sit down and tells you to pay when your food is ready. I wish there was some way to convey to this lady that once the order is placed, people may want to pay, then when the food is ready she can just hand them the food and then they can leave. Instead, customers are forced to interact even more, consequently delaying one’s ability to escape Taki’s Mad Greek restaurant in the most efficient manner. Just give me my food, let me pay and I’ll leave.

If I had to pick a place for my last meal, it would be Taki’s Mad Greek. Sure the interior is nothing to get dressed up for but the food is AMAZING!!! I love everything on the menu especially the Lemoanto Pork Chops. The Spanakopita is large and taste like FRESH spinach. We always get the Dip sampler because all the dips are yum yum yum. but there’s one thing you MUST TRY is Elias’ Tyropitas. They are simply the best thing ever. We usually get a big order to go and feast for two happy days on my favorite all time food. Love the flavors here.

YUM! Take-​out from this place is delicious! I can’t speak for eating there– I’ve heard some negative things about that– but take-​out gets an A+! I got the hummus pita sandwich with garlic fries and my boyfriend got the gyro platter. He has gotten take-​out from there several times and always loves it. This was my first time, but I’ll definitely be back! Yummy!

I have lived in this area for 6 years and never ate here. I have been missing out! I had the Gyro Salad today for lunch and it was delicious. The Gyro meat was great and the tzatziki was very flavorful. I really enjoyed this salad and the fresh pita bread it comes with. I’m gonna eat here again.

From the moment I walked in I did not feel welcomed. There were about 3 – 4 other people in the restaurant, a bit of a slow night. The waitress was sitting at a table talking to another lady (appeared to be a friend), she briefly looked at us and said we could sit wherever we wanted. I got the feeling that she could not be bothered and that her conversation was more important than helping customers. She came by a bit later to fill our cups and tossed a couple forks on our table. She wasn’t very friendly when taking our order either. She barked at us because we stated what type of salad we wanted before we stated our choices on potatoes, rice, or fries. She said the cook was particular and likes it in a certain order. In my mind I thought «why not just make space to write it down later». Also, the menu lists the salad options before the fries, so we were just following the menu. We chose the regular lettuce for our greek salad and she made it a point to tell us that we didn’t pick the traditional authentic greek salad. Later on she mumbled something about how they control the Greek food on movie scenes because they are the sole caterers or something. Didn’t really understand that part.
The food was decent and appeared to be made to order. The fries were fresh and hot. The salad was fresh. The meat in my beef souvlaki seemed a bit under cooked. It was more pink than I would’ve preferred, but overall I would give the food about a 3 – 3.5 stars.
No one came to check on us, we thought she asked us how our meal was but she was asking the table behind us, and we only had our water refilled once, which was after we had paid. When we paid the waitress dropped the credit card and then came back to tell us that we didn’t provide any means of payment. When she gave us the receipt back to sign she basically just tossed it onto the table. When we left we walked out and said thank you, but no one paid any attention or said anything back.
The service here was some of the worst service I have ever received. The waitress was inattentive and not friendly. The food was fine, but it’s not enough to draw me back after this experience.

This is my new spot for Greek food in Seattle. I came here with a friend on my week out in Seattle. I loved it so much, I came back a second time the same week. His Greek salad and falafel’s are the best I’ve ever had. This is a staple for me. If you’re looking for authentic Greek food, definitely give him a try.

ORDER OVER THE PHONE TO GO! Come in here quickly to grab the food and get the frack out. Don’t expect anything else; especially good customer service or sane business owners.
Yeah, the place could be cleaned but, I’ve never had issues after eating here.
I always order the authentic Greek salad and the beef & lamb gyros.
Even ordering over the phone the lady owner will call you essentially a dumbass and will suggest getting the beef or lamb Souvlaki gyro. I find it quite entertaining actually; they’re legit crazy here but, you’ll be okay if you keep to yourself.
No gyro for you! Opa!

Husband had been wanting to take me to Taki’s since we started dating. He finally did– it did not disappoint. This place is authentic Greek and I love it. You can tell its family run and I hate to be one of those people, but it always reminds me of My Big Fat Greek Wedding when I walk in ;)
I like the laid back atmosphere and décor (pictures of the family and restaurant over the years) and the food is always great. I have visited 5 times now I think and each has been delicious. Have started bringing friends and family and they’ve all loved it too. The vegetarian platter is very tasty and I love the selection. Of course everyone loves the meat they serve. If you like Greek food, this is a must try.

Food was good, service (man, assuming owner) was good, he was funny and nice.
But!!! I went to use the restroom and as I walked through to the back I was hit with a god awful smell that just reeked like unclean food kitchens.
I’ve worked in the restaurant business for years and this was pretty freaking nasty. I poked my head into the kitchen in the back it was so gross, and the bosses office had some random soap opera on a cheap TV… definitely a weird vibe.
Food tasted great but coming out of that establishment??, I’ll steer clear of this place till it gets a deeeep cleaning

Gosh, I’m annoyed that I have to write this review but I’m doing it because I hope the owners will see it. The food is AMAZING. So good. But I will NEVER go back because the service was so absolutely terrible that I’m getting sweaty just writing this review. Our waitress was incredibly unfriendly from the moment we entered the restaurant (which needs a deep cleaning and some décor change). She rolled her eyes at everything we said, sat down while we ordered telling us she was sick, and argued with the girls I was with about what they ordered. Not to mention, she took forever to do anything and made us feel bad about asking for a clean drinking glass because one of the glasses on our table was literally left from the people eating before us. It was shocking, but we were able to laugh everything off because we couldn’t believe someone so horrible was able to hold a job doing anything, let alone something in the service industry. I’m just glad we were able to stay positive because it was my bachelorette party and she definitely would have ruined our entire night if we weren’t so entertained by how ridiculous this entire experience it was. So if you go, get take out and don’t make eye contact with the blonde lady who’s walking around with a disgusted look on her face. And I’ll add, I was a server for three years and I have NEVER not tipped after a meal, but I didn’t even feel we should have had to pay for what we ate, let alone a tip, because the experience was so terrible.

Definitely the worst service I have ever received. Ever. The woman serving us was very upset for us sitting down on our own (which we did because we hadn’t been acknowledged). She didn’t come to take our order for 20 mins. When she came to take our order, she made our friend feel guilty for ordering a gyro and made her change her order. When our other friend ordered a gyro, our waitress rolled her eyes and moved on quickly (which she did again later while we were talking). Once we were ready to pay, she was sitting in a chair in the dining room not acknowledging us. Seriously, the food was amazing but I will never be back due to this terrible experience.
Great food. Really needs a fresh face because she was terribly rude.

I have been coming to this place for years it’s the best Greek food I have had in Seattle, the people are super friendly, the food is great and I have never had any bad food, and I signed up on Unilocal just to give them a great review

Came back to Takis after moving away and the food is still outstanding. They serve up the BEST Greek food in Seattle.

The gyros are about the size of Greece itself, and tastes like it came from there. When having the salad combo, always spring for the extra buck for the authentic salad. Maybe one of these Saturday nights I’ll go and check out their show.

Wow… I’ve passed this place so many times.
I was a little hungry so I decided to try it.
Holly cow, portions definitely dont fit the price.
For what I got it should have been double the price.
Flavors are spot on. Looking at the walls you get a sense of history and present.
The guy cooking got an elbow bump from me and an air high five.
As I got my Togo box! I will definitely be back and bring friends.
It might look a little scary to some, but it is for sure one of the best Greek places I’ve eaten at! Hands down my opinion beats mr. Gyro!!!
Thank you so much for who ever blessed us with this wonderful and tasty business!!!

I am only writing this review in hopes that the managment reads it and does something. I ate there a week ago and the food definitely tasted good and was presented well. The problem was when I went to pay my bill I looked at the kitchen. It was FILTHY!!! I don’t even know how people are working in that environment, let alone serving food from it. I was shocked. Even the cash register is layered in filth. I don’t even know how someone hasn’t shut it down for health code violations, because that can’t be legal.
My stomach turned as I looked around behind the counter. I shouldn’t have been suprised because there is dust everywhere in the dining room.
Later, the food didn’t agree with me which wasn’t a suprise after seeing the state of the kitchen.
I really hope they take the time to clean it up.

If you read the reviews you will find some people who slam this place.
DO NOT make the mistake of becoming a pompous fool who can no longer enjoy a unique experience in life. If you want cookie cutter subservience and can’t be comfortable in your own skin — don’t go here.
If you crave a truly unique, fun and unforgettable time — GO TO TAKIS!
IT’S A BLAST. PLUS — YOU CAN BE PRETTY SURE THOSE WITH A SHISKABOB UP THEIR ASS WON’T BE THERE!

Simple review, simply great food.
I only bought a gyro and a diet coke, to-​go for lunch.
It came out to like $ 8.47 and it was freaking delicious…
I don’t have ridiculous standards for to-​go orders at lunch time. but i am giving 5* for the value. just epic.
I will be back.