3 Greek restaurants to compare in San Francisco
Short answer
San Francisco does not need a weak fourth choice to cover the essential formats. Kokkari Estiatorio is the major special-occasion experience; Souvla in Hayes Valley turned souvlaki into a modern quick format; Novy serves Greek-Californian cooking in a family-run Noe Valley restaurant. Orexi was excluded as permanently closed, and the verified Nick The Greek location had only a 3.7 rating from 154 reviews.
3 restaurants with different strengths
Kokkari Estiatorio is the major special-occasion reference, with a 4.7 rating, more than 3,500 reviews, and wood-fired cooking. Google Maps showed 4.7/5 from 3,575 reviews when checked on September 16, 2026.
Souvla - Hayes Valley is modern quick souvlaki, with a 4.5 rating and more than 2,300 reviews in Hayes Valley. Google Maps showed 4.5/5 from 2,368 reviews when checked on September 16, 2026.
Novy Restaurant is Noe Valley’s family choice for brunch or a relaxed dinner, with a 4.4 rating and more than eight hundred reviews. Google Maps showed 4.4/5 from 849 reviews when checked on September 16, 2026.
How to choose
Choose Kokkari for a celebration, wood-fired grilling, and a high budget; Souvla for chicken, lamb, or salad in a quick format; Novy for brunch or a relaxed neighborhood dinner. All three have sufficient review bases to interpret their ratings with more confidence.
Before visiting
Google ratings and review counts are dated snapshots. Menus, prices, hours, reservation policies, and locations can change. Confirm current details on the official website and Google Maps before traveling.
There is no universal winner: choose by specialty, atmosphere, location, and meal type, then recheck variable details before visiting.
Recommended restaurants
These restaurants were selected because their current menus, locations or specialties match the question. The list is based on verifiable information, not on filling a preset number of places.
A refined Jackson Street Greek restaurant with a fireplace, wood-fired grill, lamb, whole fish, and meze.
Identidad, propuesta y datos de contacto contrastados con la fuente oficial; valoracion, resenas, estado y direccion verificados directamente en Google Maps el 16/09/2026.
Wood-fired grilling, lamb, fish, and refined Hellenic cooking
A Hayes Valley quick-service Greek restaurant serving spit-roasted meats, pita, salads, fries, and frozen Greek yogurt.
Identidad, propuesta y datos de contacto contrastados con la fuente oficial; valoracion, resenas, estado y direccion verificados directamente en Google Maps el 16/09/2026.
Souvlaki, chicken, lamb, salads, and frozen Greek yogurt
A family-run Noe Valley restaurant serving salads, moussaka, lamb burgers, brunch, and Greek plates with Californian influence.
Identidad, propuesta y datos de contacto contrastados con la fuente oficial; valoracion, resenas, estado y direccion verificados directamente en Google Maps el 16/09/2026.
Greek-Californian cooking, brunch, and neighborhood plates
Sources & references
These independent references add context or corroborate key facts used in this guide. Restaurant websites are kept on the business profiles rather than repeated here. Current information can change after the access date shown below.
-
Official website of Kokkari Estiatorio ↗
Primary source
Kokkari Estiatorio · Accessed September 16, 2026
Primary source for identity, concept, menu, and contact details.
-
Official website of Souvla - Hayes Valley ↗
Primary source
Souvla - Hayes Valley · Accessed September 16, 2026
Primary source for identity, concept, menu, and contact details.
-
Official website of Novy Restaurant ↗
Primary source
Novy Restaurant · Accessed September 16, 2026
Primary source for identity, concept, menu, and contact details.
-
Google Maps listing for Kokkari Estiatorio ↗
Community source
Google Maps · Accessed September 16, 2026
Direct check of rating, review count, operating status, and address; variable data.
-
Google Maps listing for Souvla - Hayes Valley ↗
Community source
Google Maps · Accessed September 16, 2026
Direct check of rating, review count, operating status, and address; variable data.
-
Google Maps listing for Novy Restaurant ↗
Community source
Google Maps · Accessed September 16, 2026
Direct check of rating, review count, operating status, and address; variable data.