Kalamaki: The Taste of Authentic Greek Street Food in LA

If you are in LA and want to try authentic Greek street food, including gyros and souvlaki, the newly-established Kalamaki Greek restaurant promises to impress you.

Owned by Cretan Antonis Karayannakis the eaterie also offers Greek delicacies at various locations in LA through its food truck that criss-crosses the city and its suburbs. For a schedule of its food truck follow Kalamaki on X here.

Greek specialties at Kalamaki restaurant in Los Angeles

Among the Greek specialties Kalamaki offers are chicken and pork kalamaki skewers, pork gyros, beef/lamb gyros, chicken gyros, and falafel in pita bread to name but a few.

Its new dinner menu includes a diverse range of flavorful dishes which are all sourced daily and locally. The hand-made ravioli is a particular favorite as are the tofu skewers marinated in a blend of soy and sesame with seasonal roast vegetables. A variety of appetizers and desserts are also offered.

“Ordered the pork gyro (have had Greek pork before) it was savory and flavorful. The fries were seasoned and very good,” says a reviewer.

Another one adds: “We got the pork gyro with feta and it was tasty, tender and flavorful, would definitely recommend this place for a quick bite!”

The Greek salad offered by Kalamaki has also great reviews: “The Greek salad was generously, adorned with feta cheese and cherry tomatoes and the dressing was sublime,” one satisfied customer writes.

“Amazing authentic Happy large portions. So yummy. Friendly. The Greek salad is so good. A must-go,” another adds.

From Crete to LA, an authentic Greek restaurant

Karagiannakis was born in Heraklion, the capital of Crete and specialized in making frozen yogurt. When he arrived in the US to make a new start following the economic crisis that hit Greece he was invited by a Beverly Hills-based company to create a new product with fresh and frozen yogurt. He set up new stores for the company.

“I did make it and created a successful product that attracts Hollywood celebrities and famous persons till now,” he said recently.

“I saw the potential in Crete [but] there wasn’t any future, business-wise, so I took the opportunity to go to the U.S. I proved what I can do,” he told Voyage LA.

“It wasn’t easy but, if you want something and you have patience and don’t give up, you can stay in the U.S. and have success. You just need time.”

The Cretan businessman says that Kalamaki specializes in fine Greek food, Vromiko-style, Greek yogurt smoothies and Blended coffees with Greek yogurt on top which is inspired by the island of Crete. “Most customers will come for Gyros and live the experience and the smell of the summer vacation that had in Greece,” he adds.

“Greek hospitality and make you feel like being on vacation in Greece is our motto.”

Kalamaki is located at 344 South La Brea Ave, Los Angeles, California 90036 and you can contact them at https://www.kalamakigreekla.com/