Charlie's Gyros (Downtown Huntington Beach)

food: 5/5

experience: 4.5/5

overall: 5/5

Charlie's Gyros is a little fast-food type hole-in-the-wall joint on Main Street in downtown Huntington Beach. Small menu which usually means they're good at what they do. That is indeed the case here.

You got two main choices, a sandwich (shawarma) or a plate, with gyros or chicken (or falafel if you're vegetarian). I went with the sandwich first. You can get it as a wrap, in a tortilla, or on pita bread. The pita bread comes with the plate so I went for the wrap with chicken.

They put garlic sauce and tzatziki in there too, plus you can add sauces or hummus. I added the spicy red sauce which is just like cayenne pepper. The chicken is seasoned well, nice and tender and flavorful. The sauces definitely amplify the flavor but not in an overpowering way. They make it more savory. Lettuce and tomato in there too, and cabbage, which I got without. The sandwiches both come with seasoned fries which are delicious. Nice and thick-cut, with just a hint of seasoning. Not sure what kind, just some mysterious red spices. Not spicy though.

You can also get the fries as a plate with gyros, chicken or falafel on top. Similarly you can get a rice bowl, a salad bowl, or a hummus bowl with any of those.

Last, the gyros plate.

Gyros, or seasoned lamb and beef, are the Greek food you have to try. They always get it right at the right restaurant and this place is no different. A perfect portion size, enough to fill you up for several hours but not so much that you're stuffed. I got it over salad but you can also get it over rice. It typically comes with hummus on the side but I'm allergic to sesame seeds soooo yeah. He gave me tzatziki on the side, which is a yogurt dip with dill. Good stuff. The pita that comes with it is delicious. Nice, wheaty, well-rounded flavor and very soft.

All the food here is made in-house except the fries, pita, and dolmas. I wanted to try one of the dolmas but the owner says he's not a fan of the brand he has and is looking for a new one so I'll hold out on that. Other than that, excellent service, chill atmosphere, no water because of bullshit COVID reasons but a solid spot for a beach day.