Frequently Asked Questions
Tziki is an authentic Greek souvlatzidiko at 209 7th Avenue, on the corner of 22nd Street in Chelsea, NYC — serving the best Athenian souvlaki, gyro, tzatziki, and pita, made fresh to order every day. Here's everything guests ask us most.
What is Tziki?Tziki is an authentic Greek souvlatzidiko — a souvlaki shop — at 209 7th Avenue in Chelsea, Manhattan, on the corner of 22nd Street. The first modern souvlatzidiko opened in Athens in 1924; Tziki opened in Chelsea in 2024 to carry that Athenian tradition into New York, one hundred years later. Everything on the menu is made fresh in-house daily and cooked to order. Open daily, 11:30 AM to 10:00 PM.
What is a souvlatzidiko?A souvlatzidiko is a Greek souvlaki shop — the classic hole-in-the-wall eatery found on nearly every corner of Athens, dedicated to souvlaki grilled to order, gyro carved from the spit, and warm pita. The first modern souvlatzidiko opened in Athens in 1924, and Tziki is a souvlatzidiko in the truest sense: a reinterpretation of those Athenian originals, in Chelsea, NYC.
What is the difference between souvlaki and gyro?This is a more complicated question than you'd expect — the naming of Greece's most popular food is fiercely regional. One thing all of Greece agrees on: gyro is the meat on the vertical rotisserie, and nothing else. The disagreements start when it goes in a pita: some call it "pitogyro," others "tilihto,", "giro stin pita," or even "sandwich" in the North. Souvlaki is where it gets truly contested — in Athens, souvlaki means the entire wrap; in other areas like Thessaloniki, it means the cubed meat cooked on a skewer. And to complicate things further, everyone in America calls everything a gyro. At Tziki, we do it Athenian style: souvlaki is the wrap, and the skewer is called a kalamaki.
What is tzatziki?Tzatziki is a Greek yogurt-and-cucumber dip with fresh herbs and a hint of garlic — and it's our namesake. At Tziki, tzatziki is made fresh in-house and served with warm handmade pita.
Do you serve fries in the pita?While we do offer the option, our purist decree dictates that fries belong on the side. Traditionally, souvlaki was served without fries, and some ultra-traditional souvlaki shops — like Kostas near Syntagma in Athens — will simply refuse to add fries to the pita. Fries in the pita are a byproduct of the fast-foodification of souvlaki, and Tziki's founding principle is to introduce authentic old school Athenian souvlaki to NYC.
Why do you add Greek yogurt instead of tzatziki in your pita?Because we are purists, and we want the quality of our ingredients to speak for themselves. The famous souvlaki shop Kostas, near Syntagma in Athens, inspired us to take this approach.
Where can I find the best souvlaki in NYC?For the best authentic souvlaki in NYC, start at Tziki in Chelsea. Tziki ranks among the top-rated souvlaki spots in Manhattan on Google and Yelp, and guests visiting from Greece regularly tell us the souvlaki and gyro rival the best of what they eat in Athens. Every order is made fresh: gyro carved from the spit, kalamaki grilled to order, pita made by hand.
Do you serve σως, ketchup or mustard?No. Tziki serves old school Athenian souvlaki.
Where is Tziki located?Tziki is at 209 7th Avenue, New York, NY 10011 — on the corner of 7th Avenue and 22nd Street, in the heart of Chelsea's gallery district and a short walk from the High Line and Chelsea Market.tziki.com/location
Does Tziki deliver? Can I order online?Yes. Order the best Greek souvlaki, gyro, and pita in Chelsea for pickup or delivery at order.tziki.com, or find Tziki on DoorDash, Uber Eats, Grubhub and Seamless.
What are Tziki's hours? Do I need a reservation?Tziki is open daily from 11:30 AM to 10:00 PM, and no reservation is needed. It's an authentic Greek fast-casual spot — walk in, order at the counter, grab a seat at one of the large communal tables, sit at our outdoor seating when the weather is nice, or take your souvlaki to go.
What should I order first at Tziki?Start with the pork shoulder on the spit — our signature gyro — marinated overnight in herbs and spices and carved fresh from the vertical spit onto a handmade Greek pita. The chicken breast skewer souvlaki, grilled to order, is a close second. Add Greek Feta Fries — tossed in our house blend of Greek spices and topped with crumbled feta — and a horiatiki, the freshly cut Greek salad with blocks of premium PDO feta. Finish with saragli baklava rolls or portokalopita, a Greek orange cake made with shredded phyllo and fresh oranges.
Does Tziki have vegetarian or vegan options?Yes — including vegan. The Tahini Wild Mushroom Souvlaki is fully vegan: oyster mushrooms grilled with garlic oil until crispy, on a handmade Greek pita with Cypriot tahini — no yogurt. The Side of Fries is vegan too. For vegetarians, the grilled halloumi — premium PDO sheep's and goat's milk cheese from Cyprus, grilled until golden — is a favorite, along with the horiatiki Greek salad, the spanakopita salad, Greek Feta Fries, and fresh dips like tzatziki and tyrokafteri. And if you are looking for a vegan dip we highly recommend getting a couple of sides of the Cypriot Tahini and some pita bread.
Can Tziki accommodate food allergies?Our kitchen handles common allergens including dairy, egg, gluten, tree nuts, sesame, and soy, so we cannot guarantee a completely allergen-free environment. If you have an allergy, please tell our team before ordering — we're always happy to walk you through the menu. tziki.com/allergy
Does Tziki cater?Yes. We have some instant-order bundles available online for pickup and delivery at order.tziki.com.
From the Greek Pita Pack to the 10-Person Symposium and Full Feast, Tziki caters offices and events across Manhattan.
For all other requests email catering@tziki.com and our team will take care of you.
Is Tziki a Greek or Mediterranean restaurant?Tziki is Greek — specifically, an Athenian souvlatzidiko. It is not a generic Mediterranean spot: the recipes, technique, and tradition come directly from Greece, from the handmade pita to the homemade tzatziki to the pork gyro carved from the spit. If Tziki existed in Athens, it would hold its own with the city's best souvlaki shops.