Cafe Athena

1846 Garnet Ave, San Diego
(858) 274-1140

Recent Reviews Order Online Reserve

Customers' Favorites

Mediterranean Salad
Chicken Couscous
Avgolemono Soup
Chicken Kebab
Rice Pudding
Gyros Plate
Spanakopita
Pita Bread
Calamari
Moussaka

Menu

Featured items
Gyros Wrap
Seasoned blend of beef and lamb. Broiled on the rotisserie and wrapped in pita with lettuce, tomatoes, and onion. Served with tzatziki sauce.
Greek Salad
Crisp lettuce, tomatoes, cucumbers, red onion, feta, and kalamata olives. Served with vinaigrette dressing and pita.
Spanakopita
Triangles of flaky filo filled with a tasty blend of spinach, feta cheese, onion, eggs, and basil.
Gyros Plate
A generous portion of gyros meat. Served with warm pita bread, tomato, onion, briami, rice pilaf, and tzatziki sauce.
Chicken Kebab
Chunks of chicken breast charbroiled with onion, red pepper, mushroom, and zucchini. Served with briami, rice pilaf, and tzatziki.
Avgolemono Soup
The egg lemon soup. Made with chicken broth, rice, and orzo.
Hummus
Garbanzo beans, garlic, lemon juice, and sesame sauce. Garnished with paprika, cumin, and a drizzle of evoo. Served with warm pita bread.
Chicken Souvlaki
Marinated chunks of chicken charbroiled and wrapped in pita with lettuce, tomatoes, and onion. Served with tzatziki sauce.
Horiatiki Salad
Mediterranean cucumbers, tomatoes, sweet red peppers, feta, kalamata, and red onion tossed in a vinaigrette dressing.
Baklava
A blend of walnuts, cinnamon, and cloves between layers of filo pastry. Topped with light rose water syrup.
Riganato
Half chicken, marinated with lemon juice, olive oil, and oregano. Roasted and served with briami, lemon potatoes, and garlic aioli sauce.
Kids Chicken
Broiled chicken breast with rice pilaf and tzatziki sauce.
Keftedes
Meatballs of ground beef, herbs, and regional spices. Topped with fresh tomato sauce. Served with roasted rosemary potatoes.
Dolmades
A filling of seasoned ground beef, rice, and herbs. Braised delicately and served with tzatziki sauce.
Moussaka
Layers of eggplant, zucchini, and seasoned ground leg of lamb. Topped with bechamel and vlahotyri cheese. Served with rice pilaf.
Kids Gyros
Slices of gyros, pita wedges, and tzatziki.
Beef Kebab
Marinated chunks of sirloin, charbroiled with zucchini, onion, mushroom, and red bell pepper. Served with briami, rice pilaf, and tzatziki.
Beef Souvlaki
Marinated chunks of beef sirloin charbroiled and wrapped in pita with lettuce, tomatoes, and onion. Served with tzatziki sauce.
Cretan Salmon
Marinated fresh salmon filet and oven broiled. Served with spanaki lemonato, skordalia both chilled, and pita.
Chicken Aioli
Diced chicken breast tossed with fresh pesto and sun dried tomatoes. Wrapped in a pita with spring mix. Served with garlic aioli sauce.

Spreads
Hummus
Garbanzo beans, garlic, lemon juice, and sesame sauce. Garnished with paprika, cumin, and a drizzle of evoo. Served with warm pita bread.
Tzatziki
A Greek dip, kefir cheese, grated cucumbers, white wine vinegar, fresh garlic, and dill weed. Served with warm pita bread.
Skordalia
A puree of potatoes, fresh garlic, olive oil, cilantro, and white wine vinegar. Topped with charbroiled zucchini. Served with warm pita bread.
Spanaki Lemonato
A refreshing blend of spinach, fresh garlic, cilantro, and olive oil. Served with lemon and warm pita bread.
Baba Ghanouj
Charbroiled eggplant, garlic, parsley, lemon, pomegranate molasses, evoo, and sesame sauce. Served with warm pita bread.

Filo Pastries
Spanakopita
Triangles of flaky filo filled with a tasty blend of spinach, feta cheese, onion, eggs, and basil.
Bourekia
Rolls of crispy filo filled with a seasoned 100 percent lean ground leg of lamb, caramelized onion, and regional spices.

Grape Leaves
Dolmades
A filling of seasoned ground beef, rice, and herbs. Braised delicately and served with tzatziki sauce.
Yalandji
A filling of rice, fresh tomato, red pepper, onion, mint, and pomegranate molasses. Served chilled.
Salmon Dolmas
Fresh salmon seasoned, wrapped, and broiled in grape leaves. Served with skordalia sauce.

Soups
Avgolemono Soup
The egg lemon soup. Made with chicken broth, rice, and orzo.
Lentil Soup
Made with carrots, celery, and tomatoes.
Tomato Basil Soup
Roasted plum tomato, chicken broth, carrots, fresh basil, and a touch of cream.

Salad
Greek Salad
Crisp lettuce, tomatoes, cucumbers, red onion, feta, and kalamata olives. Served with vinaigrette dressing and pita.
Horiatiki Salad
Mediterranean cucumbers, tomatoes, sweet red peppers, feta, kalamata, and red onion tossed in a vinaigrette dressing.
Mediterranean Salad
Spring greens, served with a white balsamic bosc pear vinaigrette, sun dried tomatoes, roasted walnuts, and gorgonzola. Served with pita.
Tabouleh Salad
Parsley, bulgur wheat, tomatoes, and onion in an evoo citrus marinade.

Pita Wraps
Gyros Wrap
Seasoned blend of beef and lamb. Broiled on the rotisserie and wrapped in pita with lettuce, tomatoes, and onion. Served with tzatziki sauce.
Chicken Souvlaki
Marinated chunks of chicken charbroiled and wrapped in pita with lettuce, tomatoes, and onion. Served with tzatziki sauce.
Chicken Aioli
Diced chicken breast tossed with fresh pesto and sun dried tomatoes. Wrapped in a pita with spring mix. Served with garlic aioli sauce.
Beef Souvlaki
Marinated chunks of beef sirloin charbroiled and wrapped in pita with lettuce, tomatoes, and onion. Served with tzatziki sauce.
Falafel Wrap
Patties of blended garbanzo and fava beans with herbs and regional spices. Flash fried and wrapped in pocket pita with tomatoes, parsley, and kosher pickles. Served with tahini sauce.
Grilled Veggies
Marinated and fire roasted eggplant, zucchini, yellow squash, and sweet red pepper. Wrapped in a pita with lettuce, tomatoes, and onion. Served with skordalia sauce and lemon.

Pizzas
Apollo's Pizza
Gourmet thin crust topped with pesto sauce, chicken breast, sweet red pepper, mushroom, and mozzarella.
Athena's Pizza
Gourmet thin crust topped with tomato herb sauce, artichoke, kalamata, sun dried tomatoes, basil, feta, and mozzarella.
Zeus' Pizza
Tomato-oregano sauce, Gyros, Pepperoni, Italian sausage, red onion, green pepper and Mozzarella

Athena Specialties
Keftedes
Meatballs of ground beef, herbs, and regional spices. Topped with fresh tomato sauce. Served with roasted rosemary potatoes.
Feta Bruschetta
Imported sheeps milk feta cheese, tomatoes, fresh basil, mint, garlic with balsamic, and evoo. Baked on sourdough.
Fassoulia
Fava beans, lemon juice, evoo, and garlic. Topped with tomatoes, scallions, and parsley. Served with pita.
Papoutsakia with rice
Italian eggplant filled with the seasoned ground leg of lamb and tomato sauce. Topped with fresh basil and feta cheese. Baked and served with rice pilaf

Entrees
Chicken Kebab
Chunks of chicken breast charbroiled with onion, red pepper, mushroom, and zucchini. Served with briami, rice pilaf, and tzatziki.
Gyros Plate
A generous portion of gyros meat. Served with warm pita bread, tomato, onion, briami, rice pilaf, and tzatziki sauce.
Riganato
Half chicken, marinated with lemon juice, olive oil, and oregano. Roasted and served with briami, lemon potatoes, and garlic aioli sauce.
Moussaka
Layers of eggplant, zucchini, and seasoned ground leg of lamb. Topped with bechamel and vlahotyri cheese. Served with rice pilaf.
Falafel Plate
Crisp falafel patties. Served with hummus, tabouleh, pocket pita, and tahini sauce. Garnished with tomatoes and kosher pickles.
Chicken Couscous
Braised chicken breast with carrots and zucchini. Served with raisin couscous and harissa mildly spicy sauce on the side.
Beef Kebab
Marinated chunks of sirloin, charbroiled with zucchini, onion, mushroom, and red bell pepper. Served with briami, rice pilaf, and tzatziki.
Cretan Salmon
Marinated fresh salmon filet and oven broiled. Served with spanaki lemonato, skordalia both chilled, and pita.
Spinach Pastitsio
A baked casserole of spinach, penne, and pesto. Topped with bechamel and vlahotyri cheese. Served with briami.
Imam Bayildi
Italian eggplant stuffed with raisins, walnuts, and tomatoes. Baked with tomato herb sauce. Served with rice pilaf.
Shrimp Scorpio
Oven roasted prawns. Served with artichoke hearts, rice pilaf, and fresh tomato herb sauce. Garnished with feta cheese.
Moroccan Sea Bass
a stone-oven baked filet, served with lemon-herb grilled vegetables, chermoula sauce, and rice pilaf

Athena Kids
Kids Chicken
Broiled chicken breast with rice pilaf and tzatziki sauce.
Kids Gyros
Slices of gyros, pita wedges, and tzatziki.
Kids Pizza
Mozzarella cheese with pizzaioli sauce on Greek pita.

Sides
Tzatziki Side
Half Basket - Greek Pita
Full Basket - Greek Pita
Garlic Aioli
Roasted Rosemary Potatoes with Red Pepper Aioli
Rice Pilaf
Falafel Patties with Tahini
Red Pepper Aioli
Marinated Artichoke Hearts
Ratatouille
A casserole of garden fresh vegetables and braised with herbs de province and seasoned tomato sauce Greek ratatouille.
Feta Cheese
Lentil Wheat Pilaf
Couscous
Kalamata Olives
Tahini
Baked Macaroni and Cheese
Elbow macaroni, white sauce, Cheddar cheese and bread crumbs
Grilled Chicken Breast
Char-broiled Chicken Breast
Side Skordalia

Beverages
S. Pellegrino
Sparking natural mineral water.
Zagori Greek Still Natural Mineral Water
One liter bottle.

Desserts
Baklava
A blend of walnuts, cinnamon, and cloves between layers of filo pastry. Topped with light rose water syrup.
Galacto Boureko
Rolls of filo pastry filled with farina custard and fresh orange zest. Topped with light rose water syrup. Served hot.
Rizzogalo
Rice pudding and a Greek dessert flavored with vanilla. Garnished with raisins and cinnamon.
Chocolate Mousse
Rich, brandied, and a French classic. Garnished with white chocolate wafers.

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Recent Reviews

I doordashed a chicken kebab plate 🍢 it was the best meal I've had all week, probably this month. I ordered side of pita bread, do yourself a favor and sub potatoes for rice and an extra tzatziki sauce, tangy savor is off the charts. I'd try the hummus too. Why go to Greece when you can have this? Haha obviously go to Greece but it's saving you a few thousand, at least.
October 2025
I accompany a person with mobility issues, and dementia to this place once or twice every six months or so.

It's one of his favorite places to go, because parking is usually easy, and they have a great happy hour, which he loves.

Their service and kindness towards him is beyond outstanding 👏 🙌 ❤️. I also saw several folks using mobility equipment while we were there, and that tells me this is a comfortable place to go.

Not...
September 2025
What a great discovery. EVERYTHING about Cafe Athena is wonderful. Impeccable service (thanks Sergio), delightful ambiance and amazing food. We did a combo of happy hour items and off the regular dinner menu. This place has been in business for almost 35 years….that is the best testament. Our new go-to-Greek restaurant in San Diego. Don’t miss this place.
July 2025

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Cafe Athena

1846 Garnet Ave, San Diego, CA 92109
(858) 274-1140