The Mad Greek

Mad Greek If you are driving past Baker on freeway 15 and looking for lunch, the Mad Greek is a great place to go. The restaurant is clean, well lit, has a walk-up counter where you order and pick up your food serve yourself drink station and has plenty of seating. It is a short wait for your food to be prepared and is nice and hot when your buzzer goes off. I ordered a Lamb & Beef Gyro. Very tasty with the mixed meat, lettuce, tomatoes, and onions, served on pita bread with Zaziki (Cucumber-Yogurt) on the side. My wife was equally impressed with her Falafel Pita Wrap. I included homemade falafel with lettuce, tomatoes, and onions served on pita bread with Tahini on the side. The meal comes with a drink and fries, and those fries were really good. They are coated with something yummy, fried just right so they are extra crispy on the outside and soft but fully cooked on the inside. The baklava was good, but a little dry. I've had better. A little pricey perhaps at a little over $50 with tip, but far more satisfying than your regular chain burger or taco stand.

This is the best Gyro you can get out here in Baker. This place is like an oasis in the desert. I'm very impressed at how well it's kept inside. Clean tables, great Greek music set the ambiance. The interior is bright and inviting. They have upgraded the interior with touchscreens that you can place your orders with. Very intuitive and easy to use. There was an employee there that was super helpful and friendly. I got a beef lamb gyro and a chicken gyro. Standard fare, the beef lamb had lots of flavor, the chicken was just ok. Now the Tzatziki sauce OMG so freaking good! I ended up licking the container it came in clean. I have no shame if it's that good lol. I normally try to not stop when traveling back and forth from Cali/Vegas but I am so glad that my girl had to pee really bad and we had to stop. Please do yourself a favor and stop by and pick up a gyro you won't be disappointed!

Best Chicken Gyro I’ve ever had! Everything cooked perfectly, chicken is seasoned well, pita is nice and soft (not dry like most), and the tzatziki sauce was flavorful, garlicky and dill filled (just how I like it!). We also got their famous strawberry shake. Normally, I don’t like strawberry shakes but this one you could tell they made with fresh strawberries. So yummy! The guy who served us, also was great! He told us a crazy story about him being in the area when record heat hit at 128°. Unfortunately, I did not catch his name but maybe the story will help the restaurant determine who it was. The decor inside was very on theme and they had a whole bunch of Greek desserts too that looked delicious but didn’t have the room for. Overall, super satisfied with our visit. No complaints here! So bummed it’s not closer to home.

The Mad Greek Cafe is spacious, super clean, and perfect for a road trip stop. The food is spectacular and the service is friendly and fast. Highly recommend! 🇬🇷

This place is excellent! We always stop here on our way back from vegas. Food is always on point and delicious! I highly recommend you try it. The Onassis burger or beef and lamb Gyro 🤌🏼 the strawberry shakes are fresh and great touch after.

Road Show Quality ! Great Gyros, Tasty 👅 Burger 🍔. They compete against the major fast foods for all the roadies doing a snatch and grab as you fuel ⛽️ and hit the road. Had some time and decided to lose 40 min just to shake the cob webs off. Milk Shakes Quality and Various Flavors !!! Good place to stop and eat Also can order to go through drive through. Kiosk order system for fast customer service during the rush hours.

Location is perfect for a lunch break on log drive from Las Vegas to LA. The Greek food is authentic, and the self-service is efficient. Conveniently located near gift shops and a gas station, an ideal rest stop at Braker. Also, besides the tallest thermometer in the world. Highly recommended!

This has been my go to stop from Vegas on the way back home to California for the past 22 years. For its location, the food is surprisingly good. My go to is the lamb and beef gyro, side of zucchini sticks, and of course tzatziki sauce. Fries are really good as well. Burgers are not bad. Shakes are good. I don't recommend the smoothies though. Greek atmosphere all the way with ample seating and clean restrooms. If you're reading this, I would imagine you've never been here and I can confidently tell you it is worth the stop.

The go to spot for food when on a long road trip through the desert. Food is always fresh and the fries are crispy and piping hot. Really clean spot if you have to use the restroom as well. Pro tip: if you're driving and in a hurry, call your order in about 5 minutes before getting there and pick your order up by going through the drive through.

As an avid Vegas goer, the Mad Greek is one of those iconic food stops to grab a bite to eat. We have done just that over several decades and it's become a comfort food for me. Yes, the lines can be long, but it moves quickly. In addition, they've installed standalone kiosks to order food and that has helped as well. THE FOOD. - Gyro (Lamb/Beef). Lamb/beef was very juicy and flavorful. Flatbread was warm, fluffy, buttery, and had a slight crisp edge. Honestly, one of the best gyros I've had, despite what other reviews might say... I don't know man, but to me, it was outstanding. Highly recommend. - Fried Zucchini. Thin slices of zucchini, light battered and crispy. Loved this, coming from a picky fried zucchini person. - Baklava. Super sweet and flaky layers with sticky syrup. This is best to share with someone since it's so sweet. THE DRINKS. - Iced Tea. Straightforward, I added sugar to cut through the bitterness. - Date Shake. I liked the sweetness from the dates, but it was a little too milky for me. They added a whole date on top which was a nice touch. THE VIBE. Themed with Greek statutes and white columns throughout the interior and exterior spaces. It feels a little out of place knowing you're in the middle of the desert, but it's been there for so long (50 years), so it's part of the desert family now. We dined inside and noticed how expedient the staff were to clear off tables for the next party to sit down and enjoy their meal. Our food was ready in no time and we chowed down before making our way to Vegas. THE PARKING. Free parking onsite, no issues finding an open spot. THE RETURN. As long as they're still open, we'll be stopping by!

I got a chicken gyro? The meat was super flavorful! I just wish they offered Jenni's or some kind peppers. But I would stop again in a heart beat! The chicken was lemony and tender and delicious, just what I was craving! They offered a lot of pastries too! Service is basic! Could be more friendly, for sure. This seems like a mom and pop place.

Not a bad little place if passing through Baker, CA on your way to or from Vegas. I only ordered a strawberry shake (advertised on a billboard along Baker's main thoroughfare), and it was okay. My wife sampled their baklava, which was displayed along with other baked goods near the main ordering counter. Again, the baklava was okay - but not really a stand-out item. Service was decently fast and the staff was courteous. The place itself was reasonably clean and there was a decent amount of business for a weekday morning (before the traffic increases from the 11:00 Vegas check-out time). Prices are in line with other local establishments, but overall I'd observe that, as a highway pitstop in the middle of a lot of desert, you should anticipate paying more than in your local eateries. I might consider a burger if back in Baker at some later date but wouldn't necessarily make it a point to leave the highway just to stop at the Mad Greek just for a meal.

Duh! I love this place! It's been a very long time since I've visited because it's been a very long time since I've been out in these parts. That being said.. my gyro was just as delicious as I remember them to be. The service is always friendly and upbeat. I couldn't help but finally buy some swag so I can properly represent the Greek deliciousness in Bakersfield. The ambiance gives roadside cafe, but not in a bad way. There is a patio to sit outside and enjoy the days that aren't as hot as satan's porch. If you haven't stopped here on your way to or from Vegas, you better do so asap. Good stuff.

I'm not sure why this place has such a low rating I absolutely love this location on my way to Vegas. My boyfriend is Greek so he says the food is super authentic to Greece. The chicken/lemon soup is my favorite!! But daughter loves the chicken skewers and fries and those desserts?? Oooowweeee. The vibe is really cute inside and the service is ok. It's really more fast casual so you're on your own but the place is great.

Stopped by Mad Greek Cafe and got the falafel wrap.... which looked so good I forgot to take a pic before my first bite, and I was right! Crispy falafel, fresh veggies, and just the right amount of green sauce. Absolutely delicious. Also grabbed a strawberry shake, and my girlfriend (who never likes shakes) ended up drinking most of it... so yeah, that says all. Great food.

We stopped here for some dinner on our motorcycle trip. It looks a little "las Vegas" from the outside and the inside. It's a little old and run down yet it has ordering kiosks and buzzers which add a conflicting modern technology to the experience. The restaurant is huge inside and it appears to be a popular stop for locals. We all got gyros which were filled with a lot of meat and were decent. The hummus and pita was really good and they had some great shakes as well. Overall the consensus was that the food was not as bad as we expected from the run down look.

Long a staple for commuters between Los Angeles and Las Vegas, the Mad Greek is located in Baker, California. The parking lot can accommodate a good amount of cars. The Mad Greek has added kiosks for ordering that has sped up service. The food is always pretty tasty. We got the classic gyro, cheeseburger, chicken sandwich, and fries. The decor is classic Greek and the service is pretty fast and friendly. This is a great stop that we always look forward to.

For years we've seen the giant billboard advertising on I-15 and finally stopped. To be fair, there's not a lot of options in this area. But this definitely was not worth the time. The menu is an eclectic mix of a few greek(ish) items, burritos and burgers. My son ordered falafel - it was acceptable, but not great and a little greasy. My other son ordered a chicken burrito - there was a very little but of low quality chicken (including skin) on one end but it really was just a rice and bean burrito. I had the saddest $9 grilled cheese of all time and even my teenage son didn't finish it.

Food exceed my expectations. I really thought it would be a tourist trap. After a long drive, and a need to stretch, decided why not. The portions were bigger than I expected. The food was fresh. They had some of the best tzatziki sauce I've had in a long time. Highly recommend the powdered sugar almond cookies. The food came out fairly quickly. There was plenty of room to eat. The entire staff were friendly. The bathrooms were surprisingly clean for the amount of foot traffic coming and going. Food was a bit on the pricier side.

This place was just okay 2/3 items were bad for us LOL. Zucchini fries are a pass, no seasoning for them Chicken Quesadilla are BAD don't get!!! the shake was really good! get the shake haha

Ordering is automated but it seems really unnecessary when employees walk up to you to basically do it for you. Got a sad gyro and the worst falafel I've ever seen and tasted. Impossible to get past a single bite with that "tahini sauce" that actually made me gasp with mild horror. Really unacceptable.

100% recommendations for strawberry shake, gyro and fries. Absolutely my all time favorite gyro and absolutely best strawberry shake I've ever had. Fries are delicious I dip them in there taziki sauce I order on the side with the extra charge of $1.50 but it's way better then ranch in my opinion. So refreshing! Workers are so nice and friendly and love the music playing it sets the vibe. Clean bathroom I feel sometimes people might skip mentioning bathrooms but 3 stalls and always clean.

I really liked my grilled chicken sandwich! Fresh and tasty - with the added cheese which made it really flavorful. It had a nice seasoning. The fries are crispy on the outside but not greasy or dry. It's nice and cool inside. BF liked his hamburger. I remember that last time, I really liked the strawberry banana chocolate shake, so I may go back and get one!

I would definitely say everyone should try this place out before making their way to Vegas or after leaving Vegas a great stop to enjoy. I always like getting the strawberry smoothie The presentation and taste is always amazing The in and out door decor is fun bright and inviting They updated inside to order on screens but the register is always open to anyone that wants to order with someone They always have traffic but the wait isn't bad

The Mad Greek... What a strange oasis in the desert. We found it on Yelp as we were on the way to The Death Valley. You can order at a counter or at a touch screen like Mickey D's. There was an employee who welcomed us and was available if we had any questions, that was a nice touch. Felt like an old diner. The dinning room was rather spacious, with two indoor sections and a smallish covered outdoor area. I don't recall exactly what we ordered. It was good, not great. Even their "famous" pastrami burger was good, not great. Prices are steep. Around $20 for a burger or gyro combo. However I kinda get it because there really isn't much else out there.

It was good but I'd stick to gyro meat and not chicken. My aunt and uncle got shakes that were amazing. I got a chicken wrap and It was good, not amazing but the tatziki was amazing!

On our way out of Pahrump NV we stopped by here for dinner. To order you go to a kiosk which is convenient I guess? It's interesting though because you go through a kiosk but they ask for a tip upfront. We had many things to choose from. We ended up going with a lamb and beef gyro, side of chicken gyro, zucchini fries, side salad, and spanakopita. I feel like the prices were a little high. But it's kind of a touristy thing so no surprise. I was surprised with small portion of meat that I received for $10. The chicken gyro meat lacked flavor and was dry. The zucchini fries were fresh and crispy, but it lacked flavor. My husband liked his gyro sandwich. The salad was nice and fresh and it even came with a small dolma. I've always avoided dolmas bc texture and temperature combination didn't appeal to me. But i actually liked it. What really helped it was the sauces. The tzatziki and ranch were so good! i seriously wish i had bought more for later. They're both heavy on the dill and tasted refreshing. Part of the seating area was very warm. But we got ours to go so it didn't matter to us.

Really good greek food for the middle of nowhere. Amazing service!!! cool experience !

We have not been here in 10 plus years, so decided to stop in when my mom needed a bathroom break on the way to Vegas. We ordered the gyro and chicken wrap with their fries and zucchini fries. The gyro with their Greek sauce was good but their chicken was a little dry. My favorite was their zucchini and fries.

It's been a while since I've been here, but it's still pretty good. Had the strawberry shake and zucchini fries. The shake was refreshing with real bits of strawberry and it wasn't too sweet. The fries were hot, nicely breaded, and not too thick so it seemed well proportioned. I remember liking these a lot before. I also remember the chicken and rice being good, but the baklava was lacking, in my opinion. Maybe it's better now...? The drive thru was quick and service was fine. Not sure how it is inside anymore, but it had Greek style decor and it probably hasn't changed too much. It was nice little snack on the way to Vegas.

I love everything about The Mad Greek. I never miss stopping here traveling I15 Good food, interesting architecture, great people.

Stopped by on our way to Vegas for a quick snack after charging the car. Made a quick stop and went through drive thru to oder a strawberry shake and fries zucchini sticks. Price is in the high side, but you are in the middle of the desert. Service through the drive thru was quick and easy - straightforward service. I've been inside in previous visits and I remember a Greek theme (obviously) and a few older pics on the walls. Haven't been inside since pre -covid, so may have changed. As for the shake and fries zucchini's we got, both were really good. Shake was thick and had pieces of strawberries - tasty. The zucchini sticks were nicely fried and tastes great. Both made for a great snack. Again, not the most inexpensive food around, but something different from your typical fast food.

In April 2024, the Mad Greek is back up to it's pre-covid greatness. Pricey but great! The wife and I were headed to Vegas to see the B-52s. Yep, we are 1980's, new wave music lovers. Don't hate on us... I love the Mad Greek and it is in the perfect location going to and coming from Vegas when driving from the San Diego area. I have been here dozens of times over the years. While mostly great, it goes through some rough patches, like we all do. Well, this time (April 2024), they nailed it. Gyro - on point, yum, get it and stop whining Fries - cooked perfectly, you will thank me for getting these Rice - the wife really enjoyed it, but it is so much Tzatziki - delicious, delicious - perfect topping for a gyro and dip for fries All in all, a huge amount of food, but even with that, this is some pricey lunch. $20 each for the basic gyro sandwich and fries. Add a drink and it goes up a bit. The economy is booming, so we are told. Well, paying $50 for two people to have lunch has got to make some part of the economy boom. Yikes! Go. Eat Well. Mortgage Your Home To Pay For It. HAVE FUN!

Mad Greek If you are driving past Baker on freeway 15 and looking for lunch, the Mad Greek is a great place to go. The restaurant is clean, well lit, has a walk-up counter where you order and pick up your food serve yourself drink station and has plenty of seating. It is a short wait for your food to be prepared and is nice and hot when your buzzer goes off. I ordered a Lamb & Beef Gyro. Very tasty with the mixed meat, lettuce, tomatoes, and onions, served on pita bread with Zaziki (Cucumber-Yogurt) on the side. My wife was equally impressed with her Falafel Pita Wrap. I included homemade falafel with lettuce, tomatoes, and onions served on pita bread with Tahini on the side. The meal comes with a drink and fries, and those fries were really good. They are coated with something yummy, fried just right so they are extra crispy on the outside and soft but fully cooked on the inside. A little pricey perhaps at a little over $50 with tip, but far more satisfying than your regular chain burger or taco stand.

Amazing strawberry shakes!!! Laura great service!! Thanks a lot!! Highly recommend the mad Greek restaurant.

It's taken me 32 years to eat here, though I've been to Baker countless times. The food here is amazing, and I only had a burger. Stomach was feeling exactly adventourous after cooking in the high heat of Las Vegas. The people at the counter seemed like they'd be mean and not caring, but they were simply just hardwork people who were so incredibly kind. I feel bad because I didn't catch anyone's names. The bathrooms were clean, the decor was awesome, even the music was good! My ONLY complaint, and it's not even enough to lower the score, is they have a patio so people can eat with their pets, but across from our table, the people had a pitbull. I don't think every pitbull is automatically going to attack, but I am allergic to their coat, I do get a rash if I come into contact with a pitbull.

Friendly staff at the counter and the strawberry shake is legendary. We tossed in a turnover of the cherry variety...a great idea as it was flaky and scrumptious. Mad Greek is a kitschy spot in the desert, and you have to take it for what it is, a spot on the way to Vegas. It's not cuisine but then again, the food way exceeds the normal Baker bill of fare.

I stopped to get lunch at this restaurant in Baker. The food was pretty good, I would say 7-10. They had plenty of seating and the restaurant was clean. The only thing I did not like was that when you pay you are forced to give a tip. Machine doesn't give you the option to enter 0. The cashier is waiting for you to enter your tip, so I feel like alot of people are guilted in providing a tip even though they ordered at the counter.

I used to love it here. The service was not good. After waiting 15 mins for a salad I asked if they'd called my number. He just said no, he didn't even look at me. He's an older guy and knew I was only waiting for a salad. My salad was ready for 10 minutes sitting in the window. He grabbed everyone's but mine. He waited until another woman came back from lunch and asked her to grab my salad. He was rude and seemingly racist. I see why the ratings are bad.

I always loved The Mad Greek in Baker, California. Either way to California or back to Las Vegas ... we stopped here many times. My favorite meal is either the Gyro wrap or the Gyro Salad. This last trip was a late arrival, just about an hour before closing time. Not many customers, so we received the order fairly quickly. My salad wasn't as delicious as used to be though! The lettuce was very wet ... and the veggies (tomatoes) were too soggy ... The salad dressing had too much oregano, in my opinion, and it didn't taste like it had been before. The added beef and lamb gyro was delicious! And the pita bread was very fresh and delicious! Employees were cleaning the dining area, removing trash cans, etc, cleaning for the closing. Regardless, I was happy to get a meal before continuing the drive back to Vegas, and not having to worry about getting burgers from other fast food places.

There were lots of parking and seating at this restaurant. I had the beef and lamb gyro with lettuce wrap and tried some of the chicken dinner. The chicken dinner was extremely bland and some parts were dry. The beef and lamb were oily and also lacking in flavor. The sauce that came with it was also meh.

Nice pit stop on drive between California and Vegas. The shakes are good although I don't like the strawberry one that's supposed to be world famous. The burger was pretty good. Big size and a lot of flavor. I like that they have a drive through cuz I have the dogs and it's been to hot even at night to leave in the car or sit outside.

One of those moments where I feel a little nutty. Driving from Death Valley to Costa Mesa and we were talking about stopping and grabbing some snacks when we drove by the white&blue storefront and I looked at the lovely Mrs and stated... 'I know this place but can't for the life of me remember why...'. We do some crazy traffic actions to get to the drive thru and simply ask the nice young lady over the speaker, "was this place on food network or food channel of some sort?" She responds with a slight giggled response of, " yeah, DDD has us on one of their 1st shows." I was like uhggg... not a fan of that guy, but I do love a good gyro so we order the beef&lamb and chicken gyro for the two of us. Yes, we now know this is too much food for just two people. We ended up parking the car, wandering to the patio and just enjoyed the break. Both gyros were amazing. The meat was incredibly flavorful and tender and the tzatziki(sp?) sauce was some of the best I've ever had. So if you're ever heading from/to Death Valley from California or you're driving the i15 corridor, plan a stop here for lunch/dinner and support these nice folks and not the corporate eateries that are here at same exit.

This is an iconic spot located in the middle of nowhere. Just kidding its on the way to Cali or Las Vegas depending which way you go. Great stop with absolutely delicious milkshakes and Greek food-special shoutout to the felafel pita. Nothing fancy but they do have clean bathrooms. Also Tesla chargers close by!

We only had the shakes this time and loved them! (1-Chocolate, 1-oreo and fig, great combo!) Was not crowded the day we went (a Tuesday around 1:00) and they were very efficient. Lots of parking for large vehicles too. (Ie like a truck or RV/towing.) Yum!

I love this place!! I stop by every time I drive through Baker. Best beef and lamb gyros!!

Been going here as a stop to/from Vegas as a little kid for many years. This place is an institution. I think it was featured on Guy's Diners & Dives. Hadn't been here in a min, but everything tasted exactly as how I remembered. I only always get the gyro. Still tastes the same, great quality and portions. Loved that they still have the iconic blue seats even though they are ripped and taped up. It just hits the spot every time!

The food was better than expected the strawberry shake was so good that it makes me want to have another one the powdered sugar on the almond cookie made a mess.

The service was great. They added a personal touch ordering on a self serve machine by having someone standing there to greet you. Plenty of food. The hamburger and fries were really good. The gyro and feta fries were so good. The meat was so tender and tasty. Had to try the famous strawberry shake. It was pretty good with whipped cream and sliced strawberries.

The world famous Mad Greek. This place is a landmark between Las Vegas and Barstow. The food is delicious and the servings are large . The prices are not outrageous and priced for the size of portions. The service is excellent and the staff are very friendly. It's got fun Greek ambiance and lots of seating . It's very clean. Lots on menu from burgers to gyros. Stop and eat something when passing Baker and take a break.

Overpriced for the amount of food that you actually receive. I paid over $65 for two gyro sandwiches, one order of feta fries, patty melt (on white bread) a shake and a drink.

Always a good stop after/before Vegas, or both. We tried a double cheeseburger that was really greasy. The gyro was so good though. The pita is so fresh and pillowy. Yogurt sauce is on point.

Food was delicious!! Got the chicken gyro it was delicious. My husband got the breakfast platter and he loved it as well. Service was quick and good. I recommend this spot and will definitely be stopping any time I'm passing through.

I've been here many times but never had a chance to leave a review. So here it is! I would always stop here to use the restroom before heading to Vegas. I would order a strawberry shake because that's what they're known for. They also serve food if ever you're hungry. It's so delish that it became a "tradition" whenever I go to Vegas. I highly recommend! Thank you!

I used to love this place. The gyro plate was my favorite. I was able to get a delicious gyro, fries, rice and salad all at an affordable price. They redid the menu a year or two ago and now that is no longer possible. The gyro is still good and the fries are great but if I wanted to also get rice, a small salad and a drink you are looking at a $40 price tag. I would still stop off for a bite if I am charging my car but I wish they still had the old menu and the old prices

I have stopped here a few times before on my way to Vegas because, lets be honest, there aren't many options in the desert. The ostentatious decor featuring bright blue tiles and faux marble statues draws me in for some reason and the food has usually been pretty good. Prices are a bit high, but as I said, you're paying for the convenience of this remote location. On my last stop here, I had to take the food to go as I was in a rush. The gyro is always good and I tried their feta fries this time as well. I think there regular fries are pretty good and I like feta, so this was a treat for me but if you don't really like feta, I don't recommend them because it's a lot as you can see from the photo. I also got an order of falafel and tahini to eat later in the day but they were overcooked and weren't very good fresh, so I actually ended up peeling the outside off of a few and eating the inside but then tossing the rest. This location is pretty consistently good with their gryo and fresh veggies however and in my opinion they are the best option around this area.

Not sure why this place has 3 stars. Everything was amazing! The lamb and beef was fresh, service was fast for a busy place and its spacious with AC to get away from the gates of hell heat outside of this town. Expensive but you're not going to see regular prices here, everywhere is overpriced here.