Gjelina Take Away

Take a slice of lightly toasted farmhouse bread. With a mandolin (and without losing a finger), slice an heirloom beefsteak tomato, pickled fennel, red onion, and a California avocado from the Farmers Market. Pile them up and alternate colors as to recreate the gay pride flag. Slip a little alfalfa under the upper slice, because it is good for your health and because it’s fun to say alfalfa. Congratulations, you have in hands your version of Gjelina Take Away’s vegetarian sandwich — but it will never be as good or as beautiful as theirs. So hop in your car (or order your Uber, we do not discriminate) and battle the traffic to finally reach Gjelina Take Away, on Abbott Kinney. And if you really need to eat meat, ask for their banh mi sandwich, in which the beef is marinated in a heavenly soy / ginger / cilantro mix. But despite your carnivore stubbornness, order a vegetarian sandwich for dessert. You’ll thank us later. Ps: Gjelina Take Away is obviously the sister restaurant to Gjelina, but if you’re in a sandwich mood the best option would be to head over to their larger spot Gjusta, one of the best restaurants in the city.