Gyros

What is Gyros?

Gyros is a Greek street food where slices of seasoned meat are stacked on a vertical spit, slow-roasted, and shaved off as they cook. The meat, usually pork in Greece, is wrapped in a soft, lightly grilled pita along with fresh tomato, onion, fried potato strips, and a cool, garlicky yoghurt sauce called tzatziki. Lettuce is sometimes added. The result is a warm, savory wrap with crisp and juicy textures, creamy sauce, and a mix of fresh and fried flavors.

Where does Gyros come from?

The method of roasting stacked meat on a vertical spit began in Bursa, in the Ottoman Empire, during the 19th century. After the population exchange between Greece and Turkey in the 1920s, Greeks from Asia Minor brought their version to Greece. The dish became known as gyros, from the Greek word for 'turn', and was made mostly with pork and served with tzatziki. By the 1970s, gyros had become a popular fast food in Athens and had spread to cities like Chicago and New York, where mass production began.

How is Gyros made?

To make gyros, thin slices of meat are seasoned and stacked with fat on a tall, vertical spit, forming an inverted cone. The spit rotates slowly in front of a heat source, basting the meat with its own juices as it cooks. The outer layer is sliced off in thin, crisp pieces when ready. The meat is wrapped in pita bread, which is often brushed with oil and grilled, then filled with tomato, onion, fried potatoes, and topped with tzatziki. In some regions, ketchup or mustard may be added.

How and when is Gyros eaten?

Gyros is eaten hot, usually as a quick meal or snack from street vendors or casual shops. It is served rolled in pita, making it easy to eat by hand. In Greece and Cyprus, it is a common choice for lunch or dinner. The wrap may be eaten alone or with extra fried potatoes on the side. It is an everyday food, enjoyed for its convenience and satisfying mix of flavors and textures.

Kinds of Gyros

While pork is the standard meat for gyros in Greece, chicken is also used there. In other countries, lamb or ground beef are common substitutes. American gyros often use a mixture of finely ground beef and lamb, shaped and cooked on the spit. Regional toppings can differ: in northern Greece, ketchup or mustard may replace tzatziki. The Halifax donair in Canada is a related dish inspired by gyros, using different meat and sauce.

What Gyros means

Gyros is a staple of Greek street food and fast food culture, widely available in Greece and Cyprus. Its name, meaning 'turn', reflects the method of cooking. The dish is closely related to Turkish döner kebab and Middle Eastern shawarma, but has become a symbol of Greek cuisine. In the United States and Canada, gyros is popular in Greek restaurants and has inspired local adaptations, such as the donair.

Questions people ask about Gyros

Good reading and sources

• Encyclopaedia BritannicaArticle

• Gyros on WikipediaEncyclopedia
• More photos on Wikimedia CommonsPhotos
• Wikidata recordOpen data