12 Best Gyros You Can Get In NYC, According To A Lifelong New Yorker

The humble gyro, with a tumultuous and fascinating history, has many names — many pronunciations, that is. Here in New York, it's not uncommon to hear the beloved street food's name belted out at a deli counter — "I'll have the jye-ro." But as much as it pains me to say, as a New Yorker who's grown accustomed to succumbing to this faux pas, the correct pronunciation is "year-oh," and always has been. Whether or not you want to debate this claim, one thing stands true: The gyro is a New York staple.

Today, European-style street food is experiencing a well-deserved renaissance as people seek a more affordable alternative to dining at gourmet restaurants. The gyro, with its myriad of flavors and styles, is among the most popular of the cuisine and is sold throughout New York in fast-casual restaurants, food trucks, and street-side carts. The sandwich is characterized by meat shaved off a rotisserie and served inside a warm pita and is said to have originated in Greece over 2,000 years ago. It continues to boom in popularity as more Greek immigrants with a taste for their native cuisine flock to the city that never sleeps. In this list, I'll showcase some of the most beloved gyro-slinging institutions in New York City, discovered through my food-focused treks, online reviews, and friends and family in NYC. To experience the city's best means that indulging in a saucy, meaty gyro is absolutely necessary — no matter how you insist on pronouncing it.

Midtown's Turco is a Turkish joint featuring the best in all things Mediterranean. Whether you're after a gyro, a fresh salad, or an array of mezze, Turco has you covered. The restaurant's tiny yet cozy interior is reminiscent of most fast-casual Manhattan spots, where minimalism in the dining room never represents a compromise on food quality. While the restaurant is a little different than the other options on this list by specializing in Turkish cuisine as opposed to Greek, it still produces a gyro that will blow you away, albeit not without a few differences from the traditional New York fare that we know and love.

Turco Mediterranean Grill is renowned among Manhattan locals thanks to the freshly baked bread used for its gyros. That's right — bread, and not pita. These sandwiches look much more like a typical deli sandwich and not the gyro wrapped in pita that initially comes to mind. But don't let this minute detail convince you not to stop in one day and grab a gyro on the go. The meat is delicate and thinly sliced and is much closer to Greek gyro than Turkish shawarma, and the bread is oh-so-tasty warm and fresh. This gyro provides a great respite when you're getting bored of the standard food truck fare. Turco is open daily from 10:45 a.m. to 9:50 p.m.

turconewyork.com

(212) 510-8666

604 9th Ave, New York, NY 10036

Yia yia means grandma in Greek, and who doesn't appreciate a home-style meal cooked with love by grandma? Yia Yia's Taverna is a snug neighborhood spot in charming Bushwick in Brooklyn that specializes in all the Greek classics, from octopus to spanakopita to — you guessed it — gyros. The restaurant's atmosphere is quaint and minimalist, and the best part of dining in is the patio. On a warm spring day, enjoy a cool breeze with a handcrafted Greek sandwich and a cocktail for a little bit of well-deserved lunchtime bliss.

Gyros at Yia Yia's come with the works: fresh veggies, tzatziki sauce, and french fries stuffed inside. Enjoy your gyro as a classic pita sandwich or as a platter with Greek salad and rice or french fries. At only $8.50, a gyro from Yia Yia's comes with a street food price tag and all the ambiance and hominess of a sit-down restaurant to boot. Note that after 5 p.m. on weekends, gyros aren't for sale, so don't forget to get your fix earlier in the day. Yia Yia's Taverna is open daily for lunch and dinner.

yiayiastavernabk.com

(718) 821-5900

1035 Flushing Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11237

Astoria — also known as "Little Greece" to New Yorkers — is a hotbed of Greek culture. BZ Grill, located in this charming Queens neighborhood, takes precedence as the best spot in Greek food in the area. The restaurant provides Greek immigrants with meals from their native land and showcases the best Mediterranean dishes worthy of trying at least once to those less familiar with the cuisine. The restaurant maintains a cozy, old-school café vibe with its simple, clean decor, including spots to sit on the sidewalk and observe lively Astoria Boulevard while you chow down.

BZ Grill, while renowned for its Greek food in general, is most famous for serving the state's best gyro. Of the four cuts of meat typically used for gyros, beef and lamb are usually the most frequently found rotating on the mesmerizing spit, but BZ specializes in less popular pork for its classic version of the sandwich, along with a chicken option. Two rotisseries of each meat spin behind the counter, prompting you to make the near-impossible decision. I recommend the famous pork gyro, which is made with tender meat, crispy on the outside, and served with fresh veggies and tzatziki. BZ Grill is open daily from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.

bzgrillnyc.com

(718) 932-7858

27-02 Astoria Blvd, Astoria, NY 11102

Souvlaki GR locations can be found throughout Manhattan, including a roaming food truck that's always on a mission to track down a sizable, hungry lunch crowd. The restaurants are designed to mimic the traditional cafés of Mykonos, with blue and white decor and dangling bistro lights that make you feel like you're enjoying the sound of crashing waves against the island rather than the shouts and honks of chaotic NYC. Every Greek staple is represented on the menu at Souvlaki GR, all crafted with an authentic and genuine love of the cuisine.

Although the brick-and-mortar restaurants don't specialize in wrapped pita sandwiches, the Souvlaki GR food truck certainly does. The truck is always roaming, but you can usually track it down near Wall Street, where bankers and brokers line up around the block for gyros stuffed with french fries and souvlaki sandwiches. This elevated food truck fare is some of the best Mediterranean food in New York City, so the next time you're touring the Finacial District, get in line before the metaphorical lunch bell rings. The Souvlaki GR truck is open daily on weekdays and available for hire on weekends.

souvlakigr.com

Multiple locations

If you've ever visited the city, you've likely spotted yellow carts with tantalizing smells wafting from them, dotting what appears to be every single street corner in all of Manhattan. You've also probably noticed that there is always a line at these carts. Always. These carts are owned by The Halal Guys, a chain that's as iconic to New York as the Empire State Building and the Yankees. Tourists and locals alike line up and around the block to indulge in an affordable meal from these carts, consistently delicious, no matter which location you visit.

The Halal Guys specialize in platters and sandwiches featuring beef gyro, falafel, and chicken. Beef gyro, as opposed to the typical lamb and beef combo found at most establishments, is made with seasoned meat cut into small, thin slices. The meat is delicious, and the veggies are fresh and tasty, but the pièce de résistance? Gracing each sandwich is some of the best sauce in New York. Gyros come with signature hot sauce and The Halal Guys' renowned white sauce, which is a unique take on tzatziki. New Yorkers can't get enough of it. The Halal Guys' carts open daily in the afternoon and close in the early morning hours.

thehalalguys.com

Multiple locations

The Greek Kitchen on 10th Avenue is an authentic, elevated diner with ample indoor and outdoor seating and a wrap-around bar. The full-service restaurant caters to families, large parties, and those looking for an intimate night out without breaking the bank. Book the restaurant's gorgeous private room — a hot commodity in an area known for teeny-tiny restaurants — and let the kitchen provide delicious meals that suit everybody's tastes.

All the staples are at The Greek Kitchen, including some items less frequently found on Mediterranean menus, like calf's liver and veal chops. Start your meal off with a housemade, traditional lemony avgolemono soup, made with chicken and orzo, and the restaurant's signature chargrilled octopus. After you've tickled your appetite, grab a gyro as a sandwich or a platter, and be sure to add a side of fries. Get an array of cold dips for dipping fries and your sandwich, making each bite a different flavor explosion. The Greek Kitchen is open daily from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.

greekkitchennyc.com

(212) 581-4300

889 10th Ave, New York, NY 10019