The Best Gyros You Can Find In Every State

If you love Greek cuisine, you have definitely heard all about gyros, and hopefully know that Greeks prefer you pronounce it "yee-ro." In the U.S., gyro can refer to two different things. One definition is the juicy shavings taken off vertical rotisseries of meat — usually pork, chicken, or lamb — though alternative meats have become popular in menus seeking to stand out from the competition. The other definition is the full pita-wrapped meal the meat is served in, usually accompanied by your choice of onion, tzatziki sauce, French fries, and tomatoes. 

While the best gyros in the world may exist in Greece, that doesn't mean you can't find mouthwatering gyros in the U.S. Some cities have huge populations of Greek immigrants that have founded incredibly popular gyro joints. However, while finding a great pita-wrapped Greek sandwich to eat in places like Astoria, Queens, or Chicago's Greektown may seem like a no-brainer, you may be surprised to learn that there are authentic, scrumptious gyros served all throughout the U.S.

No matter what state you live in, if you're ever in the mood for Greece's most popular fast food, you can use the list below to find the best gyro shop close to you.

This cafe offers its customers a little slice of Greek hospitality in Anchorage with its fresh, delicious, lovingly made dishes. In addition to homemade Greek specialties like lahanodolmades (cabbage rolls) and pastitsio (Greek baked pasta dish), Antonio's Greek Bakery & Cafe serves classic Greek gyros. The gyro dish comes with a little Greek salad and roasted potatoes on the side, as well as onion, tzatziki sauce, and tomatoes. Visit the cafe from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. every day except Sundays.

The website Only in Arkansas has declared the gyro at Mama's Gyros Grill in Sherwood to be "one of the very best in all Central Arkansas," and locals seem to agree. Part of the reason for Mama's popularity might be the warm atmosphere created by Randy Akel, the friendly owner of this Arkansas gyro spot. However, even though Randy is one of the most welcoming people in town, the biggest draw at Mama's remains the perfectly cooked gyro meat, finished off on a blacktop grill to give it a slight crispiness.

Great Greek Mediterranean Grill is a chain of Greek eateries in the U.S. with stellar reviews all around, but no store beats its Aurora, Colorado location. The grill serves a deconstructed plate with gyro meat served alongside rice pilaf and soft, warm pita bread. You can also get classic French fries or the grill's Greek version, called feta fries. If you stop by with a group, make sure to taste all the delicious Greek dips on the menu, which aren't always offered at Greek restaurants in the U.S., including tirokafteri (spicy cheese dip) and melitzanosalata (eggplant dip).

Fittingly located right off the main street of Smyrna, a town named after the historic Greek community on the shore of present-day Turkey, Dari Kabab & Gyro is incredibly popular with both local customers and businesses. In fact, Delaware Today recommended the restaurant as a must-stop location on any day trip to Smyrna. Though you can't go wrong with almost any dish, the lamb gyro and chicken shawarma are especially delicious customer favorites. 

The casual passersby might not notice Nick's Food To Go thanks to its small size and casual appearance, but locals know better. Founded by Greek immigrants Nick and Eleni Poulos in 1994, this tiny family-owned gyro spot has persisted through countless neighborhood changes thanks to the incredible quality (and taste) of its gyro meat. The regulars who come here can't get enough of the Poulos's Greek hospitality. Try the pork gyro wrap, an option not always available in the U.S. but arguably one of the most common and popular gyros in Greece.

Head up to the college town of Moscow to visit Mikey's Greek Gyros, where you can enjoy a full night of entertainment in addition to the location's delicious Greek cuisine. Mikey's offers its customers music nights, trivia nights, and a wide selection of refreshing beers to accompany your meal. The Greek gyro dish here is made with a mixture of beef and lamb. If you're feeling extra hungry, upgrade to the deluxe gyro, which is essentially a Greek gyro, but with a lot more of each ingredient.

If you haven't stumbled upon it yet, it's time to discover the hidden gem of Yannis Golden Gyros on the west side of Indianapolis. This unassuming white building may look like a hole in the wall, yet it serves some of the most flavorful gyros in the state. In fact, Yannis does its job so well that it landed on Yelp's Top 100 Places to Eat in the U.S. in 2020. Stop by and try the gyro plate or sandwich to experience some truly authentic Greek flavors.

Kansas residents looking for traditional Greek cuisine need to look no further than Mr. Gyro's Greek Food & Pastry, with four locations near Kansas City in Olathe, Metcalfe, Overland Park, and Leawood. Established over 35 years ago, the business' dishes are still based on the authentic recipes brought over by Greek immigrants Ted and Soula Jovaras in the 1950s. Enjoy dishes like the classic gyro and gyro melt, served by Ted and Soula's son Chris and his wife, DeeDee. Be warned, the portions here are huge, so come with an empty stomach.

There are a lot of restaurants named Zorbas in Louisiana, but one stands out above the rest: Zorbas Lafayette. This particular spot serves a variety of gyro wraps and platters, but one dish that's a little bit different than most is a pita wrap called the Feisty Gyro. In addition to the usual gyro ingredients, Zorbas adds a bit of "feisty" feta to the mix, giving an extra salty and tangy taste to the gyro wrap. You can also get a BBQ gyro pita wrap for a great Southern twist on a Meditteranean classic.

With seven different locations across Maryland, from Silver Spring to Bethesda, The Big Greek Cafe has experienced a boom in business. To what does the restaurant owe its success? According to the owners, the food here is served just as yia yia used to make. For those who don't know, yia yia is the Greek word for grandma, and no one can cook better than a Greek grandmother. Follow up the famous gyro pita with rizogalo, a Greek rice pudding dessert not often found outside of Greece.

When Ziyad Zaaeiter founded Zesty Gyros in Grand Rapids, he was determined to lovingly create and share traditional Syrian flavors with his customers. That is why he used his own family's authentic recipes to make a wide variety of Middle Eastern cuisine, including shish kebabs, falafel, and hummus. Thanks to Syrian cuisine's proximity to Greece's dishes, this eatery also offers beef, lamb, and chicken gyros. All the meat served at Zesty Gyros is halal, so observant Muslims can rest easy knowing everything they order here is handled in accordance with their beliefs.

The owners of Krilakis will never reveal the unique seasonings they use to make gyro meat some of the best flavored in the nation, preferring instead to simply serve the delicious combo to the restaurant's many, many hungry customers. On warmer nights, patrons can enjoy their meal on the restaurant's small outdoor patio. You can choose from the many authentic style gyros served with traditional ingredients like tomatoes, lettuce, onions, and tzatziki sauce, or select something off the specialty style gyro menu, which dresses the gyro options with mozzarella and feta as well. 

Out in Missoula, The Greek Pastry Shop has repeatedly been commended as serving the best gyro in the entire area and proposes itself as the first gyro shop in the city. The blue and white decor, which mimics the colors of the Greek flag, as well as the countless photos of Athens and the picturesque Greek islands located inside the shop, temporarily take customers out of Montana and put them in Greece for the duration of a meal. If you can't decide what to order (because all the options look so delicious), try the gyro sample plate. 

Yassou Greek Grill Cafe has previously been honored as serving one of the best gyros in the United States. With a name that literally translates to "hello," the cafe's laidback, welcoming atmosphere (and some out-of-this-world flavors) keeps customers coming back time and time again. Yassou's gyro pita is one of the greatest options on the menu, featuring flame-broiled beef and lamb. Don't leave before sampling the restaurant's Greek fries as well, spiced with feta and special herbs, for an extra kick.

Situated next to the river in Wallington, Smyrna Gyro has been a local favorite in the town for years. The pared-down menu gives customers exactly what they want: simple gyro wraps and platters, optionally accompanied by a Greek salad appetizer or any one of several Greek dips. Decorated in the traditional blue and white colors of the motherland, with several mati (eye) pendants hanging down from the walls to ward off the evil, Smyrna Gyro is an unmistakable outpost of Greece in the New Jersey suburbs.

To find the best gyro in New York, you unsurprisingly have to head to the very Greek neighborhood of Astoria, Queens. Located right on bustling Astoria Boulevard, BZ Grill has consistently outshone a lot of its local Greek competition by serving one of the most delicious gyros in town, a distinction confirmed by many New York food publications. Though you can't go wrong with a classic gyro if you want to try something new, check out the seftalia (homemade sausage) sandwich, a Cypriot specialty.

In the town of Fargo, you will find an absolutely incredible gyro at GP's Greek Kitchen, normally open for lunch and dinner service every day except Sundays and Mondays but currently operating take-out only. In addition to six different flavor options for gyros in a traditional pita wrap, you can also pick one of several gyro bowls if you'd rather combine this delicious Greek meat with a fresh salad instead of pita bread. Try the Athenian gyro on pita, which includes cucumbers, parsley, paprika, mustard, and tzatziki sauce on top of the traditional tomatoes and onions.

Family-owned and operated Haydeh's Bistro serves a whole slew of Middle Eastern and Greek dishes to its Oklahoma City customers, from classic Greek gyro and fries to Persian salads and shish kabobs. Locals with small children love to visit Haydeh's, as the restaurant thoughtfully provides a children's menu that includes a junior gyro. This meal has the same ingredients as a classic gyro but in smaller portions, so kids can try this delicious Greek staple without food going to waste.

In true Greek fashion, the Souvlaki Boys Grill in Lancaster was founded by cousins who decided to establish the grill after running a food truck for several years. Michael Kambouroglos, the culinary brain behind this Greek spot, combined his studies at the Culinary Institute of America with his love for and knowledge of Greek cuisine to bring, as the business puts it, "real Greek street food to America." His vision paid off, as Souvlaki Boys Grill serves some of the most authentic gyro combinations in the area and in the usual Greek street food style, i.e. ready to grab and go.

Both locals and visiting beach bums love this lively gyro spot in Myrtle Beach. Thanks to its coastal location, Abraham's Gyros serves a variety of classic boardwalk food like burgers and chicken tenders, but nothing beats the delicious gyro that gives the stand its name. People who like a little extra spice in their meal can request hot sauce along with their gyro, a pairing that surprisingly works well. As a bonus, the friendly owner of Abraham's lives to better his customers' day, so chances are good you will leave with a smile.

You might not expect to find Nashville's best gyro spot in a strip mall, but House of Gyros has been humming along for over 17 years now. The family of owners is dedicated to providing the best flavors and service around. Get the gyro combo, which includes a gyro sandwich, fries, and a drink of your choice. If you drop by even once just to test out how good the gyro is, the staff's friendly and welcoming attitude will have you coming back for seconds.

In the town of Holladay, Greek City Grill is a top choice for the lunch crowd, as the restaurant only operates from 11 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. on weekdays. Greek owner Bob Daskalakis comes from a family of successful Utah restauranteurs. As chef, he serves a limited but authentic variety of gyro options. These include lamb and beef, chicken, falafel, and a vegetarian option. The eatery is quite casual and offers both take-out and drive-through service in addition to traditional sit-down meals.

Bell Greek now has four locations throughout Virginia, and all of them get consistently good reviews from locals obsessed with the fresh Greek dishes it serves. The menu may vary a bit from location to location, but the delectable gyro options are served in all of them. The classic gyro on the menu can be made from lamb, chicken, and more unexpectedly, hummus and black beans. Before you order your main gyro course, try the fried cheese appetizer known as saganaki.

Did you know there is a restaurant in West Virginia serving gyro pizza? If not, it's time for you to discover Theo Yianni's, located in Weirton. While we can't vouch for the flavors of the gyro pizza, we can tell you that the classic gyro sandwiches and combinations are the best in the state, perhaps the best of all the surrounding states as well. Browse through the large selection of wine and beer to find a delicious beverage that will accompany your mouthwatering food. 

A story of perseverance in the face of all odds, Sweet Zoey's was founded by Zoey Aldahash, an Iraqi refugee who was forced to leave her hometown of Babylon while fleeing terrorist organizations. What started as hours of painstaking work making baklava and other Middle Eastern desserts to sell at farmers' markets eventually evolved into Zoey setting up a bakery and then expanding into a proper restaurant. Today, she serves the best gyro sandwich in the state of Wyoming and gives her customers plenty of choices to customize it to their liking.