Trippin’ in Greece Part 4: Gyros

It can be expensive to eat in Europe.  Check that.  It’s really expensive to eat in Europe… especially when you compare the price in Asia for the same meal.  Quality- and portion-wise, it can’t be that much different.  It’s really just expensive over there.  I’ve been to Europe twice now and there were days of having only 1 meal to compensate for the bitchin’ prices.

And if you have only a few bucks to spend on a meal, you can’t go wrong with gyros!

First of all, they’re cheap.  OK, relatively cheap.  In Greece, they’re about €2-3, which still amounts to about P120-180.  It’s actually not that bad.  Cyma charges similar prices for their gyros¹  Even gyros in Santorini cost about the same, maybe €1 higher.

Second, they’re convenient.  You can bring them anywhere.  I obviously have great affection (and bias) for street food.  The ideal way for me to have gyros is late at night by the gyro stand.  One hand is a gyro and a Coke (or beer for the alcoholics out there) on the other.

Lastly, they motherfucking awesome!  Gyros are the Greek version of shawarma.  The difference?

1. The spelling,
2. The length of the words,
3. Each stall probably spices the meat differently, and
4. The sauce.

The same elements are found in every gyro / shawarma / donner kebab: shredded meat, pita, and maybe some veggies.  The Greek variety use a sauce called tzatziki, which is an accompaniment to meat, made from yoghurt, cucumber, and garlic.  Tastes like the garlic shawarma sauce that we’re familiar with, but a bit different.  The one variety that I tried in Athens came with fries.  Oh, and if you do get to visit these Mediterranean countries, always go for the lamb variety.  Yes, even if it costs you a bit more.

It’s easy to spot a gyro joint.  Basically, you see a slab of meat  cooked by hanging on a vertical skewer.  The good gyro joints usually have the biggest slabs and the longest lines.  You can’t go wrong either way.  I only had one of these bad boys over there and that’s probably the only regret I have about my recent trip.

Now, let me go all Tony Stark here and go look for a shawarma joint nearby.