It’s National Gyro Day: Here are 5 phenomenal versions in Chicago and the suburbs

While gyros were undoubtedly invented in Greece, enterprising Chicagoans played a surprisingly important role in popularizing the meaty sandwich across the United States.

Starting in the 1970s, local companies like Grecian Delight, Kronos Foods and Olympia Gyros were able to mass produce the meat cones that restaurants could then cook on vertical rotisseries. Decades later, you can still find gyros in nearly every Chicago neighborhood.

But as I found back when I put together a list of my favorite versions in 2018, the kind of gyros popular in Chicago don’t always resemble the ones served in Greece. While the combination of beef and lamb is popular here, pork is the most prevalent option overseas, with chicken in second. And instead of a ground meat mixture, restaurants slice the pork and then stack it on the vertical rotisserie.

Fortunately, a growing number of restaurants are taking the time to make gyros from scratch. In fact, since my last list, scoring great gyros in Chicago has gotten even easier. Here are five incredible gyros in the city and suburbs.

Though more expensive than most gyros in town, Georgie’s Gyros at Andros Taverna — your Readers’ Choice Best Restaurant of 2022 — are huge and worth every penny. The restaurant starts with a soft and steamy housemade pita, which is almost twice the size of most versions.

Instead of a vertical rotisserie, the pork here is roasted slowly on a horizontal spit set over a bed of charcoal. When sliced off in thin slivers, the meat is crackly around the edges, juicy within and infused with an irresistible smoky aroma. It’s served simply with bright red tomatoes, crunchy cucumbers and onions, creamy and tangy yogurt sauce and a few phenomenal fries. 2542 N. Milwaukee Ave., 773-365-1900, androstaverna.com

It’s not that I’m against all gyros made with beef and lamb, but I do prefer it when the restaurant makes its version from scratch. That’s what you’ll find at Avli Estiatorio in Winnetka.

Avli’s gyros feature a mixture of beef and lamb that’s cooked until the meat has wonderfully crispy edges, but isn’t dried out. It’s served on a warm pita with a dusting of oregano, along with tomato and tzatziki.

If you’d rather visit one of Avli’s other locations, know that you won’t find this beef and lamb version. Instead, you’ll have to settle for one of the restaurant’s excellent pork gyros, which is a far cry from truly settling. 566 Chestnut St., Winnetka; 847-446-9300; avli.us/avli-winnetka

The No. 1 pick from my 2018 best gyros list is still going strong. At this Morton Grove spot, you could order a very solid beef and lamb gyro, called the American Gyro, but you really want the Homemade Greek Gyro. The latter features crispy slices of pork in a fluffy pita with tomatoes, tzatziki, onions and a few crunchy fries. 6800 Dempster St., Morton Grove; 847-966-1200; charcoalflamegrill.net

Another great suburban choice is Apolis Greek Street Food in west suburban Lisle. Walk in the shop and find a line of different kinds of meats spinning slowly by the front counter, including beef and lamb, chicken, pork, and spicy pork picante. The ordering system is similar to Chipotle, so you have the choice of 18 toppings and nine sauces (though please don’t try all of them at once). The pork is so crispy and juicy, you’ll want to savor each bite. 1109 Maple Ave., Lisle; 331-775-2135; apolisgreek.com

The best untraditional gyro you’ll find in Chicago can be found at this Wicker Park mainstay. Instead of pork, chicken, beef or lamb, Taxim goes with duck flavored with spices like cumin and fenugreek. The meat is wrapped up in a Grecian flatbread called satz, sliced into four pieces, and served with yogurt and a pomegranate reduction. 1558 N. Milwaukee Ave., 773-252-1558, taximchicago.com

nkindelsperger@chicagotribune.com

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