Gyros

Gyros is one of the most well-known meat dishes on Crete. The name is derived from the Greek word gyros which simply means ‘turning’ or ‘turned’. The meat is prepared on a vertical spit, similar to the rotating electric or gas machine used to make Turkish kebabs.

Traditionally, gyros is made from pork and seasoned with oregano and garlic. In the last few years a trend has emerged to have a second spit with chicken or turkey for more health-conscious Greeks and tourists.

The classic way to eat Gyros is in a gyros pita. The pita bread is filled like a kebab with meat from the gyros, chips, tzatziki, onions and some slices of tomato. It is the dominant fast-food on Crete and far more popular than Western fast-food like hamburgers.

As a main dish gyros is served on a plate with chips (sometimes rice) and salad. Normally a gyros pita costs between € 2.50 to 3.20, and €6-9 as a main course (prices from the year 2017). You should not order gyros in restaurants which do not have a skewer.

Much more delicious is the gyros in the small corner shops which you find in every town or bigger village. They are often the meeting point in a village. Many Cretan have at least one gyros pita a day. In cities the gyros is being displaced by sandwiches and hamburgers, but you can still find a lot of traditional gyros shops.