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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 3.50, and €6-10 as a main course
(prices from the year 2025). You
should not order gyros in restaurants which do not have a skewer.
Snakes Italy
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.
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