Top 10 Places to Grab Your Gyro and Go

If you're hankering for a little Greek food in the near future, then the quintessential meal on the go is the gyro, what some call the original wrap. The ingredients are deceptively simple, like good tacos al carbon, but Mediterranean style. It's composed of roasted meat, usually spit-roast lamb; maybe onion, tomato and lettuce; and tzadziki, a cucumber, yogurt and dill sauce, all stuffed into pita bread. The origins of this Greek-American dish are sketchy, but it's been satisfying hungry eaters since around the second half of the 20th century. Here's our top 10 places around the city for you to grab your gyro (that's "year-oh") and go.

Erinn Eichinger

Papa Cristo's

10. Knight Restaurant

Erinn Eichinger

Knight Restaurant Burbank

Knight Restaurant doesn't look like much from the outside, but step in off the street and you'll be greeted like a regular. If you are on the go you can get this gyro put together for you, but if you decide to stay awhile, it comes deconstructed, more of a DIY affair. The meat is thinly sliced and each piece had a thick, crispy exterior. It's different, in a good way. Different also is their tzadziki, which is thick with chunky bits of cucumbers and tons of dill.
138 North San Fernando Boulevard Burbank, 91502 (818) 845-4516

9. Tarzana Armenian Deli
This small deli and market churns out great cold sandwiches and wraps and you can pick up some of your favorite Middle Eastern goodies in their small grocery section as well. One of their most undiscovered menu items are the Gyro Wrap and their Chicken Tzadziki Wrap. While they may not be your traditional old school gyro, they're warm, tasty and totally satisfying.
18598 Ventura Blvd Tarzana, 91356 (818) 881-6278

8. The Great Greek
This place has been a Valley institution since the '80s, serving up consistently good Greek food. They are mainly a special occasion dinner place, but if you're in the area around lunchtime, they also produce a good gyro. At a little over 10 bucks it's a bit expensive for a sandwich, but the good news is it's served on lightly grilled pita and adorned with tomato, red onion and bell peppers. You won't walk away hungry.
13362 Ventura Blvd. Sherman Oaks, 91423 (818) 905-5250

Erinn Eichinger

Panos Char Broiler

7. Panos Char Broiler
This is a serious hole in the wall that also serves a wide variety of non Middle Eastern offerings. For about $6 you'll walk away with a gyro with meat that is highly seasoned and set off by fresh diced tomatoes and tons of red onions. A smooth garlic-laden cucumber dressing tops it all off. Definitely not to be eaten on date night.
16045 Victory Blvd. Van Nuys, 91406