Add An Egg...

-Grubbing in Chicago
Where the locals eat.

Hello readers, how's life? its a sad day here at at S'C'&C which you can learn why as you read on. I have had this post in the plans for months now but due to the sudden closing of a chibbqking favorite-CND Gyros Lounge-I am forced to switch up my schedule and bring you this post that I have been meaning to make for at least a year now. Adding an egg onto anything has been a trendy thing for a few years now and doesn't look to be dying anytime soon. I'm fine by that. I love a fried egg on top of my meal whether its a burger, sandwich, hot dog, lunch plate, bowl of rice, whatever. So today I am taking you to two spots already featured here on S'C'&C except today were going to add an egg to both these longtime downtown favorites.
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One Last Gyro Melt (add an egg)


a former locals favorite downtown - RIP - (1973-2010)

It saddens me to be the bearer of bad news had you not heard it already but after 37 years the Streeterville favorite CND Gyro's Lounge will be closing down for good. Today (8/21/'10) is the last day of operation for this longtime favorite where you could get a gyros, some brew and a few lotto tickets all while doing karaoke to former #1 Chicago hit. Yep at CND you could do all of that. Its one of the last of its type in downtown Chicago and come 2am Sunday morning it will be no more. I have let it be known that the Gyro melt offered at CND is one of Chicago's best late-nite and or early morning hangover eats out there. I was introduced to it thru LTH and loved it upon my first bite a few years back. Then it got even better when someone from over there suggested it be ordered with a fried egg on top. When you pair fresh shaved gyro meat with processed American cheese, grilled onions and tzatziki sauce with a fried egg on top and throw it all on Texas toast good things happened. I had to stop by CND yesterday for one last melt. I sure will miss this sandwich and the old time warp that was CND Gyros Lounge.


Gyro melt with fried egg (RIP)
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Cheezeborger, Cheezeborger (add an egg)


The tavern SNL (and some damn good burgers) made famous

So with CND closing down that leaves Billy Goats as one of the last old school food/drink/bar spots in downtown Chicago. You never say never but I don't think Billy Goats will be calling it quits down on lower Wacker anytime soon. I've been going to and enjoying this original Billy Goats since I was a kid and as my readers know, I am a fan of their double cheeseburgers. Well on my most recent visits I've been ordering my usual double but now I like to add an egg. In my original grading of the Goat I gave it a C++ but when a fried egg is added on top it improves to a B. I should of known this since they are said to have good breakfast sandwiches. Maybe next time I'll add the egg and some bacon.


double cheeseburger with a fried egg on top from Billy Goat
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CND Gyros & Lounge
205 E Grand Ave - At N St Clair St
Chicago, IL 60611
312 467-4195

Billy Goat Tavern
430 N Michigan ave. (lower level)
Chicago, IL
(312) 222-1525

Central Gyros

-Got Beef? (and lamb)
KingT's gyro-tron

Its been a minute since we took a ride on the gyro-tron. So today's stop takes us over to Belmont and Central where Central Gyros has been serving up the neighborhood with Greek favorites since 1979. Its another one of those spots that hasn't changed at all, the waitress' have been there forever and the food has always been good. When it comes to consistency Central Gyros might get the award for best at it. Its one of the better Greek restaurants outside Greektown and has an extensive menu that everyone can find something they like on but more importantly, something they like that's done right. If you love yourself some saganaki like I do then this also the place to get it outside Greektown for when you don't feel like paying for parking just to eat some flaming cheese.

a neighborhood standby

I like Central because its pretty much no frills and good for both a quick dine in dinner and also lunch. I've had a few tasty menu items here and there but I always find myself coming back for the gyros with a starter of saganaki. However every now and then when I'm feeling like some chicken I will get a chicken souvlaki sandwich and that is also very good. The gyros are from one of the city's many cone vendors (Kronos) and on top of getting a good blend of beef, lamb and fat when they order theirs they also know how to work them. Thin and crispy is how I like my gyros when they come off a pre-formed cone and that's how they do them up at Central. I'm guessing that most people like them this way and Central knows this. They've been doing them right since day one which is why they've been able to hang around in a city where you can get gyros on just about every block. The tzatziki is made right as well and the veggies are fresh and the pita always warm. The only average thing about the gyros dinner are the fries which are just frozen steak fries and nothing special. You know the gyros are good when on the day Kronos offered free gyros on them, Central had a line around the block and the wait was over an hour.


Chicken Souvlaki


Gyros from Central

Rating Scale 5/5

Gyro meat: 4
tzatziki: 4
fries: 3
freshness of pita and toppings: 4

Score: 15/20

Central Gyros
3127 North Central Avenue
Chicago, IL 60634-5314
(773) 545-1276
Website

Branko's

-Grubbing in Chicago
Where the Depaul students eat.

If you have lived in the Depaul section of Lincoln Park at anytime since 1977 then today's post is going to be very familiar. When I think of a true mom and pop, all in the family run type joint, Branko's is the best example that I know of. Its been like this since Mama and Papa Branko first opened their doors to the Depaul students and neighborhood of Lincoln Park. Its a spot I've been going to since I was 7, 8 years old and nothing has changed. While the neighborhood has seen drastic change Branko's has remained the same. Upon your entry you are greeted by the same photo's of Papa Branko and the 20 foot submarines along with plenty of pics of Coach Ray Meyer and Vienna Beef posters and other photos from thru the years too.

When I was growing up it was mainly run by the older couple and their two daughters would often help. While the couple is still there most of the time, one of the two daughters (the other doesn't work there anymore) has taken over the random acts of kindness and she is as sweet as she ever was. You'll know its her when you get a "hiya honey, what can I get for a you today" She's basically watched me grow, although some would argue that's just in height, weight and age-not maturity.

a Depaul university/Lincoln Park staple

Its too bad the Depaul basketball program and idiot school president don't know anything about consistency and dedication like Branko's does. I suggest to the fools who hire coaches at the school to do everything they can to bring in a home town Chicago born and rasied coach Craig Robinson. I think getting him and doing whatever you can to get him here would be the best thing the program did since Ray Mayer recruited George Mikan. It would be instant exposure and get the schools name back in the news and create a buzz in the sports world. How are you going to have the best high school basketball talent in the country, right in your own backyard, play in the Big East conference and not be able to make something of it? They need to look into opening a stadium near campus, How about where the A. Finkl & Sons metal plant is right now after they move out? Now back to the food. Is there anything more blue collar Chicago than the original Pizza Puff? You can expect a story on this signature Chicago fast food and its history at a later date.


Are your pizza puffs Iltaco? You bet they are at Branko's

The menu at Branko's is your usual Chicago fast food fare. Popular items include the Hot dogs, hamburgers, gyros and Italian beefs. However everyone has something they like at Branko's and since I use to go there up to 5 times a week as a kid I've been through it all. During my youth I used to order a beef 8 out of 1o times when I was there to eat. If I was stopping in for a snack after school I always got a gravy bread and a cheese fries. In fact the reason that Gravy Bread is on the menu is because of me. I ordered it so much back in the day they eventually put it on the menu. I also want to congratulate the whole family on the shops recent induction into the Vienna Beef Hall of Fame. The HOF plaque now rests on the wall with the other photos that have been there forever.


Double Cheese with fries is a great deal for $5 and change and way better than McD's


Branko's famous chicken sandwich is the Depaulia's favorite


Grilled Chix Sub-same great marinated chix breast patty on a French Bun

What makes a place like Branko's so good is the wonderful warm hearted service. When you put that with quality fast food at a reasonable price you can see why they are the newest inductee into the Vienna Beef HOF. In a city where burger and dog joints are abundant you wont find any that will cut you some slack if your a little short on cash. "Oh don't worry about honey, I know you, next time you get me back" Its been thirty two years of this type of service and good quality fast food fare at reasonable price. Its easy to see why its a neighborhood favorite of locals, students, construction and just about anyone who's ever been to Branko's has most likely been back. Now there's a reason for that.


Gyros Sub (gyro meat with lettuce, tomato, onions, tsatsiki sauce and seasoning)


Branko's has something for everyone

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Branko's Sandwich Shop
1118 W Fullerton Ave
Chicago, IL 60614
(773) 472-4873

Gyro's from Athenian Room

--Got Beef? (and lamb)
KingT's gyro-tron

The Athenian Room is an old Lincoln Park favorite. Its been here much longer than 95% of the 'hood's yuppie and young family populations and is as much a part of the Depaul Neighborhood as the University itself. Its also a place that I've been eating at for 20+ years and I can honestly say I have never had a meal that didn't hit the spot. Normally I would post about a place and its food all in one article but the AR has some special items that need to be highlighted in their own spot-much like the amazing char-grilled feta burger got. While there isn't a bad item to be had on the menu which is small but also just right, the gyros have to be the restaurants most popular ordered item. On those day's I just cant decide between a burger, steak or Kalamata chicken Ill just get a gyros knowing that its always going to be a good choice.


Since 1973 for a reason

I have already pointed out in previous articles that there are very few places these days that make a homemade gyros here in Chicago. Its not that were not a gyro town its because we are the gyro town. If you live somewhere else in the country and eat gyros' then odds are the meat came from Chicago. Just last month there was a spectacular article in the New York Times telling the story of the gyro and its history here in Chicago. I would highly recommend reading the story, but great story short-Chicago has five major Gyro cone making companies and gyros were introduced to the US in Chicago in 1965. These companies each have their own secret recipe which they use to make the meat cones that are then distributed across the world to restaurants and food shacks who have gyros on the menu. The reason that there are five factories here in Chicago is the demand for a cheap meal has always been there especially in today's economy. Maybe that's why all five companies (which are private) have reported sales way up this year.

Its easy to see why since a gyros dinner from the AR has always been one of the best meals that will fill you up for under $10. The restaurant uses Devenco who makes eight different gyro recipes alone so its pretty serious over there. Since all the spots basically get the same cones just maybe from different companies-its all about how the place prepares them. I like my gyro's well browned from the spit and sliced extra thin. I'm not big on gyros when they are cut thick, it gives them different texture. I need mine thin and crispy and the AR has been doing that forever combine that with their amazing Greek fries (more on them here) and its just a real satisfying meal. Its easy to see why they always have different groups of people enjoying the food on a daily basis. Whats even better than all this? well since there combined with Glascott's next door its also the best gyro you can find to have a drink and watch the game while eating.


Gyros dinner from Athenian Room

Rating Scale: 5/5

Gyro meat: 4
tzatziki: 3
fries: 5
freshness of pita and toppings: 4

Score: 16/20

Athenian Room
807 W Webster Ave
Chicago, IL 60614-3628
(773) 348-5155

Nick's Drive In Gyros

--Got Beef? (and lamb)
KingT's gyro-tron

Welcome back to the gyro-tron, did you miss it? Next stop is the burbs of Niles and Nicks Drive In. I'm not sure exactly how long but Nick's has been in the area for some time and served at least a couple generations of people/families. Why its called a drive-in I have no idea, maybe because you have drive into the small parking lot hoping to find a spot. Nicks has a reputation of having the best gyros sandwich in Chicago and so I had to try it. Over the winter I took a ride to do some shopping at the Asian mega store Super-H Mart (HUGE Asian grocery store/mall great for your Asian ingredients) and grabbed lunch from Nick. Nicks menu is heavy with Greek specialties and Chicago gyro stand regular items. They feature rotisserie chicken, ribs, kebabs, hot dogs, Italian beef, hamburgers and of course gyros.


Homemade gyros is a good sign


mural outside

Nick's reputation for having the best gyros in the land of the gyros is due to their secret homemade family recipe that is prepared from scratch. Its nice to see a place that still does it the old school way. I would say that almost 90% of places order their cones from one of the many gyro companies here in Chicago. In case you didn't know: every single gyro manufacture in the country is based in Chicago. The big companies like Kronos make over 80 million a year and at least half of that comes from businesses in the Chicagoland area. That is a ton of pre-formed gyros cones around town. Its not as if these cones are inedible and in fact many places still put out great gyros that use these companies for their meat. Its all about the preparation by the restaurant your eating at.

Nick's gyros have a style all of their own due to the fact they are homemade. I made a few trips to Nicks since the time I was told to go and it has been a mixed opinion on each visit. When Nick's cuts the meat right off the cone and its nice and charred it is a very good mixture of lamb and beef with little bits of garlic in each piece. However on a few visits it had been pre sliced and no where near as crispy as my first gyro dinner there. The same time it was pre sliced the tomatoes and onions weren't so fresh and the pita wasn't warm. Maybe the 2nd and 3rd visits were off days or something but along with the ehh frozen fries and watery tzatziki it didn't live up to the hype and there wasn't enough sauce even when I ordered an extra cup. In summary when this place is on they are on and when they are off...they're off.


Nicks homemade gyros platter

Rating Scale: 5/5

Gyro meat: 4 (when its on)
tzatziki: 3
fries: 2
freshness of pita and toppings: 3 (at times)

Score: 12/20

Nick's Drive In
7216 N Harlem Ave
Chicago, IL 60631
(773) 631-5045
Website

The Best Sports Bar Burger in Chi

-Got beef?
The Burgers of Chi

Its that time of year people-March Madness is coming. The time when everyone becomes an expert in D-1 mens college basketball and claims to have majored in bracketology. Work offices see a steady decline in productivity as employees spend hours and hours filling out as many sheets as they can and changing the picks on those sheets up to 15 times a day leading up to the opening tip on day 1. While work firms see a decline in numbers the bars see a major rise throughout the month of March with the help of the tourney and warm weather for the first time in months. Not to mention the Sportsbooks, March is the biggest month of the year for them and people need a place to get a bite to eat, drink and watch the teams they picked bring them one of two things: joy or sorrow. Is there a better time of year in the sports world than the opening round followed by round 2 in a four day span? I don't think so. Its non stop basketball from Thursday to Sunday and the time when we see most buzzer beaters. I told you where to go if you want the best chicken wings at the bars and now I will share with you a little secret on where to get the best bar burger in the city. Except the bar you eat it at doesn't serve any food and its an Irish Pub not a sports bar and where the burger comes from they don't have any TV's or drinks. Huh?


Glascott's on a summer day (Photo: Planet99)

The combination of Glascott's Groggery and Athenian Room is one of the most successful marriages in the city. Glascott's is one of Lincoln Park's oldest drinking establishments and first started quenching the thirst of working Irish immigrants in 1937 and its been all in the family since. It is one of the few spots in Lincoln Park that caters to locals, regulars and the younger crowd. You wont find a better bar in one of Chicago's most storied neighborhoods. For a small time during the late 60's and 1970s the kitchen that today is used by the Athenian Room was the kitchen for Glascott's. The bar kept a very limited menu and the people who ate there usually did so as more of a convenience since they had been drinking. The kitchen was more of a headache than a money maker and after a couple of small grease fires the Glascott's decided to stick strictly with booze.


Since 1937 (website)

About 1971 enter Alex, the owner of the Athenian Room started serving his classic Greek fare as a small counter top operation by renting out the kitchen and what today is the waiting area. Alex then blew out a couple of walls and made the Athenian Room the sitdown joint that it is today. The bar then rents out the building to Athenian Room with a stipulation in the lease that the AR cant have a liquor license and Glascott's wont start serving food. It works out perfectly as Glascott's has a fully stocked bar with a great tap selection as well as mixed drinks and a couple wines and Athenian room offers up Greek food that works perfect as bar food. Even better is the fact that both the bar and restaurant have prices that make them the best in the neighborhood. Technically Glascott's or the combination of the two makes for the best bar food in the city. The bartenders are fully capable of pouring a pint of Guinness properly stored at the right temp and the other beer is always cold and mixed drinks contain more than a shot. Meanwhile the cooks manning the grill over at Athenian Room can pump out some amazing items like skirt Steak Alexander, char grilled burgers, gyros, pork and chicken kebabs, Athenian chicken and those legendary steak fries covered in the secret sauce. There isn't a bad item on the menu but the burger is the best bar burger in the city. The fries are the best fries in the city that don't come from a fast food type place.


Glascott's does Guinness right

If your looking for a place to get a good bite to eat that isn't $15+ and drink some cold brews that aren't $5+ and watch the team you just layed your savings account on play then Glascott's is the spot for you this tournament season or any televised sporting event for that matter. Since Glascott's is a great spot to watch a game on one of the 6+ flatscreen TVs and the fact that they cater to the sports fan it would be alright if the food at AR was just ok. But the fact of the matter is you wont find a better burger and game viewing beer drinking combo in any other bar in Chicago. Its one of my favorite burgers in the city no matter what the category. You get a nice half pound patty that's char grilled and comes with either cheddar or feta. I always go feta and the combo of the char grilled beef, cheese, fresh onions and tomatoes and tsatziki on a sesame seed bun is perfection.


Char Grilled Feta Burger from Athenian Room

Other bars wont have the games on or could care less about them and the special will be $6 Coronas and $8 Long Islands while the ones that do have the games on and a menu will be packed to the brim with recent grads eating crap drinking big cups of cheap beer that's getting spilled everywhere including on you. Since everyone is drunk and young the bars could care less about the food quality and most in the area pump out straight garbage while the ones that are good will cost you $20+ for food alone. That's why its best to let the bars handle the spirits and the restaurants handle the food.

Glascott's Groggery
2158 N Halsted St # 1
Chicago, IL 60614
(773) 281-1205
Website

The best gyros you've never had

--Got Beef? (and lamb)
KingT's gyro-tron

Just like it had been a while since I brought you pizza, its been a minute since we stepped into the gyro-tron. My next stop is a little hidden gem a food compadre told me about when the topic of gyros was being discussed. The poster brought up the fact that a little place called cafe Orchid that is tucked into a miniature strip mall with a flower shop and a Dunkin Donuts/Baskin Robbins. The owners are of Turkish descent so they call it doner but it sure is a tasty version you wouldn't expect to find tucked away in this little restaurant. What a coincidence I said, I have driven by that place for the last 10 years and always said I would stop in and try something and just a little while earlier I did just that but didn't see a gyro spit and settled on falafel. The falafel was excellent so I knew I would be back and was informed by the devoted customer that the gyros is a lunchtime thing.


Some of the better falafel I've had in the city

Over the fall on a random Sunday right before the Bears game I stepped out to grab a bite to eat and when I ended up driving by Orchid I drove on in to finally give that gyros a try. I stepped inside and realized that its much bigger than it looks from the outside. There is a dining room that goes into the back and a small little waiting area for pick up and take out orders. cafe Orchid sports an entire Turkish menu but I was here to try the gyros and was pleasantly surprised when I saw a spit of fresh meat ready to go.

Upon ordering the sandwich the waiter asked if I wanted a traditional pita or a Turkish type of flat bread that makes it more like a burrito but still just as tasty and I chose the flat bread. I watched as the spitmaster made sure that each piece that he cut off was perfectly cooked and he was a pro with the knife slicing it nice and thin. The end product was one of the better gyros in the city and by far the best in the Lakeview neighborhood. Unfortunately the fries were your average run of the mill frozen fries but they were a real treat when drenched with a cup of the tzatziki which was also top notch. the onions and tomato were fresh and the lettuce laced with vinaigrette was a nice touch. The meal was a gut buster for under $7 and is now a regular spot in my rotation.


Orchid Cafe gyro (sauce on side)

Rating Scale 5/5

Gyro meat: 5
tzatziki: 4
fries: 3
freshness of pita and toppings: 4

Score: 16/20

Cafe Orchid
1746 W Addison St
Chicago, IL 60613
(773) 327-3808

Gyro melt from CND gyros

-The Sammy's of Chi

Did anyone happen to read the Chicago Tribune lunches in the loop photo gallery story? They gave 25 different places where you can eat lunch if you are shopping or working downtown. How many of these places take out ad's in the Tribune? Most people will tell you that downtown for the most part is a dining dump and its flooded with chains and spots with high end prices and low end quality aimed at taking tourists money. I was shocked not to find a few spots on that list that more than belonged in the good lunch category, I don't know maybe its because you can get out of there spending under $10.

ATTN: Tribune, Where is CND?!?!?!


Tucked below Michigan ave is crowd favorite CND

CND gyros is a place that I hadn't been to since I used to roam downtown with my friends on off days in grade school. In fact I had totally forgotten about it until I read an amazing description of it on the internet over at LTHforum. I cant do close to a better job describing this place, so here is what I read.

"Tucked underneath the Michigan Avenue hustle-bustle, surrounded by construction sites building huge, modern condos, and in an area where many restaurants seem more consumed with selling the latest trend at high prices than with serving a good, honest, affordable meal, CND Gyros stands as a lone soldier in the fight to maintain a certain "realness" in the neighborhood." KennyZ - a poster at LTHForum

CND is a time warp and another one of Chicago's gyro places that hasn't changed a bit over time. CND has better food than all those chains like Panera and Popeye's that are flooded at lunchtime downtown. One of the best things about this place is the menu and how long it extends with good options. If you want a cold one to go with your lunch then by all means have one at CND. One day I will get you a review of the gyros dinner on my gyrotron but today its all about the gyro melt.



The gyro melt is just another sandwich born and raised in Chicago. The gyros at CND are some of the better tasting and prepared gyros in the city. They also do a fantastic gyro melt which is gyro meat tucked between two slices of toasted Texas sized bread and topped with grilled onions and good old processed yellow cheese. C'mon you know that its good even if it sounds like you could croke any second after eating one. The only thing that this sandwich was missing is bacon. I now have a place to eat when I must head down to Michigan ave to do whatever it is tourists do. Whether your a local or a visitor, CND is right for a quick good lunch at a more than affordable price.

CND Gyros & Lounge
205 E Grand Ave - At N St Clair St
Chicago, IL 60611
312 467-4195

Helluva lot happenin' at Hella's

--Got Beef? (and lamb)
KingT's gyro-tron

Our next stop on the gyro-tron is Hella's. Located right off the Bryn Mawr stop on the red line in the Edgewater neighborhood. If you like the places that haven't changed thru time then you'll most likely love Hella's. Nothing and I mean nothing has changed over there. This is for the better and worse as you will soon read.


Ill take a gyro but skip the Budweiser and gimme a High Life

They dont do much as far as upkeep goes over at Hella's. The lighting is so dim that I think they may not have switched the light bulbs in 5-6 years. There is a Jim McMahon poster that sits right over the counter and on it you can see different layers of grease from over the years, its almost like a grease rainbow. There's a display cabinet with all sorts of useless junk that the owner keeps there because I assume he doesnt have anymore room at his place. There is a stack of phone book's to the ceiling that im guessing is every edition put out by yellowbook from the past 20 years. The customers arent exactly your Starbucks crowd. They are interesting to say the least. When we left I saw a really short old Asian guy entering with a tall young black transvestite. So they say the neighborhood has changed, not that night. Its also a favorite with the cops though as I saw a few come and go for food. Many people were stopping in to purchase 40 oz. of Miller Lite which along with the gyros seem to be the hot seller. If you like crack with your spanakopita...I'm sure you can find that too.


Dont forget to vote for me this election season

But then there is the food which hasnt changed either and that is for the better. You see Hella doesnt use one of Chicago's gyro manufacturer's. They have a homemade mix that they make in house and have since they opened. There is something really entertaining about the old Greek guy with a thick white mustache cutting the meat from the spit super fast and in style. He had a ninja like approach to cutting that meat.


you can tell from this picture of the spit how dim it is inside

The characters inside are interesting, and the decor is a bit grimy but this place is an old-school uptown gyro spot that gives a little idea of what that neighborhood was like in the 70's and 80's. Aside from gyros they have all sorts of Greek favorites including saganaki (another Chicago original) which I will be back to try. Im interested to see how the old guy lights it without burning off his mustache. The gyro was good but my main complaint was that it is sliced to thick for me. I prefer my gyro's thin and crispy but everything about it was good including the greasy fries. I ate my dinner so quick all I got a pic of was my sandwich when I made it. This is a good gyro I might say. Plus points for using sport peppers as one of the toppings along with tomato and onions. I had never seen that before but I enjoyed it and it gave the gyro even more Chicago flare. In case you didnt know gyros were introduced to America in Chicago.



Rating Scale 5/5

Gyro meat: 3
tzatziki: 3
fries: 3
freshness of pita and toppings: 3

Score: 12/20

Hella's Gyros
1133 W. Bryn Mawr Ave.
Chicago, IL 60660
773-728-3950

King's Gyros #2

--Got Beef? (and lamb)
KingT's gyro-tron

Chicago is famous for for its street food-hot dog's, Polish's, pizza, Italian beef and gyros are a few. Its yee-roos not gy-ro or guy-ro or girro that were going to focus on today. Find me another place in the country with more gyro vendors than Chicago...impossible. From the restaurants in Greektown to the the hot dog stands in the western suburbs, you'll find gyros everywhere, making them hugely popular in Chicago. Hell so many places need gyro's meat that we have at least four different gyro cone suppliers in Chicago. Kronos, Grecian Delight, Olympic, Devanco and im pretty sure there is a fifth one all supply restaurants with their demand for beef and lamb.

Most places use a preformed cone from one of the suppliers mentioned above so alot of what goes into making a good gyro is the love put into it by the place serving them. Gyros need to be sliced thin and allowed to crisp on the outside so edges are crispy and the plate needs to be piled high with meat. The toppings of onions and tomatoes need to be fresh and the pita soft and warm. The tzatziki sauce better not be watered down yogurt. A personal favorite of mine is wrapping a fry with a slice of gyro so the fries also play a roll. Some places go the extra mile and still make theirs homemade but not that many of them are left. The suppliers do a nice job of getting the right blends of meat and spices, so its on the vendors to do the rest.


The familiar sign at Milwaukee and Foster

First stop on my Chicago gyro-tron is King's gyros #2 (no affiliation with me) on Milwaukee and Foster. Kings has been slanging their gyro plates and homemade fries and onion rings in the Chi since 1972. Like most of Chicago's roadfood joints its clientèle is very broad and due to its late night hours its very popular after dark. If your going to eat gyros there is no sense in ordering just the sandwich, always order a gyro plate, its the best bang for your buck. Kings does a above average gyro and makes the fries and onion rings fresh so its in my rotation if I am in the area. As the years go on expect to see many different gyros spots reviewed with a few secrets spilled of where to get the absolute best.


kings gyro plate with their homemade fries

Rating Scale 5/5

Gyro meat: 3
tzatziki: 4
fries: 4
freshness of pita and toppings: 4

Score:15/20

King's Gyros #2
5233 N Milwaukee Ave
Chicago, IL 60630
(773) 736-5406