Best Gyros in Milwaukee

Whether you're noshing after a night out or fixin' for a fast lunch, Milwaukee offers a wide variety of places to get your Greek on. The four East Side establishments listed are all casual places for gyros, with counter-service and sit-or-stay options.

About Gyros (just in case you're clueless)

"Gyros" refers to a pita sandwich made with a special meat shaved from a rotisserie. While the meat itself is known as gyros, the sandwich has actually taken on the name. Most commonly, gyros are made with spiced lamb and/or beef. Typical fixings for gyros are tomatoes, lettuce, onions, and a special cucumber yoghurt sauce known as tzatziki. The tzatziki sauce is a delightful complement to gyros and must be tried, even by the condiment-shy. There are international variations on Greek gyros, but the type described above is most common in the United States.

Gyros in Milwaukee

1. Apollo Cafe
1310 E. Brady St.
Milwaukee, WI 53202
414-272-CAFE
www.apollocafe.com

Apollo Cafe welcomes you to its bustling East Side location with gyros, souvlaki, and baklava aplenty. But this little Greek place is not your typical hole-in-the-wall gyro hut. With a cool interior décor casting a bluish-green glow at night, Apollo is a clean and pleasant place to dine. Though it's still a counter-service establishment, it has both indoor and outdoor seating available so you can take advantage of Brady Street people-watching during the summer. The gyros themselves are right-sized and delicious, and they can be coupled with fries or rice. Be sure to cop a cube of feta cheese, too. The tzatziki at Apollo is especially notable: I'd call it chilled white excellence in a squirt container. They've mastered the combination of yoghurt, cucumber, mint, and a smidge of garlic. Open past bar close on weekend nights, Apollo is the best place to go after the Brady Street bars.

2. Oakland Gyros
2867 N. Oakland Ave.
Milwaukee, WI 53211
414-963-1393

On the busy corner of Locust Street and Oakland Avenue, southwest of the UWM campus, you'll find the original Oakland Gyros location. A landmark of Milwaukee's East Side, Oakland Gyros is known for its huge portions: the gyros plate is so big that it's hard to assemble everything into one pita. The service can be a little gruff because they're used to providing for drunk college students, but the long line (a testament to the food quality) moves fast. Because this Greek eatery was so successful, the owners decided to open other locations in the Milwaukee area, including one on Layton Avenue near the airport.

3. Grecian Delight
1810 E. North Ave.
Milwaukee, WI 53202
414-347-1920
www.greciangyros.com

Open since 1987 and located almost equidistant between Apollo Café and Oakland Gyros, this North Avenue gyro spot is within walking distance of countless popular bars. Like its counterparts, Grecian Delight is open until 3am on weekends and attracts a large late-night crowd. The gyros are tasty, with a hearty portion for a fair price. Overall, the place is reminiscent of Oakland Gyros, without all the tradition.

4. Mykonos Gyro and Cafe
1014 N. Van Buren St.
Milwaukee, WI 53202
414-224-6400

Located on the southern edge of the east side (more or less downtown), Mykonos is convenient for both office lunches and after-bar nosh. The service isn't known as the friendliest and the prices are a little high, but the food is generally decent. The gyros are well-spiced, served with a nice helping of veggies, especially tomatoes. If you like tzatziki, though, be warned the portion accompanying a take-out order is a bit stingy. Frequented by students from nearby MSOE, Mykonos has a quieter and more subdued vibe, even late at night. There is also an outdoor "terrace" for summer use, but it has am ugly parking lot view. Of the four Greek specialty places on the East Side, this should probably be your last stop.