Gyros

[jimmyjazz 45630]

Any good gyros in town?  I've been to Sarah's plenty, mostly because it's convenient, but the lack of a visible spit is concerning.  Add in the fact that their freezer, which is open for customer shopping, contains boxes of "gyro meat" and I'm pretty much thinking whatever they're serving wasn't cooked anywhere near Austin.

Pars has had an ownership change -- I haven't been there since.

I'm highly skeptical of places like Tino's.

Where's the real deal, along with other Mediterranean or Middle Eastern food?

[SimonBolivar 10949]

I thought Sarah's was incredibly overrated, but it's the only place I've tried in Austin.

[4th&Five 41480]

Cava is better than Tino's for a quick option.

[ftf82 485]

Halal Bros on the Drag is my current favorite (not Halal Guys; it closed). Little Greek in Lakeway if you’re out that way. 

[jimmyjazz 45630]

12 hours ago, ftf82 said:

Halal Bros on the Drag is my current favorite (not Halal Guys; it closed). Little Greek in Lakeway if you’re out that way. 

Little Greek & CAVA both appear to be chains, which raises a flag (for no particularly justifiable reason).

I looked up Halal Brothers -- turns out they have a location about 3 blocks from work.  Thanks!

[Druggist 303]

La Freska at airport and Lamar is decent.

tarbousch on Oltorf is pretty good Lebanese.

[Jack Straw 2953]

28 minutes ago, jimmyjazz said:

Little Greek & CAVA both appear to be chains, which raises a flag (for no particularly justifiable reason).

I looked up Halal Brothers -- turns out they have a location about 3 blocks from work.  Thanks!

CAVA is like a slightly higher quality mediterranean version of Chipotle.  bowls are better than the gyros.  YMMV

been a couple years since I had an office out in Bee Cave/Lakeway,  been i hit little greek often and thought it was solid for what it was (especially for greek salad, which ... isn't what you asked about)

mmm milto's gryo (soon to be RIP).  probably more nostalgia than "real deal"

there's a new mediterranean place next to the courthouse i've been meaning to try but haven't gotten in to yet

[MalibuSheriff 1089]

Austin has a woefully poor number of options for a city of this size.  Best I’ve found is Phoenicia on south Lamar.  Good quality but you have to sit outside on one of the two-seater tables as they have no inside seating.

[zman13 178]

Halal Bros or Halal Corner 

There are some more to try but those are the best (to me) so far

[Deej 76641]

Phoenicia is a good call. I usually hit the one north of 45th and Burnet.

If you are up north, Santorini up on North Lamar, past Braker, is excellent.

[Bolero88 255]

Mediterranean Chef Cafe is the best in town. Kebabalicious is fantastic too. Sarah's Market is also pretty good. 

[jimmyjazz 45630]

Great stuff . . . I'll try Mediterranean Chef and Santorini for sure, along with the previously mentioned Halal Brothers.

[Judge Roybeanbag 11811]

Oasis Pizza on Bratton has decent ones.  Also their Gyro Pizza is pretty good.  Has possibly the most bizarre menu in town, but I haven't ever had a bad order.  Everything from bento boxes and bulgogi to poke bowls to meatball sandwiches.

 

https://www.oasiscafeandpizza.com/#/

[Deej 76641]

1 hour ago, jimmyjazz said:

Great stuff . . . I'll try Mediterranean Chef and Santorini for sure, along with the previously mentioned Halal Brothers.

Good friend of mine is a chef, and Santorini is the only Greek food he'll eat in town, now. Nice space, fantastic owners, great food at good prices. Nice patio before the weather gets too hot, also.

[Druggist 303]

Santorini is the only place in town that somewhat reminds me of the food in Greece.  El Greco used to be really good until Gordon Ramsay fucked it up and they closed.

[Anastasis 23404]

Yeah, El Greco had the best gyro in town for a time.  But that place went to shit long before Gordon Ramsay came into the picture. Haven't ever had Santorini, but my answer would easily be Phoenicia. 

[Deej 76641]

9 minutes ago, Anastasis said:

But that place went to shit long before Gordon Ramsay came into the picture. 

This.

[futureman 22435]

[HenryJames 65926]

Santorini is in a cool location along with a Serbian and a Somali restaurant.

[Deej 76641]

The ethnic diversity increases exponentially north of 183 in the Lamar area. Makes for some good, cheap, interesting eats. Enjoy it before it's gone.

[utee94 15751]

It's not going anywhere anytime soon.  Not in that part of town.

Even when it does change, it'll just move further out.  Same as it ever was.

[HenryJames 65926]

It’s like Austin’s Queens.

[Deej 76641]

Just had a hipster couple buy a house across the street from me. That now makes four on the block.

[Deej 76641]

I really miss Ted's Greek Corner.

[Anastasis 23404]

11 hours ago, futureman said:

Makes me want to punch my monitor.

Gyros should be made with pork, not the lamb-beef processed loaf nonsense.

Tacos al pastor and Gyros are basically the same thing. Shawarma and Doner the same, adjusted for Mohammedan dietary restrictions. 

I like some lamb-beef mix, but this is what El Greco did particularly right before distractions took over. Pork gyros.  

[futureman 22435]

8 hours ago, Anastasis said:

Makes me want to punch my monitor.

Gyros should be made with pork, not the lamb-beef processed loaf nonsense.

Tacos al pastor and Gyros are basically the same thing. Shawarma and Doner the same, adjusted for Mohammedan dietary restrictions. 

I like some lamb-beef mix, but this is what El Greco did particularly right before distractions took over. Pork gyros.  

pork gyros?  I thought real gyros were just all lamb, no beef. 

[jimmyjazz 45630]

To my knowledge, I've never had a pork gyro.  Then again, I've never been to Greece, where it's apparently the predominant meat they use, but not exclusively so.

A pork gyro sounds delicious.

I need to build my own vertical spit rotisserie.

[South Austin 52204]

On ‎3‎/‎26‎/‎2019 at 10:41 AM, Jack Straw said:

CAVA is like a slightly higher quality mediterranean version of Chipotle.  bowls are better than the gyros.  YMMV

Just had CAVA for the first time.  The "Mediterranean Chipotle" is a good label, but hopefully without the e coli.  It's no Athenian Grill (RIP), but overall it was tasty and healthy.  It's nice to have a decent Mediterranean option an easy walk from my office. 

[ztejas 43382]

On 3/26/2019 at 9:58 AM, jimmyjazz said:

Little Greek & CAVA both appear to be chains, which raises a flag (for no particularly justifiable reason).

I looked up Halal Brothers -- turns out they have a location about 3 blocks from work.  Thanks!

Little Greek is solid. Good falafel, good not great gyros, pretty bomb french fries. Cheap, too. 

Have only ate in Dallas but I would assume it can't be that much different in Austin. 

And I don't think a gyro place being a chain should really raise any flags. Not in Austin, at least. 

[South Austin 52204]

2 minutes ago, ztejas said:

And I don't think a gyro place being a chain should really raise any flags. Not in Austin, at least. 

Tino's is a chain and it's pretty meh.

[ztejas 43382]

5 minutes ago, South Austin said:

Tino's is a chain and it's pretty meh.

I mean... that's kind of my point. It's pretty meh but it's been around Austin for 16 years and has 5 locations. 

Little Greek isn't going to blow you away but it's a larger, more successful chain that has already done very well in a more competitive market in Texas. It's worth the 10 bucks if you're in the neighborhood and looking to try different places in Austin. 

[Sbbruin 21785]

On 3/29/2019 at 9:59 AM, futureman said:

Their gyros are good, but their brisket would put any of those Texas joints to shame.

[South Austin 52204]

23 minutes ago, Sbbruin said:

Their gyros are good, but their brisket would put any of those Texas joints to shame.

There's a 20-year-old grad student in me that would eat the shit out of that.

[Nueces River Rat 5533]

On 3/25/2019 at 10:52 AM, jimmyjazz said:

Any good gyros in town?  I've been to Sarah's plenty, mostly because it's convenient, but the lack of a visible spit is concerning.  Add in the fact that their freezer, which is open for customer shopping, contains boxes of "gyro meat" and I'm pretty much thinking whatever they're serving wasn't cooked anywhere near Austin.

Pars has had an ownership change -- I haven't been there since.

I'm highly skeptical of places like Tino's.

Where's the real deal, along with other Mediterranean or Middle Eastern food?

I went to Greece when I was 13.  On top of the historical significance  and some hot chics with hairy armpits ( it was the 80's and alot of Eastern Europeans  and Russians visiting)  but topless at the beaches,   Gyros were my to go to food over there since I wasn't big on seafood back then as I am now.   There was a pretty cool little hole in wall  near the place we were staying at that I frequented with relatives.   I seem to recall lamb was the meat of choice at this place and others.    Lamb, something like a sour cream and  diced tomato on a flat bread and boom!

[jimmyjazz 45630]

59 minutes ago, Nueces River Rat said:

 Lamb, something like a sour cream and  diced tomato on a flat bread and boom!

Tzatziki sauce?  Over here it's mostly greek yogurt, cucumber, dill, and . . . don't remember.  I think that's it.

[gmr548 16557]

Halal bros is legit.

Sent from my SM-G920V using Tapatalk

[Brisketexan 104785]

Pork gyros. Gotta say that’s news to me, but I’ve never been to the Med, so what do I know.

We did try a new place just this weekend - Kabobzi on north Burnet, strip center behind the Domain. Pretty tasty, pretty similar to Halal Bros type of stuff. Meat and rice plates, really good and huge gyros and shawarma. We’ll hit it again when in the area.

[HornOnTheBayou 8881]

10 hours ago, Sbbruin said:

Their gyros are good, but their brisket would put any of those Texas joints to shame.

Your avatar has never been more appropriate.

[HenryJames 65926]

17 hours ago, South Austin said:

There's a 20-year-old grad student in me that would eat the shit out of that.

There was a 20-year old grad student in your mom last night.

[South Austin 52204]

5 minutes ago, HenryJames said:

There was a 20-year old grad student in your mom last night.

She told me she was just tutoring!

[ChickenSandwich 9809]

WTF....Pars Deli closed??  That was my go to for Gyros in town...shit

[Somnio 751]

TX Shawarma operates out of a food trailer on S. 1st, and it's delicious.

https://www.txshawarma.com/

 

Waaaay south on Menchaca by Valentina's BBQ is another food trailer with damn good grub.

https://mediterranean-cuisine-mediterranean-restaurant.business.site/

 

 

[Deej 76641]

Santorini's is still chugging along during this time of crisis. 

[ztejas 43382]

11 minutes ago, Deej said:

Santorini's is still chugging along during this time of crisis. 

I live pretty close to there right now. Was wondering if it's good.

Nevermind. Cheaper than I thought.

Edited August 8, 2020 by ztejas

[Deej 76641]

It's more than good.

[Ten Bears 2479]

Santorinis has the best gyro I have found. The Greek lady is awesome too. I gave her a nice tip the other day and she started crying. Sure hope they can hang in there.

[ztejas 43382]

She is awesome^

Has been giving out an order of Greek beignets with every order that are pretty tasty. Their pizzas are really good, too. Doing my best to keep them afloat myself but I could still stand to eat there more often.

There's also a cute girl that works there that I've been trying to bump into again. 

[futureman 22435]

31 minutes ago, Ten Bears said:

Santorinis has the best gyro I have found. The Greek lady is awesome too. I gave her a nice tip the other day and she started crying. Sure hope they can hang in there.

Austin?

[Deej 76641]

Gyro omelet. Served all day. Gyro omelet was my Saturday morning go-to at Ted's Greek Corner. 

[Ten Bears 2479]

4 hours ago, futureman said:

Austin?

Lamar, north of Braker.