For anyone who has been to Greece and eaten a tasty gyro, you know that Houston gyros lack authenticity. Ever since my trip back in 2005 I’ve been dying for my Greece gyro experience and I have yet to be fulfilled.

I’m no expert, but I did eat many of those tasty gyros while in Greece (at least four a day for two weeks) and I had the opportunity to speak with a street vendor about it.

This is for anyone who has been to Greece and also those who appreciate authentic food, especially authentic gyros.

Authentic Gyro Truth #1: While I have read online that lamb or some mixture of it is used sparingly in Greece for the meat of a gyro, that was not my experience at all. Every single time I ordered a gyro in Greece they always asked if I wanted pork or chicken. Never once was I ever asked if I wanted lamb. I even asked the vendor if lamb was used and he said no. So truth lesson number one, pork is the main choice of meat for a gyro. I have not yet found out which part of the pig, but I believe it’s pork butt.

Authentic Gyro Truth #2: While they do in fact serve gyro plates in Greece (basically a gyro but with the ingredients on the side, not inside the pita bread), gyros in Greece always came with fries inside the wrap (or is it called a sandwhich?), not outside on the plate as is the norm in the States. Of course, the main reason for this is because it’s a street vendor food and people often eat them on the go. Although some restaurants will accommodate this request, it’s just not the same if you have to ask, ya know?

Authentic Gyro Truth #3: The pita bread is dipped in warm olive oil on both sides. I observed this and also confirmed with the street vendor what he was dipping the bread into. This makes the wrap so much better, which is something I am almost certain restaurants here in Houston do not do.

These are simple truths that make a world of difference in the taste of a gyro. There may be others that I do not know of, but they are the main issues I have dealt with in the States when searching for a delicious gyro.

I am hoping restaurants make the change. I don’t see any reason why they would not accommodate these issues.

Add your name to the petition! http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/friesinsidethegyro/

Header image courtesy of CISabroad: http://www.flickr.com/photos/cisabroad/5899956949/