If you enjoy Greek cuisine, you may well have tried Souvlaki and Gyros. They are both popular Greek fast foods, and they share some obvious similarities. In fact, you may well be under the illusion that a Souvlaki is the platter form of a Gyro. You probably think this because a Souvlaki is a dish of grilled meat that comes with side dishes of fried potatoes, vegetables, tzatziki, and pita bread, and that the Gyro appears to be the same thing, except for the fact that it is served in the form of a sandwich. This is actually not the case at all. So, you are probably wondering just what exactly the difference between them is, and this blog is here to illuminate you:
What is a Souvlaki?
Okay, so a Souvlaki is a dish which comprises of meat grilled and served on a skewer. The most common meat types used for this dish are either pork or chicken. However, other types of meat can be used, such as lamb or beef if need be, if the customer requests it, for example. Generally speaking, the meat is served on a platter, as mentioned above, with accompanying side dishes, including rice, vegetables, tzatziki – a yoghurt dip, pita bread, fried potatoes, and a lemon wedge too. It can be presented in many ways, such as a platter, or in pita bread as a wrap, or on top of a salad. In some cases, restaurants will offer customers a souvlaki portion and souvlaki pita as two completely separate dishes. The Souvlaki portion is larger than the pita and offers customers complete servings. This also makes them more expensive than their pita counterpart too, as they provide customers with a larger portion of meat. Souvlakis can also come in sandwich form, which may surprise anyone who believed a Gyro was a Souvlaki in a sandwich. There are actually many different ways a customer can enjoy a Souvlaki.
What is a Gyros?
A Gyros is created by thinly slicing meat that has been grilled on a vertical rotisserie. Again pork and chicken are the most popular types of meat used. However, if requested, beef or lamb are perfectly viable alternatives. Gyros are generally served within pita bread, although they can be served as a platter, alongside vegetables, fried potatoes, tzatziki, and a wedge of lemon. It can also be served with rice.
So What is the Difference?
You may well still be wondering what exactly the difference is, and it is in the way the two dishes cook their meet. The difference may well be subtle from reading the above, but as you can see, Souvlakia are when the meat is grilled and put on a skewer. Gyros, on the other hand, are cooked on a vertical rotisserie and very thinly sliced. Gyros meat may well be more well-known in the US and UK, but Souvlaki are now gaining in popularity. Both dishes are extremely flavoursome, as you would expect from any Greek dish and are well worth trying. Pita Time in Finchley have both on the menu.