Yes, gyros really are Greek. Gyros are one of the most popular Greek dishes available, and can be found across Greece. They’re growing in popularity around the world, with many Greek restaurants serving a variation. Gyros are made by cooking marinated meat rotisserie style. This can lead to some confusion of origin, as there are many versions of this kebab style dish worldwide, including Middle Eastern shawarma. However, the gyro is Greek in origin. In fact, the world ‘gyro’ is itself Greek, meaning to turn.
A gyro is sometimes confused with souvlaki. Souvlaki is another popular Greek dish, that is cooked in a similar kebab fashion and often served in pita bread. The primary difference is that gyros are cooked vertically. Souvlaki is cooked on a skewer, but horizontally. It may also be served on the skewer, unlike gyros. The meat for souvlaki may be cubed.