Arlington Insider

THE GYRO HOUSE

720 W. Division (next to Jack in the Box at intersection of Division @ Cooper)

Mon-Sat 10am – 8:30pm; closed Sundays

What a treat to find The Gyro House (serving much more than gyros) at the corner of W. Division at Cooper, just a few blocks west of downtown Arlington.

Wanting a quick lunch and planning on driving thru Jack in the Box, I saw The Gyro House (right next door) and decided to try something different by forsaking a hamburger bun for a pita.

Rather than just getting the Gyro (sandwich only for $3.70, add fries & drink for $5.99), I treated myself to The Combo Plate ($7.39) which included gyro meat, a Greek salad, and falafel.   I also ordered a side of Baba Ghanoush which, if you’re adventurous and like to try new things, is baked eggplant with parsley and spices.  It kind of looks like light-greenish paste, but it tastes good (dip your little slices of pita bread into the Baba Ghanoush).

You don’t have to be an adventurous eater to know that you can’t go wrong with the Shishkabobs or Chicken Kabobs  ($4.65). 

If you’re unfamiliar with more traditional Greek fare like Dolma (dolma plate $6.49) or the Falafel plate ($6.49), don’t panic.  There are pictures of all the menu items.  You can order with confidence.

By the way, treat yourself to a little dessert for only 99 cents – baklawa (pistachio, walnut, cashew or pine nut). 

I found the prices more than reasonable.  Tabuli Salad was $3.29 and the Greek Salad Plate was $4.29.  The hummus was $4.99.  Side orders of saffron rice were $2.49.  If you order the House Specials ($7.39), the saffron rice and side salad are included.  You can also get side orders of fries or onion rings.  For you vegetarians out there, they do serve a vegetarian gyro ($2.59)

Also, I was surprised that there were two families with little kids eating there for lunch.  And they weren’t eating from the kids menu (chicken nuggets), they were eating the Greek food (and really enjoying it).  I don’t think my parents ever took us kids to an ethnic restaurant (unless you count Tex-Mex and Italian as ethnic).

The restaurant itself is well-run by an Iranian family that has lived in Arlington for 20+ years and opened this place 17 years ago.  The wife, who works the counter, said she thinks this place opened many years ago as a donut shop. 

It’s not fancy.  You order at the counter from the wife.  The husband and the cooks are in the kitchen preparing the meat and veggies.  The food tastes fresh.  It’s good food at a reasonable price in a very casual setting.   And if you’re in a hurry, there is a drive thru. 

So I recommend trading-in your hamburger bun for a pita gyro (or a kabob)…and don’t forget the baklawa for dessert!