May 2, 2024 | OPINION | By Sam Treat
The Kebab and Gyro House is easy to miss: for one, it’s sheltered in the corner of a strip mall, but more so because it is located in a part of Colorado Springs that is so nondescript and benign that I shudder at the thought of the Springsians unfortunate enough to call that concrete, cultureless, late-stage-capitalist hellscape home.
However, once inside the Kebab and Gyro House, one is transported from the man-made horrors created by the abysmal urban planning of the Springs, to the smell of shawarma and the sounds of onions sizzling. As we (myself and my dear friend Tesha Ferrell ‘25) entered, a girthy, obtuse man with clearly fresh tzatziki stains on his shirt yelled at the chef, “It was good. I’ll be back.” Simple yet encouraging words for a guy like me.
The chef, who turned out to be the owner as well, was exceptionally friendly and energetic, making the atmosphere immediately cheerful. While cheerful, the setting is definitely unique; the restaurant shares the space with an international market, so it creates an eclectic mixture of tables, photos of the Pacific Northwest, rows of spices for sale and, of course, a TV playing the 4K Dubai Summer Mix 2023 on repeat. However, the plastic-wrapped orange tablecloths did give me hope for a messy indulgence to follow.
To make my dreams become reality, I ordered a Beef Shawarma plate ($24.99) that comes with a staggering six sides (and we added french fries). Then, to appease Tesha’s cravings of European gyro shops (classic abroad moment), we added the lamb/beef Gyro sandwich to boot ($10.99).
As competent and commanding as the proprietor of the establishment was, his cashier counterpart was the polar opposite. It was unfortunate to witness, but her multiple errors resulted in us receiving a free serving of baklava. Her incompetence was our indulgence.
The beef shawarma, while pricier than I would have liked, was a portion more than enough for two. The sides themselves, hummus, tzatziki, yellow rice, babaganoush, a sort of spicy slaw that I’d never tried before and pita bread, could have been a meal. However, the healthy serving of tender, freshly cut beef shawarma on top was the real highlight. Flavorful and juicy, I could not get enough. Other highlights from the plate included delicious and surprisingly flavorful rice, which paired incredibly well with the beef. The pita was great with the wonderful homemade hummus and tzatziki sauces, but the one piece felt much too few. The babaganoush was uniquely smoky in flavor and quite unlike anything I’d tried before. The gyro, which the cashier pronounced “jeero” (causing everyone in the restaurant to cringe), was also sizable, and perhaps the better deal for a solo enjoyer. Especially when paired with the seasoned fries (which you can order stuffed if you’re feeling wild), was a scrumptious meal that left me eager to return.
The Gyro and Kebab House is located off Barnes Rd., sadly not particularly close to campus. However, if you are craving big Mediterranean portions and want to support a local small business, this place is a great option (if you have a car). As my fellow experienced eater said, “It was good. I’ll be back.”