The Best Gyros in Oak Lawn: You Decide
Help us decide who makes the best gyros in the Oak Lawn area.
We’re pleased to announce a new weekly feature that will allow you to not only get great ideas on where to eat, but will allow you to tell everyone why your favorite restaurant is the best.
The Chowdown Showdown will pit Oak Lawn, Palos and Evergreen Park restaurants against each other to decide who makes a particular dish best. Before the competition starts, we need your ideas on who our Oak Lawn representative should be.
ALSO CHECK OUT blogger Andy Skoundrianos' 'One Man's Opinion on Hamburgers'
This week's showdown features that Chicago staple and Greek specialty, gyros. I want you to tell me who makes the best gyros in town. The winner then will go on to face the best of Palos and Evergreen.
How to Vote
There are three ways to vote for your favorite.
- Leave a comment on this article and tell us your pick and why you think they are the best.
- Find your pick in our Oak Lawn Places Directory and leave a review and tell the world just how good their gyros are.
- Go to the Oak Lawn Facebook Page and tell us your pick.
Get your votes in by Monday at 10 a.m. We will announce the winner and share the results of our taste test on Wednesday.
That's Not All . . .
The Oak Lawn Places Directory allows you to leave reviews of your all your favorite place in town. From auto shops to eye doctors, hot dog stands to churches, find them in the directory and tell everyone why they are great.
About this column: Every week we poll our readers and taste test their choices to pick the best dishes in Oak Lawn, Palos and Evergreen Park.
STM
6:31 am on Friday, January 27, 2012
I like Billy Boys gyros. But I wonder if they closed down.I don't see any activity there lately.
Gary
7:35 am on Friday, January 27, 2012
Every year Billy Boys closes for vacation for a week, they are now open. Billy Boys is in Chicago Ridge>
Terri
6:34 am on Friday, January 27, 2012
Rosie's! The service is great too!
John Zawaski
9:12 am on Friday, January 27, 2012
Big Pappas/Mr. Gyro's is my favorite not only for a good gyro with a good portion but Sandi and Eddie are two of the most personable generous people in Oak Lawn.
Drew Richards
10:42 am on Friday, January 27, 2012
Rosie's ---Gyro Special is fantastic.
Rocky
11:18 am on Friday, January 27, 2012
Rosie's
Grunty
11:53 am on Friday, January 27, 2012
Billy Boys!
Colleen
11:55 am on Friday, January 27, 2012
108th/Cicero Mr Gyros. Rosie's isn't what it used to be.
Bob F
12:13 pm on Friday, January 27, 2012
Gotta go with Billy Boy's
OL Resident
12:26 pm on Friday, January 27, 2012
The question is "best in OL" Billy Boys is Chicago Ridge....and it is a good Gyro.
If for no other reason Big Pappa's for all their charity work.
Sue B
6:11 pm on Friday, January 27, 2012
Billy Boys
nate
2:22 am on Saturday, January 28, 2012
billy boys best is the best in town
STM
5:16 am on Saturday, January 28, 2012
Billy Boys is in Oak Lawn , not in Chicago Ridge. Across the street where the Chicago Ridge Mall is located, that is Chicago ridge.
OL Resident
3:59 pm on Saturday, January 28, 2012
Billy Boys is in Chicago Ridge. Check the web site. the address is 6400 W 95 St Chicago Ridge IL 60453. So is the Dunkin Donuts. look it up.
Glen Kato
9:29 am on Saturday, January 28, 2012
Big Pappas - Mr Gyro on 108 S. Cicero. It is a must. The gyros are hot. They cut them and toss the meat on the grill to give it a little crunch. I think I'm going to get one for lunch.
Sherry Peters
1:49 pm on Saturday, January 28, 2012
It must be a "regional" preference in Oak Lawn whether your east or west of Cicero Avenue. If your west of Cicero, hands down Billy Boys is the best. I don't frequent Mr Gyro as it's east of Cicero clear on the other side of town. The tipping point may go to who includes feta with the Gyro?
joe
6:36 pm on Saturday, January 28, 2012
Big poppas 108th and Cicero, great food, terrific service, out does rosies, or any other place around!
andy skoundrianos
10:33 pm on Saturday, January 28, 2012
Gyro meat usually is the same at most places,the sauce is the most important part of the Gyro, I like Rosie's and Fatso's excellent sauces at both places. since this is Oak Lawn only can't include Billy Boys
CINDY BECKER
11:19 pm on Saturday, January 28, 2012
BY FAR....BIG PAPPAS, MR GYROS ON 108TH !!!THE SAUCE IS HOMEMADE AND THE GYRO IS DELICIOUS !! THE OWNERS ARE VERY GOOD PEOPLE. THEY LOOK OUT FOR THE COMMUNITY THEY DO BISINESS IN.
STM
5:19 am on Sunday, January 29, 2012
To OL Resident, I apologize, you are right, Billy Boy's is in Chicago Ridge.That is weird that a little section on the north side of 95-TH street , west of Ridgeland is Chicago Ridge. North and west of that is Oak Lawn. So , in that case my favorite Gyro in Oak Lawn is.....Big Pappas/ Mr. Gyro.
OL Resident
7:09 am on Sunday, January 29, 2012
Thanks STM. It is weird that both places are in CR. That is a trivia question that trips up alot of long time residents of the area. It does not stop Billy Boys from having a very good Gyro.
CJM
12:47 pm on Sunday, January 29, 2012
Wait....you mean to tell me that Billy Boys is technically in the Ridge? I thought all of 60453 and 60454 were OL. Simmons School is right there and listed as OL.
I googled it, and while their website lists the address as CR, other sites like yelp, and urban spoon list it as OL. That must be one of those funky boundary things.
BibbidyBobbidyBoo
1:01 pm on Sunday, January 29, 2012
I checked this out a few days ago when it was brought up on the Facebook page. The Oak Lawn boundary map has a tiny notch cut out for Chicago Ridge (although they use Oak Lawn zip code), and it is just for three addresses - Billy Boys, Dunkin Donuts and Party City. Very weird. Must have something to do with the mall and taxes.
OL Resident
9:32 am on Monday, January 30, 2012
Sorry to go off on a tangent. I remember (30 + years ago) my parents telling me that OL could have incorporated those properties (as well as Communtiy Department Store, The Studio Theater, and Starlight Drive Inn), but the Village officials chose not to. CR chose to incorporate those properties into their city.
THIS IS NOW A LEGEND THAT ONLY A FEW REMEMBER AND I COULD NEVER GET ANYONE IN THE KNOW TO VALIDATE. I AM HOPING FOR SOMEBODY (1st person) TO PUT THIS QUESTION TO REST ONCE AND FOR ALL.
Grunty
9:57 am on Monday, January 30, 2012
I was told by someone when I was younger (no i can't remember who, so this is really just a rumor) that chicago ridge wanted to sell us the entire shopping area at one time (Including the commons and the mall itself) but trustees turned it down.
This could be absolutely false.
andy skoundrianos
11:43 am on Monday, January 30, 2012
Back before the mall was built in 80-81. No one really owned the land. I was told that the Chicago Ridge officials beat Oak Lawn officials in claiming the parcels with the assessor's office. That was told to me many years ago by the late mayor Kolb It is funny that the land south,west and east of the mall is Oak Lawn. OL gets all the traffic Ridge gets all the sales tax!!! that's the way the story was told to me..
John B
1:22 pm on Sunday, January 29, 2012
I have to go with Big Pappas - Mr Gyro on 108 S. Cicero. Huge portion sizes and always great service. No matter if you want it cut thin or thick cooked extra long or odd toppings they are willing to try and accommodate. Heck they even serve several sizes.
That aside as most places serve almost identical ingredients barring changes in seasoning and sauce. Having the meat cooked well without it being dried out is a huge test. In almost 3 years I have never had a burnt or dried out piece let alone a whole sandwich.
The biggest difference is staff. You can always count on a nice greeting and top notch service with a personal touch.
Everyone should stop in at least once if not for the gyro then one of the other items on their large menu.
jacqueline
3:51 pm on Sunday, January 29, 2012
Big Pappa's =) freaking awesome!!!!!!!
Catherine Chojnacki-Brouwer
3:51 pm on Sunday, January 29, 2012
Big Pappa's on 108th and Cicero. The gyros are always good...the service is excellent. They are so nice and friendly. But I agree with John B...most places use the same ingredients. I think anywhere that has Kronos meat.....its going to taste pretty good.
Amanda
4:15 pm on Sunday, January 29, 2012
Big Pappas. amazing food, great service and such a nice crew!
Moe
8:13 pm on Sunday, January 29, 2012
Big Pappa's 108th cicero, great food and great service
M.
Gary Malone
8:41 pm on Sunday, January 29, 2012
Big Pappa's 108th & Cicero, they have the best gyros I ever had I live in Countryside and I drive all the way there just for their food.
Ty
8:46 pm on Sunday, January 29, 2012
Big Poppas on 108th and Cicero has the best gyros in Oak Lawn. Great service, food, and prices.
STM
6:07 am on Monday, January 30, 2012
Sure looks like Big Pappas is the winner.
Congratulations to Big Pappas.
OL Resident
12:04 pm on Monday, January 30, 2012
Andy,
My mom and dad both were involved in politics. They worked with/for EK going back to even before he was the village clerk. The reason I say this is because you are telling this story "verbatim ac literatim" as my mother tells it.
I never doubted its truth. I never want to spread it as gospel without a reliable source to back it up (or hang along side with me).
Yes they get all the sales tax, but ask any Ridge cop how he feels about the criminal activity. If crime at the Advocate is a concern; we would have our hands full. I think that is a be careful what you wish for...
Thanks again.
Lorraine Swanson
12:19 pm on Monday, January 30, 2012
Thanks everyone. Voting is closed and I am turning off the comments.