Gyros and shawarma both feature thinly-shaved meat that is cooked on a flaming hot rotating spit, piled high on pita bread, and topped with veggies and sauce. While both gyros and shawarma are cooked and prepared in a similar fashion, they have distinct differences which create different flavor profiles.

Gyros hail from Greece and are usually made from lamb, beef, or chicken while shawarma hails from the Middle East and can be made from lamb, chicken, veal, or turkey. For toppings, shawarma typically uses hummus and slightly pickled ingredients like cabbage, carrots, and onions, and gyros use raw onions, tomatoes, lettuce, and tzatziki sauce.

Both dishes tend to use fattier cuts of meat to create a juicier product when cooking. They also feature different types of spices that are added at different times, as gyros are seasoned with oregano, marjoram, thyme, and rosemary and shawarmas use turmeric, cloves, cardamom, and curry powder.