Astute Costco fans like me have probably noticed a new prepared meal in the deli section: a Kirkland Signature gyro kit. I love Mediterranean food, so I grabbed one for a low-effort dinner, but next time I'll be sticking to my favorite Greek restaurant when a gyro craving hits. Here's what I thought of the Costco newcomer.
What I Liked About the Costco Gyro Kit
There were six pitas in the three-pound container, and the instructions just said "heat pita bread" without any additional details. But I've dealt with plenty of pita before, so I popped them in a 325-degree oven for about five minutes, throwing them right on the rack. They turned out fluffy, soft, and with just a bit of crisp around the edges, exactly the way I like them.
There was plenty of meat (Costco's gyro meat is a mix of lamb and beef), and it browned up nicely in a big nonstick skillet. It's sliced thinly, so it only took about eight minutes on medium-high heat to result in some crunchy bits, which is undoubtedly the best part of gyro meat. The amount of meat I got could fill up all six pitas pretty generously — no skimping here.
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The feta crumbles were a thoughtful and appreciated addition, but to be honest, that's the only good thing I have to say about the toppings.
Photo credit: Lacey Muszynski / CheapismWhat I Didn't Like About Costco's Gyro Kit
Strap in, because this is going to be a long section. Those pitas were great, but they're also really small — smaller than my hand. Expect that most adults will want to eat one and a half sandwiches, or even two, if you're not serving sides with them. I can't imagine how much of this kit a teenage boy would want to eat.
That is if he could get past the blandness of it all. Costco's gyro meat was a little garlicky, but mostly just tasted of plain lamb and beef. For as much grease that came out during cooking (do not add oil to your pan first, or it will be swimming in it), you'd think the meat slices would have more flavor. If you're used to restaurant-style gyros (like those at your favorite Greek restaurant), it'll probably disappoint you, too.
Photo credit: Lacey Muszynski / CheapismI was so excited that it came with a tomato and cucumber salad to put on top, but the veggies ended up being mush. Even the diced onions, which were thoughtfully packaged in a separate little container, seemed like they had been chopped a week before. I ended up cutting up a bit of cucumber, cherry tomatoes, and red onion that I had in the fridge, and that made the sandwiches so much better.
And can we talk about the lettuce?! Yes, lettuce. There was a whole bed of chopped romaine languishing at the bottom of the container with everything smashed on top of it. I don't know of any restaurants that put lettuce on gyros, and definitely not the brown-around-the-edges stuff in big chunks here. Don't put lettuce in there just for filler, Costco. It's a waste and you look cheap.
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Finally: the tzatziki. It just tasted like pickles. Not fresh cucumber or garlic — ingredients that should be in every tzatziki — but like someone took pickle brine from a jar and mixed a little into grainy sour cream. It was a dollop of disappointment on an overall sad sandwich.
The Verdict on the Costco Gyro Meal Kit
Costco's Kirkland Signature gyro kit deserves a C grade, barely. Sure, at about $20 per container, it's probably cheaper than getting a few gyros from your local Greek restaurant, and it's not entirely offensive. But trust me, it's also not nearly as good as your favorite takeout place. So unless your family is demanding gyros constantly or you live in an area with a heartbreaking lack of gyro places, skip the Costco gyro kit and buy one of Costco's other ready-to-eat prepared meals instead.
