The Best Pita Sandwiches in Greater Milwaukee

The greater Milwaukee area harbors an unexpectedly vibrant Mediterranean and Middle Eastern food scene, with over 30 exceptional restaurants serving pita sandwiches across six counties. The South 27th Street corridor in Greenfield has emerged as the region's unofficial Middle Eastern food destination, while Greek gyro spots dot the landscape from Kenosha to Mequon. Here's your comprehensive guide to the best pita sandwiches in southeastern Wisconsin.

Milwaukee County

Middle Eastern and Mediterranean standouts

Lebnani House stands as the region's premier Lebanese fine-dining destination. Located at 5051 S 27th St, Greenfield, this partnership between local restaurateur Naser Abdelfattah and the owners of Lebnani Snack (established 1992 in Amman, Jordan) has earned widespread acclaim. Milwaukee Magazine's dining review called the food "exceptional," noting it "left us searching for appropriate vocabulary." The fatteh—layers of toasted pita tossed with tahini, tangy yogurt, and choice of toppings ($11.99-$13.99)—showcases their mastery. Their fresh-baked warm pita and ultra-smooth hummus set the standard for the city.

Taqwa's Bakery & Restaurant at 4651 S 27th St, Greenfield offers a singular experience centered on their burning stone oven (taboun). Owner Taqwa Obaid draws from her mother's Palestinian recipes to create thin, stretchy taboun flatbread ($1.50) baked to order with crisp edges. Urban Milwaukee called it "a Middle Eastern Paradise." The interior resembles an elegant Bedouin tent. Don't miss the spinach fatayer or the mosakhan—caramelized onions on taboun with half chicken.

Holy Land Grocery & Deli at 2755 W Ramsey Ave has been named to Milwaukee's Best 50 Restaurants four times consecutively. This unassuming grocery store with a deli counter produces what Milwaukee Record declared the "best pita we've ever had." Owner Ali Elhashash takes pride in their homemade hummus and falafel ("they're the bomb"). Rotisserie shawarma ($9.99 plate) and falafel sandwiches ($1.99) offer exceptional value.

Pita Palace Mediterranean Cuisine at 789 W Layton Ave opened in July 2023 in a beautifully renovated space with imported décor. TripAdvisor reviewers call it home to the "best falafel in Milwaukee" and "best kufta in Milwaukee." The falafel sandwich features three homemade falafel halves in grilled shrak bread with Jerusalem salad, pickles, tahini, and hummus. The Pita Palace Mix Grill (#21) delivers three skewers with grilled vegetables, hummus, rice, and Arabic salad.

Al Yousef Restaurant at 6329 S 20th St, Oak Creek earns consistent praise as a hidden gem. Fresh-made-to-order seven days a week, their chicken shish tawook sandwich—marinated grilled chicken with pickles, tomatoes, and garlic sauce—exemplifies their quality. DoorDash, Google, Yelp, and Facebook all rate them 4.5-5 stars.

Shawarma specialists

Shawarma House at 2921 N Oakland Ave has operated since 2014 near UW-Milwaukee, earning a loyal following for late-night shawarma runs (open until 3am Fri-Sat). Reviews describe the food as "made with love" with "hands down the best quality for the price." Additional locations in Brookfield and Kenosha serve the suburbs.

Shawarma King in the Riverwest neighborhood at 2713 N Bremen St "definitely lives up to his name," per Yelp reviews. Their falafel wrap—ground chickpeas garnished with sesame, deep-fried, rolled in Lebanese bread with tomatoes, pickles, Arabic salad, red cabbage, hummus, and tahini—exemplifies their comprehensive approach.

Shawarma Palace occupies prime real estate at the corner of Brady Street and Humboldt (1701 N Humboldt Ave). Open until 2:30am on weekends, it's become a late-night institution. The Mixed Shawarma Bowl and Chicken Shawarma Wrap draw raves.

Mr. Shawarma, Milwaukee's newest entry, opened September 2024 at 1125 N 9th St in the Eleven25 Food Court in the Brewery District. Their Arabic Special—shawarma on toasted shrak bread with fries—brings traditional recipes to a convenient downtown location.

Persian and Turkish options

Shahrazad Restaurant at 3133 N Oakland Ave holds the distinction of being "Milwaukee's only Persian Restaurant." This award-winning spot near UWM excels at freshly grilled kebabs over saffron rice. TripAdvisor users call it "THE BEST middle eastern food in Milwaukee."

Mediterranean Cuisine at 753 N Water St downtown brings Turkish flavors to the Riverwalk as the second location of the award-winning The Mediterranean Joint. Their Adana Kebab Wrap and Iskender Kebab showcase authentic Turkish preparation, while their cheese curds with tzatziki offer a Mediterranean twist on Wisconsin's favorite.

Greek gyro institutions

Oakland Gyros remains Milwaukee's legendary gyro destination, operating since 1985 when the Karampelas family opened on the East Side. The Oakland Ave location (2867 N Oakland Ave) stays open until 2:30am on weekends, serving UWM students and bar patrons "a fluffy, six-inch pita buried beneath a teetering pile of tomatoes, onions, and a heaping mound of tender, thinly sliced meat." Celebrity fan Usher reportedly loves the place. A second location operates at 530 W Layton Ave.

Apollo Café at 1310 E Brady St has anchored Brady Street since 2000 with authentic Greek family recipes brought directly from Greece. OnMilwaukee's "Gyro Thursday" series praised their gyro sandwich for its well-seasoned beef and lamb on "buttery, puffy, thin, perfectly grilled" pita. Their Avgolemono soup is called "Best Lemon Soup in Milwaukee."

Avli Milwaukee at 1818 N Hubbard St brings Chicago's acclaimed Avli restaurant group to Brewer's Hill. Opened September 2023, this modern Greek restaurant offers an "Inspired Greek" approach with both classic and contemporary dishes. The Spreads Sampler ($11-$18)—featuring hummus, tzatziki, tarama, and tirokafteri with pita—makes an excellent introduction.

Gyro27 at 5308 S 27th St evolved from the beloved Gyro Palace. Reviews praise the lamb gyro as "abundant, very tasty, lean, perfectly seasoned, no fat." The Gyro Deluxe/Supreme adds feta cheese, chopped peppers, and cucumbers.

Gyros Corner at 5914 W Appleton Ave offers quick service with "one of THE BEST gyros I have ever tasted" ready in under five minutes. Old-school arcade machines add charm.

Just outside Milwaukee proper

Cosmos Café at 7203 W North Ave, Wauwatosa has been family-owned since 2009 by Theo and Helen Tselentis. Milwaukee Magazine featured their unique Jerk Chicken Pita—a Greek-Jamaican fusion that's "perfectly cooked and seasoned." The intimate 20-seat space feels like home.

Golden Gyros at 7233 W Lincoln Ave, West Allis has operated for 37 years, offering a unique combination: excellent gyros AND outstanding frozen custard rivaling Kopp's and Leon's. Cash only. The gyro supreme comes "so packed with meat you can't close it."

Waukesha County

The Great Greek Mediterranean Grill at 21481 E Moreland Blvd, Waukesha represents Wisconsin's first location of this national franchise, opening May 2025. Family recipes passed down through generations inform their Great Greek Gyro and customizable souvlaki plates. The Feta Fries have become a crowd favorite. Reviews call it "BEST Greek food in Waukesha."

Shawarma House Brookfield at 17385 W Bluemound Rd operates under the same family ownership as the Oakland Avenue original. Two brothers supervise all operations, earning praise like "I've had shawarma all over the world and these guys know what they're doing." Their baklava is called "the best I've had in WI."

Grecian Inn at 14375 W Capitol Dr, Brookfield (inside Capitol Cafe Pancake House) offers one of the area's most authentic Greek experiences, especially on Friday evenings. Don't let the basement location fool you—the atmosphere is great. Their Greek Combination Plate features moussaka, dolmades, pastitsio, and gyros.

Gyro House serves the Waukesha, Brookfield, Pewaukee, New Berlin, and Elm Grove areas with authentic Greek cuisine and extensive catering (10-500 guests). Their gyro sandwich with homemade tzatziki uses imported pita bread.

Gyros West at 1538 E Moreland Blvd, Waukesha has been family-owned since 1990. Note: Some sources indicate this beloved spot may have closed—call (262) 544-0211 to verify before visiting.

Ozaukee County

Santorini Grill operates inside Mequon Public Market with 30+ years of family experience. Their award-winning Greek salads can be topped with chicken, gyros, salmon, filet, octopus, or falafel (starting at $11.45). Value meals at $11.95 include a 1/4lb gyro, fries, and drink. Ask for Spiro for catering services.

Racine County

Kouzena 220 at 220 6th Street, Downtown Racine is the city's "only corner of Greece." Family-owned for three generations, their gyro ($12) comes "with no greasiness and generous portions." The Korinthian Pita Wrap ($12)—choice of hummus or fava with fresh vegetables and feta—offers something unique. Chef's specials run Thursday-Saturday evenings.

Gyros Express at 5205 Washington Ave, Mount Pleasant ranks #46 of 419 Racine restaurants. Their value-focused menu includes gyros, Philly gyros, and foot-long shawarma wraps all at $6.95. Open Monday-Saturday 11am-9:30pm.

The Balkan Restaurant at 605 6th St, Downtown Racine delivers old-world charm with a Slavic twist. The owner-operated spot with 1960s retro décor serves homemade Balkan sausages (kabopi/ćevapi) alongside Greek-style dishes. Great value at $5-$13.

Kenosha County

Gyro Grill at 6316 52nd St, Kenosha has been family and locally owned since 1992, accumulating 5000+ five-star DoorDash reviews and "Best of Kenosha County" titles. Their falafel sandwich is praised as "crispy outside, fluffy inside"—the "best falafel around." Halal-certified with military/veteran discounts.

Grill House at 3905 52nd St, Kenosha opened January 2025 under owner Bassam Shahin, who brings 18 years of Kenosha-area experience. Reviews already call it "best Middle Eastern food in Kenosha or Racine Counties." The Mixed Grill Platter ($22.99)—three skewers of wood-grilled kababs with shawarma garnish—showcases their range.

El Fuego Gyros at 2828 75th St, Kenosha is a hidden gem inside a gas station that has won multiple "Best of Kenosha" awards. Their Mexican-Mediterranean fusion includes a Spicy Gyro with sriracha or chipotle tzatziki. The Special Gyro by the Pound (1lb meat, 3 pitas, garnishes, tzatziki) serves parties well.

Gyro & Flame at 2105 22nd Avenue, Kenosha emphasizes flame-grilled cooking technique for distinctive char and flavor on their gyros and kebabs.

Top picks by category

Best fine-dining pita experience: Lebnani House (Greenfield)

Best fresh-baked bread: Taqwa's Bakery stone-oven taboun; Holy Land Grocery's house pita

Best hidden gems: Holy Land Grocery & Deli, Al Yousef Restaurant, El Fuego Gyros

Best late-night options: Oakland Gyros (until 2:30am), Shawarma House (until 3am), Shawarma Palace (until 2:30am)

Best falafel: Pita Palace, Holy Land Grocery, Gyro Grill (Kenosha)

Best gyro value: Oakland Gyros, Gyros Express (Mount Pleasant), Golden Gyros

Best suburban options: The Great Greek (Waukesha), Shawarma House (Brookfield), Santorini Grill (Mequon)

Best fusion: Cosmos Café's Jerk Chicken Pita, El Fuego Gyros' Mexican-Mediterranean offerings

Conclusion

The greater Milwaukee area offers remarkable depth in pita sandwiches, from Palestinian stone-oven traditions to classic Greek gyros to modern Lebanese fine dining. The South 27th Street corridor in Greenfield deserves special attention as a Middle Eastern food destination rivaling larger cities. For the adventurous eater, exploring beyond Milwaukee into Kenosha, Racine, and Waukesha counties reveals family-owned gems serving generations-old recipes—often at remarkable value. Whether you're craving a $1.99 falafel sandwich from Holy Land or a $23 mixed grill at Lebnani House, southeastern Wisconsin delivers.