Hailing from Patras, a bustling city located 200kms west of Athens, George Stamopoulos had a vision to bring high-quality Greek street food to the masses after moving to Ireland from Greece in 2013.

Armed with an insatiable passion for food and convivial hospitality, he felt there was a gap in the Irish market and thus in 2018, Yeeros was born, with its first store opening in Glasnevin. Fast forward six years and the restaurant has expanded to three Dublin locations and most recently, was named the best Independent Restaurant in the entirety of the UK and Ireland 2024 by Deliveroo – an incredible achievement considering they fought off stiff competition from leading eateries with far greater number of stores on both sides of the Irish Sea.

30/1/2024; George Stamopoulos, at Yeeros, Greek Street Food, 16 Drumcondra Street Lower, Dublin, Deliveroo Restaurant Awards. Picture credit; Damien Eagers / PA

Spending an afternoon in the Drumcondra Road location reveals what all the fuss is about. It’s an inviting reprieve from the bustling North Dublin street, with the deep blue walls creating a fast casual environment evoking a Mediterranean calm.

It’s very much an establishment for the modern age. Everything about the place is slick. Touch screens not only make the ordering process easier,  but help familiarise customers with dishes which they mightn’t recognise by name. There’s even screens at the exterior for when the queue is quite literally out the door, which is often the case, particularly with Croke Park just around the corner. Technophobes needn’t worry either, as there’s always a friendly staff member on hand to assist.

This forward thinking approach, as well as the swift service, are where the high street ‘fast food’ comparisons end. The grub is remarkably fresh and authentic, combining the best of Irish produce with imported traditional Greek ingredients and spices.

Perhaps Greece’s most well-known culinary export, the world-famous gyros are the star of the show, and for good reason. Wrapped in sturdy, yet delightfully fluffy pita bread, they’re generously filled to the brim with succulent, chicken or pork.

The distinct flavour of the marinade combines with the farm-fresh veggies to create the most satisfying of crunchy first bites – a sensation which lasts until the very last morsel. Irish tastebuds will rejoice at the genius addition of some of Yeeros’ signature fries in the wrap, while the refreshingly zesty tzatziki brings it all together with yoghurt and garlicky goodness.

Other knock-your-socks-off items include the flame-grilled Greek-style kebab, which brings the flavours of a summery Mediterranean BBQ to your taste buds all-year round. Rounding things off are Yeeros’ uber-indulgent sweet delights. The newly added doughnuts are a particular favourite - satisfyingly warm and swathed in either Nutella or Bueno sauces, they’re a sweet-toothed dream.

There’s something to appeal to everyone in Ireland’s ever-diversifying hungry masses, with a varied menu putting a Hellenic spin on classic international dishes, whether it be the Gyros Falafel or the Gyros Caesar Salad.

Having worked our way through the lengthy menu, Best Of Ireland can also recommend the mini Spanakopitakia spinach and cheese pies; the stuffed Dolmadakia vine leaves; and the Deep Fried Zucchini and Feta Balls. Yum!

One of many reasons why Yeeros was crowned the best restaurant around by Deliveroo is its ability to keep meals fresh in transit, with 70% of orders being deliveries.

Soggy and lukewarm are not in Stamopoulos’ vocabulary, with his team ensuring that the food is kept restaurant-standard until it arrives at your doorstep. The wrapping plays a big part, not only helping to preserve your food but the planet too, with 90% of the sleek, bespoke Yeeros packaging being fully compostable.

Perhaps the most astonishing thing among all the attention to detail, passion and top-class service is the pricing of the menu. Punters can enjoy lunch (including a drink, by the way) for less than a tenner, a rarity these days, especially when it comes to great-quality food.

Whether you’re a busy office worker, a bargain-hunting student or a tourist looking for the best of the Irish food scene, you’ll struggle to find better than Yeeros when it comes to satisfying your Hellenic hankerings.

• 32 Wexford Street, Portobello, Dublin 2
• 19 Prospect Road, Glasnevin, Dublin 9
• 16 Drumcondra Road Lower, Drumcondra, Dublin 9

Order on Deliveroo or www.yeeros.ie