Dead Early Breakfast - Mr. Greek Gyros

Hi,

Today, I found myself taking a very unexpected trip into the loop due to a misread train schedule. After I had done my good deed, I then went hunting for lunch. While traveling through Greektown, I found a metered parking space open and decided to get some local color. I quickly consulted On Star (Erik M) for some quick ideas because I only had enough quarters for 30 minutes.

I first checked the cabbie hangout at Jackson just east of Halsted. I quickly decided I wasn't in the mood to be the only female occupant. Of course, I don't have the part the water looks Gary referred to in the Cuban Sandwich thread, but a lone female in a sea of cabbies isn't always where I want to position myself. So I moved on to the gyro's place on Jackson and Halsted.

While waiting for my gyros with extra sauce and onions, I read the menu on this 24-hour spot. They serve breakfast with standards of eggs, hashbrowns and pancakes. They also offered 'Mr. Greek Omelette,' Gyros Omelette, a Greek skillet as well as their standard fare of Gyros, rib eye steaks, souvlaki ... ok, if this doesn't turn you on, we can still walk a half block to the cabbie joint.

After breakfast, I am scouting Chinatown for our next breakfast.

See you bright and early!

Mr. Greek Gyros
234 South Halsted
Chicago, IL 60607
Tel: 312/906-8731
24/7

Hi,

Yes, the "Insanely Early Breakfast Club" met up today after a few months pause. A few people were MIA, though I do hope they got a few more zzz's, because I certainly would at that hour.

Last night before going to bed, I phoned 'Mr. Greek Gyros' to double check when breakfast began at a 24-hour place. They advised 6 AM, what if I come at 5:45, can I still order breakfast? 6 AM. I already made up my mind, I would order what I wanted, and if they stuck to their 6 AM schedule, then fine I get my food just after 6 AM.

Psychchef and I met on the street and walked into 'Mr. Greek' at 5:50 AM. We both ordered the same: Greek Breakfast Skillet with eggs cooked any style (Sunny side up), choice of cheese (American or Mozzerella) and toast (white, rye and whole wheat but no toasted pita). Threadkiller had already worked his way through most of Gyro, which looked pretty good.

Since our breakfast was cooked to order, it took a few minutes and well worth the wait. The Greek Skillet consists of hash browns, onions, green onions, tomatoes and chopped gyro meat with the cheese melted on top then topped with your eggs. Psychchef and I thought it was pretty good breakfast for less than $5. I added my preferred caffeine of a Coke, so my bill was just under $6.

The hour we arrive almost always is when 24-hour joints are doing housekeeping. 'Mr. Greek' was no exception. I cannot say breathing in Pinesol in the morning is totally refreshing, though you have to respect their efforts for cleanliness. The manager did open the doors to the street to air out the place; which was a nice courtesy. If there is a breakfast club here, then they arrived after we departed around 6:30 AM.

Parking is a breeze and free until 8 AM. So definitely a worthwhile breakfast stop.

&&&

So far I am coming up empty for a Chinese dead early breakfast, that is defined by places opening by 6 AM or earlier. I did a very quick walk through the Chinatown mall to find nothing going on. I did find three bakeries whose official opening time is 7 AM but they open informally at 6:45.

All bakeries served buns, two places served dim sum but only one served congee:

Captain Cafe & Bakery
2229 S. Wentworth Ave
Chicago, IL 60616
Tel: 312/225-8883

Dim sum without congee:

Feida Bakery Co.
2228 S. Wentworth Avenue
Chicago, IL 60616
Tel: 312/808-1113
7 AM - 9 PM

Pork and shrimp dumpling plus some noodle dishes, but no menu to offer me:

CHIU QUON Bakery
2242 South Wentworth Avenue
Chicago, IL 60616
312-225-6608

There was another bakery preparing to open adjacent to Evergreen further south on Wentworth but the doors were locked.

Based on information on an earlier thread, I did attempt to check out Seven Wives, but they don't open until an insanely late 7:30 AM, so I could not even get a menu! Another day!

Seven Wives Restaurant
2230 S. Wentworth Ave.
Chicago, IL 60616
312-842-7888

I will endeavor to check Argyle sometime but I suspect it will be pretty much the same.