Big Greek Café has announced the return of its annual Big Greek Gyro Eating Competition, with this year’s event taking place at 5 p.m. on Saturday, September 12, during the Saints Constantine & Helen Greek Festival at 721 Norwood Road in Silver Spring.
Rather than opening the contest to anyone, the restaurant is selecting one loyal customer from each of its 15 locations to represent their local community in the competition.
The “One Community. One Champion.” theme celebrates the neighborhoods that have supported Big Greek Café’s growth from a single family-owned Silver Spring restaurant in 2009 to 15 locations across Maryland and Virginia. The winner will receive the official championship belt, a $500 cash prize, one free gyro every week for a year, recognition at their home Big Greek Café location, and ultimate bragging rights as the 2026 Big Greek Gyro Eating Champion.
The competition will once again take place during the Saints Constantine & Helen Greek Festival, one of the area’s largest Greek festivals, featuring authentic Greek cuisine, live music, traditional dancing, and family-friendly activities. Big Greek Café is encouraging loyal customers who believe they should represent their neighborhood restaurant to apply for a chance to compete.
