El Gallo Giro…Go for it!
I thought I had tasted Mexican food before. But I was wrong, because after eating at the El Gallo Giro restaurant in Provo, Utah, I knew I had tasted Mexican food for the first time. After letting my taste buds dance in bliss with each new bite of my tantalizing chicken feast, I, and those of my party, came to one obvious conclusion: there is a God, El Gallo Giro be thy name.
I don’t know if it gets any better than this. El Gallo Giro has restored my hope in humanity. Yes, I know, those are brave words, but I have climbed to the mountain top, I have seen the sites of Provo, and I can now say, with a semblance of humility, that El Gallo Giro is my favorite restaurant in all of Provo.
“You don’t go to El Gallo Giro for the fancy smancy plates. You go for the chicken.”
It started out innocently enough. My good friend, Zach, suggested we try this new eaterie. Being the foodist that I am, and getting a bit tired of Subway for lunch, I decided to take the plunge.
I think I’ll thank Zach for the rest of my days in Provo, because I have seen and tasted what Mexican food can really be. The atmosphere in ‘the Giro’ is very festive and relaxed. They have a tv screen blaring in spanish along with sweet Mexican music in the background. The chairs and tables are nice, and they even have a small fountain in the back corner. It’s ok. You can relax. You’re at the Giro, now.
I went up to the counter and ordered my first meal; I decided to share a whole chicken with my comprade, Nathan. Along with with the chicken you get some tasty salsa and chips. We sat down and waited for the food to arrive. Johnny, our waiter, came and gave us our feast of chicken. Zach had ordered the smothered burrito, another soon to be favorite of mine (make sure you get the chicken, because the beef leaves something to be desired).
We chatted about the day, and how life was going with us. Good. It’s always good. Before we started to dig in, I went up to the salsa bar and grabbed a plate and started filling my plate with three types of salsa. I know there are those little cups there to use, but I need more than what those little cups can provide, so I go for the plate and pile on the salsa.
The whole chicken also comes with a side of flour or corn tortillas, which becomes a great meal when you put the chicken, beans, and rice in the tortilla along with some salsa. This is what Nathan usually does; I, on the other hand, like to peel off the meat from the chicken bones and then put those pieces on my salsa plate. It just tastes better that way.
When you take your first bites of the chicken, a couple of thoughts might race through your mind. First, “how come this is so good,” and second, “if this is what chicken really tastes like, what type of chicken had I been eating before I came here.” That second question is probably best left unanswered. But the first one, I’d say it tastes so good because the cooks care. They care about how the chicken will taste.
They care about their customers. And it shows. That, or they grill the small bird with some secret spices.
The grill is what makes it good.
They grill almost everything in the Gallo Giro. And I haven’t even got to the really tasty parts.
At the El Gallo Giro, they also offer some very authentic meals. They have one entree simply called, the rock, which is a small feast of shrimp, steak, chicken, pork, cactus (yes, I said cactus), onions, and some other veggies. Word to the wise, do not eat the jalapeno that comes with this meal. I’ve seen many proud men cry like babies because of the spiciness of this small green monster.
The Big Weekend Meal
One last thing you might want to try at the Giro: on weekends, the Giro has a super meal. It’s like the rock, but bigger and badder.
That special weekend entree is made to be eaten with a larger party or family. The last time I had family here in Provo, we went to the Giro and ordered this special meal. It has the same items as the rock: steak, shrimp, cactus, chicken, pork, special vegetables, and much more. They bring it to you at your table on a special platter that has a small fire still burning under it to keep it warm. I’ll try to order it again here in a couple weeks and I’ll update this post with some pictures of it.
El Gallo Giro prices are awesome
Another great thing about the Giro is the pricing. I ordered the half chicken, which came with chips, salsa, flour tortillas, and a drink for about $8.50. The smothered burritos are even more reasonable. So if you’re a college student, or if you’re just trying to save some money, El Gallo Giro is a safe bet for dollar conscience foodies.
If you’re looking for authentic Mexican food, you won’t be disappointed at the El Gallo Giro.
El Gallo Giro, I salute you.
What’s good at El Gallo Giro
What to order for your first visit:
Here are a few meals that will make your first visit to the Giro a success.
1. The classic Smothered Burrito. Try the chicken.
2. The whole chicken (which you can share with two people)
3. The Rock. This is something special- chicken, steak, pork, cactus, and shrimp
El Gallo Giro
346 N University Ave
Provo, UT 84601
(801) 377-2571