This is a wonderful restaurant for authentic, homemade and flavorful Mexican food. I grew up and have always lived around what I consider excellent, authentic Mexican food, until I moved to Utah! El Gallo Giro is without a doubt one of, or THE BEST authentic Mexican food in Utah County! read more

The restaurant had plenty of folks there, mostly Hispanic. The food looked delicious. They didn't have a TV set blaring a Spanish station (the bane of many authentic Mexican places). My waiter only barely spoke English but we could figure it out. The chips & salsa they set down was a mixed result. The chips were terrific. The salsa was a small kind of watery bowl that tasted much more sour than usual. It was okay. Just not as good as the chips. I ordered the Taconazo after ascertaining that it was a variant on carne asada. I asked if it came with tortillas. Si. It came pretty fast and he pointed to a station to one side of the dining area and said, "Salsas!" Sadly the salsa cups were tiny. I could barely fit any pickled onions inside. There were also some big jugs of various agua frescas there, nestled in ice. The "Taconazo" consisted of LOTS of onions, peppers, cheese, crispy bacon(!), cactus, and strips of steak. I liked it quite a bit. There was a bit of trouble at the end. My food was 15.99 but my bill was $21. So I asked for a itemized bill (tips weren't included). Turned out they'd charged me $2.99 for a fountain drink, but I'd only had water. I showed them the error. Rather than change the bill, they just handed me $3 in bills so that worked. (Yes I tipped.) Anyway good food with only minor glitches, and I'll be trying it again. read more

Last night my wife and I visited Gallo Giro Mexican Restaurant in Provo. When we first walked in, the restaurant smelled great and we were excited to try the food. Our waiter recommended the molcajete, so we decided to order it to share. Unfortunately, the dish was not very good. The molcajete came out extremely full of sauce and the flavors just didn't taste right. We were pretty hungry, but we ended up barely eating it because it wasn't enjoyable. Since we were still hungry, I ordered some street tacos for us instead. When the waiter brought the bill, he charged us the full price for the molcajete even though he could clearly see we barely touched it. There was no offer to adjust the bill or even ask if something was wrong with the dish. To make it more uncomfortable, he also asked us to pay in cash. Overall, the place smelled great when we arrived, but the food and customer service didn't meet expectations. Hopefully they can improve the quality of the food and how they handle situations when customers are not satisfied. read more

Eaten here about a dozen times. Consistency is a huge problem. This place ranges from a five to a one. At times it has easily the best salsa and the best chicken for many miles... other times the salsa is watery, not available or rancid. The service is no different. Sometimes the family owned place feels homey, other times the waitress is begging me, near tears, not to talk to the manager about getting the wrong order. There are times I want to eat here. But I don't. Not any more. read more

Wow! The rice, water drink, also known as horchata is Homemade and delicious! When I pulled up, he had some chickens roasting on the grill. If you eat there, he will give you a little cup of beans with some chips and homemade salsa. This may be the best Mexican food in Utah! At least, it's on top of the list right now. read more

The service was alright, but not warm. The food was really good like the green and red sauces but the salsa for the chips was blah. The enchilada would have been great if the cheese had been melted inside. The atmosphere was alright but I felt like an interloper. It wasn't welcoming. read more

Server was very friendly and tortillas are homemade. High quantity of food for the price. read more

El Gallo Giro - Grilled Pollo asado - Mexican Near Me - Provo, Utah

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This place went downhill Puras cochinadas, nos dieron frijoles acedos y tortillas tiesas bien cuachalotes Stale tortillas and beans that were already bad and spoiled Shitty ass food! Go somewhere else!! Yuck read more

I've been dining at this restaurant for years, and the food has always been outstanding. I usually avoid mole, as it's often hit or miss, but the owner recommended a ribeye dish served with vegetables, rice and beans, and house‑made mole. I'm so glad I tried it--this was easily the best mole I've had in a very long time. Rich, balanced, and clearly made with care. If you're a fan of truly excellent, homemade mole, this is a must‑order. Highly recommended. read more

I learned about this place through my friend from Mexico, and we have gone back so many times. The servers are so nice and friendly, and the food usually comes out pretty quickly. I absolutely LOVE their combo deals; you get a specialty drink (different agua fresca flavors or horchata or just some soda) included with the meal, and it all costs about the same as a meal from Cafe Rio -- but with so much more food and a lot more authentic flavors. The only real issue I've had here in the past was accidentally getting charged for a drink when ordering a combo, but they fixed that pretty quickly. You can only turn right into the parking lot because of the median on University Ave and you'll probably walk away smelling like meat. Overall, it's a great restaurant with great food and a fun interior. read more

El Gallo Giro - Combination plates come with a drink - Mexican Near Me - Provo, Utah

I had combo number five. It was delicious. Even just the beans were amazing. The service was friendly and helpful. I will definitely be going back. read more

Food was really sad. Saw the smoker outside and was hopeful, but my husband's plate was almost inedible. The green sauce on his burrito was bitter. I ordered the chicken burrito- the tortilla was a great texture and Browned well, but the beans were dry and lacked flavor. Chicken was okay. Nice, friendly young servers but we won't be back. read more

This is going to become my staple Mexican restaurant in Provo! The food was great, the chicken was the best part of the meal! It was juicy and flavorful-- and we walked by it on the smoker on the way in! I loved the interior, it was very clean and cozy! The tables and decorations were very inviting. I also loved that the tortillas were handmade! The aguas frescas were also great, I loved their refillable bar. I do wish the food was a little more spicy, but that's just my taste. They had a great deal for students! read more

El Gallo Giro - Uvu flautas - Mexican Near Me - Provo, Utah

El Gallo Giro: Most Memorable My friend and I turned off University Ave into a very dark parking lot behind El Gallo Giro on a Saturday evening. We found our way to the warm tones shining inside the restaurant, first passing a massive coffin-style grill, an old handcart filled with pots of pink petunias and shrubbery, and finally, a small, picturesque gazebo where string lights and vines enclosed a few small, empty tables. When we opened the large, wooden door and stepped inside, we found ourselves unequipped with procedural signals--no sign, no hostess--feeling like intruders on an intimate scene of one small family sitting at a booth in the back of the restaurant, enjoying good food and playing with their babies. Before long, a smiling waitress emerged from the kitchen and led us to a table. El Gallo Giro was recommended by my friend's boss as a great taqueria to try, but based on our surroundings, we were uncertain it could be classified as anything other than a full-fledged Mexican restaurant. The dim lighting, stone-topped tables, brick accents, and artistic tiles clashed with modern TV screens and a giant gumball machine that stood in the corner--in a way that made my friend smile. We wondered if we were the ones out of place until we looked at the menu, which was more reminiscent of a fancy taco bus--featuring tangy tomatillo flavors, tacos, tamales, and affordable prices. That is how we knew we were in the right venue. Trying the food here was both comforting and deeply satisfying overall. The chips and salsa seemed homemade and authentic. For instance, not only did the salsa have unique spices and thick texture, but the chips felt warm and tasted real--as though crafted rather than manufactured. The street tacos, on the other hand, were a little less impressive. While the carnitas and carne asada were high quality, and the corn tortillas softened with grilled flavors, the meat was noticeably dry even with the punchy acidic vegetables decorated on top (this was the case for subsequent returns as well). The enchiladas were another story. The tortilla and carne asada worked in both harmony and tension with the zesty green sauce and melted cheese, creating a tantalizing richness where each component complemented the others, making it taste like a unified family of flavors in a way I have never experienced before. My follow-ups with the restaurant during daylight hours felt much less mysterious and more crowded like a lunchtime favorite hot spot, but the service and food were still impactful. My server even held the door open when I left. Overall, El Gallo Giro is enchanting and even transportive with its friendly service, toasty glow, confident atmosphere, and handcrafted meals, feeling like a romantic haven of Mexico right on University Ave! This restaurant caters to families, couples, students, and anyone else who might prefer a slow immersive adventure over a hurried grab and go. For the price, it is hard to beat. However, for those seeking a quick and delicious taco treat, there are other taco shops in Provo that make street tacos better. read more

so good!!! the service was amazing and the food was good and authentic, it's not modern like cafe rio. they'll serve pinto beans initially but you can ask for refried or other beans too. read more

El Gallo Giro - Mexican Near Me - Provo, Utah

I was there for mothers day and the service was terrible and the guy belonging to LGBTQ community was super rude and gave the worst service. From the start he was rude and had a really bad attitude. Ruined mothers day. Food was disgusting and cold. Apart from that they took forever to bring the food. DO NOT GO THERE! Food made me sick! Also when we asked for the fries they forgot to bring us he rudely said "I wasn't the one who took your order now was I" in spanish, with a disgusting attitude. Just the worse experience my family and I have had. read more

Ok, this will be a very honest review of a place that I genuinely like, but feel could improve in a few areas! First of all, GET THE HORCHATA. It's heavenly. So delicious and refreshing. If you don't like horchata at other places, please give this a try. The food overall is good. I love their salsas and the fact that they're smoking meats outside the restaurant. The menu is great and has so many great options. I am particularly fond of their sopes, but I haven't tried anything here that I didn't like. Our server was great, although didn't really know how to have kids at a table, specifically toddlers. They didn't bring our child any utensils or napkins, and didn't have any child size drinks with lids. They do have high chairs but no booster seats, so keep that in mind if you have toddlers! He also seemed unfamiliar with the specials and charged us for drinks that were supposed to be included with the daily special. The biggest issue that I saw, however, were fruit flies. I've had fruit flies and I know they're really tricky to get rid of, but we had a fruit fly squished on the side of our to go cup and at least one in a plate of taquitos. We saw several flying around and I ended up killing a few with my napkin during the meal. That definitely put a damper on our experience and left us all feeling a little yucky. Having said all that, I'm really rooting for them. They serve great food and have such a great environment! Definitely a Provo staple! read more

Amazing food with friendly service and a great ambiance. Highly recommend the parrillada! read more

El Gallo Giro - Parrillada and mojarra frita. - Mexican Near Me - Provo, Utah

Best fried fish tacos I've ever had. I'll come again just for these. I added a few toppings from their salsa bar. I did take issue with their chips, they were hard, cold, and too thick. Service was very kind but just slow as there weren't enough wait staff. read more

Came to town for a soccer showcase. Seen very few Mexican restaurants around town or outside of town and that's okay! We found this place driving by. Not only do they have delicious food but the customer service was great!! We felt out place being from California and all, but the owner made us feel very welcome!! Right at home! Chicken was soooo good!! best burritos with homemade flour torts!! YUM! A must visit! read more

A 17 year old business with authentic Mexican food. The ceviche was delicious and tasty! My husband and I shared the rock which is a great and feature many of the different options. The cactus was really quite good! Which i was surprised. The steak was really good, juicy and flavorful. I want to try it all! We'll be back! Thank you again! read more

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Really good food, prices and great service, Diana was so attentive and helpful with all questions about food and drinks. We ordered enchiladas plate and pork in green salsa, both were so tasty delicious. Our drinks were so refreshing and good, we ordered Jamaica (Hibiscus) ~ Location is also great! read more

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Have you guys eaten here?!?! We are from Los Angeles, my mother in law is from Mexico...I know authentic Mexican food and this was some of the best Mexican I have ever had. Their Mole is better than mi Tia's and mi suegra's shhhhhhhh . That is saying a lot because our family recipe is so good. The salsa bar is AWESOME and they make homemade tortillas (flour and corn)!!! I WILL BE BACK!!! We sat out in their outdoor area, nothing fancy, just authentic like if you were hanging out in your nana's back yard. Perfect. We had so much food left over. Huge portions. read more

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I wanted a breakfast burrito and didn't see one in the menu, but they made me a pico de gallo breakfast burrito with steak and sausage that was very good. The salsa bar was good too. I would get this again! read more

El Gallo Giro - Pico de gallo breakfast burrito - Mexican Near Me - Provo, Utah

Years ago there was an El Gallo Giro in Orem. We went on the advise of friends about it being particularly good. We must not have ordered the right food. It was not special.. Fast forward many years. I hear they have Sinaloa Chicken. That sounds interesting, and it was all that. We got the whole chicken. As always the breast is cook more than I'd like, but that's a minor quibble. The flavor is great. The peepers and onions with some chicken on a tortilla is magic. The chicken alone with that perfect dark brown skin is perfect. There are other items on the menu, like the mole, I'd like to try. I wish I'd made the effort to come here before. read more

Coming from California, I didn't expect Utah to have great Mexican food, much less Provo. I couldn't have been more wrong! My wife and I have been coming to this restaurant for the last 10 years and we will continue to do so forever. Seriously guys, some of the best Mexican food that I've ever had. Jose and his wife are the owners and are always checking to see if customers are happy. This place has fresh homemade juices and a mean salsa bar. You know its legit because the first thing you see when you walk is a old Mexican lady pounding out corn tortillas the old fashioned way. Highly recommend the tacos mr.Joe and the Birria Huarache. ¡VIVA EL GALLO! read more

It was my first time here and it did not disappoint! I ordered the 2 enchilada 1 burrito plate. SO GOOD!! The enchiladas tasted very authentic and the meat (chicken) was fantastic in it. The burrito was basically another chicken enchilada. The rice and beans were to die for. Only 4 stars because the complimentary chips and salsa were awful, they tasted old and definitely cheap store bought, it left me with low expectations for my main order. read more

El Gallo Giro - Enchilada burrito plate - Mexican Near Me - Provo, Utah

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For the price, the food is good. The quantity and quality is definitely worth more than what you're paying. The service we got, wasn't amazing, but it wasn't terrible. We were seated quickly, our order was taken and the food was brought out quickly. The food was shot and tasty, but that was the last time we were attended to. Luckily, they don't seem to mind you getting your own salsa, drink refills, etc. Their horchata is really good. If we come back, we'll probably get it to go. The food is absolutely worth a trip here though. read more

El Gallo Giro - #6 plate, 2 enchiladas and a chimichanga - Mexican Near Me - Provo, Utah

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I called in my order and it was ready for pickup as soon as I got there. The staff was friendly and getting my food was quick. I really enjoyed the food especially the enchiladas. The horchata was tasty! I didn't love the meat in the tacos Mr. Joe but everything else was really good. I plan on ordering again! read more

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Service was okay, but food was horrible. It wasn't even busy when we decided to try this place for the first time since it is very close to home. Tortillas were so burned we couldn't even eat them. Beans were cold and the cheese wasn't even melted. The 2 pieces of shrimp we got were so tough and the steak was basically fried fat. The rice was the only thing we could even eat. Definitely won't be eating here again. Should have taken the 5 minute drive to Joe Banditos. read more

El Gallo Giro - Hard burned tortillas - Mexican Near Me - Provo, Utah

Man this place is really good the food is amazing! Had the menudo on Sunday and I highly recommend.

This was the best chili relleno I have had. The staff was friendly, attentive and welcoming. It has a cosey homey atmosphere. The surroundings "felt" authentically Spanish too. I would recommend this place for anyone. The prices were amazingly low - definitely not a budget buster! read more

El Gallo Giro arguably serves the best Mexican food in the Provo/Orem area. I've especially enjoyed their Monterrey Chicken and chicken quesadillas. read more

Their street tacos were ok, not impressed. Parking is in the back and it's a little dark on the inside, not much lighting.

Fantastic service. Extremely fast, and the food was the best Mexican food we've ever eaten. The staff were super friendly and I would 100% recommend El Gallo Giro to anyone in the BYU area. read more

I really wanted to like this place. First the positive: The server was very kind. No wait on a Sunday evening. Delicious salsas and the smoked chicken was tender and delicious. The downside: served on styrofoam plates. Not a huge deal but I kinda expect real plates when paying $ for a sit down restaurant. AC not working well. Very hot, but again maybe not a huge deal for some. Then they forgot half our order and when asked they said it would be 5 minutes. 20 minutes later we were done sharing the one plate we did get (which was suspiciously large and came suspiciously fast). Ended up canceling the other dishes. The beans and rice that came with it were bland. The onions and peppers tasted rancid, like they'd been sitting out a while and then reheated. I'd heard lots of good things but overall wasn't impressed. Maybe this was because it was Sunday in Provo and that might've been asking a lot. read more

El Gallo Giro - Smoked chicken - Mexican Near Me - Provo, Utah

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First time here and will most likely not go back. Fish tacos and were okay. Husband ordered street tacos and as the order was brought out to him there was a big piece of plastic mixed with his tacos meat. Tacos were remade but not good covered in so much grease and so much fat. Server seemed new and never went to check up on us or offer refills. read more

If you want to eat here, try as hard as you can to not be white. We sat on the patio for lunch and the waitress told us we were not allowed to purchase beer on the patio. 20 minutes later we watch them serve 5-6 beers to a table of Hispanic guests right next to us. When I asked the waitress about this, she all of a sudden could no longer speak English (as she had been the whole time) and tried to explain herself in Spanish. It's a bummer because the food was good and the patio is nice but you're only allowed to enjoy it with drinks if you are their preferred client I guess. read more

Being here is like being home away from home. As someone born and raised in Mexico, THIS IS MY FAVORITE MEXICAN RESTAURANT. It holds a special place in my heart. The aroma and flavors take me back to my mom's kitchen. The dishes are authentic and rich in taste, reminding me of cherished family meals. From the traditional salsa to the comforting chilaquiles, every bite is a nostalgic delight. - it's a piece of home I can visit anytime, so if you're looking for genuine Mexican food that feel like a warm hug, this restaurant is an absolute gem Estar aquí es como estar en casa lejos de casa. Nací y crecí en México, y ESTE ES MI RESTAURANTE MEXICANO FAVORITO. Tiene un lugar especial en mi corazón. El aroma y los sabores me transportan de vuelta a la cocina de mi mamá. Los platillos son auténticos y ricos en sabor, recordándome las comidas familiares que aprecio. Desde la salsa tradicional hasta los reconfortantes chilaquiles, cada bocado es un deleite nostálgico. Es más que solo un restaurante: es un pedazo de hogar que puedo visitar en cualquier momento. Si buscas auténtica comida mexicana que se sienta como un cálido abrazo, este restaurante es una joya absoluta read more

Sigh. We've been coming here for years, mainly because the green sauce was SO GOOD. Sadly, the menu has changed and so has the green sauce.