Orem’s Chef Gao showcases classy, authentic Chinese cuisine
Boiled Beef, photographed on Wednesday at Chef Gao in Orem.
StirFried Lamb, photographed on Wednesday at Chef Gao in Orem.
Shredded Potato With Jalapeño, photographed on Wednesday at Chef Gao in Orem.
Boiled Beef, photographed on Wednesday at Chef Gao in Orem.
At this point, I usually assume every Chinese restaurant in Utah isn’t authentic.
Not that I don’t enjoy Americanized Chinese food. Rather, it’s just that it’s way more prevalent in the states than the real kind. (Fortune cookies were invented in America.) A friend who once lived in China suggested Chef Gao, a Chinese restaurant in Orem that uses real Szechuan spice — a key marker of authenticity that most American Chinese places don’t utilize.
A banner on the restaurant’s exterior includes the claim “Real Chinese Food.”
“OK,” I thought, looking up at the banner “I guess it’s the real deal.”
I actually made two visits to Chef Gao, one with a group of friends and the other on a first date. The friend visit was, well, rambunctious. Sometimes it’s fun to be the center of attention. For my date, by contrast, we just wanted privacy. Mood-wise, the visits were pretty different. The food was always consistent.
Our favorite dishes were probably the Boiled Beef, Sesame Chicken and Beef with Black Bean Sauce. Now, Boiled Beef may not sound like the most enticing dish. Don’t let that fool you. The friend who suggested Chef Gao recommended this dish, which included sliced beef and Napa cabbage in a potent, spicy sauce. It’s more of a soup-style dish, but still meant to be served atop rice. This dish packed a punch, was super fresh and had undertones of roasted sweetness.
The Beef with Black Bean Sauce showcased flavors that typified quite a few of our dishes: subtlety and richness. Unless you seek it out, most of Chef Gao’s dishes (at least the ones we tried) won’t knock you out of your seat. That’s not to say they’re dull. Just subtle.
Props to the owners for the décor, which was all rendered in black, crimson/magenta and soft yellow. The color scheme and soft lighting will put you at ease.
Besides fortune cookies, Chef Gao doesn’t serve desserts. Luckily, the Sesame Chicken satisfied our sweet tooth. Deep-fried diced chicken in sweet and sour sauce with liberal amounts of sesame. In addition to the sweetness, the Sesame Chicken also had a nice crunchiness to it that didn’t exist in our other dishes. The vegetables across the board were fresh and crunchy, but sometimes you want some crunchiness from the meat too.
The service was prompt, the prices reasonable and the menu extensive. If you like Chinese food, there’s really no noticeable downside here. Our compliments to Chef Gao.
CHEF GAO
Where: 820 E. 800 North, Orem
Hours: 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Saturday, closed Sundays
Prices: Appetizers $3-$6, entrees $6-$15
Info: chefgao.com, (801) 224-0045