Unassuming Greek n’ Go serves exquisite Mediterranean fare
A traditional gyro from Greek n' Go.
A chicken gyro from Greek n' Go.
A Greek salad from Greek n' Go.
A baklava from Greek n' Go.
A chicken skewer and pita bread from Greek n' Go.
Greek fries from Greek n' Go.
Anyone who has driven around hopelessly hunting for a parking spot near LaVell Edwards Stadium during BYU’s football season has likely seen the peculiar blue and white truck parked across the street from Helaman Halls.
But the blue and white is not representing Cougar pride — it’s in semblance of the excellent Greek cuisine that’s been served there for years now.
When my wife and I moved from Provo just a few miles farther north into Utah County, it meant less frequent trips to the truck known as Greek n’ Go. When it was announced a new truck had opened in Orem, just a little closer to us, we were elated and knew we had to make this our next review to help others learn of the fantastic, savory food being cranked out from this little yet mighty food truck. Unlike many food trucks in Utah County, the Greek n’ Go trucks are not typically mobile. They have a few locations they park at — like across the street from Helaman Halls or by Gunnie’s in Orem — and they set up their mobile shop there.
The newest location in Orem is technically the catering truck, which means there are one or two of their typical options at their original location in Provo that are unavailable. However, that certainly didn’t dissuade us, and all of our favorite items were still available.
We ordered nearly everything on the menu. Greek n’ Go’s food is extremely reasonable in pricing and even after getting a few gyros, sides and a baklava, we still were under our spending cap.
My go-to at Greek n’ Go is a traditional gyro, which has tender slices of beef and lamb served in a pita, topped with soft feta cheese, tzatziki sauce, tomato and cucumber. Tzatziki is a yogurt-based dip or sauce common in Middle Eastern and southern European fare, typically served with honey, lemon and herbs — like oregano, dill and parsley.
As I was chowing down on the gyro, I had a sad thought that many have never had a classically made gyro, or have had foods of various ethnicities served in traditional forms. I shuddered to think that someone’s reference point for gyros is the sad excuse for a gyro from Arby’s, which made me enjoy the gyro just a little bit more. The slices of meat are perfectly tender, and the tzatziki is cool and tangy.
My wife ordered a chicken gyro, which has the same toppings as the traditional gyro, but with chunks of well-seasoned chicken rather than the slices of meat. She prefers to top hers with the house spicy sauce that gives the sandwich a little extra kick.
We grabbed ourselves a chicken skewer as well, which had those same perfectly seasoned chunks of chicken skewered with traditional veggies like onions, tomatoes and peppers.
For our sides, we knew we had to have the Greek salad, as it has been one of my wife’s favorites for years. The salad is fairly routine, with lettuce, tomatoes, pepperoncinis, olives and feta cheese. But the house dressing, which at first glance is a basic balsamic vinaigrette, is phenomenal. It may be additional herbs and seasonings or just the balance of oil to vinegar, but it is truly a distinctive dressing that adds another layer of flavor to an already exceptional salad.
We also ordered Greek fries, simply because the name caught our eye. The side consisted of potato wedges topped with feta, oregano and other spices native to Greek cuisine, served with tzatziki and fry sauce. Keeping the feta actually atop the wedges was a bit tricky, but it gave the fries a smooth, salty flavor. And the wedges themselves were fairly fluffy with a good crunchy skin.
We also had a side of plain pita bread with hummus for dipping. Greek n’ Go’s hummus is fairly plain, yet still the same savory, nutty taste one would expect. Combine that with the warm pieces of pita, and I could’ve snacked on that all day. To round it all out, we indulged in a piece of baklava. Baklava is a flaky pastry traditionally sweetened with honey with a base of pine nuts. It was a perfectly sweet finale to an excellent meal.
Greek n’ Go is criminally underrated as one of the best restaurants for authentic ethnic food in Utah County. Don’t believe me? Do as the restaurant implies, and go try it for yourself.
GREEK N’ GO
Where: 400 South and State Street, Orem; 1523 N. Canyon Road, Provo
Hours: Varies based on scheduling, but generally, 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Saturday
Prices: $2-$14
Info: (385) 985-0755, greekngoutah.com