Provo, Utah: America’s most surprising melting pot
The home of Brigham Young University is “not your typical college town,” said Andrea Sachs in
The Washington Post. Because 9 out of 10 Provoans are Mormons, bars are understandably scarce—but not nightlife or a wide array of good food. Because young church members do international missionary work and return to Provo with expanded palates, a visitor can play “spin the globe” in the historic downtown, finding pho, Indian curries, Belgian frites, and more. Museums stay open late, live music is easy to find, and you can even play board games until midnight at a place called Good Move Café. Don’t sleep on this breakfast spot, created by Texas-born siblings whose Czech-American grandmother supplied her recipe for kolache dough. Doors open at 6:30 a.m., and by noon “only the tags describing the 24 flavors and two specials remain.” Early birds enjoy their choice of the Czech pastries, from raspberry nutella to bacon and egg with cheese and jalapeño. 434 W. Center St., (801) 623-3578
Chef Mark Mason learned to cook while living on a reservation, and he blends Navajo, Hidatsa, and Southwestern influences on his menu. The braised hog jowl tacos are served on blue corn tortillas and the bison burger on Navajo bread—with rosemary mayo and a cabernet sauvignon reduction. 19 N. University Ave., (801) 607-2485
This family eatery was born when a Provo law student from Samoa and his wife from Tonga began serving lunch plates inspired by Hawaii, their former home. Their children, now grown, haven’t changed it much: Diners still crowd in for the tropical smoothies, kalbi ribs, and katsu fried chicken. 711 Columbia Lane, (801) 374-0000