Let’s see how many garlic stops you can make along the Road to Garlic! This helpful guide offers garlic dining, garlic ice cream, garlic products and gifts, and garlic photo ops throughout the town of Gilroy, California—known as The Garlic Capital of the World.
You’ll need more than just one day to get the full experience along the Road to Garlic. Check out this Garlic Weekend Itinerary for inspiration!
Spice Up Your Dining with Garlic Dishes
Gilroy has a long list of restaurants serving up garlicky dishes just waiting for you to taste them! From appetizers and breakfast omelets to sandwiches, pasta dishes, burgers, and fries to a whole variety of entrees, there’s sure to be something you like with garlic in it!
Garlic for Lunch
For a garlicky lunch, grab a garlic rosemary bread sandwich at Café 152 Bread Company, a garlic mushroom cheeseburger at O.D.’s Kitchen, or a Gilroy Garlic Burger and Gilroy Garlic Fries at Brew City Burgers.
Garlic for Dinner
Garlic Citrus Chicken & garlic mashed potatoes at Old City Hall
For a fabulous garlicky dinner, stop in at Black Bear Diner for a 10-oz. marinated Santa Maria Tri-Tip with a special garlicy spice blend, or go to The Milias Restaurant for seasonal garlic dishes and their tasty garlic fries. You can also visit Old City Hall Restaurant for their delicious Roasted Garlic Chicken Vegetable soup and Garlic Citrus Chicken, or stop by Westside Grill for their Garlic Festival Pasta and garlic fries.
All-Day Long Garlic
For some great garlic meals all day long, visit Garlic City Café in downtown Gilroy. Try a garlicky omelet or scramble for breakfast and their signature Cream of Garlic soup, a Calamari Steak Sandwich, or Garlic Chipotle Mayo Veggie Tortilla Wrap for lunch. For dinner, select the Stuffed Portobello Mushrooms and Fried Artichokes appetizer and a garlic entree, such as Chicken Piccata, Rack of Pork, or Sauteed Snapper.
Gilroy Garlic Festival Favorites
Mama Mia’s Mediterranean & Italian Cuisine offers plenty of garlic options, including classic Gilroy Garlic Festival dishes such as Calamari, Garlic Scampi, and some great Garlic Bread. Other popular choices include Gilroy Garlic Chicken, Lebanese Garlic Shrimp, Roasted Garlic Gnocchi, and garlicky pastas like Tortellini Pomodoro and Capellini Fresca.
Ethnic Restaurant Garlic Options: Take Your Spice Up a Notch
At The Claddagh Irish Restaurant & Pub in Gilroy, enjoy Beer-Battered Bangers, Calamari Steak, or Tiger Prawns tossed in garlic. Other options include Garlic Popcorn Shrimp, Garlic Mushrooms and Artichoke Hearts with Garlic Ranch Dressing, and a Garlic Mash side. Their Ultimate Fries include garlic and other tasty toppings.
Garlic Festival Pesto Pasta at The Claddagh Irish Restaurant & Pub
Enjoy flavorful garlic meals at Little India. At lunch, sample the Chicken or Fish Pakora, Chili Chicken, Paneer Tikka, Tandoori Chicken or Shrimp, Lamb Sheesh Kabobs, or a garlicky wrap. For dinner, try the Lamb Saag, Shrimp Curry, Chana Masala, Aloo Gobhi, Garlic Naan, and more.
Grab some garlic menu items at Mr. Hong’s Chinese Fast Food, such as Garlic Calamari and a Garlic Fish Filet.
Ninja Sushi serves garlic in a variety of dishes, including Spicy Garlic Edamame, the Garlic City Sushi Roll, San Jose Sharks Sushi Roll, and the Hurricane Sushi Roll.
Crispy prawns on garlic noodles at Ginger Cafe
The family-run Ginger Café offers a Chinese take on garlicky menu items such as Eggplant Sauteed in Garlic Sauce, Basil Chicken, Caramelized Garlic Prawns, Crispy Shrimp Garlic Noodles, and Roasted Garlic Fried Rice for lunch. For dinner, they have garlic dishes such as Fried Tilapia Filet with chili and garlic, Salt and Pepper Calamari, Chili Chicken, and even Sauteed Lamb
Pineapple Village serves garlicky dishes like Calamari, Heart Attack Fried Rice with garlic, Spicy Garlic Cashew Prawns, the Green Papaya Salad, Gilroy Chicken with Garlic, and Beef Broccoli in Garlic Sauce.
Try Sushi Omakase’s famous garlic dish, the Gilroy Garlic Edamame Platter, which comes with a teriyaki and garlic-based sauce with red chili peppers and is topped with sesame seeds.
Victoria’s Mexican Restaurant has garlic in many of their dishes, including their garlic shrimp, salmon tacos, and fajitas.
Spice Up Your Dessert with Garlic Ice Cream
You can’t visit Gilroy without trying the garlic ice cream. From soft serve to hard ice cream, served fresh in cones or cups, you can find our signature garlic ice cream in Gilroy year-round at a number of places.
Tease your tastebuds with this garlicky treat at one of these great locations:
- Garlic City Café
- Garlic Shoppe
- Garlic World
- Ice Factory
- LJB Farms
Spice Up Your Shopping with Garlic Goodies
If you’re looking to enjoy some garlic products and want to take some home with you, stop at the Garlic Shoppe, Garlic World, or the California Welcome Center Gilroy.
The Garlic Shoppe
The Garlic Shoppe has plenty of garlic goodies for you to choose from. From fresh garlic braids in season (typically summertime) to garlic-stuffed olives, garlic pepper jelly, their famous “Garlic Dude Dust” seasoning, fresh produce, wine, and more. They also have a variety of other items for sale, such as garlic gadgets, cookbooks, posters, and sauces.
Garlic World
Garlic World is loaded with garlic items for you to enjoy. Pick up some Christopher Ranch garlic products, garlic hot sauces, and every form of garlic—dried, minced, crushed, pickled, jarred, etc. You can also grab some garlic olive oil, produce, gourmet goodies, gifts, and treats.
California Welcome Center Gilroy
Stop in the California Welcome Center Gilroy in the Gilroy Premium Outlets to pick up some Gilroy garlic souvenirs. Get a unique garlic penny from our penny press, a garlic-shaped pin or sticker that says “Gilroy, CA,” stuffed garlic plush toys, Gilroy Garlic Festival cookbooks, garlic olive oil, garlic seasoning, garlic post cards, garlic bendy guys, garlic-shaped magnets, garlic-embroidered towels, and more. You can find your perfect garlic souvenir in our Welcome Center!
For other great locations for garlic gifts and goodies, please see the Road to Garlic Map.
Spice Up Your Pictures with Garlic Photo Ops
Downtown Gilroy Garlic Mural
Capture special moments on your visit with garlic-themed photo ops. Take your picture with the eye-catching “Gilroy, Garlic Capital of the World” mural in downtown Gilroy, located in a parking area where Fifth St. ends at Monterey St. It was painted by the commissioned Italian artist Gianni Martino.
Gilroy Gardens
Take a spin in the Garlic Twirl ride at Gilroy Gardens Family Theme Park and be sure to get a photo—we’re pretty sure it’s the only garlic-themed ride in the world! Spend part of your day enjoying the other rides, gorgeous gardens, and Water Oasis.
California Welcome Center Gilroy
Stop in at the California Welcome Center Gilroy and take a photo with our oversized wooden garlic. While you’re here, pick up a copy of the Spice Guide—our Visitors Guide—and learn about all the other wonderful things to do in Gilroy.
Spice Up Your Garlic History
Learn more about why Gilroy is the “Garlic Capital of the World”—and about the other agricultural products and important events in Gilroy’s history.
Gilroy Historic Paseo
Visit the Gilroy Historic Paseo in downtown Gilroy. It is a walkway located midway between Fifth and Sixth Streets off Monterey Street. The Paseo (which means “walkway” in Spanish) displays several colorful panels filled with pictures and descriptions about Gilroy’s rich history, including its agriculture, the cowboy era, garlic, festivals and attractions, diverse founders and settlers, and more. Gilroy may be famous for garlic, but there is so much to us than the best-smelling bulb!
Gilroy Museum
Learn even more about the history of Gilroy and its garlic at the Gilroy Museum. They are currently open on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and the first two Saturdays of each month from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
A visit to Gilroy is not complete without a focus on garlic, our city’s number one spice. Don’t miss any of the fantastic garlic opportunities on your visit. Book your Gilroy Accomodations today for a Gilroy Garlic Getaway, and be sure to check out even more fun activities at 33 Things to Do In and Around Gilroy.
