The food at a Utah County reception doesn't have to be a buffet of chicken and rolls. Hawaiian plate-lunch spreads, taco bars, smoked brisket and pasta buffets are all common here, and several caterers publish per-person prices by cuisine. This page sets those menus side by side.
For the full picture of what catering costs, including service charges and tax worked out to a real per-guest number, see wedding catering prices. For how to pick a caterer, read how to choose a wedding caterer.
Prices here come from each caterer's or restaurant's own website or menu, read on November 1, 2026 unless another date is given. They're the price before any service charge, delivery fee or tax, and they change. We don't rank caterers, and none paid to be here.
| Cuisine | Published starting point | From |
|---|---|---|
| Hawaiian or luau | $24 a person (full package); about $12 a person (restaurant bundle) | Utah Celebrations Catering; Mo'Bettahs |
| Mexican | $28 a person (full package); $14.95 taco package (Oct.) | Utah Celebrations Catering; Marvellous Catering |
| Barbecue | $25.95 brisket buffet; $32 a person (full package) | Marvellous Catering; Utah Celebrations Catering |
| Italian | $18.80 to $21.95 pasta buffets; $24 Marsala package | Marvellous Catering; Utah Celebrations Catering |
| Asian | Few published prices; trays by guest count | P.F. Chang's (Orem) |
Hawaiian and Polynesian
Plate-lunch food is one of the most popular reception menus in Utah County, partly because rice and a fixed protein portion keep the cost per guest predictable. Our guide to Polynesian and Hawaiian food in Utah Valley covers the restaurants.
Utah Celebrations Catering: a Hawaiian Luau package at $24 a person.
Mo'Bettahs, which lists locations in Provo, Orem, Lehi, Highland, Pleasant Grove, Vineyard, Saratoga Springs, Eagle Mountain, Spanish Fork and Payson, publishes catering prices:
| Mo'Bettahs catering | Price as published |
|---|---|
| 12-person bundle | $149.99 |
| 25-person bundle (2 meats, white rice, macaroni salad) | $299.99; varies by protein |
| Pa'ina large tray (feeds 12 to 16): chicken or kalua pig | $124.99 |
| Pa'ina large tray: steak | $169.99 |
| Pa'ina large tray: rice | $33.99 |
| Pa'ina large tray: macaroni or tossed salad | $67.99 |
Mo'Bettahs offers its buffet bundles to groups of 10 or more and says full-service catering (delivery, setup, serving and takedown) carries a service fee, without stating the amount.
Mexican
Taco bars and burrito bars are an easy fit for an open house, since guests build their own plates and the food holds well.
- Utah Celebrations Catering: South of the Border package, $28 a person.
- Marvellous Catering (Provo): taco packages at $14.95 a person on its luncheon menu, as published in October 2026.
- Greenhollow Catering: a street taco station for $8 a guest and a nacho station for $7, added to a menu, as published in October 2026.
- Costa Vida: taco, burrito-bowl and salad bars sized for 20 or more adults, and a burrito box of 20. It doesn't publish catering prices on its catering page, but says delivery is $1 a person (recommended for 70 or more), setup typically takes 30 minutes, and online orders need a day's notice. It suggests one pound of protein for about four people.
Our guide to Mexican restaurants in Utah Valley covers more options for restaurant catering.
Barbecue
Smoked meat holds temperature well in a closed container, which makes barbecue one of the better choices for a long reception.
- Marvellous Catering: smoked beef brisket with house-made barbecue sauce at $25.95 a person on its buffet dinner menu.
- Utah Celebrations Catering: Southern BBQ package at $32 a person.
- R&R BBQ sells meats by the pound and runs full-service catering:
| R&R BBQ catering | As published |
|---|---|
| Pulled pork, andouille sausage or boneless chicken thigh | $20 a pound |
| Smoked turkey | $25 a pound |
| Beef brisket | $35 a pound |
| St. Louis pork ribs | $15 a pound |
| Full service (deliver, set up, serve, take down) | 20% service charge |
| Party size | 50 to 5,000 guests; BBQ in a Box from 15 |
| Notice | 24 hours for deliveries and large pickups |
R&R has four Utah County locations, according to our barbecue guide, which also covers Orem's independent smokehouses.
Italian
Pasta buffets are among the least expensive full catered meals on the menus we read.
- Marvellous Catering: sun-dried tomato penne at $18.80 a person, a pasta buffet (penne and fettuccine with two sauces: chicken Alfredo, beef Bolognese or marinara) at $21.95, salmon Alfredo at $21.55 and Tuscan chicken at $24.05.
- Utah Celebrations Catering: chicken Marsala packages at $24 to $25 a person, and a Marsala and top sirloin package at $30.
- Brick Oven (Provo) says it caters weddings among other events, but doesn't publish catering prices on its site. Our Brick Oven profile has the restaurant's story.
Our pizza and Italian guide lists more restaurants that may cater.
Asian
Asian catering is one of the most searched catering questions in Orem, and one of the hardest to price in advance, because most Asian restaurants that cater don't publish catering prices.
- P.F. Chang's, which has an Orem location at 575 E. University Parkway, publishes catering formats but not prices: boxed lunches (10-person minimum) and buffet tray bundles sized for 10, 15 or 20 guests (for example, two appetizers and four entrées for 20), plus à la carte trays that serve 6 to 8. Its menu says prices vary by location and that drop-off and staffed events cost extra.
For other Orem and Provo options, start with our guides to Chinese and Asian food and Asian and sushi restaurants in Utah Valley, then call the restaurants you like and ask whether they cater weddings. Ask each for a written per-person quote with delivery, setup, serving equipment and tax.
What to add to every number
The prices above are where the bill starts:
- Service charge or staffing. R&R BBQ charges 20% for full service. Marvellous Catering lists a mandatory gratuity of 15% to 25%, with staffing priced separately. Greenhollow Catering charges a 25% service charge.
- Tax. Marvellous Catering's menu says Utah's prepared food tax of 8.45% applies to all catered events.
- Delivery. Costa Vida charges $1 a person. Others quote by distance or roll it into a service fee.
- Minimums. Marvellous Catering prices its buffet for 40 guests and adds 20% to 30% per person for 20 to 39. A second entrée at Marvellous is charged at 75% of the group count.
- Tableware. China place settings at Marvellous Catering are $9 a person extra.
Restaurant catering or a full-service caterer?
Restaurant catering (Mo'Bettahs, Costa Vida, R&R's drop-off options) is usually cheaper per person. Mo'Bettahs' 25-person bundle works out to about $12 a person before any fee. You get the food; you or your family handle setup, serving, keeping it hot and cleanup.
Full-service caterers (Utah Celebrations Catering, Marvellous Catering, Greenhollow Catering) cost more per person, from about $14 to $40 on their published menus before fees, and include staff who set up, serve and clean up.
Check your venue first. Some require food to arrive fully prepared, charge a kitchen fee for non-professional caterers, or limit outside caterers. Our guide to choosing a reception venue covers venue rules, and how to choose a caterer covers health permits for anyone you hire.
Mixing cuisines
Many open-house receptions keep the main menu simple and add a station. Greenhollow's taco and nacho stations, for example, are priced as add-ons to a base menu. If you're mixing, ask whether a second caterer or a food truck is allowed at your venue, and who's responsible for the shared serving area. Our food truck guide covers that option.
Related guides
- Wedding catering prices in Utah Valley
- How to choose a wedding caterer
- Catering in Utah Valley
- The luncheon vs the reception
- What a wedding cake costs
- The Utah County Wedding Cost Study
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does Hawaiian or luau wedding catering cost in Utah County?
How much does Mexican wedding catering cost?
How much does barbecue wedding catering cost in Utah County?
How much does Italian wedding catering cost?
Where can I find Asian catering in Orem?
What fees get added to a catering quote?
Is restaurant catering cheaper than a full-service caterer?
Do caterers have minimums?
Sources
The facts in this guide were checked against these sources. Hours, fees and rules change, so confirm anything time-sensitive with the source before you go. How we make Provo.com.
- Mo Bettahs: Catering, Mo Bettahs. Checked November 1, 2026.
- R&R BBQ: Catering, R&R BBQ. Checked November 1, 2026.
- Costa Vida: Catering, Costa Vida. Checked November 1, 2026.
- Lunch and dinner packages, Utah Celebrations Catering. Checked November 1, 2026.
- Buffet Dinner Menu 2026 (PDF), Marvellous Catering. Checked November 1, 2026.
- Special Occasion Luncheon Menu (PDF), Marvellous Catering. Checked November 1, 2026.
- Menus and policies, Marvellous Catering. Checked November 1, 2026.
- Greenhollow Catering: Menus, Greenhollow Catering. Checked November 1, 2026.
- Brick Oven: Catering, Brick Oven. Checked November 1, 2026.
- P.F. Chang s: Catering, P.F. Chang s. Checked November 1, 2026.
- Catering menu (PDF), P.F. Chang s. Checked November 1, 2026.
- P.F. Chang s: Orem location, P.F. Chang s. Checked November 1, 2026.
