Where should I eat when I visit Salt Lake City?
Does Salt Lake City have any great restaurants? Well, Salt Lake City has a population of just 200,000 people, which doesn’t seem like a lot but that is because the city limits are so small. When you look at the urban sprawl of the Salt Lake Valley the population is a million, and within an hour to the north and to the south is a population of 2.7 million. With a population like that, you can bet we have some good food to check out on your next visit to Utah! There are too many great restaurants to mention but since our readers are most likely limited to seeking food in the downtown area, let’s focus on a few longtime standouts in downtown.
Downtown - Restaurants in Salt Lake City
Let’s get BURGERS out of the way and mention 3 standout restaurants to get a great hamburger…
Squatters Pub Brewery is very popular with locals and visitors for both food and drinks. But perhaps it is most known for its edgy humor, like how it pokes fun at the early history of the predominant culture in Utah; for example, one of their alcoholic brews is called Polygamy Porter and the tagline is “Why have just one?!” As for food there is the Black & Blue Burger made of Cajun-spiced Niman Ranch beef and topped with blue cheese and locally sourced bacon. This is such a popular restaurant that they’ve expanded with a location at the brand new Salt Lake City International Airport. The downtown location is just 3 blocks south of the city center, Temple Square. Open 7 days a week.
Crown Burgers was featured on a popular Travel Channel show called Man V. Food, perhaps you’ve seen it? It’s a hamburger restaurant started by a Greek family and decorated like a Medieval castle. How’s that for curious? They were started nearly 50 years ago and now have several locations around the valley. Their signature item is called the Crown Burger, which is a quarter pounder piled up high with hot juicy pastrami and a special sauce I’ll get to in just a moment. The french fries thick and are delicious, served with a side of a condiment called Fry Sauce. Supposedly a Utah original, it’s a mixture of ketchup, mayo and some secret spices. It is the perfect combo. Note that it is closed on Sundays
Hires Big H is a well-known 1950’s hamburger drive-in where the car hops are still a thing, if you want to eat in your car. If not, you can dine inside. They have an interesting selection of hamburgers, fry sauce so good they sell it by the bottle, and their famous Root Beer. The location is about a mile east of the city center but it is on the train line for the light rail called TRAX, if you don’t have a car.
The Mexican food in Utah ought to be pretty good with 20% of the city’s population identifying as Hispanic.
Red Iguana, Red Iguana 2, but not Taste of Red Iguana. This is possibly the most famous restaurant in Salt Lake City among visitors and locals. Located a mile west of Temple Square, the Red Iguana was so popular that they earned a spot on the Food Network show Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives. Their speciality is mole sauce and they do several different types, so if you’re not a fan of the chocolate based mole then no worries, there are some other ones to fit your taste. Red Iguana the original is on North Temple street and was so popular that 2 hour waits on a Friday night were happening. Red Iguana 2 was built just two blocks from the original, and it lives up to the original quality with a much more spacious dining room. However the Taste of Red Iguana, a quick counter service version that went into the City Creek Mall in downtown has not garnered the same praise. So if you plan to try Red Iguana, skip the food court location and head to the original or the sequel.
Seafood in the desert?
Yes, Utah is the second driest state in America, landlocked several hundred miles away from the ocean, oh and our Lake is so salty that fish cannot survive in it. So how could we ever hope to have great seafood?
Market Street Grill is an outstanding seafood and steak restaurant that has been popular for decades. The downtown location has an oyster bar and there are three other locations in the valley, including at the new Salt Lake International Airport (unlike many airports, our new one was committed to featuring some really great local food). The clam chowder is so good you’d think you were on the coast. The breakfast and brunch options are legendary. Seafood in the desert.
Takashi is a legendary sushi restaurant located just next to Market Street Grill downtown, on Market Street. Takashi has had a reputation for ultra high quality sushi for decades in Salt Lake City. When celebrities are in town filming or for Sundance Film Festival they stop by Takashi, it’s that well known and impressive.
For more recommendations on great restaurants in Salt Lake City to experience the local food, visit our Local Food page.
