Salt Lake City eats off two currents that meet downtown. Mexican moles at Red Iguana on North Temple, codified by the Cardenas family since 1985, are Utah's most awarded plate. Crown Burgers, opened by Nick Katsanevas and John Katzourakis in 1978, codified the Utah pastrami burger that now defines the city's casual canon, served at seven locations across the metro. Fry sauce, mayo cut with ketchup, dates to a 1948 Arctic Circle order and is on every burger counter. Beyond the canon, Takashi Gibo on Main Street has run downtown's sushi room since 2004, Briar Handly runs HSL on East 200 South, Scott Evans pioneered farm-to-table at Pago in the 9th and 9th neighborhood in 2009 and now anchors Finca, Casot and Emigration Cafe. Manoli Katsanevas runs Greek small plates on Harvey Milk Boulevard. Pioneer Park's Saturday Downtown Farmers Market runs June through October with over 300 vendors. Salt Lake's craft brewing scene anchors at Squatters Pub since 1989 and runs through Epic, Uinta, TF, Proper, Kiitos and Red Rock.

Where to eat in Salt Lake City

All 20 restaurants

  1. Red Iguana

    Order A combination platter with mole negro and mole verde plus a pomegranate margarita.

  2. Takashi

    Order Omakase at the sushi bar; the menu's signature rolls plus sashimi for the table.

  3. HSL

    Order Whichever wood-fired vegetable preparation the kitchen leads with plus a family-style entree to share.

  4. Pago

    Order Whatever the kitchen is featuring from local farms plus a glass off the by-the-glass wine program.

  5. The Copper Onion

    Order The Copper Onion burger plus a house-made pasta dish from the rotating menu.

  6. Stoneground Italian Kitchen

    Order A wood-fired pizza plus a house-made pasta for the table.

Fine dining

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Food festivals coming up in Salt Lake City

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Where to stay in Salt Lake City

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Getting there and around Salt Lake City

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Signature dishes in Salt Lake City

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Map of Salt Lake City

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Plan your Salt Lake City trip

Pick your dates: we line up the festivals on, what is in season, where to eat on the days you are in town, and experiences you can book for those dates.

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When to come hungry in Salt Lake City

Peak food season
May through October for the Pioneer Park Downtown Farmers Market every Saturday. Utah peaches from the Brigham City Pacific Garden orchards August through September, Hatch chiles from New Mexico late August into September, fall apple pressing in October. Greek Festival in mid-September. Pioneer Day on July 24. Utah cherries from Brigham City in late June. Ski season November through April brings Wasatch resort dining into focus.
Local dining hours
Lunch 11:30-14:00. Dinner 17:00-21:30, with most kitchens closing at 22:00 on weekends. Brunch peaks 09:00-14:00 at The Park Cafe, Penny Ann's Cafe and Eggs in the City. Most bars close at 01:00 by Utah law. Sunday hours are reliably reduced across downtown and 9th and 9th; many independent rooms close one weekday too.
Tipping
Tip 18 to 22 percent on the pre-tax total at sit-down restaurants. Counters and bars get $1 to $2 per drink or 18 to 20 percent. Tasting menus at fine dining rooms may add service charge automatically; check the bill. Utah's bars often require a $5 club membership at the door which is fast to obtain and tip-friendly.

Salt Lake City food, FAQ

What food is Salt Lake City known for?

Salt Lake City's signature dishes include Crown pastrami burger, Fry sauce, Red Iguana mole, Funeral potatoes, Utah scone. See our signature dishes chapter for where to eat each.

What are the best food neighborhoods in Salt Lake City?

TableJourney editors map Salt Lake City by district. Downtown, 9th and 9th, 15th and 15th, Sugar House are among the strongest for food, each with its own guide.

Where should I eat fine dining in Salt Lake City?

Editor picks in Salt Lake City include Takashi, HSL, Pago, plus the full fine dining chapter on TableJourney.

Are there food tours in Salt Lake City?

TableJourney covers 4 editor-picked food tours in Salt Lake City, with what each shows you and how much to budget.

Does Salt Lake City have good vegetarian or vegan food?

TableJourney's Salt Lake City dietary chapter covers vegan, vegetarian, gluten_free venues, each editor-picked with what to order and how to ask.