Pretty Bird Hot Chicken is a hot chicken restaurant in Downtown, Salt Lake City.
Pretty Bird Hot Chicken on Regent Street, chef Viet Pham's Nashville-style fast-casual since 2018, anchors Salt Lake's chef-driven hot chicken movement.
Signature dishes: Hot chicken sandwich, Tenders
Must order: Hot chicken sandwich at your heat level plus a side of slaw.
Tip: Order ahead via the operator's site for pickup; counter line stretches at lunch. Sister branches in Sugar House, Park City, Midvale.
Address: 146 S Regent St, Salt Lake City, UT 84111
Settebello on South 200 West, the Salt Lake flagship of the Neapolitan-style chain, runs hand-made dough cooked in a 900-degree wood oven in 60 seconds.
Signature: Margherita pizza, Naples-style Napoletana
Order: A margherita and a quattro stagioni pulled from the 900-degree wood oven.
Tip: Vegan and gluten-free options on the menu; weekend dinner runs the longest waits.
Pat's Barbecue on Commonwealth Avenue, the Texas-style smokehouse founded by pitmaster Pat Barber and serving Salt Lake since 2004, runs Utah's defining brisket and burnt-end Fridays.
Signature: Brisket, Burnt ends
Order: A brisket plate with burnt ends if it's a Friday plus a side of pit beans.
Tip: Closed Sundays. Counter sells out of brisket by early evening; arrive before 18:00 to be sure.
East Liberty Tap House on 900 South, Scott Evans' Pago Group neighborhood tavern since 2014, runs an updated bar menu with Utah craft beer on tap.
Signature: Burger, Craft beer pours
Order: The house burger and whichever Utah craft beer leads the rotating tap list.
Tip: Patio in summer; Sunday and Saturday brunch starts at 11:00. Reserve via the operator's site.
Settebello on South 200 West, the Salt Lake flagship of the Neapolitan-style chain, runs hand-made dough cooked in a 900-degree wood oven in 60 seconds.
Signature: Margherita pizza, Naples-style Napoletana
Order: A margherita and a quattro stagioni pulled from the 900-degree wood oven.
Tip: Vegan and gluten-free options on the menu; weekend dinner runs the longest waits.
Vertical Diner on 900 South, Salt Lake's longest-running full-service vegan diner since 2007 (current address from 2019), runs plant-based comfort food all day.
Signature: Ranch burger, Biscuits and gravy
Order: The ranch burger or biscuits and gravy with a side of spicy fries.
Tip: All-day breakfast service; the retro-diner room is family-friendly. Beer and wine on the menu.
Red Iguana 2 on West South Temple, the larger sibling of the Cardenas family flagship, runs the same award-winning moles in a bigger room with a full bar.
Signature: Mole, Combination platter
Order: Whichever mole the original flagship is featuring plus a margarita at the bar.
Tip: Use Red Iguana 2 to skip the original's wait at peak; same family, same kitchen.
Finca on 1500 East, Scott Evans' Spanish tapas room reopened in its 15th and 15th home, runs scratch tapas and a Spanish wine list on the ivy-covered patio.
Signature: Tapas, Paella
Order: A spread of tapas plus the paella; pair with sherry by the glass.
Tip: The ivy patio is the seat to ask for in summer. Reserve well ahead; the room is small.
