Pioneer Day BBQ on July 24 commemorates the 1847 Mormon arrival in Salt Lake Valley with community-scale grilling: smoked brisket, slow-cooked beans.
Pioneer Day is Utah's official state holiday since 1849, commemorating Brigham Young and the first Latter-day Saint pioneers arriving in Salt Lake Valley on July 24, 1847. The day's BBQ tradition emerged from community feeding at parades, rodeos and church-yard gatherings, blending traditional American summer BBQ with Mormon community-meal traditions. The Days of '47 Parade is the largest in the state; Pat's Barbecue and Crown Burgers cater Pioneer Day events citywide.
3 editor picks for Pioneer Day BBQ in Salt Lake City, ranked by editorial score. All Salt Lake City signature dishes · Pioneer Day BBQ across every city.
Pat's Barbecue ★ 4.6
granary-district · 155 W Commonwealth Ave, Salt Lake City, UT 84115
Pat's Barbecue on Commonwealth Avenue south of downtown, the Texas-style smokehouse founded by pitmaster Pat Barber and serving Salt Lake since 2004, runs Utah's defining brisket Fridays.
Crown Burgers ★ 4.5
downtown · 377 E 200 S, Salt Lake City, UT 84111
Crown Burgers on East 200 South, the Katsanevas family's burger institution since 1978, popularized Salt Lake's pastrami burger at its Greek-American counter.
The Park Cafe ★ 4.5
liberty-park · 604 E 1300 S, Salt Lake City, UT 84105
The Park Cafe on East 1300 South next to Liberty Park, the Liberty Wells classic diner since 1982, runs huge American breakfast portions for $10 to $16.