15 editor picks in Salt Lake City.
15 restaurants in Salt Lake City, editor-picked for restaurants open monday. Open on monday, the day most kitchens go dark. All restaurants in Salt Lake City.
Red Iguana on West North Temple, the Cardenas family's Mexican room since 1985 and Utah's most awarded restaurant, runs the state's defining moles.
OrderA combination platter with mole negro and mole verde plus a pomegranate margarita.
TipWait can run over an hour; cross to Red Iguana 2 at 866 W South Temple or order takeout via the operator's site.
Takashi on Market Street, chef-owner Takashi Gibo's downtown sushi room since 2004, runs Salt Lake's defining omakase at the bar plus a full Japanese menu.
OrderOmakase at the sushi bar; the menu's signature rolls plus sashimi for the table.
TipWalk-in only; arrive before 17:30 on a weekday or after 21:00 to skip the wait. Closed Sundays.
Pago on 900 East, Scott Evans' 45-seat farm-to-table flagship in 9th and 9th since 2009, codified Salt Lake's seasonal local-ingredient tier.
OrderWhatever the kitchen is featuring from local farms plus a glass off the by-the-glass wine program.
TipReservations on the operator's site open weeks out; the small room turns fast on weeknights.
Caputo's Market and Deli on West 300 South, Tony Caputo's Italian deli and market since 1997, runs the largest craft chocolate selection in the country.
OrderThe Old School sandwich and a craft chocolate bar from the 300+ bar wall.
TipCounter sandwiches travel well; the cheese, cured meats and tinned fish stretch through holidays. Multiple metro branches.
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.
OrderWhichever mole the original flagship is celebrating that week plus a margarita at the bar.
TipUse Red Iguana 2 to skip the original's hour-plus wait at peak; same kitchen, same family, full bar.
The Copper Onion on East Broadway, chef-owner Ryan Lowder's New American room since 2010, anchors downtown's gastropub tier with seasonal scratch cooking.
OrderThe Copper Onion burger plus a house-made pasta dish from the rotating menu.
TipReserve via OpenTable; weeknight dinners run quieter than weekends. Sister room Copper Common next door for cocktails.
Finca on 1500 East at 15th and 15th, Scott Evans' Spanish tapas room reopened in its new home, runs scratch tapas and a Spanish wine list on the ivy patio.
OrderA spread of tapas plus the paella for the table; pair with sherry by the glass.
TipThe ivy-covered patio is the seat to ask for in summer. Reserve well ahead; the room is small.
Pat's Barbecue on Commonwealth Avenue south of downtown, the Texas-style smokehouse founded by pitmaster Pat Barber and serving Salt Lake since 2004.
OrderA brisket plate with burnt ends if it's a Friday plus a side of pit beans.
TipClosed Sundays. The counter sells out of brisket by early evening on weekends; arrive before 18:00 to be sure.
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.
OrderThe Crown burger with pastrami plus fry sauce and a gyro on the side.
TipLunch turns the counter fast; the original downtown location is the canonical seat among the seven Utah branches.
Pretty Bird Hot Chicken on Regent Street, chef Viet Pham's Nashville-style downtown fast-casual since 2018, anchors Utah's chef-driven hot chicken movement.
OrderHot chicken sandwich at the heat level of your choice plus a side of slaw.
TipOrder ahead via the operator's site for pickup; the counter line stretches at lunch. Park City, Sugar House and Midvale branches are siblings.
Cucina Wine Bar on 2nd Avenue in the Avenues, Dean Pierose's upscale deli turned New American wine bar, runs gourmet deli by day and small plates from 17:00.
OrderA wine flight off the selected list plus rotating small plates from the seasonal evening menu.
TipDaytime deli 7:00-17:00; dinner from 17:00. The deli sandwiches travel well to picnics at Memory Grove.
Casot on 1500 East next to Finca, the Pago Group's wine and craft cocktail bar at 15th and 15th, runs natural wine flights and chef-driven small plates.
OrderA natural wine flight off the rotating list and a small plate from the Spanish-leaning kitchen.
TipReserve via Tock; quieter than Finca, opens in evening. The two rooms share staff and walk between is encouraged.
East Liberty Tap House on 900 South, Scott Evans' Pago Group neighborhood tavern since 2014, runs an updated bar menu with selected Utah craft beer.
OrderThe house burger plus whichever Utah craft beer is leading the rotating tap list.
TipPatio in summer; Sunday and Saturday brunch starts at 11:00. Reserve via the operator's site.
Zest Kitchen and Bar on South 200 West, the plant-based and 100 percent gluten-free room since 2012, runs vegetarian small plates with a cocktail program.
OrderA plant-based main plus a hand-crafted cocktail off the seasonal list.
TipLive music and DJ nights run the room late on weekends; the cocktail program is one of the strongest among the city's plant-based rooms.
Emigration Cafe on 1300 South, Scott Evans' Pago Group all-day cafe in Yalecrest, runs breakfast, sandwiches and salads through the afternoon hours.
OrderA breakfast plate in the morning or a seasonal sandwich at lunch with an espresso drink.
TipMorning rush peaks 08:00-10:00; weekend brunch is the busiest window. Closes mid-afternoon.
