For people who are new to Utah, getting to know the local dining scene can be a daunting task.
So we turned to Salt Lake Tribune readers for their advice, and asked: “If someone you know was moving to Utah, which restaurants, coffee shops and bars would you take them to, and why?”
We hoped to accomplish two things with that question: First, get a whole lot of recommendations. Second, capture some of what makes Utah’s dining scene unique.
Responses were collected on X — formerly known as Twitter — and through a Google Form. We also sprinkled in a couple of our own recommendations here and there. We ended up with 10 strong recommendations in each category.
If you have more recommendations you’d like to let us know about, reach out to The Tribune’s food reporter, Kolbie Peterson, at kpeterson@sltrib.com.
Restaurants
(Michael Mangum | Special to the Tribune) Hamachi Sashimi at Provisions restaurant on Sunday, December 14, 2014.
Copper Onion • 111 E. 300 South, Salt Lake City; 801-355-3282; TheCopperOnion.com • This buzzy, brasserie-style restaurant serves new American fare with a focus on local, sustainable ingredients.
Crown Burger • Multiple locations, Crown-Burgers.com • The local chain, started in 1978, is known for its famous Crown Burger, topped with pastrami. “Crown Burger is synonymous with the pastrami burger and has the best fry sauce in the city,” reader Ryan Call said on X.
Curry Fried Chicken • 660 S. State, 801-924-9188; Instagram: @curryfriedchickenutah • Fried chicken, but make it Pakistani. Served with curry, salad and pita. “Such a gem in our city!” said one reader.
Egg Break • 193 W. 2100 South, South Salt Lake; 385-500-2705; EggBreakBreakfast.com • Breakfast sandos are the star at this breakfast spot. Beverage options include a fresh-squeezed orange juice bar, coffee and tea.
Hruskas Kolaches • Multiple locations, HruskasKolaches.com • Started by three siblings in Provo, Hruskas Kolaches’ most famous item is, of course, the kolache, a soft, yeasty Czech pastry that can be filled with savory or sweet ingredients.
Mazza • 1515 S. 1500 East, Salt Lake City; 801-484-9259; MazzaCafe.com • Middle Eastern cuisine made from scratch, served in a cozy neighborhood space.
Provisions • 3364 S. 2300 East, Salt Lake City; 801-410-4046; SLCProvisions.com • A “craft kitchen” that creates its modern American menu based on what’s in season and what’s locally available.
Red Iguana • Multiple locations, RedIguana.com • Award-winning “killer” Mexican food served in the midst of funky decor. See Red Iguana 2 (866 W. South Temple, Salt Lake City) for a giant iguana statue in the parking lot.
Slackwater • Multiple locations, SlackwaterPizzeria.com • Creative artisan pizza, like the Indian-inspired tikka masala, alongside a selection of craft beer with over 300 options.
Takashi • 18 W. Market St., Salt Lake City; 801-519-9595 • Award-winning sushi, sashimi and small plates served in a sleek, contemporary space that quickly fills up for dinner.
Restaurants readers also recommended:
Leah Hogsten | The Salt Lake Tribune Eva's Bakery Boulangerie offers pastries, croissants, pies, sandwiches and artisan breads, July 16, 2014.
Afghan Kitchen • 3142 S. Main St., South Salt Lake; 385-229-4155; Afghan-Kitchen.com
Banbury Cross •.705 S. 700 East, Salt Lake City; 801-537-1433; BanburyCrossDonut.com.
Cafe Shambala • 382 E. 4th Ave., Salt Lake City; 801-364-8558.
Caputo’s Market and Deli • Multiple locations; Caputos.com.
Dough Miner • 945 S. 300 West, Salt Lake City; 385-334-3389; DoughMiner.com.
Eva’s Bakery • 155 S. Main St., Salt Lake City; 801-355-3942; EvasBakerySLC.com.
Feldman’s Deli • 2005 E. 2700 South, Salt Lake City; 801-906-0369; FeldmansDeli.com.
Finca • 1513 S. 1500 East, Salt Lake City; 801-532-3372; FincaSLC.com.
Finn’s Cafe • 1624 S. 1100 East, Salt Lake City; 801-467-4000; FinnsCafe.net.
Franck’s Restaurant • 6263 Holladay Blvd. East, Holladay; 801-274-6264; FrancksFood.com.
Freshies • 356 E. 900 South, Salt Lake City; 801-829-1032; 1915 Prospector Ave., Park City; 435-631-9861; FreshiesLobsterCo.com.
HSL • 418 E. 200 South, Salt Lake City; 801-539-9999; HSLRestaurant.com.
Log Haven • 6451 Mill Creek Canyon Road, Salt Lake City; 801-272-8255; Log-Haven.com.
Oak Wood Fire Kitchen • 715 E. 12300 South, Draper; 801-996-8155; OakWoodFireKitchen.com.
Oh Mai Sandwich Kitchen • 850 S. State St., Salt Lake City; 801-575-8888; 6093 S. Highland Drive, Holladay; 801-277-9888; OhMaiSandwichKitchen.com.
Oromian • 1522 S. State St., Salt Lake City; 801-978-9673; OromianRestaurant.com.
Pago • 878 S. 900 East, Salt Lake City; 801-532-0777; PagoSLC.com.
Penny Ann’s • 1810 S. Main St., Salt Lake City; 801-935-4760; PennyAnnsCafe.com.
Ruth’s Diner • 4160 Emigration Canyon, Salt Lake City; 801-582-5807; RuthsDiner.com.
Saffron Valley • Multiple locations; SaffronValley.com.
Silverside Deli • 2121 S. McClelland St., Salt Lake City; 801-935-4141; SilversideDeli.com.
Table X • 1457 E. 3350 South, Salt Lake City; 385-528-3712; TableXRestaurant.com.
Toasters • Multiple locations; ToastersDeli.com.
Vessel Kitchen • Multiple locations; VesselKitchen.com.
Wildwood • 564 E. 3rd Ave., Salt Lake City; 801-831-5409; WildwoodSLC.com.
Bars & breweries
(Bethany Baker | The Salt Lake Tribune) Eric Lewis pours cinnamon over a craft mocktail drink for a fiery effect at Bar X in Salt Lake City on Thursday, Jan. 11, 2024.
Bar X • 155 E. 200 South, Salt Lake City; 801-355-2287; BarXSLC.com • Hide away in this classy, dimly lit spot and sip a craft cocktail before going through the portal to Beer Bar next door.
Fisher Brewing Company • 320 West 800 South, Salt Lake City; 801-487-2337; FisherBeer.com • Founded in 1884 as one of the first breweries in Utah, Fisher Brewing returned in 2017 to craft a rotating lineup of experimental ales and lagers. Food trucks rotate weekly as well.
Franklin Ave. Cocktails & Kitchen • 231 S. Edison St., Salt Lake City; 385-831-7560; FranklinAveSLC.com • Beautiful food served in a bright, bustling space. Whiskey enthusiasts will appreciate the harder-to-find whiskeys.
Lake Effect • 155 W. 200 South, Salt Lake City; 801-532-2068; LakeEffectSLC.com • Live music and food on the main floor, dancing upstairs, and imaginative cocktails served throughout, plus a downstairs speakeasy.
Level Crossing • 550 S. 300 West, Suite 100, Salt Lake City; 385-295-4090; 2496 S. West Temple, South Salt Lake; 385-270-5752; LevelCrossingBrewing.com • This brewery has a diverse beer menu with limited-edition brews as well as wood-fired pizzas and more. “Nice atmosphere,” said Marie Rodriguez on X, adding, “They brew some very good beers.”
Lucky 13 • 135 W. 1300 South, Salt Lake City; 801-487-4418; Lucky13SLC.com • Award-winning burgers served alongside cold beer. “Lucky 13 has the best burgers in town, bar none,” said Call. “The Breath Enhancer has been my go-to for over a decade.”
Quarters Arcade Bar • 5 E. 400 South, Salt Lake City; 801-477-7047; 1045 E. 2100 South, Salt Lake City; QuartersSLC.com • The downtown location of this arcade bar is an high-energy basement with cocktails; the Sugar House location offers pizza and drinks on two floors of game space.
Templin Family Brewing • 936 S. 300 West, Salt Lake City; 385-270-5974; TFBrewing.com • More commonly known just as “TF,” Templin Family Brewing is a brewery and taproom that mostly specializes in traditional lager beers. Cool patio space; food trucks out front.
Water Witch • 163 W. 900 South, Salt Lake City; 801-462-0967; WaterWitchBar.com • Creative craft cocktails served in a cool but friendly atmosphere. Sister bar to Bar Nohm, located next door through a portal.
White Horse • 325 S. Main St., Salt Lake City; 801-363-0137; WhiteHorseSLC.com • Wide-ranging food menu with oysters, sandwiches, steak, salads and more, plus a drink menu that includes multiple hard ciders, local brews and cocktails.
Bars readers also recommended
(Leah Hogsten | The Salt Lake Tribune) Post Office Place bartendress April Long retrieves a bottle of liquor to make specialty cocktails Monday, February 13, 2023.
The Green Pig Pub • 31 E. 400 South, Salt Lake City; 801-532-7441; TheGreenPigPub.com.
Grid City Beer Works • 333 W. 2100 South, Salt Lake City; 801-906-8390; GridCityBeerWorks.com.
Keys on Main • 242 S. Main St., Salt Lake City; 801-363-3638; KeysOnMain.com.
The Pearl • 917 S. 200 West, Salt Lake City; Instagram: @thepearlSLC.
Post Office Place • 16 W. Market St., Salt Lake City; 801-519-9595; POPSLC.com.
Van Ryder • 131 S. 300 West, Salt Lake City; 801-658-4400; VanRyderSaltLake.com.
Whiskey Street Cocktails & Dining • 323 S. Main St., Salt Lake City; 801-433-1371; WhiskeyStreet.com.
Coffee places
(Bethany Baker | The Salt Lake Tribune) Jake He, co-owner of Loki Coffee, pours milk into a latte at his new coffeehouse in Salt Lake City on Tuesday, Dec. 12, 2023.
9th Street Donuts & Coffee • 248 W. 900 South, Salt Lake City; 801-577-3006; Instagram: @ninthstreetcoffee • This coffee shop, located in a little brick building, serves vegan doughnuts and locally roasted coffee.
Greenhouse Effect Coffee & Crepes • 3231 S. 900 East, Millcreek; 801-466-3273 • Located in a little brick house complete with a patio, this coffeehouse serves a variety of sweet and savory crepes.
Holy Water Coffee • 712 E. 100 South, Salt Lake City; 385-645-8554; HolyWaterSLC.com • A warm and welcoming shop that serves specialty coffee and locally baked pastries.
The Honeysuckle Coffee Co. • 1588 S. Main St., Suite 101, Salt Lake City; 385-242-7195; 8745 S. 700 East, Unit #2, Sandy; 801-679-1483; TheHoneysuckleCoffeeCo.com • Cute and cozy coffeehouse that serves specialty coffee and from-scratch pastries, made with mostly organic and local ingredients.
Kings Peak Coffee Roasters • 412 S. 700 West, Suite 140, Salt Lake City; 385-267-1890; KingsPeakCoffee.com • A coffee shop that sells consciously sourced, specialty-grade coffee — and also has a mini jazz-focused record shop inside.
La Barba • Multiple locations; LaBarbaCoffee.com • Local roaster that also serves freshly made coffee drinks in a sleek, sophisticated space.
Loki Coffee • 325 E. 900 South, Salt Lake City; 213-440-1507; LokiCoffeeCo.com • A bright and airy coffeehouse that aims to be a neighborhood hangout. Serves specialty coffee and local pastries.
The People’s Coffee • 177 E. 200 South, Salt Lake City; 801-410-4734; Instagram: @thepeoplescoffeeutah • Open, photography-filled space at the corner of 200 East and 200 South. Menu changes seasonally.
Publik Coffee • Multiple locations; PublikCoffee.com • With locations in the Avenues, downtown, in the 9th & 9th neighborhood, and up at the University of Utah, Publik Coffee is bringing its beans to all corners of Salt Lake City.
Sugar House Coffee • 2011 S. 1100 East, Salt Lake City; 801-883-8867; SugarHouseCoffee.com • An LGBTQ-inclusive, art-filled space that serves locally sourced food and Utah-roasted Rimini Coffee.
Miscellaneous
Central 9th Market • 161 W. 900 South, Salt Lake City; 385-332-3240; Central9th.com • Community market in the Central Ninth neighborhood that serves deli sandwiches and provides a selection of fresh produce and pantry staples.
Dolcetti Gelato • 902 E. 900 South, Salt Lake City; 801-485-3254; DolcettiGelato.com • Sweets shop with one of the most eye-catching interiors in the city serves from-scratch gelato, espresso, macarons and pastries.
Tea Zaanti • 1944 S. 1100 East, Salt Lake City; TeaZaanti.com • A tea and wine cafe, with a lovely patio, serves elegant food and hosts live events.
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