Restaurants in Greater Salt Lake City

This page is completely outdated by more than 10 years!

First Part: Restaurants and cafés I have visited.
[(*-): awful, (*): poor, (**): average, (***): good, (***+): outstanding. Note: *'s are given mostly to quality and value of food, not to ambience.]

Asia Palace and Asia Palace 2 [1774 3500 S, West Valley, 972.2835; 1446 State Street, SLC, 485.1646] (**)
Avenues Bistro on Third [564 E 3rd Ave, 831.5409] (***)
The Bakery [250 S 300 E, SLC, 328.3330] (***)
The Bayou [645 State St, SLC, 961.8400] (***)
B & D Burgers [222 S 1300 E, SLC, 582.7200] (*)
Benihana (Japanese) [165 S West Temple, Bldg. #1, SLC, 322.2421] (**)
2nd floor teppanyaki is very popular (but actually not that good). The sushi bar on the first level used to be good and affordable, but has recently slipped to a state of banality.
Bombay House (Indian) [ 2731 E Parley's Way, SLC, 581.0222] (***)
The most popular Indian place in town. Dishes are quite consistently good.
Bruges Waffles & Frites [336 W 300 S, 363.4444; 2314 S Highland Drive, 486.4999, SLC] (**)
Cafe Anh Hong (Chinese) [1465 S State St #12, SLC, 485.1912] (**1/2)
Cafe Madrid (Spanish) [2080 E 3900 S, Holladay, 273.0837] (***)
Possibly the best Spanish in town. The service is excellent.
Cafe Shambala [382 E 4th Ave, SLC, 364.8558] (**1/2)
Cafe Trang (Vietnamese/Chinese) [307 West 200 South, SLC, 539.1638] (**)
Very popular among locals and visitors alike. However, be aware of Americanized dishes.
Café Trio [680 S 900 E, SLC, 533.8746] (**1/2)
Caffé Molise [404 S West Temple, SLC, 364.8833] (***) Nice ambience, not overly crowded. Food is good.
Chanon Thai Cafe [278 E 900 S, SLC, 532.1177] (***+)
Family style. Authentic and delicious. Pad Gra Prow (recommended with prawns) is a must-try. My favorite Thai in town.
Crown Burgers [377 E 200 S, SLC, 532.1155, and other locations] (*1/2)
Cucina Deli [1026 2nd Ave, 322.3055] (**1/2)
Dim Sum House [1158 S State St, 359.3838] ()
Cucina Toscana (Italian) [307 W Pierpont Avenue (307 W and 300 S), SLC, 328.3463] (***+)
Amazing pasta, soups and seafood plates. Lots of specials.
E Jo Restaurant (Korean) [3250 S 700 East, SLC, 474.0047] (**)
East-West Connection Restaurant (Vietnamese/Chinese) [1400 Foothill Dr # 270, SLC, 581.1128] (**1/2)
Einstein Bros Bagels [240 S 1300 E, SLC] (**)
Forage [370 E 900 S, SLC, 708.7834] ()
Franck's (French) [6263 South Holladay Boulevard, SLC, 274.6263] (***+)
A SL Tribune Review says: Franck's deserves its standing in the top tier of Salt Lake dining, offering a seasonal menu ranging from French bistro to American fare. - Chef Peissel's expertise makes Franck's a four-star experience
Gossip Tapioca Pudding [1629 W 3500 S, SLC, 886.2868] (**1/2)
Ho Ho Gourmet Restaurant (Cantonese) [1504 S State St, SLC, 487.7709] (***)
Used to be my favorite Chinese restaurant in town. Almost as good as SF Bay Area's. You will have to be able to ignore dirty carpets and wall-paper....
Hong Kong Tea House [565 W 200 S, SLC, 531.7010] (**)
Better ambience, though food is not nearly as goood as Ho Ho's or New Golden Dragon's. A "proper" Chinese restaurant to take your guest.
Indochine Vietnamese Bistro [230 S 1300 E, SLC, 582.0896] (**)
Jang Soo Jang (Korean) [2701 S State St, SLC, 467.7778] (**)
Koko Kitchen (Japanese) [702 S 300 E, SLC, 364.4888] (**)
Once the only reasonable, but in no way good, place to have Japanese Ramen in SLC.
Korea House (korean) [1300 South 145 East #207, 487.3900] (**)
Kyoto Japanese [1080 E 1300 S, SLC, 487.3525] (***)
Affordable. Huge servings. Menu is not big, but most are consistently good if not exceptional.
La-Cai Noodle House (Vietnamese) [961 S State St, SLC, 322.3590] (**)
Lamb's Grill Café [169 S. Main Street, SLC, 364.7166] (**)
Lemon Grass Thai Cuisine [327 W 200 S, SLC, 596.1778] (**1/2)
Little World Chinese Restaurant [1356 S State St, SLC, 467.5213] (**1/2)
Quality can be uneven in bad days, which fortunately does not happen often. Avoid Americanized dishes. Here is a SLC Weekly review. Once upon a time, until the 1950s, Salt Lake City had a Chinatown in Plumb Alley, located near 200 South and Regent Street. Around 1,800 Chinese lived there, operating laundries, restaurants and specialty shops. The alley was torn down to make way for a parking garage, naturally. Nowadays, it is still possible to find tiny snippets of authentic Chinatown cuisine. Little World on State Street is a place like that. This funky, no-thrills diner features both familiar dishes and more daring chef specialties with "strange" and "unfamiliar" ingredients. The outstanding cuisine is fresh, flavorful and served at prices the truly humble can afford.
Log Haven [6451 E Millcreek Canyon Rd, SLC, 272.8255] (***+)
Market Street Grill [48 West Market Street, SLC, 322.4668] (***)
Similar to Broiler's... In fact, same owners.
Mazza Middle Eastern Cuisine [1515 S 1500 E, SLC, 484.9259, and 912 East 900 South] (***+)
A SLC's gem. New location at 9th 9th is more spacious. although the waiting time is still long. No reservations (for groups less than 8).
Mekong Cafe Thai Seafood [7777 S State St, Midvale, 566.5747] (**1/2)
Mom's Kitchen [2233 S State St, SLC, 486.0092] (**)
Medtrina Small Platess & Wine Bar [1394 South West Temple, SLC, 485.2055] (**)
Monsoon Thai Bistro [1615 Foothill Dr, SLC, 583.5339] (**1/2)
Myung Ga (Korean) [3353 Decker Lake Drive, West Valley City, 953.0478] (***)
Likely best Korean in town. Food is consistently good and price resonable. Here is a review I like by a Korean. "I've been to every Korean restaurant in town, I being Korean of course. This is the one I go to the most because of price and dish. I either get the kalbi, kimchi chegae, or the bi bim bap. I've been to Ejos the new and beautiful Korean restaurant. Great seafood pancake, but it is expensive and their bulgogi was disappointing. I will pay good money if the food is excellent. It is pricey here and the food just doesn't match. I've been to Korean House. Not that good. I've been to Jang's. It is not good."
New Golden Dragon (Chinese) [1716 S State St, SLC, 487.9888] (***)
Oasis Cafe [151 S 500 E, SLC, 322.0404] (**1/2)
Pago [878 S. 900 E., SLC, 532.0777] (***)
Pallet [237 S 400 W, SLC, 935.4431] (***+)
The Paris Bistro [1500 S 1500 E, SLC, 486.5585] (***)
The Park Cafe [604 E 1300 S, SLC, 487.1670] (**1/2)
P F Chang's China Bistro [174 W 300 S, SLC, 539.0500] (*)
Not just inauthentic, it's actually bad. Avoid!
Pho 99 [4187 Redwood Rd., SLC, 288.4197] (***)
Inexpensive but satisfying pho. If you can ignore the shabby dining room, you will likely find the broth for pho really good.
Pho Tay Ho [1766 S Main St., SLC, 466.3650] (**1/2)
Pie Pizzeria [273 S 1300 E, SLC, 582.5700] (**)
Porcupine Pub & Grille [258 1300 E, 582.5555] (***)
Red Butte Cafe (Southwest) [1414 Foothill Dr, SLC, 581.9498] (**1/2)
Red Iguana (Mexican) [736 W North Temple, SLC, 322.1489] (***+)
Red Rock Brewing Co [254 S. 200 West, 521.7446] (***)
Rio Grande Cafe (Mexican) [270 S. Rio Grande St., SLC, 364.3302] (**1/2)
Ruby River Steakhouse [435 S 700 E, SLC, 359.3355] (*1/2)
Ruth's Diner [2100 Emigration Canyon Rd., 582.5807] (***)
A local institution for breakfast and lunch. Located in the canyon.
Salt Lake Roasting Company [320 E 400 S, 363.7572] (***)
Sakura Sushi (Japanese) [1615 Foothill Dr, SLC, 583.3363] (* 1/2)
Operated by Koreans, and food is substandard.
Sawadee Thai Restaurant [754 E South Temple St, SLC, 328.8424](**)
Settebello Pizzeria [260 S 200 W, 322.3556] (***)
Tasty Napoli style pizza, with a few good appetizers. Very casual.
Squatter's Pub Brewery [147 W. Broadway (300S), 363.2739] (***)
Beer is good. Food is mostly delicious and inexpensive. Apparently, the waiters can take more training. Some are quite rude.
SLC eatery [1017 S Main St, SLC, 355.7952] (***)
Sushi Express [7824 S 700 E, Sandy, UT, 567.1820] (**)
Takashi (Japanese) [18 W Market St (350 S), SLC, 519.9595] (***+)
A hippy restaurant in downtown. Great ambience. Pros: huge varieties of sashimi, nigiri and speciality rolls. Cons: No reservation, no parking and a little on the expensive side.
Thai Siam [1435 S State St, SLC, 474.3322] (**1/2)
Americanized Thai. Very popular with Americans. Quality is consistent.
The Copper Onion [110 E Broadway #170] (***)
Tony Caputo's [308 W 300 S, SLC, 531.8669] (***)
Tucci's Cucina Italiana [515 S 700 E, SLC, 533.9111] (*1/2)
Valter's Osteria [173 W Broadway, SLC, 521.4563] (***+)

(Last updated 2019/4/1)

Campus Cafés

Crimson View [4F Olpin Union at U] (**)
f/Stop [UMFA Café] (**1/2)
The Point [Huntsman Cancer Institute at U, 585.0616; Christensen Center] (**)

Other restaurants suggested to me.

Blue Plate Diner [2041 S 2100 E, 463.1151]
Forage [370 E 900 S, SLC, 708.7834]
La Caille [9565 Wasatch Boulevard, Little Cottonwood Canyon, Utah 84092]
One World Cafe [41 S. 300 East, 519.2002]

Restaurants no longer in operation.

Aristo's Greek [224 S 1300 E, SLC, 581.0888] (***)
A reasonable Greek restaurant, reasonably priced and closed to campus.
Baba Afghan [55 E 400 S, SLC, 596.0786] (***) (closed)
Bangkok Thai [3142 South Highland Drive, 582.8424] (closed) (**)
Food quality seems to drop a little after moving to a new location. Used to be a very popular Thai.
Cafe Med (Mediterranean) [420 E 3300 S, SLC, 493.0100] (*1/2)
Cafe Pierpont (Mexican) [122 Pierpont Ave, SLC, 364.1222] (**) (closed)
Chop Suey Luey's (Chinese) [1328 E 200 S, SLC, 581.1155] (*1/2) (closed)
Einstein Bros Bagels [481 E South Temple, SLC, 322.0803] (*1/2)
European Connection Cafe (**)
Fresco Italian Cafe [1513 S 1500 E, SLC, 486.1300] (***) (closed)
Lugano Restaurant [3364 South 2300 East, SLC, 412.9994] (***) (closed)
Affordable and reasonably priced Italian. Dishes have a rustic feel, complimenting Cucina Toscana's.
Market Street Broiler [260 S. 1300 E., 583.8808] (***) (closed)
The cooking style reminds me of the California Bay Area seafood restaurants. Fresh seafood. Generic but consistent cooking. Very crowded and don't take reservations before 20:00.
Panini [299 S Main St Ste 250, SLC, 535.4300] (**) (closed)
Sea Salt [1709 East 1300 South, 349.1480](***)
Food is generally good but inconsistent; service can be spotty at times.
Soeul Garden (Korean) [2701 State Street, South Salt Lake, 385.375-4904] (**)
Sono Express (Japanese/Chinese) [1318 E 200 S, SLC, 582.2800] (**)
Ownership changed. Now Sono Teriyaki Express. Used to be a popular lunch place with U faculty and students.
Xiao Li (Szechuan and Mandarin) [307 W 200 S # 1000, SLC, 328.8688] (**) (closed)
Another Americanized Chinese, although much better than PF Chang's.
Zola [145 W. Broadway, Level 2, SLC, 990.0652] (Small Plates and Wine Bar) (**1/2) (closed)

Second Part: Interesting links.

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