Restaurants in Greater Salt Lake City
Go to: second part, third part.
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.]
- Avenues Bakery [481 E South Temple, SLC, 746-5626] (**)
- Aristo's Greek [224 S 1300 E, SLC, 581-0888] (***)
A good Greek restaurant. Reasonably priced.
- Baba Afghan [55 E 400 S, SLC, 596-0786] (***) (closed)
- The Bakery [250 S 300 E, SLC, 328-3330] (***)
- B & D Burgers [222 S 1300 E, SLC, 582-7200] (*)
- Bangkok Thai [3142 South Highland Drive, 582-8424] (**)
Food quality seems to drop a little after moving to a new location. Used to be a very popular Thai.
- 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. (Haven't visited since it moved to this new location.)
- Cafe Madrid (Spanish) [2080 E 3900 S, Holladay, 273-0837] (***)
Possibly the best Spanish in town. The service is excellent.
- Cafe Med (Mediterranean) [420 E 3300 S, SLC, 493-0100] (*1/2)
- Cafe Pierpont (Mexican) [122 Pierpont Ave, SLC, 364-1222] (**)
- Cafe Trang (Vietnamese/Chinese) [818 S Main St, SLC, 539-1638] (**)
Very popular among locals and visitors alike. However, be aware of Americanized dishes.
- Cafe Trio (Italian) [680 S 900 E, SLC, 359-1122] (**1/2)
- Caffé Molise [55 W 100 S, SLC, 364-8833] (**1/2)
- 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.
- Chop Suey Luey's (Chinese) [1328 E 200 S, SLC, 581-1155] (*1/2) (closed)
- Crown Burgers [377 E 200 S, SLC, 532-1155, and other locations] (*1/2)
- 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 [3250 S 700 East, SLC, 474-0047] (**1/2)
- East-West Connection Restaurant (Vietnamese/Chinese) [1400 Foothill Dr # 270, SLC, 581-1128] (**1/2)
- Einstein Bros [240 S 1300 E, SLC] (**1/2)
- European Connection Cafe (**)
- 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
- Ho Ho Gourmet Restaurant (Cantonese) [1504 S State St, SLC, 487-7709] (***)
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] (**1/2)
Better ambience, though food is not nearly as goood as Ho Ho's or Little World's. If you are looking for a "proper" Chinese restaurant, this would be your choice.
- 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] (**)
The only reasonable place to have Japanese Ramen in SLC.
- Kyoto Japanese [1080 E 1300 S, SLC, 487-3525] (***)
Affordable. Huge servings. Menu is not big, but most are consistently good.
- 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] (***)
Comparable to Ho Ho Gourmet, although quality can be uneven in a bad day, 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.
- Lugano Restaurant [3364 South 2300 East, SLC, 412-9994] (***)
Affordable and reasonably priced Italian. Dishes have a rustic feel, complimenting Cucina Toscana's.
- Market Street Broiler [260 S. 1300 E., 583-8808] (***)
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.
- 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 [7725 S State St, Midvale, 566-5747] (**)
- Monsoon Thai Bistro [1615 Foothill Dr, SLC, 583-5339] (**1/2)
- Myung Ga (Korean) [1839 W 3500 S, West Valley, 908-0124] (***)
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)
- Panini [299 S Main St Ste 250, SLC, 535-4300] (**) (closed)
- 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. I wonder if anyone in the restaurant knows remotely what Chinese cuisine is.
- 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.
- Pie Pizzeria [273 S 1300 E, SLC, 582-5700] (**)
- Red Butte Cafe (Southwest) [1414 Foothill Dr, SLC, 581-9498] (***)
- 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](**)
- Sea Salt [1709 East 1300 South](**)
The food is fair to good, but service spotty.
- Settebello Pizzeria [260 S 200 W, 322-3556] (***)
Tasty Napoli style pizza, with a few good appetizers. Very casual.
- Sono Express (Japanese/Chinese) [1318 E 200 S, SLC, 582-2800] (**)
A popular lunch place with U faculty and students.
- 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.
- Sushi Express [7824 S 700 E, Sandy, UT, 567-1820] (**1/2)
- 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.
- Tony Caputo's [308 W 300 S, SLC, 531-8669] (***)
- Tucci's Cucina Italiana [515 S 700 E, SLC, 533-9111] (*1/2)
- 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)
Campus Cafés
Other restaurants suggested to me.
- Blue Plate Diner [2041 S 2100 E, 463-1151]
- Fresco Italian Cafe [1513 S 1500 E, SLC, 486-1300]
- La Caille [9565 Wasatch Boulevard, Little Cottonwood Canyon, Utah 84092]
- Log Haven [6451 E Millcreek Canyon Rd, SLC, 272-8255]
- One World Cafe [41 S. 300 East, 519-2002]
Second Part: Interesting links.
Third Part:
Restaurants for colloquium speakers (suggested by Graeme):
- Bangkok Thai [1400 Foothill Dr # 2, 582-8424 or 888-852-8424]
- Bombay House [1615 Foothill Dr, 581-0222]
- Cafe Trang (Vietnamese/Chinese) [818 S Main St, 539-1638]
- Ever Green House (Chinese Vegan) [755 S State St, 328-8889]
- Hong Kong Tea House [565 W 200 S, 531-7010]
- Red Iguana (Mexican) [736 W North Temple, 322-1489]
- Red Rock Brewing Co [254 S. 200 West, 521-7446]
- Rodizio Grill [459 Trolley Sq, 220-0500]
- Squatter's Pub Brewery [147 W. Broadway, 363-2739]
- Sugar House Barbeque Co [2207 S 700 E, 463-4800]
- Trio [680 S 900 E, 359-1122]
- Tucci's Cucina Italiana [515 S 700 E, 533-9111]
- Xiao Li [307 W 200 S # 1000, 328-8688]
