Established in 1879, the Star is the oldest continuously operating saloon west of the Mississippi, and a favorite among wintertime adventurers. Located in the sleepy mountain town of Huntsville, this Old West joint is about an hour’s drive north from Salt Lake City, situated in the valley between the mountain resorts of Snowbasin and Powder Mountain. The ambiance and decor are quirky, with multiple huge pieces of mounted taxidermy confronting guests from the walls (including a large St. Bernard), part of the Star’s particular charm. It’s perfect for a winter pit stop after a day on the slopes nearby for a burger, chips (there’s a strict policy against French fries), and a beer. Those in the know come for the off-menu Star Burger: two patties with cheese, Polish knackwurst, and bacon. The staff is curmudgeonly, the service is slow, and the place is cash-only, but the oddball factors add up to one of the best burgers in the entire state.

At this casual Japanese shokudo, founded in 2023 in Salt Lake City’s Marmalade district, chef Hiro Tagai, a Tokyo-trained ramen expert, and chef Felipe Oliveira focus on traditional Japanese cuisine, including ramen and washoku, using fresh, seasonal ingredients to honor nature’s flavors. The extensive menu includes a classic Tokyo-style chuka soba in a delicate chicken and pork stock with tender chashu pork, as well as plant-based and gluten-free options such as the tantan-men, a vegetarian ramen with creamy sesame stock and mapo chili. For those with a sweet tooth, the restaurant offers creative desserts including ice cream infused with kuromitsu, a Japanese black sugar, and topped with roasted soybean flour.

Started by Ramon and Maria Cardenas in 1985, Red Iguana features a wide variety of Mexican recipes, including many utilizing house-made corn tortillas and moles, at three downtown locations. They don’t take reservations so arrive early to ensure you snag a table, or be prepared to wait. Try the standout puntas de filete a la nortena: top sirloin tips sauteed with bacon, jalapeno strips, onions, and fresh tomatoes, served atop almond mole. Another favorite is a take on enchiladas suizas, which outperform your typical tomatillo-smothered enchiladas: Two corn tortillas are filled with avocado and chicken cooked in sour cream, topped with a complex mole poblano, and finished with melted jack cheese and an extra dollop of sour cream.

Chef Viet Pham is elevating fast-casual dining with his latest foray, a fried chicken establishment called Pretty Bird. The former chef of Forage, a celebrated fine dining establishment, is known for his television stints on Iron Chef America and Beat Bobby Flay. His current venture focuses on a limited menu that includes Nashville-style fried chicken sandwiches, crinkle cut fries, Mexican street corn salad, cider slaw, and a handful of flavorful sauces, like the buttermilk-based Pretty Bird sauce. The spice level ranges from mild to what the restaurant calls “hot behind,” so proceed with caution. There are currently two locations in Salt Lake, as well as one in Park City and another in Midvale.

This unassuming restaurant draws inspiration from the food of central and southern Mexico, especially Mexico City, and is known for its tacos al pastor piled high with succulent pork, fresh pineapple, and cilantro. The family-owned restaurant also serves a few vegetarian dishes that highlight ingredients such as cactus and flor de calabaza. Try the famed alambre, a mix of ham, bacon, steak, and onions served with black beans, queso fresco, and a flour tortilla. Then cool off with a fresh, tropical fruit shake in flavors like mango and pineapple, which will have you dreaming of your next beachside getaway.

Co-owned by Ty Burrell of Modern Family fame, Beer Bar and Bar X are a joint business connected by a narrow hallway in the back. Bar X originally opened in 1933 (the year Prohibition was repealed), but came into its current iteration as a craft cocktail bar when it was purchased and refurbished in 2010 by Burrell and team. Its sibling business, Beer Bar, feels reminiscent of a German beer garden, with big-screen TVs and long communal tables, the perfect setting to enjoy brews from a lineup of local, craft breweries. All of the draft beer complies with state law, which keeps them at or under 5 percent ABV, but options in the bottled selection can far exceed that. The simple food menu includes burgers, locally sourced bison and elk, Belgian-style fries, and bratwursts, including a specially curated Reuben brat from chef Viet Pham of Pretty Bird. The bar also hosts an annual pie and beer day — a phonetic riff on the Mormon state holiday Pioneer Day on July 24.

A sibling restaurant to Park City’s Handle, HSL focuses on American cuisine, interesting wines, and thoughtful cocktails. The space was designed by the City Home Collective firm, while chef Briar Handly oversees the rotating, seasonally driven menu. Some outstanding items have included hamachi crudo tossed in Calabrian chile vinaigrette, fresh market fish sitting atop foie gras velouté with sunchoke and leeks, and perfectly fried chicken served alongside red pepper polenta.

This old-school Italian grocer and deli is headed by Matt Caputo, whose family moved to the U.S. from Greece and Italy. The deli features sandwiches, pastas, salads, and desserts, including from-scratch tiramisu made using Italian mascarpone. It also has its own state-of-the-art cheese cave that is used to age a variety of artisanal cheeses, as well as curated gift boxes of artisan food products. The Caputo family is passionate about preserving and protecting food items of unique provenance and provides hands-on training, workshops with food artisans, and public classes on chocolate, wine, cheese, spirits, and more.

It can be challenging to find fresh, high-quality seafood in landlocked Utah, but Current Fish & Oyster ensures a steady supply for pescatarians, with a focus on classic preparations. Situated in a renovated warehouse complete with high ceilings and exposed brick, the space boasts a full-service bar with an extensive wine list, sherry flights, and inventive cocktails. You can’t go wrong with the selection of East and West Coast oysters and dishes like seared calamari with lemon aioli and fingerling potatoes or scallops with a crispy rice cake and an assortment of veggies with carrot-ginger nage.

You’ll feel like you’ve stepped right into picturesque Tuscany at this rustic Italian restaurant, where tables are adorned with classic white tablecloths and servers are dressed sharply. Named after late owner and chef Valter Nassi, who passed away in 2022, the place serves many dishes inspired by his mother’s cooking, such as rigatoni al sugo della mamma and pasta al forno vera (house-made lasagna). You can also order the nana in porchetta Savinese, a dish that represents a typical Sunday dinner, featuring fennel-crusted duck breast in a cognac and grape sauce. Though the absence of chef Nassi’s larger-than-life personality is felt by all who knew him, his warm spirit and dedication to hospitality remain woven into every dining experience, making each meal a heartfelt celebration of Italian tradition.

Urban Hill, the latest project from the team behind Park City’s Hearth & Hill, is nestled in Salt Lake’s emerging Post District, just south of Pioneer Park. Owned by LA-native restaurateur Brooks Kirchheimer, this family-run establishment expands the Hill brand’s commitment to locally sourced cuisine with a globally inspired menu. Executive chef Nick Zocco, a 2024 James Beard finalist for Best Chef: Midwest who trained under Bobby Flay, crafts dishes spotlighting Utah’s finest farmers, ranchers, and artisans. Known for its wood-fired grill, oyster bar, and carefully curated wine list, Urban Hill brings a refined yet approachable dining experience to the city’s evolving culinary scene.

The modern izakaya-style Bar Nohm in Salt Lake City’s Central 9th neighborhood pays homage to Japanese and Korean drinking culture with a menu of creative bites and extensive beverage offerings. Under the direction of chef David Chon — a 2024 James Beard semifinalist who draws inspiration from his South Korean upbringing and global culinary travels — the menu changes daily to feature fresh, locally available ingredients. Highlights include a pork omelet with tofu cream and a spicy cucumber salad with squid, mushrooms, and mung bean noodles, along with playful cocktails like the Pompoco-Loco (soju, rye, and miso gardenia) served in a keepsake mug. With a connecting door to its sibling bar, Water Witch, Bar Nohm creates a lively, communal dining experience that celebrates traditional flavors and cross-cultural influences.

Chanon Thai typically draws a line out the door as diners patiently wait to sample the tom yum soup with prawns, som tum salad, and a wide selection of curries. The dining space is familiar and cozy, with a cork board featuring handwritten notes and drawings from loyal customers, and you may find yourself rubbing elbows with the likes of Alex Honnold and other elite athletes that frequent this neighborhood mainstay during training stints. The restaurant is well-known for its liberal application of Thai chilies to create deep layers of flavor and heat. Even a standard Thai restaurant dish like pad kee mao (thick noodles stir fried with broccoli, Thai basil, bell pepper, Thai chili, garlic, and soy) comes with a warning that spice can vary day to day depending on the batch of Thai chilies the restaurant receives. Save room for dessert; the mango with Thai custard and sweet sticky rice is the perfect end to a fiery meal.

In Lebanon, the word “laziz” means tasty or lighthearted, perfect descriptors for the ethos that co-founders Moudi Sbeity and (former state senator) Derek Kitchen bring to their shareable plates. Sbeity immigrated from Lebanon in 2006 and the two began selling homemade hummus to colleagues and friends. They eventually opened a storefront and expanded the menu to include dishes such as za’atar fries (inspired by batata harra) and a kafta burger with tomato tapenade. Sbeity and Kitchen are both proud members of the queer community and were plaintiffs in the landmark case Kitchen v. Herbert, which overturned Utah’s ban on same-sex marriage.

This family-owned restaurant and market specializes in Polynesian food, and has become a beloved gathering place for Polynesian Americans in the community. For decades the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has sent missionaries to the Pacific region, inspiring migration both ways, historical culture ties, and a mutual love of Pacific Islander cuisines. Pacific Seas serves island favorites including Hawaiian musubi, Samoan muli pipi (turkey tails boiled and fried), Tongan lu/luau (taro leaves served with lamb), and whole fried golden pompano. Don’t forget a bag of Bongo baked chips in flavors like cheese or chicken, imported from Fiji. Wash it all down with a refreshing mango ’otai, a blend of fresh mango, pineapple, and coconut.

Situated next to Liberty Park, this neighborhood spot serves homestyle breakfast and lunch in a small but inviting space, whether you grab a seat at the diner-style counter or opt for a table with friends. The Park Café’s crowd is eclectic, from groups of 20-somethings nursing hangovers, to Real Salt Lake players, to hip parents with toddlers who can already ski better than you. The service here is fast and attentive, partly to turn over tables beneath the crush of busy crowds and weekend lines. Notable dishes include the biscuits and gravy as well as the breakfast platter known as French Toast Foolishness, but be sure to check out the whiteboard for daily specials (look out for the huevos rancheros topped with pork chile verde goodness). If you want to order like a local, complete your meal with a chai latte and add cheese to your grilled park potatoes, a side on many of the dishes.

Part of the highly successful Pago Restaurant Group, Finca is currently in its third location in the 15th & 15th neighborhood. The Spanish restaurant offers tapas and platos made with local and sustainable ingredients, including classics such as croquetas, paella, tortilla espagnole, ceviche, and patatas bravas, with cinnamon churros and chocolate dipping sauce for dessert. Owner and sommelier Scott Evans has curated a wine list featuring unique Spanish and Portuguese options, especially natural wines from small producers.

Mazza owner Ali Sabbah made the journey to Salt Lake City from Lebanon to study economics at the University of Utah, but he fell in love with the state and stuck around to open a restaurant serving traditional Lebanese cuisine in the quaint 15 & 15th neighborhood. Go with a group and start by splitting a few of the dips, such as the hummus, baba ghanoush, and muhammara. Then move on to heartier options like the tender, bone-in lamb shank, braised in a blend of allspice, ginger, and fenugreek and served alongside saffron-scented couscous. Mazza also boasts one of the largest selections of Mediterranean beer and wine in the United States, with selections from Lebanon, Morocco, and Greece, and imports many of the condiments and spices featured on the menu.

Like many of the businesses on this list, this one started out small, with husband-and-wife duo Hasen (Hoss) Cone and Teri Rosquist selling their freshly juiced limeade at local farmers markets and county fairs. Over time, they expanded their offerings to include from-scratch food and eventually opened a storefront. The menu is inspired by homestyle Texan cuisine from Cone’s upbringing and features local ingredients, hearty salads, and baked-daily biscuits. This popular brunch spot also offers a selection of cocktails that feature spirits from Utah distilleries. On your first visit be sure to order the Hoss, the signature sandwich: crispy fried chicken, bacon, egg, sausage gravy, cheddar cheese, and green onion on a fluffy biscuit.

The family-run 11 Hauz is inspired by partner Sheron Grant’s late grandmother Florence. Born and raised in Mount Salem, Jamaica, Florence passed down a love of Jamaican cuisine to her family, who keep her culinary traditions alive in Park City. All of the food is made to order, with the majority of proteins cooked bone-in to keep all the flavor and marrow. The rest of the menu features traditional island flavors and ingredients, with lots of Scotch bonnet peppers, homemade jerk seasoning, conch, and ackee and saltfish. The restaurant also turns out homemade roti, lovingly referred to as Jamaican mop, to soak up every last drop of sauce.

Utahns don’t have to book a flight to New York to find a good Jewish deli. Feldman’s serves a variety of sandwiches piled high on flavorful bread and old-world specialties. Nestled up in the mouth of Parleys Canyon (the mountain road that takes you to Park City), the restaurant is worth the hike for its award-winning sandwiches, including pastrami, corned beef, Reubens, and sloppy joes. The menu also includes European fare such as pierogies, stuffed cabbage, chicken paprikash, kielbasa, brisket, and smoked whitefish salad.

At Table X, set in a converted factory, chefs Nick Fahs and Mike Blocher serve new American fare in multi-course traditional and vegetarian tasting menus. The menu is always shifting, featuring such dishes as garden sunchokes with smoky nage, delicata squash, and poblano, and a Jones Creek beef bavette steak with garden garlic, radicchio, celery root, and truffle. While Blocher focuses on the dining menu, Fahs prioritizes Table X’s wholesale bakery, Table X Bread, which serves coffee, sourdough bread, and assorted pastries, including croissants, scones, cookies, and spandauer. The restaurant sources fresh produce from its French potager garden, and the kitchen practices a variety of preservation methods including fermentation, pickling, canning, drying, and aging. If you’re looking to host a special occasion, the garden dining room can fit up to 14 guests.