Good Eats - Utah Edition

[Amulek]

My wife and I will be taking our daughter out to school in Utah next week (Go Cougars!), and I'm looking for some local advice on where to grab a good eat to bite.

We'll be flying into SLC, but I suspect most of our time will be spent in the greater PrOrem area.

We've got a couple of nostalgia places picked out already (e.g., Leatherby's and this fast-food Chinese place over in the University Mall where we always used to eat when we were doing our Christmas shopping), but I'm open to any and all ideas.

I'm a bit of a foodie but I'm not a food snob (other than w/BBQ), so anything that's made it onto your personal list of places you like to frequent is a place I want to hear about - especially if they've got a great dessert.

We'll only be in town for a few days, so we obviously won't be able to hit everything, but don't let that stop you from rising and shouting out some ideas. Thanks!

 

[bluebell]

For good fast food options I'd do JCW's for burgers (their onion rings are excellent) but they are pricey for someplace with a drive through.  J. Dawgs is a local legend.  They are very simple (you can choose either beef or polish. Some locations offer fries and some just chips) but you get some fun topping options and their secret sauce is what people rave about.

If you like greek then I'd check out Spitz.  Their Berliner fries are my favorite but they have lots of options, including gyros.

Lucky 13 is Utah's legendary burger place.  The lines get long and it's technically a bar so no one allowed in without an ID and you have to be 21.  

The Red Iguana is their legendary Mexican place.  There are two (Red Iguana 1 and Red Iguana 2) and they are located about a block from each other.  We always go to 2 since it tends to be less busy and it's a newer location so nicer.  Unless you plan on eating dinner at 4:30 you will wait in line, but it's worth it.

Tosh's Ramen is really well known.  They have two locations (one on state street and one in Murray) and we always go to the second because it's much less busy and you can actually find parking.  Their curry ramen is so good (though I've heard that they got a new owner and some of the food has changed.  We haven't been for a few months).

Red Fort has excellent Indian food.  Their first restaurant was in St. George and they just opened another one in Layton about a year ago I think.  Utah has a ton of Indian places though and you can't go wrong with many of them.  Just stay away from Taste of India.  It's a chain and not very good.

Unfortunately, we don't get down to Provo/Orem much so most of my suggestions are more north (and you might not get anywhere near them), but if you get the chance, these are some of my favorites.   

[Calm]

This is probably too far out of your way as down here in Mapleton ( it’s Provo, then Springville, and then Mapleton and then SpanishFork going south down highway 89), but it’s great pizza.  Definitely call ahead before you even call to order because my guess is their hours fluctuate given the appearance there is nothing going on when we drive by a lot.  It’s this tiny place stuck in the back of a restaurant turned insurance place.

https://www.matteosartisanpizzaut.com

We were going to start a tour of Utah Valley’s Mexican restaurants once my husband retired, but between him being busy with his new hobbies (chickens and being a bus driver for UVU sports teams) and the summer being so hot that it has managed to find energy I didn’t know I had to suck out of me, the advent of our adventures has been delayed so I have no recommendations.  My husband gets out more, so I will try and remember to ask him.

Edited August 19 by Calm

[Calm]

Argentine restaurant in Orem called Asado (not sure of spelling)

Mexican in Orem Maria Bonita

If you like all you can eat, Tucanos is Brazilian?  Too noisy for me.  Lots of meat!

if you want more Asian or general, I can ask my son and his wife. 

[let’s roll]

I’d recommend the Morris Center at Deseret Towers, but I understand it’s closed.

If you want something different, the El Salvador Restaurant at 332 W. Center Steet in Provo is a hole in the wall…try the pupusas.

Milagros on 800 North in Orem has a unique array of Mexican dishes, it was Bronco Mendenhall’s go to restaurant.

[Okrahomer]

16 hours ago, Amulek said:

I'm a bit of a foodie but I'm not a food snob (other than w/BBQ), so anything that's made it onto your personal list of places you like to frequent is a place I want to hear about - especially if they've got a great dessert.

Now you're talkin' my language!  For Mexican, I agree with Bluebell about Red Iguana (we go to RI 2 as well).  But if you're still in a Mexican mood and need something closer to Provo/Orem, I highly recommend Sol Agave in American Fork.  I think they just opened their 2nd Utah location in SLC, but the "original" Utah location is the one in AF -- and they do have dessert:  Butter Cake!  It's probably not very Mexican, but wow!  It's good.

If you're in the mood for Thai, there's a pretty good Thai restaurant at Point of the Mountain in the Outlet Mall area:  Baan.  Our "standard" order is Papaya salad (mild please!) and it comes with sticky rice, and ginger chicken with their amazing (no kidding) brown rice (sorry...I've forgotten the correct name).

In downtown Provo, we've always enjoyed the Black Sheep Cafe.  They call themselves a "native American" restaurant -- several dishes are served on/with Navajo Fry Bread -- which to me tastes very similar to a typical Utah scone.  

I also second the Asada recommendation, but if you're in that area, why not try the other two restaurants in the same building:  Pizzeria 712 or True Religion?  True Religion is an excellent breakfast place, but fair warning:  there is almost always a long wait.  It's been a while since we had the intestinal fortitude to endure the crowd and wait at True Religion, but they may be taking reservations now.  They also have a nice back-story about helping ex-cons.  We really love this place.

[longview]

Nuthin' beats Chuck-A-Rama.

[Okrahomer]

P.S.  There is a Cheesecake Factory at University Place (formerly University Mall) now.  My son thinks I’m a total reprobate because of it, so I keep it to myself, but I really do enjoy Cheesecake Factory on occasion.  😇

[Tacenda]

How about hole in the wall type places. Or nothing fancy type restaurants. I like Francisco's Mexican food in Farmington Utah and Thai Rod Dee in Layton Utah and BC Chicken (mostly Greek food) in Kaysville Utah.  Oh dear, I now realize that you need places in the Provo area! We often take our son to lunch in American Fork, now to think of the names. 

Edited August 20 by Tacenda

[Amulek]

21 hours ago, Okrahomer said:

P.S.  There is a Cheesecake Factory at University Place (formerly University Mall) now.  My son thinks I’m a total reprobate because of it, so I keep it to myself, but I really do enjoy Cheesecake Factory on occasion.  😇

I don't mind myself a slice of Godiva chocolate cheesecake from time to time (or the chocolate mousse if I want something a little lighter).

 

[JVW]

I third Asada, but it is pricey.

For Thai I my wife and I like Spicy Thai in Provo.

For ramen I like Asa Ramen on State Street in South Orem.

My favorite place to eat in the entire state of Utah is in Spring City, Roots 89, it's about an hour and a half away from Orem though. But their burgers are from a different planet, there is no competition.

There is also an Italian place called Mastra in American Fork that I like, started by an Italian couple. I love the lasagna there, and their bread.

[Okrahomer]

4 hours ago, JVW said:

There is also an Italian place called Mastra in American Fork that I like, started by an Italian couple.

Agree!  The pasta dishes at Mastra are excellent.  Have you tried their coffee-free tiramisu?  

[MustardSeed]

Well it’s a bit north but I ate at Maddox in Brigham City last night.  Apparently the peach festival is this weekend as well. I stopped at the roadside stand and ate the most delicious peach I’ve ever had in my life.
 

Maddox was something else.  The rolls put me in a food coma before the meal even arrived.  Best Caesar salad I’ve ever had. Everybody else’s meal looked incredible too.
I ordered the Sasparilla. I would go back just for that! If you like root beer, I highly recommend. 

[bluebell]

15 minutes ago, MustardSeed said:

Well it’s a bit north but I ate at Maddox in Brigham City last night.  Apparently the peach festival is this weekend as well. I stopped at the roadside stand and ate the most delicious peach I’ve ever had in my life.
 

Maddox was something else.  The rolls put me in a food coma before the meal even arrived.  Best Caesar salad I’ve ever had. Everybody else’s meal looked incredible too.
I ordered the Sasparilla. I would go back just for that! If you like root beer, I highly recommend. 

Maddox is yummy!

[Tacenda]

On 9/5/2024 at 9:44 AM, MustardSeed said:

Well it’s a bit north but I ate at Maddox in Brigham City last night.  Apparently the peach festival is this weekend as well. I stopped at the roadside stand and ate the most delicious peach I’ve ever had in my life.
 

Maddox was something else.  The rolls put me in a food coma before the meal even arrived.  Best Caesar salad I’ve ever had. Everybody else’s meal looked incredible too.
I ordered the Sasparilla. I would go back just for that! If you like root beer, I highly recommend. 

I need to do this!! It's been years ago that my parents would take the family there, usually on our way back from Bear Lake.

[Tacenda]

Going to a new restaurant in Layton tonight called, "Ombu Grill". It's Korean barbecue, and I think they have one in Orem and the Salt Lake areas.

[Dario_M]

I've heard that the food in Utha and especially Salt Lake City and Provo is really good. Unfortunately i've never experiened it myself. So i can't give advice. 

[Tacenda]

17 hours ago, Dario_M said:

I've heard that the food in Utha and especially Salt Lake City and Provo is really good. Unfortunately i've never experiened it myself. So i can't give advice. 

What you have in front of you in your avatar looks like something yummy.

[Dario_M]

7 hours ago, Tacenda said:

What you have in front of you in your avatar looks like something yummy.

Oh my. That was in Portugal. The pizza was dilicious indeed. One of the best pizza's i've ever had. That day i was going out with my dad and we where in another city. 

Edited September 9 by Dario_M

[Amulek]

On 8/20/2024 at 9:37 AM, Okrahomer said:

True Religion is an excellent breakfast place, but fair warning:  there is almost always a long wait.  It's been a while since we had the intestinal fortitude to endure the crowd and wait at True Religion, but they may be taking reservations now.  They also have a nice back-story about helping ex-cons.  We really love this place.

We ended up eating at TRUreligion for brunch our last day there. They don't take reservations, but they do have a wait list you can sign up for online - sort of like what they do at Texas Roadhouse. It gives you an ETA for when your table, so we just got on the list when we woke up, saw that the wait was an hour, and took our time getting ready and moseyed on over. It was definitely one of those places where too many things on the menu look good, and we found ourselves looking at everyone else's dishes as they were being brought out.

I ended up going with a breakfast Monte Cristo and my wife had some kind of breakfast scramble (with green chili on the side, cause she doesn't do spicy). Everything was pretty great. Would definitely go again when we're in the area.

 

[Okrahomer]

2 hours ago, Amulek said:

We ended up eating at TRUreligion for brunch our last day there. They don't take reservations, but they do have a wait list you can sign up for online - sort of like what they do at Texas Roadhouse. It gives you an ETA for when your table, so we just got on the list when we woke up, saw that the wait was an hour, and took our time getting ready and moseyed on over. It was definitely one of those places where too many things on the menu look good, and we found ourselves looking at everyone else's dishes as they were being brought out.

I ended up going with a breakfast Monte Cristo and my wife had some kind of breakfast scramble (with green chili on the side, cause she doesn't do spicy). Everything was pretty great. Would definitely go again when we're in the area.

 

I’m glad you were able to get in, and thanks for the update!  Are they still doing their ex-con apprenticeship program?