The best restaurants in Salt Lake City

What is it? Felt’s menu offers refined bites and dishes with creative takes on ingredients and flavors. Expect visually striking small plates like raw Hokkaido scallop crudo and tuna tataki arriving at the table brightened with citrus and a gentle chili heat. Showing precision and restraint, Felt’s dishes are designed to surprise through texture, temperature, and thoughtful ingredient pairings. Guided by newly nominated James Beard chef Travis Herbert, Felt balances technical skill with creativity at every turn.

Why we love it: Felt’s cocktail program is anything but predictable. The rotating list reads like a laboratory of flavor, drawing inspiration directly from the kitchen through ingredients that find new life as house-made syrups, citrus infusions, and aromatic garnishes. 

Time Out tip: Sunday afternoon cocktails with the sun streaming in through the floor-to-ceiling windows is magical, but this 21+ destination is also the perfect stop for a late-night cocktail or a full dinner.

Address: 342 S. Main Street, Suite 101, Salt Lake City, UT 84111

Opening hours: Mon–Fri 4pm–close; Sat 1pm–1am; Sun 1–11pm

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What is it? Franklin Ave is a direct reflection of Executive Chef Matt Crandall’s culinary evolution. Dishes are composed and intentional, but also comforting. Seasonal ingredients guide the menu with vegetables taking center stage at this Bourbon Group outlet. Bold, satisfying flavors are coaxed from snap peas and locally grown mushrooms found folded into the mushroom beignets, but also showcased in balanced sauces and dressings and precise handling of proteins like the mouthwatering black cod. 

Why we love it: Plates arrive layered with texture and contrast—bright acidity cutting through richness, herbs adding lift, and thoughtful garnishes providing both visual and aromatic depth.

Time Out tip: This 21+ establishment has different vibes on each floor that invite conversation and make space for celebration or just a spontaneous weeknight dinner or Sunday brunch. Downstairs has a speakeasy feel, with a record player and vinyl, while upstairs is bright and bar-forward.

Address: 231 S. Edison Street, Salt Lake City, UT 84111

Opening hours: Daily 11am–11m

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What is it? Inspired by the Chinese and Taiwanese cuisine that brothers Tim and Joe Rammell grew up enjoying, Drunken Kitchen offers a tasty take on Asian street food. Drunken Kitchen’s ever-changing menu inside Grid City Beer Works in South Salt Lake includes frog legs, marinated cucumbers, handmade dumplings, spicy noodles, and three cup chicken that’s earned the Rammell brothers a stellar reputation among flavor-seeking diners. Don’t miss the Dan Dan noodles that layer creamy Szechuan tahini sauce on handmade noodles (vegan and gluten-free options available) topped with caramelized pork and finished with peanuts and yu choy. It’s bold, silky, and ridiculously addictive. 

Why we love it:  Guests can now pair dumplings, rich noodle soups, and the sticky ribs glazed in a glossy, finger-licking sweet and spicy sauce with creative cocktails or one of Grid City’s beers from a stylish rooftop perch.

Time Out tip: Head upstairs to the dog-friendly rooftop patio with a full bar during the warmer months to enjoy a bowl of Asian-spiced Taiwanese fried chicken with fried basil, or mapo tofu with a tingly Szechuan bean sauce, and watch the sun set over the mountains with every bite. Keep your eye out for Tim’s Shih Tzu Otis.

Address: 333 W. 2100 South, South Salt Lake, UT 84115 

Opening hours: Mon–Sat 11am–10pm' Sun 4–10pm

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What is it? Three locations in West Valley, Draper, and Marmalade mean you can easily get Tuk Tuks’ excellent Thai food anywhere in the Salt Lake Valley. The menu leans into bold flavors with plenty of heat but doesn’t shy away from nuance. Pad Thai arrives bright and balanced, with tamarind tang and just enough sweetness. Curries are deeply aromatic, built on coconut milk and curry pastes that bloom with lemongrass, galangal, and kaffir lime and feature a delicate balance between heat, acid, salt, and sweet. Order the Instagram-worthy pineapple fried rice with shrimp served in the fruit, or dive deeper into the menu for noodle dishes and stir-fries that reflect the bright, bold heart of Thai cooking.

Why we love it: Tuk Tuks has a wide-ranging menu, spice heat levels from 0 to 5, and shareable portions for under $20.

Time Out tip: Tuk Tuks is the only restaurant in Salt Lake serving nam khao, an herbaceous, sour, and spicy starter of crispy rice flavored with lime juice and fish sauce and filled with pork, crunchy peanuts, and cilantro. Enjoy it wrapped in fresh lettuce leaves or on crispy cucumbers.

Addresses: 2222 W. 3500 South b7, West Valley City, UT 84119; 541 E. 12300 South, Suite A, Draper, UT 84020; 535 N. 300 West, Unit H103, Salt Lake City, UT 84103

Opening hours: Vary by location

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What is it? The menu at Manoli’s offers a diverse selection of Mediterranean-inspired dishes—primarily small, shareable meze made with fresh, local ingredients like local lamb and house-made yogurt. Located near Liberty Park, guests enjoy charred octopus, rich pasta dishes, and yemista, a vegetarian starter featuring smoked feta-stuffed piquillo peppers accented with olive oil and black sea salt. Every dish is crafted to showcase traditional Greek and modern preparation techniques that work equally well for dinner or weekend brunch. 

Why we love it: Co-owners and chefs Manoli Katsanevas and Katrina Cutrubus pride themselves on attentive service—recognized by a James Beard nomination for hospitality—making Manoli’s an excellent choice for great food, fantastic service, and a cool vibe.

Time Out tip: The three-season enclosed patio is a great spot to relax with friends or celebrate a special occasion, be it with a small group or an intimate dinner. 

Address: 402 East Harvey Milk Blvd., #2, Salt Lake City, UT 84111

Opening hours: Tue-Sun 5-10 pm; Sat, Sun 10am–2:30pm

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What is it? Urban Hill is an upscale, wood-fired restaurant that’s anchored in the hip Post District in downtown Salt Lake City since 2022. The dinner and brunch menus lean contemporary American with a southwest flair. The open kitchen centers around a wood-fired grill, and that influence is evident in the structure and flavor of the menu. Proteins arrive with a subtle char, seafood is kissed by smoke, and vegetables are transformed by embers into something equally rustic yet refined. For layered freshness, try the crudo that pops with tangerine aguachile, jalapeno, and furikake. 

Why we love it: Seasonal produce guides the menu and the beverage program complements the kitchen with a beautifully curated wine list (be sure to gaze at the glass-enclosed, temperature-controlled wine room) and cocktails that can stand on their own for a pre-downtown event cheers.

Time Out tip: If seated in the right spot at Urban Hill, you can watch Executive Chef Nick Zocco, James Beard Award semi-finalist and winner of Food Network’s Beat Bobby Flay in 2025, and his “love-to-cook attitude” in action in the open kitchen where meaty cuts of pork, lamb porterhouse, and dry-aged ribeye alongside a host of seafood are prepared.

Address: 510 South 300 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84101

Opening hours: Daily 5-9:30 pm; Sat, Sun 10am–2pm 

What is it? Feldman’s is a kosher-style Jewish delicatessen known for their towering sandwiches and New Jersey deli fare in a friendly east side neighborhood. Try the house-made potato latkes with applesauce or sour cream and the matzo ball soup in rich chicken broth to be transported directly to the East Coast. For breakfast, a limited number of hand-rolled bagels can be enjoyed with the lox platter, which includes a schmear, tomato, capers, cucumber, and red onion.

Opened by Michael and Janet Feldman in 2012, the deli is now operated by the second generation of the Feldman family, John, who is carrying on the Feldman legacy with the same commitment to comforting cuisine, generous portions, and customer experience that locals have come to love.

Why we love it: Feldman’s is the neighborhood gathering place where regulars stop in to listen to founder Michael Feldman and other local musicians play live, go for laughs and conversation, and enjoy the flavors of a classic East Coast Jewish deli.

Time Out tip: Feldman’s signature half-pound Sloppy Joe sandwich can easily feed two people with a side of Jersey boardwalk fries. Three layers of Jewish rye are stacked with corned beef, pastrami, and coleslaw.

Address: 2005 E. 2700 South, Salt Lake City, UT 84109

Opening hours: Tue-Sat 8am–8pm

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What is it? Table X offers Salt Lake a tasting-menu-only dining experience in a quiet Millcreek location surrounded by gardens. The five- or seven-course menus are thoughtfully curated, showcasing owner and chef Mike Blocher and his team’s adept abilities to transform simple ingredients into memorable dishes. A single dish might balance smoke, acidity, and sweetness or revolve around seasonal produce grown on property or proteins prepared through whole-animal butchery. Breads and baked goods are made downstairs at Table X Bread using local flour. Year after year, Table X proves that tasting menus can be modern, fun, and something everyone should experience regularly.

Why we love it: The dining room’s clean lines, natural materials, chef’s table, and open kitchen encourages conversation and attention—to tablemates and to the plate in front of you. Every dish showcases a balance of flavors and textures composed with precision and inspired by the local landscape. Think spruce tips taken from the tree next to the outdoor garden table that garnishes your plate. 

Time Out tip: Every meal at Table X begins with house sourdough bread and cultured butter that’s been on the menu since the restaurant opened. You can buy an entire loaf of your own downstairs at Table X Bread, but it sells out quickly most days. 

Address: 1457 E. 3350 South, Salt Lake City, UT 84106

Opening hours: Wed-Sat 5-9 pm

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What is it? This modern take on Japanese izakaya found in Central 9th serves up crispy karaage chicken, grilled skewers (kushiyaki) cooked over a binchotan charcoal grill, noodles, and a smattering of other small plates—all of which are easily shared around the table. As the name denotes, this is a 21+ establishment, but food is equally important to the drinks and the presentation of both is striking. Dishware is almost as interesting as the Japanese flavors of the edible components, with negative space used to emphasize color and form. 

Why we love it: It’s impossible not have fun at Bar Nohm thanks to the high-energy atmosphere. Spaces are designed to entertain—whether at bar seats looking into the kitchen or out onto 900 South. 

Time Out tip: Like its sister bar Water Witch next door, Bar Nohm’s cocktails are a study in culinary chemistry that are so outrageously creative they can’t possibly work, but are head-scratching when they do. Think service in snail shells and bowls and Funfetti and cotton candy as garnishes. 

Address: 165 W. 900 South, Salt Lake City, UT 84101

Opening hours: Tue-Thu 5-11 pm, Fri, Sat 5pm–midnight; Sun 5-11pm

What is it? Owner and sommelier Matteo Sogne and his family hail from Modena, Italy, a city that’s known for Parmigiano Reggiano cheese and balsamic vinegar. So, it’s no surprise that both are featured heavily on Chef Damiano Carlotto’s menu, filled with recipes and techniques passed down through generations of Matteo’s family. In fact, you’ll find Matteo’s mom, Manuela, in the kitchen baking all the breads and desserts too. 

Why we love it: Attentive yet unpretentious service makes diners feel taken care of like family, and, as an Italian family business, dishes often come with a story about the ingredients or the food's history, so pay close attention. You might also be serenaded, too!

Time Out tip: Matteo’s wine list is impressive. Splurge-worthy Italian bottles mingle with hidden gems Matteo special-orders, including affordable surprises that will elevate the dining experience without breaking the bank.

Address: 77 West 200 South, Suite 100 Salt Lake City, UT 84101

Opening hours: Daily 4:30-9:30 pm

What is it? Mint Tapas & Sushi dishes up creative Japanese-inspired small plates and premium sushi from five locations throughout Salt Lake. Chef Soy’s presentation is a visual smorgasbord with colorful plates thoughtfully built so every bite includes all textures and layers of flavor. The extensive menu is built on contrast: warm and cool, crisp and delicate, savory and bright. A vast array of specialty sushi rolls highlights silky salmon, buttery hamachi, and tuna sliced with exacting care and accented with citrus, thinly sliced jalapeño, or a drizzle of eel sauce for brightness and depth without overwhelming the star ingredients. Try the jalapeño hamachi and torched sablefish tapas—beautifully plated for Instagram, yet crafted to impress your palate from the first bite.

Why we love it: Each of the five locations has a distinct vibe that matches the neighborhood and clientele—from Sandy’s original retro location to Holladay’s expansive dining room and patio built for summertime people watching.

Time Out tip: Save room for the creamy ube ice cream, a glorious purple hue, to close the meal on a cool, slightly sweet note. 

Address: Multiple locations inc. Holladay, Cottonwood Heights, and Draper

Opening hours: Vary by location

What is it? A visit to any of the three locations of Caputo’s for lunch at the Italian sandwich counter doubles as a culinary field trip to the largest Italian specialty grocer in Salt Lake. Enjoy The Caputo layered with prosciutto, Genoa salami, roasted red peppers, provolone, and a drizzle of olive oil and vinegar. The Muffaletta, another favorite, is stacked high with olive salad, mortadella, capicola, and provolone.

Why we love it: As any good deli should, Caputo’s makes it easy to order in bulk for picnics and parties elsewhere. Get house-made pasta salads, marinated olives, and then head to the cheese counter where knowledgeable staff is eager to guide and sample your way through an order. 

Time Out tip: It’s easy to shop for a few items from the cases of cured meats and aged cheeses or peruse artisan chocolates and foodstuffs as you stand in line to order sandwiches and then wait for your name to be called to pick up.

Address: Multiple locations inc. downtown and Holladay  

Opening hours: Vary by location

What is it? The Pearl is one of the tastiest Central 9th bar destinations. James Beard-nominated chef Tommy Nguyen crafts flavorful Vietnamese and Korean street food in the form of shareable small plates like the caramel pork belly with egg and the shrimp scallion eggrolls, plus bahn mi and satiating noodle dishes. The Pearl’s curated cocktail program blends Vietnamese ingredients with modern mixology, paying homage to Southeast Asian flavors like boozy Vietnamese coffee. 

Why we love it: Serving lunch, brunch, and dinner inside or on the cozy patio, The Pearl is welcoming to anyone 21+ seeking flavorful food and creative drinks. 

Time Out tip: Check the weekly events for deals on bites and beverages as well as live music, but be sure to be in line for pho beginning at 6 pm on Sunday nights. 

Address: 917 S. 200 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84101

Opening hours: Mon 6-11 pm; Tue–Thu 11am–11pm; Fri 11am–midnight; Sat 4pm–midnight; Sun 10:30am–2:30pm, 6pm–close

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What is it? Before farm-to-table and dining sustainably became standard language on menus, Pago built its identity around relationships with Utah farmers, ranchers, artisans, and small, often natural winemakers. After 16 years, owner and sommelier Scott Evans has coined what Pago offers as “seasonally inspired Intermountain West cuisine.” Diners are accustomed to seeing the names of local producers alongside dishes, and Evans aims for every item on the menu to be locally sourced, which means that dishes change frequently to reflect seasonality and availability.

Why we love it: Pago proves that a fine dining restaurant in Utah can be a space for chefs to prioritize local agriculture and artisans while still aspiring to national standards of excellence.
Time Out tip: The wine list, always a strength, leans heavily into small producers, biodynamic and natural wines, and Old World selections, reinforcing the restaurant’s emphasis on craftsmanship. Pago has recently launched its first wine collaboration with Ruche, a 100-percent carbonic Pinot Noir from organically grown grapes in Oregon’s Willamette Valley.

Address: 878 S. 900 East, Salt Lake City, UT 84102

Opening hours: Daily 5–9pm

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What is it? Takashi is regarded as Salt Lake’s best sushi spot. That’s proven by the line outside before it opens for business lunches or date night dinners every day. Signature small plates and rolls include tuna tataki with Takashi's citrus-onion sauce, while The Box (Takashi’s Hakozushi) delivers amberjack, tobiko, and spicy mayo inside with tuna, yellowtail, and salmon on top. The live scallop with quail egg is sweet, rich, and silky.

Why we love it: Takashi knows when to push boundaries and when to honor tradition and that’s why it’s earned legions of devoted fans and influenced an entire generation of chefs and diners with exemplary sushi and sashimi. Here, technique is paramount, every ingredient is treated with respect, and attentive service lets the food take center stage.
Time Out tip: The beverage program complements the food thoughtfully, featuring sake selections that range from delicate to robust, plus wines, cocktails with local and international spirits, and Japanese beers chosen to pair well the food without overpowering it.

Address: 18 W. Market St., Salt Lake City, UT 84101

Opening hours: Mon–Fri 11:30am–2pm, 5:30-10 pm; Sat 5–10pm