Food · Salt Lake City · United States
What to eat in Salt Lake City
The dishes, drinks and food experiences that define Salt Lake City, and where locals actually eat them.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Invictus323, CC BY 4.0
Quick answer
Start with Fry sauce, Pastrami burger and Utah scones. Saturday market in Pioneer Park from about June to October, with produce from Utah farms, food stalls and crafts. Utah's alcohol laws are stricter than most states: wine, spirits and stronger beer are sold at state-run liquor stores, and restaurants serve alcohol only with food in some settings.
Key facts
- Signature dish
- Fry sauce
- Vegetarian-friendly picks
- 5
- Tipping
- Tip 18–20% at restaurants, $1–$2 per drink at bars, 15–20% for taxis and ride-hailing…
- Food experiences
- 3
9 foods to try
Snack · Vegetarian
1.Fry sauce
A pink mix of ketchup and mayonnaise, sometimes with pickle juice or spices, served with fries at nearly every burger stand in Utah.
Where: Local burger drive-ins across the valley; ask for it if it does not arrive automatically.
Dish
2.Pastrami burger
A cheeseburger piled with shaved pastrami, a local favourite made famous by Greek-American burger chains in Salt Lake City.
Where: Long-running burger chains and diners across the valley.
Breakfast · Vegetarian
3.Utah scones
Not the British kind: pillows of fried bread dough served hot with honey butter, more like fry bread than a baked scone.
Where: Diners and scone shops in the valley, usually at breakfast.
Dish · Vegetarian
4.Funeral potatoes
A cheesy potato casserole topped with cornflakes or crisps, traditionally brought to church gatherings and funerals; it now appears on some restaurant menus.
Where: Comfort-food restaurants and buffets around the city.
Drink · Vegetarian
5.Dirty soda
Fountain soft drinks customised with syrups, coconut cream and fresh lime, sold from drive-through soda shops that are a Utah phenomenon.
Where: Drive-through soda shops throughout the valley.
Dessert
6.Jell-O salads
Utah has a long-running love of gelatin desserts, especially lime Jell-O with fruit or carrots; the state once declared it the official snack.
Where: Family restaurants and buffets, and on holiday tables.
Street food
7.Navajo taco
Fry bread topped with beans, meat, lettuce, cheese and salsa; a dish shared across the Southwest with Native American roots.
Where: Fairs, festivals and some diners; also at events in summer.
Dessert · Vegetarian
8.Giant cookies
Utah's dessert culture includes thick, oversized cookies sold by the box from local bakeries and chains that started in the state.
Where: Cookie shops across the valley, many open late.
Dish
9.Mexican food on State Street
Long stretches of State Street and the west side have taquerías and family restaurants serving tacos al pastor, tamales and birria.
Where: State Street south of downtown and the west-side neighbourhoods such as Glendale and Rose Park.
Food experiences
Downtown Farmers Market
Saturday market in Pioneer Park from about June to October, with produce from Utah farms, food stalls and crafts.
Brewery taprooms
Salt Lake has a growing craft beer scene, with taprooms in the Granary District, Sugar House and downtown.
Drive-through soda run
Try a custom 'dirty soda' from one of the drive-through soda shops that line the suburbs.
Quick bites and street food
- Fry sauce — Local burger drive-ins across the valley; ask for it if it does not arrive automatically.
- Utah scones — Diners and scone shops in the valley, usually at breakfast.
- Navajo taco — Fairs, festivals and some diners; also at events in summer.
Vegetarian options
Of the 9 foods in this guide, 5 are usually vegetarian: Fry sauce, Utah scones, Funeral potatoes, Dirty soda and Giant cookies. Check preparation with staff, as stocks and fats vary.
Eating out: tips and etiquette
- Utah's alcohol laws are stricter than most states: wine, spirits and stronger beer are sold at state-run liquor stores, and restaurants serve alcohol only with food in some settings.
- Many restaurants and shops, including City Creek Center, close on Sundays.
- Book ahead for downtown restaurants during conventions, church General Conference weekends and ski holidays.
- Portions are large; sharing is common.
- At high altitude, drink more water than usual, especially if you are drinking alcohol.
Tipping
Tip 18–20% at restaurants, $1–$2 per drink at bars, 15–20% for taxis and ride-hailing, and a few dollars to ski valets and hotel staff.
| Phrase | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Oh my heck | Local mild exclamation instead of swearing |
| Fry sauce | Ketchup-and-mayo dip for fries |
| The Greatest Snow on Earth | Utah's ski-marketing slogan |
| General Conference | Twice-yearly church gathering that fills hotels |
Questions travellers ask
+What food is Salt Lake City famous for?
Fry sauce, Pastrami burger, Utah scones and Funeral potatoes. A pink mix of ketchup and mayonnaise, sometimes with pickle juice or spices, served with fries at nearly every burger stand in Utah.
+Is Salt Lake City good for vegetarians?
Several local staples are meat-free, including Fry sauce, Utah scones and Funeral potatoes.
+Do you tip in restaurants in Salt Lake City?
Tip 18–20% at restaurants, $1–$2 per drink at bars, 15–20% for taxis and ride-hailing, and a few dollars to ski valets and hotel staff.