My wife and I essentially never eat out...

[Katy Lied]

In my mind Utah is known for it's entrepreneurial (sp?) spirit. But int he food business, it always seems to be focused on chains and franchises. Why don't any of these enterprising foodies actually open a decent restaurant?

And as soon as someone hits on a successful restaurant, they franchise it as soon as possible. I'm not kidding. Restaurants elsewhere open three, four restaurants that are all working, and actually have a network of suppliers and vendors before thinking about franchising. Here in Utah it seems that restaurants start working on franchise plans even before they open their second store. What's up with that? The whole point of franchising is to take advantage of a built in network of suppliers, vendors, architectural suppliers and interior designs, and years of experience. Now it seems they are franchising even before the first restaurant pans out.

[MartyFunkhouser]

I worry what you think about my taste in food after I dragged you that one day out to Hillsboro for Indian.

The saving grace was that the place had changed ownership and was NOT the same.

I wouldn't have gone back there again, myself.

I understand the change in ownership can ruin a place. I went back to my favorite Indian place in Portland when I was there over the summer and it had similarly went downhill.

If you want good Indian here give the Himalayan Kitchen a try.

[Hot Lunch]

I understand the change in ownership can ruin a place. I went back to my favorite Indian place in Portland when I was there over the summer and it had similarly went downhill.

If you want good Indian here give the Himalayan Kitchen a try.

Funk,

You mentioned a good Mexican place in Lehi awhile back. I have been meaning to go there but forgot what it was called and where it was. Do you remember?

[MartyFunkhouser]

Funk,

You mentioned a good Mexican place in Lehi awhile back. I have been meaning to go there but forgot what it was called and where it was. Do you remember?

It went under and was replaced by a similar but not quite as good place. It is now called El Mexiquenese or something like that. It is other by the Italian Place on State Street. Not great, but probably the best you can find locally. There is also a taco place on Main Street in AF that looks intriguing but I haven't gone to.

[Hot Lunch]

It went under and was replaced by a similar but not quite as good place. It is now called El Mexiquenese or something like that. It is other by the Italian Place on State Street. Not great, but probably the best you can find locally. There is also a taco place on Main Street in AF that looks intriguing but I haven't gone to.

I see. Thanks man. I may need to give it a shot. I am always looking for some decent Mexican food. My dad is a Mexican food snob because of his upbringing on the mean streets of Pico Rivera and when we were young he was very picky about the place he took us for Mexican. DDD knows about the mean streets I speak of.

[TripletDaddy]

I see. Thanks man. I may need to give it a shot. I am always looking for some decent Mexican food. My dad is a Mexican food snob because of his upbringing on the mean streets of Pico Rivera and when we were young he was very picky about the place he took us for Mexican. DDD knows about the mean streets I speak of.

I would have been King of Maizeland Elementary had we stuck around PR. Alas, my mom didn't want us all to become cholos, so she moved us out to Thousand Oaks. I didn't even get to learn the basics of knife fighting or how to do the corduroy slipper walk. boo!

[Portland Ute]

I understand the change in ownership can ruin a place. I went back to my favorite Indian place in Portland when I was there over the summer and it had similarly went downhill.

If you want good Indian here give the Himalayan Kitchen a try.

mp, have you tried Taste of India? I haven't tried Himalayan. I will give it a try.

[Portland Ute]

Hey, a couple of other good little non-Chain spots:

Sego Lily on Main Street in Bountiful.

I can't believe nobody mentioned Red Iguana in this thread about Utah food. I know it's been mentioned elsewhere, but I thought I would add that they have now opened another location a few blocks away to better handle the lunch and dinner crowds.

There is also a Spanish restaurant called Cafe Madrid. I'm not a huge fan of the present incarnation, but it might be something for you to check out. Back when it opened 12 or 13 years ago, they had a menu of authentic, traditional Spanish food. Now, there is a lot of artsy Spanish food on the menu, which is also great, but not as nostalgically appealing to me. The croquetas are great. The ajo blanco and gazpacho are good...I prefer the ajo blanco. You can also get a tortilla espanola but it's very expensive for something you can easily make at home. You can call ahead and get a paella, but, again, it's going to set you back.

[Jeff Lebowski]

Hey, a couple of other good little non-Chain spots:

Sego Lily on Main Street in Bountiful.

I can't believe nobody mentioned Red Iguana in this thread about Utah food. I know it's been mentioned elsewhere, but I thought I would add that they have now opened another location a few blocks away to better handle the lunch and dinner crowds.

There is also a Spanish restaurant called Cafe Madrid. I'm not a huge fan of the present incarnation, but it might be something for you to check out. Back when it opened 12 or 13 years ago, they had a menu of authentic, traditional Spanish food. Now, there is a lot of artsy Spanish food on the menu, which is also great, but not as nostalgically appealing to me. The croquetas are great. The ajo blanco and gazpacho are good...I prefer the ajo blanco. You can also get a tortilla espanola but it's very expensive for something you can easily make at home. You can call ahead and get a paella, but, again, it's going to set you back.

We did the Red Iguana as a family a couple of weeks ago and were underwhelmed. Maybe we just didn't know what to order.

[Portland Ute]

Here's another idea for you that really plays into the food tourism idea:

Take the FrontRunner to Ogden. The stop is right next to the Union Station and 25th street.

Believe it or not, there are a number of locally owned and operated restaurants in that area that have something to offer.

The Union Grill inside the Union Station is one of my winter-time favorites. I'm not a huge fan of bread pudding, but we love the bread pudding at the U.G. The rest of their menu is not fancy, but everything we've tried is at least as good as anything you would get at some boring chain. It's inside the train station so that's kind of fun.

Up on 25th Street, there is, of course, Roosters (which is a local chain and is connected with Union Grill. Again, solid but casual dining.

La Ferrovia is there for one thing: The sauces. The pizzas and Calzones are fine, but unremarkable, IMO. However, the Italian family the runs the place makes some great sauces. If you go on a Friday night and get the managers special, you can have them switch out the beef filet and do a sort of breaded chicken instead and that is a VERY tasty hearty meal which will have an assortment of pastas and sauces and a bit of protein. Don't go expecting vegetables or a good salad. The salads suck, suck, suck. DO ask for the marinated, complimentary carrots. Those are unique to La Ferrovia and my family are big fans.

Jashoh! The place with the funny name. It's a bit of a weird set up. You have to get off of 25th and go up an elevator. Then they set the place up into two parts: casual or fancy. We haven't tried the casual side yet, but the meal we got on the "fancy" side was pretty terrific. I'm not sure about how consistent they are, we've only been there once. BUt, that night, the meal I got and what I tried from my wife's plate were very good.

There is a Greek place. It was fine. I wouldn't discourage you from trying it, but it's not my favorite. I like it during the summer when you can sit outside on the back porch.

Bistro 258 was VERY good the last time we ate there. It seems like it goes up and down over the years. I think there have been some changes in management over the years. The last time I ate there I had a glaze pork chop that was fantastic.

The Japanese place used to be pretty good, but something's not right there. The last couple times we went, it was not nearly as good, either the food or the service. The quality of the sushi had declined and the service was bad. Look, if it was this or Applebee's, I'd go here. But, there are other sushi/Japanese places I'd go before I went here.

Anyway, long post, but my family has enjoyed these restaurants and I think part of it is that on occasion, we take the train from Farmington to Ogden. The boys think it's a kick and it makes for a really fun evening. It really makes you feel like you are going somewhere special, even if it's just to Ogden. It's fun to take the train, then take a stroll. It's not all that often that you get that type of experience in Utah or the U.S. It felt, well, kinda Euro when we've done it. I'd say it's a pretty good option for "food tourism."

EDIT: Another Ogden restaurant I didn't mention is Rickenbacker's. It's in the new "terminal" on the south side of Ogden Hinckley Airport. You cannot reach it by the train, unless you want to walk for hours. It's got great views of the mountains and the air field and has very good food, by Ogden Standards.

Harley and Bucks in Ogden Valley in Eden is also a fun drive away and has some excellent food. If they have the ribs on the menu, get them, but only a half rack.

[Portland Ute]

We did the Red Iguana as a family a couple of weeks ago and were underwhelmed. Maybe we just didn't know what to order.

Sorry to hear that.

Did you try the moles?

There are a few things on the menu that are just not going to be substantially better than you would get at other places. I mean, a beef and bean burrito is a beef and bean burrito.

Where Red Iguana shines are the more authentic offerings, such as the moles.

Did you order your taco "animal style" off the secret menu?

[RobinFinderson]

I just looked it up. Koko Kitchen. Check it out. It is pretty nice little mom and pop shop.

702 S 300 E
Salt Lake City, UT 84111
(801) 364-4888

Someone really needs to try Koko's Kitchen and report. I thought it was a nice discovery in SLC. I really liked their tofu, which was basically just a big block of cold tofu topped with ginger, soy sauce and shaved bonito. Very tasty. Other dishes looked good too, especially the stuff that gringos are less inclined to order (ie. not the tempura and chicken teriyaki).

[Jeff Lebowski]

Sorry to hear that.

Did you try the moles?

There are a few things on the menu that are just not going to be substantially better than you would get at other places. I mean, a beef and bean burrito is a beef and bean burrito.

Where Red Iguana shines are the more authentic offerings, such as the moles.

Did you order your taco "animal style" off the secret menu?

No, we tried a few of the mole dishes. They were OK, just didn't seem spectacular.

[Viking]

No, we tried a few of the mole dishes. They were OK, just didn't seem spectacular.

Red Iguana isn't that good. Just a lot of grease.

Try "La Costa" near wherever it is the Real Salt Lake play...really good carne asada and arroz con pollo