Years ago I wrote an article on where to find the best ethnic food in Salt Lake City. As I’ve gone back and reread some of my older blog posts, I can’t help but cringe. It’s kind of like when YouTubers watch some of their older videos and just laugh awkwardly the whole time.
I’ve considered just removing it from this website, but it’s a great example of how far I’ve come…not only with my photography, but my writing and composition as well. And how much my tastebuds have grown.
The article is the story of my adventure-seeking tastebuds’ humble origins. After living in Salt Lake City for a few years, and then studying abroad, I started to crave new tastes and cultures to experience.
And I haven’t stopped. Over the years since that article was written, I’ve been on the lookout for the best ethnic food in Salt Lake City. I wanted to eat at the best Mexican restaurant in Salt Lake City. I wanted to find those hidden gem restaurants Salt Lake City has to offer, and bring them into the light. I wanted to taste different cuisines that aren’t native to Salt Lake City.
So whether you’re visiting Salt Lake City for the first time, are a seasoned local looking to expand your palate, or just a courageous person looking for the next adventure, listen up! I’ve got your guide to the best ethnic food in Salt Lake City.
Many items on the menus at these restaurants will be unfamiliar. The point of having culinary adventures is to step out of your comfort zone and try something new. You might enjoy it, you might not. But you never know until you give it a shot. So take my recommendations. Google what the items are so you have an idea. But know that most of these restaurants have pictures on their menus to help.
Tips for Trying New Restaurants
Venturing out and trying new restaurants can be a little intimidating at first. You are unfamiliar with the ethnic cuisine and probably don’t know much about the ingredients. Here are a few of my personal tips for enjoying your culinary adventure.
Do a little research. You don’t have to go into the restaurant blind. Take a look at the menu online, Google some of the menu items so they’re not as intimidating. Ask around if any of your friends or acquaintances have eaten at the restaurant or the cuisine.
Go with a friend. Meals, especially in the parts of the world that I’ll be highlighting below, are best shared with others. There’s always someone in the group that’s a little more daring and will lead the way with trying different dishes. Plus, the more people you go with, the more variety of dishes you’ll get to try. I have been part of a few dinner groups, and we always would order something different from everyone else to get a better sampling of the food.
Don’t think too much about it. Everyone needs to eat and has their own comfort foods. People don’t want to serve disgusting food. Don’t get too wrapped up in worrying about the unknown of patronizing a restaurant that isn’t part of your usual cycle. Just go and have an experience. And eat.
The restaurant owners want to share their culture. When I was researching these restaurants a little deeper than just what their menus had to offer, you know what I found out? The owners wanted to share their culture in a place that didn’t have too many options quite like their own. So when you go and patronize these restaurants, you get a glimpse into another culture, without having to go to the other side of the world!
The best restaurants in Salt Lake City (and around the world) are often hiding in plain sight. The buildings are often nondescript and invisible…unless you’re looking for them. But I’ve found them. The best ethnic food in Salt Lake City, along with personal recommendations, is right here at your fingertips.
Grab a drool rag and get ready to start planning your visits to eat the best ethnic food in Salt Lake City!
Afghan Kitchen – Best Afghan Food in Salt Lake City
Out of this entire list, I have to admit that I’ve visited the Afghan Kitchen more times than almost any other. The restaurant was started by 2 families that relocated to Salt Lake City from Afghanistan, bringing their culinary traditions with them.
Don’t be fooled with the outside look of the restaurant. I made the mistake of judging this book by its cover and haven’t forgiven myself yet. Walk inside the intimate restaurant and you’re welcomed with a warm hug of delicious aromas and the sounds of a feast!
There are also plenty of vegetarian options that will have even the most avid carnivores salivating!
Location: 3142 S Main St, South Salt Lake, UT 84115
What to order: Pumpkin Mantu (steamed dumplings), Shahi Kebab (lamb and chicken). Their rice is probably one of the best sides you can get, along with their salata (cucumber salad).
Arempa’s – Best Venezuelan Food in Salt Lake City
I was thrilled to learn that a 3rd location of Arempa’s opened close to my home. It was one of those times where I would drive by and constantly cran my neck to see if it had opened yet or not.
Arempa’s is best-known for their arepas, which are similar to gorditas and pupusas. They’re unleavened bread, stuffed with meats, cheeses, and a variety of toppings. Sometimes they’re sliced open like a taco, but other times they’ll be stuffed…just like you will be when you eat a few!
They also have some yummy vegan options. And yes, this is what Mirabel from Disney’s “Encanto” ate throughout the movie!
Location: 350 S State St., Salt Lake City, UT 84111
What to order: You can’t go wrong with a shredded chicken empanada or an arepa pabellon (shredded beef, fried plantain, black beans and cheese)
Beirut Cafe – Best Lebanese Food in Salt Lake City
I watch a lot of travelers on YouTube and most of them agree that Lebanese food is in their top 3 cuisines world-wide. I’m stoked that Salt Lake City can share some of that cuisine with others who might not make it to that side of the world.
A popular spice you will see in many Lebanese dishes is sumac. It’s a red powder that has a subtle tang like you’d get from lemon juice, but with a slight sweetness and floral overtones. Like salt, it helps bring out flavors and add depth to the cuisine.
Location: 1326 E 5600 S, Salt Lake City, UT 84121
What to order: Fatoush salad (lettuce, cucumber, mint, radish, pita chips, pomegranate molasses, and olive oil), hummus, chicken shawarma plate, and some cheese kunafa (phyllo dough filled with cheese and soaked in sugar syrup flavored with rose water and orange blossom water, then topped with ground pistachios)
Catrachos – Best Honduran/Salvadoran Food in Salt Lake City
This was a serendipitous find as I was driving around town. Pay attention to where the locals go. When you see a full parking lot, take notice. That’s how I found Catrachos! Located in a nondescript little strip mall in a more industrial part of town, this place is always lively and a party when you visit.
I’d had Salvadoran food a few times before, but mainly pupusas after softball games. I didn’t know too much else about the cuisine. And I’d never had Honduran food before, so this was definitely one of those hidden gem restaurants to find!
Location: 3584 S Redwood Rd, West Valley City, UT 84119
What to order: Baleadas (filled wheat flour tortilla) and tostadas are the way to go for me. When it’s cold and you’re feeling adventurous, try one of their soups!
Curry in a Hurry – Best Indian/Pakistani Food in Salt Lake City
As the name suggests, you can get in and out of Curry in a Hurry pretty quickly if you need to. This humble restaurant began life as a home-cooked meal by Mona Nisar for a local neighborhood festival. So many people asked where the restaurant was located and complimented the food, that it gave Mona the encouragement and drive to finally open a restaurant in Salt Lake City.
Looking for a restaurant that offers plenty of vegetarian and halal dishes? Curry in a Hurry is where it’s at!
Location: 2020 S State St, Salt Lake City, UT 84115
What to order: Tandoori chicken plate, mango chutney, and samosas
Mahider – Best Ethiopian Food in Salt Lake City
Out of all the restaurants on this list, Mahider has to be the most unique in terms of how you eat the food. Traditionally Ethiopian foods are eaten on a piece of injera bread, which is like a spongy, hole-y tortilla with a slight tang to it. Instead of using silverware, you rip off a piece of the injera bread and use it to pinch your food with your hands.
This is my 2nd most-visited restaurant on this list! I love introducing my friends and family to Mahider because it’s so different from what we know as westerners. There are tons of vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free options as well.
Berbere is the main spice used in Ethiopian cuisine. Marcus Samuelsson, an internationally well-known Ethiopian-born chef, once described berbere as the lifeblood of Ethiopian cuisine. It’s a deep red pepper spice that permeates your soul as soon as you enter Mahider.
Location: 1465 State St #7, Salt Lake City, UT 84115
What to order: For your first visit and first time trying Ethiopian food, I highly recommend getting the Taste of Mahider, which is a sampler platter with a variety of dishes: Doro Wot (chicken stew), Siga Wot (beef stew with Ayib – Ethiopian cheese), Alicha Wot (cubed beef stew with turmeric), with veggies and lentil stews. My favorite thing to get is the Doro Wot, but traditionally it is only cooked for special occasions, so I like to treat it as such. When you order the entree, it comes with a few pieces of chicken and a couple boiled eggs.
Siegfried’s Delicatessen – Best German Food in Salt Lake City
When I returned from my study abroad in Germany, I had difficulties not visiting Siegfried’s every day. When I couldn’t get my German boss to cook me German food, I’d take the train downtown for lunch and get my fix of German food.
In addition to serving the best German food in Salt Lake City, the deli imports quite a few shelf-stable food items that you can purchase. Or stare at while you eat. Either way, they’re there. And with its perfect location smack dab in the middle of downtown, it’s a popular hotspot with locals needing a delicious quick lunch.
Location: 20 W 200 S, Salt Lake City, UT 84101
What to order: Definitely get a sausage (they make them fresh) and sauerkraut (imported from Germany)! In the colder months, I like to get the spaetzle with gravy and wiener schnitzel.
Sumac Cafe – Best Persian Food in Salt Lake City
Perhaps the newest find for this list, but definitely not any less than the others, Sumac Cafe was another drive-by find for me. Nestled up towards the canyons is this authentic Persian gem. Bearing the name of one of my favorite spices, Sumac Cafe takes patrons on a culinary adventure to the other side of the world.
Location: 2578 Bengal Blvd, Cottonwood Heights, UT 84121
What to order: Get the Sumac Salad and any one of their numerous kebabs. You can’t go wrong with food cooked directly on a flame. Finish your meal with baklava or some Shole Zard (rice pudding with saffron and rose).
Toro Ramen – Best Ramen in Salt Lake City
There are tons of ramen restaurants in Salt Lake City, but Toro Ramen stands out above its competitors. Fresh noodles, deep broths, and delicious toppings make Toro Ramen the up-and-coming ramen hot-spot around.
I’ve tried every appetizer they have on the menu, and although I order the same thing every time I go, I’ve tried every ramen option as well. Not sure if I’m proud to admit that or not, but take it for what it’s worth – authority to call this the best ramen in Salt Lake City.
Location: 7194 s Union Park Ave #A, Midvale, UT 84047
What to order: Steamed buns and tempura shrimp for your appetizers, and then their tonkotsu karai ramen with a side of kimchi (fermented spicy cabbage) is gold. I know, I know, you can get tempura shrimp everywhere. But I’ve eaten them at dozens of places and can say with certainty that their tempura shrimp is the best I’ve ever had. Same with their kimchi. I don’t know what the do to it, but it’s the bomb.com.
There are a couple of things you might notice about this list, and I want to draw your attention to them for a moment.
- I’ve already written about where to find the best Mexican food in Salt Lake City, which you can read here. I have too many favorites to select just one for this article.
- I have yet to make a decision on where to find the best Italian food in Salt Lake City. Maybe I’ll write another post about that soon? But I’d rather visit Italy first…
- When I look at the places I go to for comfort food, I’m not really all that surprised to find that my taste in ethnic food mimics that of my travel style. I tend to choose options that aren’t typically considered “mainstream,” but are secretly the best.
- I will not be including any restaurants from my original post about the best ethnic restaurants in Salt Lake City, but that doesn’t mean they’re not worth mentioning again: Cafe on Main (Bosnian), Oh Mai (Vietnamese), and Myung Ga (Korean).
- I was not asked to write this post by anyone. I simply wanted to show you another way to find adventures close to home. #notsponsored
Have you tried any of these restaurants to eat the best ethnic food in Salt Lake City? Where else have you been that deserves to be on this list?
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