47 Best Restaurants in Southwestern Utah, Utah

This cheerful food truck, which doles out superb burgers with imaginative toppings, along with fries and soft drinks, parks in different parts of Torrey (often beside The Chuckwagon hotel)—check their Facebook page for the latest hours and address. Favorites among these over-the-top creations include the burger topped with gooey mac-and-cheese, smoked bacon, coal-roasted green chilies, and whole grain mustard; and another slathered with pulled pork, cream cheese, pickled jalapeños, and barbecue sauce. 

You can watch your handmade artisanal pizza being pulled from the fires of the brick oven, then sit back and enjoy a seasonal pie layered with ingredients like house-made fennel sausage and wood-roasted cremini mushrooms. The creamy vanilla gelato layered with a balsamic reduction and sea salt is highly addictive.

But for a smattering of colorful papel picado (cut paper) flags strung along the ceiling and some neon Mexican beer signs, this unassuming eatery on the east side of Torrey lacks much in the way of ambience. The plates brimming with vibrant sauces, fresh vegetables, and tender steak, chicken, and seafood, however, hint at why this relatively new Mexican restaurant has such a passionate following. Service is friendly and knowledgeable, too.

Husband and husband Joseph Shumway and A. C. Ivory operate this hip artisan ice cream shop adjacent to the Wild Rabbit Cafe and Shooke Coffee Roasters along with the small regenerative farm in nearby Bicknell where they source some of their ingredients. Some of the interesting flavors include dark chocolate–mint, juniper berry, and mango-chili-lime.

Stop by this cheerful coffeehouse with hanging plants and several tables on a spacious side patio to fuel up before your big park adventure or to grab some healthy sustenance for later. Hearty acai and miso-quinoa bowls, toast with goat cheese and fresh strawberries, bagels with the requisite schmears, breakfast burritos, and house-made granola are among the tasty offerings. There's also a nice selection of camp mugs, travel tumblers, and coffee-related gifts.

This warm and inviting log cabin–style restaurant—operated by a popular tour operator that also runs a camp store and cabin and camping compound—is a great place to sit back and relax after a day of hiking, fly-fishing, or road-tripping. Try one of the creatively topped pizzas, a veggie sandwich, or an apple-pecan-arugula salad, or drop in for a well-crafted (Fair Trade) coffee and a light breakfast to kick off the day.

This hip sidewalk café and bakery on the ground floor of a downtown St. George apartment building is a pleasing option for both decadent sweets—think passionfruit-coconut–glazed doughnuts and blood-orange tarts—and filling sandwiches on crusty house-baked breads. Notable drink options include brown sugar–cinnamon lattes and high-octane cold brews.

On the stunning grounds of the Boulder Mountain Lodge and a frequent James Beard Award semifinalist, this remote eatery—its creative, oft-changing menu is inspired by indigenous, Western range, Southwestern, and Mormon pioneer recipes—is worth the 40-mile drive from Torrey or 25-mile drive from Escalante along scenic Highway 12. The amiable chef-owners (and cookbook authors) source many ingredients they use—in dishes like braised beef with kale, tomatoes, and green-chile polenta; and pappardelle with smoked trout and farm veggies—come directly from their own organic farm or one of the area's sustainable purveyors.

This casually hip, counter-service restaurant with picnic tables outfitted with big rolls of paper towels serves tender pulled pork, smoked chicken, and beef brisket barbecue, along with classic sides like mac-and-cheese, baked beans, potato salad, and cornbread. You can enjoy your barbecue as a platter or sandwich, or take things to another level and try it smothered over nachos or in a loaded baked potato. No alcohol.

This fun stop along scenic Highway 12, 13 miles east of Escalante, was constructed by the late artist and inventor Bradshaw Bowman, who began building it when he was in his eighties and spent two years finding and transporting the 13 Douglas-fir logs surrounding the structure. The distinctive eatery with amazing views serves a daily-changing array of made-from-scratch soups, bagel sandwiches, tamales, oatmeal pancakes, salads, and decadent desserts, plus exceptional coffee and espresso drinks. Open from March through October, the café also rents two overnight accommodations in a nearby cabin.

In a handsomely restored little house in the tree-lined, historic village of Santa Clara—about 15 minutes west of downtown St. George—this sweet, cozy neighborhood restaurant with seating in a colorful front garden serves extraordinarily tasty, locally sourced contemporary American–Mediterranean fare. It's worth the trip to this slightly off-the-beaten-path locale to savor coconut labneh with spicy harissa, charred heirloom tomatoes, and hazelnut dukkah and seared skirt steak with jalapeño-parsley chermoula. The desserts change nightly and are also tantalizing.

This tiny takeout patisserie in the center of downtown is a favorite stop for lattes and cold brew; crepes and salads; heartier dinner specials (salmon, filet mignon, ratatouille); and ethereal pastries and sweets, including a rotating selection of chocolate, berry, lemon, and seasonal tarts. Although primarily a to-go option that's perfect for stocking up before a hiking or biking adventure, in warm weather, you can also dine on the cute patio out front.

A charming patio overlooking Ancestor Square with contemporary Southwestern art on the walls provides a romantic setting for enjoying contemporary American fare with an emphasis on seasonal ingredients, many from the owners' private organic garden. Consider sage-smoked quail with a tamarind glaze, followed by a juniper-brined bone-in pork chop with stuffed pears and smoked-tomato relish, and don't pass up the standout sides that include sweet cornbread pudding, truffle potato chips, and Stilton fritters. The white chocolate cheesecake tower is a standout among several excellent desserts.

Located a little west of town in the middle of Thousand Lakes RV Park, this festive barbecue joint offers chuckwagon-style outdoor seating around firepits. Think elevated comfort food, with dishes like dry-rub smoked pork spare ribs, spiced-rubbed grilled salmon, and chargrilled rib-eye steaks packed with flavor, and delicious side dishes and desserts, too. There's no alcohol served, but you can bring your own.

The sophisticated contemporary Mediterranean fare served in this snazzy bistro with a cathedral ceiling and an open kitchen would hold its own in any big city. Start off your evening with escargot with herbed garlic butter or French onion soup, before graduating to gnocchi with sautéed lobster tail or pan-seared duck breast with a cherry reduction and truffle-dusted potatoes.

This beautifully designed adobe oasis in the Kayenta Art Village in Ivins, about 10 miles northwest of St. George, offers gracious indoor and outdoor seating, the latter overlooking fragrant high-desert gardens and the surrounding red-rock ramparts. Pronounced zay-tah-vah, the space began as a coffee bar and is still a source of lattes and mochas, but you'll also find an eclectic selection of globally inspired all-day fare, including blue-corn waffles, ham ciabattas, peach-glazed organic chicken, and wild mushroom burgers. Weekend brunch is extremely popular.

Drop by this airy, contemporary, downtown coffeehouse—which adjoins a yoga studio that offers a wide range of classes—for the best espresso drinks in town, including bourbon barrel–aged cold brew and crème brûlée cappuccinos. There's also an extensive menu of flavored lemonades and fresh-squeezed juices, plus tasty breakfast items like blackberry parfait and chai oatmeal.

Local cowboys still pony up to the back porch for meals at this laid-back restaurant with indoor and outdoor seating overlooking Boulder Mountain and the Aquarius Plateau. The grill serves eclectic contemporary fare like spicy fried chicken sandwiches with coconut-peanut sauce, and seared trout with lemon-herb butter and charred lemon. During the day across the courtyard, Burr Trail Outpost is a funky coffeehouse serving light snacks and showcasing local art, furniture, and crafts.

Edison bulbs, timber walls, local landscape photos, and actual stacked cords of wood impart a rustic-elegant ambience at this casually upscale restaurant just 4 miles beyond Zion National Park's eastern entrance, at Zion Mountain Ranch. Bison, beef, and lamb raised on Utah and Colorado ranches form the backbone of a contemporary American menu that also always features at least one vegetarian option and usually trout or salmon as well. It's a 15-minute drive from Orderville itself but a convenient and inviting stop for breakfast, lunch, or dinner when traveling to or from the park.

From the Western-style interior and creaky floors to the smoker out back, this rustic café has an aura of Texan authenticity—there are cowboy collectibles and game trophies lining the walls. No surprise that barbecue is the specialty here, and the restaurant has its own house-made sauce, with ample portions of favorites, such as ribs, mesquite-flavored beef, and pulled pork, along with lighter sandwiches and salads.

Head to this local chainlet's light-filled, high-ceilinged east side location—near the Virgin River bike and jogging trail—for well-crafted coffees, teas, and lemonades as well as an assortment of tasty, generally healthy, dishes. Start the day with some BLT avocado toast or a turmeric-tofu scramble, and for lunch, try the harvest berry salad. Additional locations are in Ancestor Square and Springdale.

This quirky food truck–style café beside Canyons of Escalante RV Park doles out filling and flavorful Mexican and Southwestern standbys, including prodigious chicken or beef burritos with Oaxacan and Jack cheese and house-made green salsa, and seasoned-cod tacos with aioli. There's ample seating on the cheerful patio. Alcohol isn't served, but there is a nice array of zero-booze drinks, from lemonade to horchata.

Try to snag a table on the tree-shaded semicovered patio at this contemporary upscale bistro on the west edge of downtown—it's especially romantic for enjoying a margarita or a glass of cider from neighboring Etta Place Cider. Run by a husband-and-wife team with extensive experience at some of Salt Lake City's top restaurants, this locavore-minded eatery specializes in creatively prepared dishes focused on both "hunted" (elk filet, duck breast) and "gathered" (wild mushrooms, mountain trout) ingredients. 

A reliable standby for tasty Mexican-American fare since 1993, this humble spot serves affordable, no-nonsense food that can be quite spicy if requested. Specialties include pork tortas, massive burritos smothered in red or green sauce, and shrimp enchiladas. There's a good kids' menu, too.

This colorful storefront eatery in historic downtown Hurricane pours one of the region's best cups of coffee, a fine prelude or follow-up to the salads, sandwiches, hearty omelets, homemade soups, flavorful pastas, and generous hamburgers on the menu. If you have the time, linger outside on the shaded patio and watch the hummingbirds.

Cabin decor, friendly service, and canyon views are the hallmarks of this dinner spot 10 minutes southeast of downtown Cedar City by car. Expect traditional, hearty steak house cuisine: teriyaki beef kebabs, prime rib, and shrimp scampi, accompanied by loaded baked potatoes, deep-fried zucchini, and similar sides. Save room for the warm apple crisp à la mode or another of the delicious desserts. Hunting trophies decorate the log cabin--style interior, and in winter deer feed outside while logs blaze away in the big stone fireplace inside.

At this funky, updated downtown take on a burger joint, the brick walls are hung with local art for sale. Creatively topped beef and veggie burgers are offered, plus breakfast burritos, several varieties of quinoa salad, and thick milkshakes. Choose from a long list of toppings and sides, like sauerkraut, sriracha mayo, pineapple relish, and kimchi for your meal.

Dive into one of the hefty burgers at this local fast-food spot set in a low-slung mid-century building on Main Street—there's no indoor seating, just order at the counter and enjoy your meal at one of the green picnic tables. Bison, beef, and veggie patties are available, along with beer-battered-cod baskets, corn dogs, pulled pork sandwiches, and homemade ice cream and shakes.