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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.
Known For
- Vegan Impossible burgers can be substituted for any order
- Creative burger toppings
- Typically parks in areas with pleasant, shaded seating
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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.
50 W. Center St., Utah, 84720, USA
Known For
- House-made sausage
- Good wine and beer list
- Creative desserts
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Reservations not accepted
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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.
12 Sand Creek Rd., Utah, 84775, USA
Known For
- Mexican Jarritos-brand soft drinks and both local and Mexican beers
- Filling breakfast fare
- Sautéed octopus and shrimp tacos
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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.
310 W. Main St., Utah, 84726, USA
Known For
- Excellent craft beer selection
- Friendly crowd
- Fine coffees, quiches, and pastries in the morning
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Wed. and Dec.–Feb.
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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.
20 N. Hwy. 12, Utah, 84716, USA
Known For
- Some of the tastiest, freshest food in Utah
- Enchanting covered patio
- Innovative farm-to-bar cocktails
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed late Nov.–mid-Mar.
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Recommended Fodor’s Video
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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.
161 N. Main St., Utah, 84776, USA
Known For
- Nice variety of both sweet and spicy sauces
- Chalkboard menu with creative staff recommendations
- Peach cobbler
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Sun.
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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.
2862 Santa Clara Dr., Utah, 84765, USA
Known For
- Exceptional farm-to-table cuisine
- Charming, historic setting
- Thoughtful wine list (and inexpensive corkage fee if you bring your own bottle)
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Sun. and Mon. No lunch
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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.
2 W. St. George Blvd., Utah, 84770, USA
Known For
- Knowledgeable servers
- One of the best wine lists in town
- Seasonally changing bread pudding
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: No lunch Sun.
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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.
1110 W. Hwy. 24, Utah, 84775, USA
Known For
- Corn muffins with pecan-honey butter
- Slow-smoked half chicken
- Make-your-own s'mores
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Sun. and Nov.–Mar. No lunch
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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.
210 S. 100 E, Utah, 84741, USA
Known For
- Charcuterie and cheese boards
- Outstanding wine and cocktail selection
- House-made gelato
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Mon. and Tues.
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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.
815 Coyote Gulch Ct., Utah, 84738, USA
Known For
- Steps from several art galleries
- Well-curated beer, wine, and cocktail list
- Croissant bread pudding with caramel sauce
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Tues. and Wed. No dinner Mon.
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After a hike in nearby Pioneer Park or Red Hills Desert Garden, fuel up on delicious blistered-crust pizzas at this hip eatery and taproom that's also known for its impressive selection of craft beers and sodas as well as wines on tap. Favorite pies include the Arugula Bianca with roasted garlic, prosciutto, pecorino Romano, and truffle oil and the spice-lover's Purgatory, which has a spicy tomato base along with Calabrese salami, pepperoncini, jalapeños, and sweet-and-hot Italian sausage.
974 W. Sunset Blvd., St. George, Utah, 84770, USA
Known For
- Pizzas with interesting toppings
- Wood-fired meatballs, garlic bread, and other sides
- Dessert pizzas topped with Nutella and ricotta cheese
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Mon.
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With a palatial dining room with chandeliers and white napery, this elegant restaurant east of downtown (and formerly in Ivins) specializes in haute American and European fare and is a favorite destination for special occasions. Think rich, creamy lobster bisque with Spanish sherry, risotto with black truffles and grilled prawns, fall-off-the-bone lamb osso buco, and chateaubriand for two. Everything, including the sumptuous desserts, is artfully plated.
1386 E. 100 S, St. George, Utah, 84790, USA
Known For
- Steaks with decadent sauces and sides
- Refined service
- Impressive wine list
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: No lunch
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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.
10 N. Hwy. 12, Utah, 84716, USA
Known For
- Cute coffeehouse and art gallery across the courtyard
- Lamb and grass-fed beef burgers
- Chocolate-whiskey pie
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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.
9065 W. Hwy. 9, Utah, 84755, USA
Known For
- Great wine list
- Beef and bison steaks and burgers
- Close to Zion
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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.
80 N. Main St., Panguitch, Utah, 84759, USA
Known For
- German sausage platter
- Prodigious steaks
- Delicious desserts, including fruit cobbler and pies
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Sun. and late Nov.–mid-Mar.
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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.
495 W. Main St., Utah, 84726, USA
Known For
- Flan with weekly rotating flavors
- Lavender lemonade and other nonalcoholic drinks
- Colorfully painted outdoor seating area
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Sun. and Mon.
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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.
599 W. Main St., Utah, 84775, USA
Known For
- Nightly-changing array of house-made desserts
- Superb charcuterie-and-cheese boards
- Red-rock views from the patio
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Mon. and Tues. No lunch
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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.
95 W. 700 S, Utah, 84770, USA
Known For
- Steak chilaquiles at breakfast
- Chicken mole poblano
- Mexican soft drinks and juices
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Sun. and Mon.
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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.
138 S. Main St., Utah, 84737, USA
Known For
- Handy location for trips east toward Zion National Park
- Pretty outdoor seating area
- Big portions
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Sun.
