Utah! Home of the Najavo, and the land of western settlers. A place full of deep history, amazing nature, and incredible sights to see. Well, no less amazing is the insane variety of strange and unique foods and drinks on offer throughout this great state. Listed below are just some of the fan favorites.
1. Enjoy the sweet marvel that is honey! No list about Utah foods and beverages is complete without honoring the beehive, the state’s symbol. Utah has a long history of honey-making and beehive keeping, stretching back to the old days of its formation. Early Mormon settlers of Utah saw the beehive as a symbol of their hard work and industriousness, and they harvested the sweet nectar by the droves. When in the area and looking for a treat, Miller’s Honey, in particular, will make for a fine eat. They’re one of the country’s biggest sellers of the product and promise raw, unfiltered, pure honey.
2. Chow down on the Crown Burger! Crown Burgers has set a real craze out in Salt Lake City’s burger-loving people with their signature charbroiled beef patty burger with hot pastrami, cheese, lettuce, and rounded out with tomato and fresh-cut onions on a warm sesame seed bun. Adding to the overall flavor is a generous spreading of Utah’s famed fry sauce, which we’ll be getting to next on our list. No meat-eating burger-lover visiting Utah should miss this mouth-watering delight. Stop on by the Crown Burgers at one of their seven locations across the state, five of which being in the Salt Lake City.
3. Discover the wonder that is Fry Sauce! It’s not altogether clear just who invented this incredible condiment. Some say it was a man named Don Carlos Edwards of the restaurant the Article Circle, whereas others claim Edwards took the idea from a passing customer or another eatery in the area. One thing is certain though, Utah was where Fry Sauce came to be, and when in the area, it’s every traveler’s right and privilege to sample this original flavor. For those unfamiliar with Utah’s signature blend of sauce, it’s a secret but simple combination of ketchup, mayonnaise, and often paired with pickle juice for extra flavor.
4. Test your belly with Angie’s Sink! Angie’s Sink is certainly one of the more unique foods you’ll find anywhere you go, and one that the mere thought of makes the mouth water. Brought to us by Angie’s Restaurant out in Logan, Utah, the Sink is pretty much what it sounds like. It’s a sink, of food! Mounds of creamy vanilla ice cream, two bananas whole, whipped cream, nuts, and a sweet cheery on top are what you’ll find in the sink.
5. Bask in the homemade warmth of a proper Dutch Oven dinner! Utah sure is a unique bit of land out in the Western US. Not a lot of states can say this, but out there they’ve even got an official state cooking pot, the Dutch Oven Cooking Pot. Hell, Utah even has an International Dutch Oven Society headquartered in Salt Lake City to symbolize their seriousness about their cooking. Dutch oven pots were a staple of old-time pioneers and settlers and often come in cast-iron cookware with a handle on top for easy transport and travel. One can make just about anything in one of these great cooking pots, and the only real limiter on their use is the imagination and one’s pallet. Get cooking!
6. Sample fine Navajo Tacos! Utah is a land of great history for the Navajo people. The official Navajo Nation is spread throughout the southeastern end of the state, and even touches borders with the state’s capital, Salt Lake City. So, when in the area, it’s only right that visitors interested in the state’s history and cuisine find their way to Navajo Hogan, dine in or take out. Local rumor has it that the Navajo-owned restaurant serves the best authentic style tacos in all of Navajo land and is not to be missed. Classic Navajo Tacos are made from ground beef, red beans, lettuce, tomatoes, cheese, and fry bread, often with the option of a blue corn shell as a tasty alternative.
7. Speaking of fine authentic cuisine, try Salt Lake City’s famed Puntas de Filete a la Nortena, of the Red Iguana! De Filete is the number one selling menu item at the Red Iguana, one of Salt Lake City’s finest Mexican restaurants. Visitors to the city can stop on by and expect to bite into this tasty meal of sirloin tips slow sautéed with bacon, jalapenos, onion, and fresh-cut tomatoes. It is certainly one meal not to miss for lovers of authentic Mexican food. The Red Iguana can be found at one of their two locations on Temple Street in Salt Lake City, Utah; 736 W North Temple, and 866 W South Temple Street and open from 11 AM to 10 PM most days of the week.
8. Peruse the finest microbrews Utah has to offer! Besides honey, Utah is probably most known (maybe, surprisingly) for its wide variety of custom microbrews and fine distilled liquors. Some of the local favorites of the state are Wasatch, Epic, and Uintah, when it comes to microbrews. For distilleries, one can’t go wrong with High West in Park City or Five Wives in Ogden. Wasatch, in particular, seems to have captured the attention of beer connoisseurs in the state, having consistently seen high ratings and fine reviews of their products since opening in 1986. Fun fact! Wasatch Brewery was the first brewery in all of Utah, and among the first craft breweries throughout the US.
Desserts and fine meals, historic brews and sinks full of ice cream, fry sauce and more, Utah offers something for everyone to enjoy. The state is rife with interesting foods and amazing beverages. While travelers certainly won’t want to miss out on any of the foods listed here, there is no way we could cover all of the great eats Utah has to offer. Get on out there and get chomping! These tasty menu items won’t eat themselves after all!