Dining Around The World

Dining around the world in Salt Lake City, Utah, is as simple as jumping on TRAX and riding through the 'Free Fare Zone' to find some of the most interesting and delicious restaurants the city has to offer. Salt Lake City's friendly policies towards immigrants and refugees has elevated its cosmopolitan status. The result has been culture, refinement and some delectable food choices from around the globe.

Argentina's Best

In the mood for an empanada? Look no further than Argentina's Best. Owner Ana Valdemoros and team recently moved into their new home located at 357 South 200 East. The idea to provide traditional food from their homeland started after Ana and her mother had a morning stroll through Salt Lake City's Downtown Farmers Market.  They longed for the aroma of freshly baked empanadas, which surfaced many happy, nostalgic memories. The idea was born and they started making traditional Argentine empanadas every Saturday: arguably the best handcrafted empanadas in the valley. Ana and her team pride themselves in offering five varieties of homemade empanadas filled with local grass fed beef, fresh produce and healthy ingredients all year long. Argentina’s Best Empanadas are made with Utah’s best local and sustainably grown ingredients. With their new storefront, you can come get your empanadas for breakfast and lunch, six days a week.

Bruges Waffles and Frites

From selling Liege waffles out of a vending cart on Main Street, to having blossomed into a four-location success, native Belgians Pierre Vandamme and Philippe Wyffels understand well the combination of hard work and offering a delicious product. Enjoy a taste of steaming vanilla or cinnamon waffles smothered in melting butter, or try their world famous Machine Gun Sandwich® featured on Man Vs. Food. The sandwich consists of Vosen's fresh and toasted baguette stuffed with two Morgan Valley merguez (Bruges’ secret recipe) lamb sausages, Andalouse dipping sauce and frites. We recommend bringing along a defibrillator. Bruges frites are hand-peeled and cut daily from fresh Idaho potatoes, then fried twice for a crisp outside and soft inside. Enough said! Visit their downtown location at 336 W 300 S and discover why the awards and rave reviews keep flowing their way.

Himalayan Kitchen

Surya Bastakoti, a paraglider and owner of Mt. Pumori Trekking and Expeditions, traded The Himalaya of Nepal for the Wasatch of Salt Lake City, and started the one and only Nepali restaurant in Utah. Not only is Himalayan Kitchen an award-winning restaurant, but it is also a gallery loaded with Nepalese and Buddhist art. Head down to 360 South State and partake in the succulent Nepali curry, a melange of flavors stemming from the bone-in goat meat slow-cooked in broth with onion, garlic, ginger, tomato and curry sauce. Another local favorite are the Himalayan momos: steamed chicken dumplings served with sesame seed sauce.

Hong Kong Tea House

Dim Sum, anyone? Hong Kong Tea House, located at 565 West 200 South, has around 50 delightful choices ranging from steamed pork dumpling, silver wrapped chicken, fried shrimp balls, beef Wienoki mushroom roll and crab meat dumpling—just to name a few. If that's not enough to make your mouth water, any of the chef's specials should do the trick. Steamed seabass with ginger, roasted pork belly in hot pot or beef short ribs with black pepper garlic will complete your culinary adventure at Hong Kong Tea House. The restaurant has been serving happy patrons for 16 years and continues to find its place as one of Salt Lake City's best. The food and service is top notch.

Siegfried's Delicatessen

Craving some schnitzel, spaetzle with gravy, a Ruben with mayo, mustard, swiss cheese, pickles, sauerkraut and corned beef on rye bread? Maybe you want to dive a little deeper into German food paradise with cabbage rolls, leberkaase or even pig’s knuckle? The spot to enter this delightful world is Salt Lake City's very own Siegfried's Delicatessen. Enjoy classic German food made from scratch every day with traditional ingredients imported directly from Germany—save for the sausages, which are made fresh every day locally.

Opened in 1971, Siegfried's is the only German restaurant within Salt Lake City. The deli serves lunch and dinner in a casual atmosphere, and is located steps from Main Street at 20 W 200 S downtown.

Laan Na Thai

Take your first step through the door, and husband and wife team Wichai and Yupin Charoen will warmly greet you with smiles, plus a wide selection of tasty traditional Thai dishes. The location is small, but the menu is stacked full of options such as pad kee mao, pad roasted chili oil, pad seiw, drunken noodles and pod prik sod beef. The husband and wife duo also offer dishes native to their northeast Thailand, a region renowned for bold flavors. One local favorite is the nam tok beek waterfall. Tender flank steak strips stir-fried with scallions, Thai chiles, nam pla, lime, shallots, cilantro, served with romaine lettuce and sticky rice. We recommend diners try the hung lay pork: succulent pork belly in spicy curry with coconut milk, carrots and potatoes. Prices are very reasonable for the quality and selection of Thai offerings. Stroll down to Laan Na Thai at 336 W 300 S.