You have plenty of great options when it comes to dining in the Salt Lake Valley, but there's only one diner that's situated in a beautiful mountain setting, offers delicious food, and has a dining room that's a converted trolley car. Do you know which restaurant we're talking about? If you've lived in Utah very long, you'll immediately recognize Ruth's Diner.
For one of the best dining experiences in the Beehive State, head to Emigration Canyon. Just a mile or so up the canyon you'll find Ruth's Diner - a Salt Lake City icon since 1930.
Address: 4160 Emigration Canyon Road, Salt Lake City, UT 84108
Ruth opened her original restaurant, "Ruth's Hamburgers" in downtown Salt Lake City in 1930. When the building was demolished in the 1940s, she bought an abandoned Salt Lake City trolley car and moved it to Emigration Canyon.
Ruth's Diner opened in 1948, and you can still dine in the converted trolley car.
An addition was added behind the trolley car to serve as Ruth's apartment, where she lived for more than 40 years.
Ruth passed away at age 94, and the area that once served as her apartment is now a dining room and kitchen.
If you arrive on a weekend, it's going to be busy. Very busy. Luckily, you can grab a City Weekly and take a seat at one of the tables in front while you wait. Remind yourself that it's worth the wait, because it really is.
It's fun to sit in the trolley car portion of the restaurant, but during the summer the back patio is the best seat in the house. There's often live music, and the leafy trees overhead provide plenty of shade.
If You Only Have One Day to Visit This Small Town in Maine, Here’s Everything You Absolutely Can’t Miss
If You Only Have One Day to Visit This Small Town in Massachusetts, Here’s Everything You Absolutely Can’t Miss
If You Only Have One Day to Visit This Small Town in Maryland, Here’s Everything You Absolutely Can’t Miss
The best part of the meal arrives first - the Mile High Biscuits! These light, fluffy biscuits are served with butter and homemade raspberry jam, and they're downright addictive.
Everything on Ruth's menu is wonderful, from breakfast to dinner. If you're dining for breakfast or brunch, try the egg Benedicts. Choose from original egg Benedict, salmon Benedict, pulled pork Benedict, and chicken fried steak Benedict.
Other favorites include the banana walnut or cinnamon roll French toast, the breakfast burrito, or the Mile High biscuits and gravy.
Lunch and dinner options include an array of fresh salads, savory soups and sandwiches, and comfort food entrees like meat loaf, pot roast, and baked mac 'n cheese.
Dine at Ruth's Diner seven days a week. It's open Sunday through Thursday from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m., Friday and Saturday until 10 p.m.
Have you enjoyed Ruth's Diner's patio dining this summer? Tell our readers about your experiences here in the comments, and tag the friends you want to meet you there for a meal!
Visit the Ruth's Diner website to learn more about this charming restaurant, and make sure to follow its Facebook page to see the latest.
Subscribe to our newsletter
Get the latest updates and news
Thank you for subscribing!