Ogden, Utah, continues to grow as a great place to live due to its nearby ski resorts and proximity to Hill Air Force Base. You can be on the slopes in only 20 – 30 minutes, and it tends to be less crowded compared to the resorts closer to Utah’s capital. Ogden is only 30 – 40 minutes north of Salt Lake City, and you can visit by taking the FrontRunner transit for a quick day trip.
Thanks to the Transcontinental Railroad, Ogden became a central hub for those making their way out West in the 1800s. You can still see the Union Station where the trains would come through that area.
It now functions as a museum and event space for things like the Winter Market, a smaller version of the popular Farmer’s Market held in the summer. I recommend booking a history tour or exploring the 25th Street restaurants in Ogden, as many of the buildings are still standing from that era.
The historic 25th Street is where you will find many bars and restaurants. Try to make it for Ogden’s Restaurant Week Ogden where diners can try specialized menu items or a Prix Fix menu. In recent years, Ogden Restaurant Week was in the spring but now occurs in November.
Luckily parking around downtown Ogden is easier for visitors than in most cities. For the most part, you can find free street or garage parking at anytime.
Tips for Utah Dining
I experienced some culture shocks when I moved from Georgia to Utah. The Beehive State does things differently here, so let me fill you in on some of the nuances of Utah’s restaurants.
- The alcohol laws are stringent, and I’m still figuring out all the rules. The main one you need to know is that places are designated as either a restaurant or a bar. A sign is placed in the window to classify if a place is a bar, and I.D.s are scanned upon entry. Only those 21 and over can enter a bar, but most places will still serve a full food menu. If a place is classified as a restaurant, you must order food with your alcoholic beverage. I recommend calling ahead or checking out the website if you will have anyone under 21 with you.
- Fries and tater tots come with fry sauce (a sweet mayo and ketchup dipping sauce) instead of ketchup. Restaurants will provide ketchup if you need it (like me), but give the fry sauce a chance too!
- Dirty soda shops like Swig and Fiz are everywhere. A dirty soda includes flavored syrups and cream mixed in with Coca-Cola, Dr. Pepper, Sprite, etc. My favorite is Coca-cola with coconut syrup, raspberry syrup, and cream – yum! Don’t knock it until you try it!
- Many places are closed on Sundays and Mondays, so we continuously check hours to ensure a business is open first.
Best Restaurants in Ogden, Utah
1. Tona Sushi Bar and Grill
Address: 210 25th St, Ogden, UT 84401
You might not think Ogden, Utah is the place to get fresh sushi. Yet, Tona Sushi Bar and Grill is one of the most popular restaurants in Ogden, Utah, where sushi reigns supreme.
They were voted 2019’s “Best Restaurant” by readers of the Salt Lake City publication, and once you try it, you will see why! Located in the heart of downtown Ogden, Tona Sushi Bar is my favorite spot to celebrate birthdays and special occasions. Luckily, they are a restaurant, so kids are welcome here. The dining area is small and spacious, so there are better places for larger parties.
You can’t go wrong with any of their creative sushi rolls, but the Coconut Crunch and the Escolar-Cilantro rolls are a couple of favorites in my family. Tona Sushi Bar is famous for their Green Globe, which is a seafood rice bomb covered in sliced avocado and fish roe. For a fun challenge, taste their oyster shooters (I promise it’s not bad!) and their bite-sized spoon appetizers.
Tona Sushi Bar is always packed, so I recommend going right when they open for dinner, as a line starts to form before they open the doors. It’s that good! Ask for one of the low-rise tables to have a more traditional Japanese dining experience.
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2. Slackwater Pub and Pizzeria
Address: 209 24th St, Ogden, UT 84401
Slackwater Pub and Pizzeria is one of the top-rated restaurants in Ogden and is on the list as one of the most popular restaurants for locals. If you are one of my friends or family visiting, I will likely take you to Slackwater for a meal. Their inventive menu options of pizza, soups, and sandwiches and their extensive international and local beer menu keeps visitors coming back for more.
Start by ordering a round of Check Your Garlic Breath appetizer, which is the perfect name as it includes several whole roasted garlic heads and gorgonzola cream cheese, served with crostinis. They usually have seasonal or monthly soups available, but come for the Mulligatawny, a yellow curry-style soup perfect for those cold winter nights, and is a nod to the Seinfeld soup episode. If you know, you know.
Their best seller to eat on the pizza side is the California Sunrise, which includes a green goddess dressing with veggies and chicken. One of their more inventive options is the Tikka Masala pizza (a favorite in my family), exactly how it sounds, with tikka masala flavors sitting on the buttery dough.
The original location was a perfect addition next to the Ogden River and walking path. Still, its popularity moved Slackwater into a more prominent spot in 2021 near Lindquist Field, home to the Ogden Raptors.
The newer building does provide a more open space dining experience, and relocation didn’t slow down their fan base. If you want a table without a wait, go right as they open their doors, as they don’t take reservations.
3. Lucky Slice Pizza
Address: 207 25th St, Ogden, UT 84401
Starting in a small corner spot on historic 25th Street, Lucky Slice Pizza gained a faithful following with their quirky slices. You can now find them in a more prominent location across from their former spot in Ogden and other places around northern Utah.
Lucky Slice is another one on the list of the most popular restaurants in Ogden and is perfect for a big slice of great pizza with some craft beers. What makes this place so great? They sell huge slices ready to go.
You can order whole pies for the family to eat and share, but during the evening hours, you may see a line out the door for those coveted pizza slices. It’s more of a grab-and-go type of place, but they do have indoor dining.
Lucky Slice isn’t your average cheese and pepperoni place. Yes, you can order those too, but have you ever had spaghetti and meatball toppings on your pizza? Perhaps the pizza with dill pickles and garlic cream sauce is more up your alley.
Lucky Slice likes to get inventive with its seasonal pizzas. Some of their past seasonal options have included Chicken Pot Pie and Shepherd’s Pie.
Each month they showcase a pizza that you can order every day of that month. One example of their monthly pizzas was The Night Watchman, which featured caramelized onions, crumbled bratwurst, red cabbage, and sweet German mustard.
See Related: Fun & Best Things to Do in Salt Lake City, Utah
4. Wimpy and Fritz
Address: 352 Park Blvd, Ogden, UT 84401
Next to the Ogden River is a casual eatery serving the best tacos in Ogden. Their “Utah’s Best Taco” award at the 2019 SLC Taco Fest can also vouch for them. Wimpy and Fritz started slinging out tacos to hungry locals via the food truck life when they started.
They snagged a late-night spot at the Yes Hell Club where you could jive to live music with a taco in hand. They officially joined the list of restaurants in Ogden when they opened their own location next to the Ogden River.
We always get an order of the flavorful Birria tacos, which include 15-hour smoked carnitas instead of the traditional lamb or goat variety. If you can’t decide which tacos you want to eat, they offer an O.G.
Plate with a carne asada, al pastor, and carnitas taco to give you a taste of what they can do. They also serve a limited brunch menu, beer selection, and fun cocktails.
What makes Wimpy and Fritz unique is their choice to serve fideo and beans to go with the plates instead of rice and beans. What the heck is fideo? Glad you asked! Fideo is like Mexican spaghetti with cut noodles, tomato sauce, and spices. Give it a try!
5. Pig and a Jelly Jar
Address: 227 25th St, Ogden, UT 84401
Though I love experiencing living in a new place, I do miss the familiarity of where I grew up in Georgia. So when I’m feeling homesick, Pig and a Jelly Jar is where I go to eat an authentic southern breakfast.
This place is one of the best restaurants in Ogden to get fried chicken and waffles. If you have never had the dish, get over to them immediately to eat this sweet and salty deliciousness!
Some of Pig and a Jelly Jar’s other southern-inspired plates worth trying are the Nashville Hot Chicken or the Biscuits and Gravy. When I’m feeling extra naughty, I order the Fries and Gravy because who doesn’t love fries smothered in delicious white sausage gravy? Several of the meals come with breakfast potatoes, though I prefer hash browns with my breakfast as someone who grew up with Waffle House.
While you’re more likely to find meat at a place with “pig” in the name, they do offer vegetarian options as well. Try their Veggie Sink egg scramble or the Berry Salad.
See Related: Fun & Best Things to Do in Orem, Utah
6. Table Twenty Five
Address: 195 25th St, Suite 4, Ogden, UT 84401
Table Twenty Five is one of the best places I take family and friends for a culinary adventure. The innovative chefs at Table Twenty Five have created an American restaurant that tantalizes the senses with their food. They use fresh, local produce and high-quality meats, which helps elevate their dishes.
You can’t go wrong with any of their offerings, but their fried chicken sandwich dish and herbed biscuit appetizer warm my southern soul! For a sweet treat, order a glass of champagne sangria and the donut holes, which come with a fruit compote and coffee crème anglaise. Their plates are filling, so come with a hungry stomach!
Table Twenty Five is one of the more upscale restaurants in Ogden, so it’s great for a special occasion or date night. They are open daily, and the family-owned restaurant is a popular spot for brunch on the weekend. Try to get a patio table for great views of the Wasatch Mountains.
7. Warrens Craft Burger
Address: 258 25th St #2302, Ogden, UT 84401
Warrens Craft Burger started in 1957 when a retired local sheriff started the Warrens Drive-In. You can still visit the operating location, which sits in the neighboring town of Riverdale. With new ownership, Warrens Craft Burger was born into existence and set up shop in a permanent location on historic 25th Street.
If you are looking for a good burger meal or stick-to-your-bones type of food, Warren’s is one of the best restaurants in Ogden. Dive into their Mac N’ Cheeseburger that includes ground chuck topped with Mac and cheese, bacon bits, more cheese, and truffle aioli.
You also can’t go wrong with their Rocky Mtn. Reuben topped with their yummy house-made apple sauerkraut. Even their salads have a ground chuck patty in them! Afterward, take a stroll around the downtown Ogden area and peek into some of my favorite shops like record store Lavender Vinyl, or gift shop The Queen Bee.
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8. Kaffe Mercantile
Address: 1221 26th St, Ogden, UT 84401
Tucked in the historic East Bench neighborhood of Ogden is a red building welcoming all to come into their cozy cafe where they offer seriously good coffee and a friendly smile.
Kaffe Mercantile always comes up with fun seasonal drinks and has every kind of syrup flavoring (like kiwi) to add to your latte. When it comes to food, they are known for their different types of delicious toasts. My usual order includes The Sunrise, which is avocado toast topped with a boiled egg and lots and lots of Cholula sauce.
If you are feeling daring, try their Avo-What toast, which is spread with peanut butter and topped with avocado. I have not been brave enough to try it yet, but for less than $5, it won’t put you back much if you don’t like it.
The cafe also includes vegan and gluten-free food items to eat and bake their own pastries! Some of their other breakfast items include quiche, breakfast sandwiches, and waffles.
You can rent the Airbnb in the yellow house next to the cafe, where you can also access the fenced-in yard belonging to the restaurant, which is dog-friendly. In the summer, Kaffe Mercantile hosts yoga on Saturday mornings in the backyard.
9. Wasatch Roasting Company
Address: 2436 Grant Ave, Ogden, UT 84401
One of my favorite pastimes while living in Atlanta was to walk to all the neighboring coffee shops on the weekends. While I don’t have a coffee shop close enough to walk to in Ogden, Wasatch Roasting Company has become my go-to coffee haunt.
You will find colorful murals and friendly baristas in a skinny stand-alone building around the corner from Slackwater. The baristas take their time to make your drink perfect, so come visit when you aren’t in a rush and have time to “stop and smell the coffee.”
Order their breakfast sandwiches with a pesto spread for something filling to eat. I am not kidding when I tell you I ordered their Thanksgiving panini several times during the holiday season! Order one of their matcha lattes or try the affogato, an Italian espresso and ice cream concoction. All of their strips are made in house and if you’re feeling daring, then order a latte with their szechuan pepper syrup.
Wasatch focuses on giving back to the Ogden community and their coffee farm communities. They have a small roaster in the back of the shop and you can buy a bag of their many styles of coffee beans.
Plus, they are open on Sundays, which is a rarity in Utah. If you stop in, tell them Sheena sent you!
See Related: Best Places to Visit in Utah & Things To Do
10. Angry Goat Pub and Kitchen
Address: 2570 S Washington Blvd, Ogden, UT 84401
Angry Goat Pub and Kitchen has a gastro-pub vibe and hearty, delicious food that’s perfect after a long day skiing or snowboarding at Snowbasin or Powder Mountain. Given its extensive beer selection menu, it is one of the best restaurants in Ogden to get a beer. They serve over 200 beers and have 16 rotating taps!
Angry Goat is considered a bar, so those under 21 are not allowed to eat here, unfortunately. You have to order their popular appetizer menu item, the Angry Goat Balls, which are pilsner-soaked risotto and cheese-fried balls with a spicy marinara sauce. I recommend sharing these, as I can only eat a few, given their size! I recommend their fish and chips or lamb burger for a tasty meal.
They are open daily but are not available for lunch on Mondays and Tuesdays. If you’re feeling brunchy on the weekends, then check out their full breakfast menu, which includes items like omelets and French Toast.
11. WB’s Eatery
Address: at The Monarch, 455 25th St, Ogden, UT 84401
Located next to The Monarch art and cultural center, WB’s Eatery is one of the best restaurants in Ogden to get a fun cocktail or mocktail. They have an extensive drink menu but are also known for their dry bar selling non-alcoholic concoctions.
With a bistro-style menu, WB’s Eatery has delicious baguette French toast served with berries and dulce de leche. Try one of their bowls, like the Veggie Avocado Mash or Grilled Shrimp Bowl, filled with grains, greens, and beans. Each weekend they include some traditional breakfast menu items for a limited time, like a bacon, egg, and cheese sandwich.
Don’t miss out on the “Wigs and Brunch” drag show they put on each month! It’s a great way to have some entertainment with your eggs. WB’s Eatery also sells curated themed goods and make it a perfect place to pick out a gift for that special person in your life.
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12. Sapori Italian Bakery & Cafe
Address: 325 24th St, Ogden, UT 84401
In our little corner of the state, you can find delectable and authentic Italian pastries and pasta at Sapori Italian Bakery & Cafe. This family-owned restaurant is the best spot in downtown Ogden for baked goods. I’m still thinking about the stuffed Bavarian cream croissant I ordered from here!
Cute twinkling lights decorate the cafe to give it a European bistro vibe for you to enjoy a cappuccino and cannoli. Take a peek at their glass case at sfogliatellas, fazzolettos, crostatas, fruit tarts, and more! You can also order cakes like their famous tiramisu version or try the apple cake made with shortbread, Bavarian cream, and cinnamon apples.
While sweets are their specialty, Sapori Italian Bakery serves fresh Italian pasta, savory crepes, and Sicilian street food when the savory cravings strike. Excuse me, while I go place my to-go order!
13. Rovali’s Ristorante Italiano
Address: at The Monarch, 455 25th St, Ogden, UT 84401
If you want straightforward Italian, then Rovali’s Ristorante Italiano is one of the Ogden restaurants to fill up on an Italian meal and divine desserts. Located downtown, the Italian Restaurant is another one of the Ogden restaurants popular among locals and visitors.
If you are feeling extra hungry, order the Tour of Rovali’s, which includes their three most famous dishes lasagna, fettuccini alfredo, and cheese ravioli. Rovali’s Ristorante and Sapori are the two best restaurants to grab a sweet pastry or baked good. At Rovali’s Ristorante, try their famous banana brownie or Earl Grey Marsala Tiramisu.
When the weather is nice, enjoy the outdoor patio in the back of the restaurant. They have a full bar menu, but if you are looking for some other downtown bars to continue the fun then check out The City Club, Ghost, or Funk N’ Dive Bar.
See Related: Best Restaurants in St. George, Utah
14. The Sonora Grill
Address: 2310 Kiesel Ave, Ogden, UT 84401
Ogden surprisingly has several Mexican restaurant options, but if you’re looking for something a little more upscale and yummy food, consider making a reservation at The Sonora Grill. This Ogden restaurant is across from the MegaPlex, so you can stop here before seeing the latest flick.
They have a great bar menu, and I recommend the Roasted Pineapple Mexcalita if you want to try something other than a standard margarita. The restaurant carries vegan and gluten-free food options, like braised mushrooms served with polenta and greens. Their unique coconut rice is the perfect addition to their seasoned meat plates.
The Sonora Grill is another great brunch spot if you’re craving those Mexican flavors. Order one of the scrambles or breakfast burritos to gain strength for an intense hike on Ben Lomond or Malen’s Peak.
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