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Including even a few surprising twists, Moab-area restaurants have pretty much anything you might be craving. The other smaller towns in southeastern Utah don’t have quite the culinary kaleidoscope and focus mostly on all-American, meat-centered meals. Though not the best destination for vegetarians or those watching their weight, the comfort food can be quite good and satisfying. One thing is for sure: no matter what restaurant you choose, you won’t have to worry about a dress code. Shorts or jeans and sandals are always acceptable.
Learning into the area's Wild West past, this casual spot has cowboy hats and cow skulls on the walls, a cardboard cutout of John Wayne—and some of the best smoked meats around. It offers Southwestern takes on breakfast, lunch, and dinner, all in generous portions, and even has a bar to hang out in after a long day of driving or river rafting.
A local institution for decades, this downtown spot only does breakfast from 7 to noon—and does it famously well. Expect all your morning favorites, plus a few surprises, served out of a pink 1880s-era home that also once served as the county courthouse (the kitchen was a jail cell). You can read all about the place's history as you dine inside or on its pleasant patio. Especially during busy times of year and weekends, it helps to get here early, as it can draw quite the crowd.
Quick and reliable, this no-frills diner opens early and closes late, dishing up large portions of all-American fare at a decent price. People come for the all-day breakfast, the grass-fed beef burgers, and a great selection of soda-fountain favorites, including shakes and sundaes. If you're headed out into the desert for the day, grab one of their boxed to-go lunches, with a sandwich, chips, water, fresh fruit, and a candy bar.
Views of the Green River make this a restorative stop after a long drive. Though the interior has gotten hipper in recent years, the breakfast, lunch, and dinner menus are filled with the same classic diner favorites the spot has been serving up for decades. The Navajo tacos and green chili burgers are especially decadent and delicious, and there's a long list of beer, wine, and cider to choose from, as well.
