6 Best Ogden Restaurants | Where To Eat In Ogden, Utah (2024)

Looking for the best Ogden restaurants? Then you’ve come to the right place!

Ogden has a cool history and a diverse food, craft brewery, and coffee scene. The downtown is only a 35-minute drive from Salt Lake City International Airport and is the gateway to incredible skiing in the nearby Wasatch Mountains.

In the late 1800s, Notorious Two-Bit Street and Electric Alley were the two popular nicknames for main thoroughfare. Once a man stepped off the train at Union Station, he could walk up the avenue for a shave, haircut, illegal booze, or a lady of the evening. At the time, the rival gangs and gunfights in the streets were so rough that there were tunnels under the road to transport goods safely.

Even Al Capone opted against opening a bootlegging operation because it was such a dangerous place.

The facades of the businesses are intact due to the downturn in the economy years back when the First Transcontinental Railroad stopped running through. Today, the original buildings have a new life. Inside the historic spaces you’ll find eclectic restaurants, bars and trendy boutiques with the famed Union Station at the western end.

After the railroad completion in 1869, it was widely known that “You couldn’t go anywhere without stopping in Ogden.” Today, the Spanish Colonial Revival building (the third on the same spot) houses incredible art galleries and history museums, offering a retro-vibe to the area.

Creativity abounds in Ogden with public art decorating many of the buildings and innovative chefs using local produce in their dishes. The following are five of the must-try restaurants in Ogden with one extra, The Shooting Star, located in neighboring Huntsville. One shouldn’t miss Utah’s oldest running saloon when in town.

Visiting other destinations in Utah? Check out our other delicious guide:

• 10 Best Restaurants In Salt Lake City
• 7 Best Restaurants In Park City
• The 10 Best Burgers In Salt Lake City, Utah

The 6 Best Ogden Restaurants

The Shooting Star Saloon

7350 E 200 St. Huntsville // +1(801) 745-2002

The Shooting Star is such a classic and only a 20-minute drive from downtown Ogden. It’s the oldest, continually operating saloon west of the Mississippi and worth the short trip out of town.

One step inside the place and you will observe the kitschy décor of taxidermy animal heads mounted on the wall, including one of the owner’s beloved St. Bernard. The history is real here. The original owner served liquor throughout prohibition because word always reached him in time to put the booze away. On the rare occasion when he was caught serving, he spent the night in jail. But his wife served the loyal patrons in his absence.

The ceiling is plastered with dollar bills from every part of the country in honor of a beloved resident who passed. It’s said that the tradition started when Whiskey Joe returned from WWI with PTSD and couldn’t return to a normal life at home. He was treated like family in Huntsville and when he died, someone wrote his name on a dollar bill and tacked it on the ceiling (still there) to honor him.

It was a way to say, “We got your back and take care of our own.” The tradition took off, and there’s a ton of cash decorating the length of the establishment. Unfortunately, due to the fire code, no more bills are allowed.

People come from all over to grab a beer and a burger at this legendary saloon. The “Best Damn Burger in the West” is made with two patties, a grilled Polish knockwurst and melted cheese. It’s topped with sauteed onions, mustard, ketchup, pickles, lettuce, and tomato on a sesame seed bun with a bag of Lays Potato chips on the side.

Other menu items include a bacon cheeseburger with one or two patties, a Mini-Star (one less patty than the Best Damn Burger) and a Star Dog. The Star Dog is a grilled knockwurst with onions, tomatoes, and pickles, with chips. That’s it.

The prices are cheap, and the beer is cold. It adds up to a fun evening with good friends in a slice of western history.

Kaffe Mercantile

1221 26^th St. // +1(801)529-0376

Kaffe Mercantile is a combination of a coffee bar, breakfast hangout and a country store. Breakfast pastries are freshly made in house daily and there are gluten free and vegan options. You have your choice of milk (vegan and traditional) to add to any hot beverage.

While you wait for the skilled barista to craft your drink, peruse the shelves for artisan products and art created by local artists. Or sit at one of the café tables to catch up with your buddies.

The comfortable atmosphere is perfect to enjoy a leisurely breakfast or grab a breakfast sandwich to go before hitting the winter ski trails (downhill or cross country). Hearty breakfast choices range from breakfast sandwiches, bagels, quiche, egg scrambles, and avocado toast. There are specials and a few lunch items, too.

The delectable pastries include scones, muffins, cinnamon rolls and coffee cake. The lemon bars looked irresistible, as well.

We visited Kaffe Merc (the local’s name) and enjoyed expertly prepared cappuccinos and lattes. The breakfast items were all made to order, like my Breakfast Basic sandwich, which included egg, cheese, spinach, tomato with the addition of some avocado. I chose a brioche bun, but there is a selection of bread choices.

The Italian quiche was delicious, too, and packed with veggies, mozzarella and sausage. We were on the go, so we enjoyed our meal and left to hit the slopes. But I wished I could’ve lingered and shopped in the charming store.

Hearth On 25

195 25^th St. Ste 6 // +1 (801)399-0088

Hearth on 25 is a New American restaurant with innovative starters and mains. The restaurant has a perfect perch overlooking 25^th Street and is a great spot to enjoy a craft-co*cktail and appetizers or a romantic meal. The chef offers tasting menus that change with the season and what he can procure from local sources.

We were a large group of six diners and seated at a round table with a rotating turntable in the center. This feature was perfect as we ordered several appetizers before we enjoyed our entrees.

The crisp fresh French fries with fleur de sel and truffle aioli were addictive. We also dove into a generous charcuterie and cheese plate with homemade pickles and jams. The meat and cheeses were locally sourced. Our favorite was the Yak meatballs topped with melted mozzarella. I had never tasted Yak before, and all I can say is—wow!

The tender meatballs were perfectly spiced with herbs de Provence, and the fresh tomato sauce was light and tasty. While all the starters were delicious, we flipped over the meatballs.

For my entrée, I chose the roasted pork in a spiced citrus broth, with roasted vegetables, Israeli couscous, and crispy chickpeas in a maple balsamic reduction. This dish had so many flavors and textures, but they all worked. The portion was huge, and the broth gave me that comfort feeling for a cold night in a western town.

The service was attentive, and their knowledge of the menu added up to a fabulous night. I recommend this exciting restaurant for their delicious, inventive dishes and co*cktails. Reservations are recommended.

Pig & A Jelly Jar

227 25^th St. //+1(801) 605-8400

Pig & A Jelly Jar is a funky diner with a southern flair. It’s my kind of place because it serves breakfast and lunch all day. Being a brunch fan, I love the option of lunch items at breakfast.

The best feature of the restaurant is the scratch made food made with local and organic ingredients and the hilarious pig art covering the walls. Everything is fresh and it shows.

We went early to enjoy breakfast before a busy day in Ogden, and I ordered one of their specialties, the Chicken and Waffles.

The portion was enormous, and the waffle was seriously puffy and crisp at the same time. The fried chicken breast took up the entire length of the waffle and was crisp and not greasy. A fried egg was gently laid on top and powdered sugar covered the entire plate, like fresh fallen snow.

I have to say—this was the meal of a lifetime, and it was breakfast!

The others in my party ordered egg scrambles, three eggs over potatoes, red peppers, and onions with breakfast meat or traditional eggs with potatoes and bacon, but the menu is vast with a lot of delectable items.

We all dug into the waffle, but everything was delicious, hot, and fresh. The coffee was hot and free flowing, too. I loved this little slice of pig heaven. It was a fantastic breakfast stop.

Slackwater Pizza

209 24^th St. //+ (801) 399-0637

Slackwater is a pizzeria and a pub. Their mission is to broaden the minds of beer drinkers with their extensive and curated list of brews while serving up seriously unique and delicious pizza, sandwiches and calzones.

The spot next to the Ogden River makes it a perfect perch to enjoy local beer and hot slices while listening to live music.

If you aren’t in the mood for pizza, the sandwiches are a terrific option and have creative names, like the “Joe Pesci.” This Italian sub is filled with Genoa Salami, capicola, pepperoni, and smoked provolone. The meat is topped with fresh romaine, pepperoncini and a creamy herbed vinaigrette.

The appetizers don’t fall short either. My favorite is the “Check Your Garlic Breath.”

A plate of roasted whole garlic heads is served alongside gorgonzola cream cheese spread, on herbed crostini and bruschetta. But there are fantastic options like nachos and wings, too.

The pizza is inventive, and we loved all the combinations. We settled on three to feed our crowd—The Iron horse, a classic Margherita, and a buffalo chicken pie. The size of each pie is a bit larger than a personal size, so order a few if you have more than two people. The upside is you get to taste a variety on the menu.

If you don’t like what they’ve created, you can make a pie of your own from the plethora of toppings. While we loved all the pizzas we chose, the hands down favorite was the Iron Horse. House marinara topped the chewy crust decorated with pepperoni, herbed sausage, red onion, roasted red bell peppers and a three-cheese blend.

We devoured all the pizza and sipped on the tasty local craft-beer that Ogden is known for. We enjoyed this slice of pizza heaven in Ogden.

Table Twenty-Five

195 Historic 25^th St. Suite 4. // + 1 (385) 244-1825

This family-owned new American Eatery, located on historic 25^th Street, offers diners a romantic, fine dining option in the heart of the city. The white tablecloths, the excellent service, the diverse wine list, and the delicious food are all fabulous reasons to dine at Table Twenty-Five.

Our large party was seated, and we dove into a selection of fantastic appetizers. We loved the mussels & frites, as well as the roasted Brussel Sprouts to share. The mussels came in a generous bowl, swimming in a chorizo, smoked paprika and tomato beurre blanc. The crisp fries didn’t get soggy as we quickly devoured the dish. The broth acted as a savory ketchup.

We all sipped on craft-co*cktails and my choice, Rosemary’s Baby with Salt Flats Bourbon, honey, rosemary, and lemon was delightful.

The entrees varied and included homemade pastas and risotto, fish, chicken, pork, and beef. There were vegetarian items on the list and casual handhelds like burgers and a fried chicken sandwich. Our party chose a variety from the list and we all remarked how delicious our choices were. I selected the Wagyu Baseball Sirloin with fried fingerlings, brown butter, local mushrooms, and a black garlic béarnaise.

I have tried sirloin so many times, but this version was fabulous. Every element worked together to create the perfect bite. The black garlic béarnaise paired perfectly with the medium rare steak and it was a heavenly plate. The evening was incredible from start to finish and is a must when visiting Ogden.

Ogden is a culinary hidden gem, as far as I’m concerned. I would return again and again to dine at the places in and around 25^th street and happily visit some of the other creative establishments around this enchanting town.

Which of these Ogden restaurants will you try first? Let us know in the comments section below!