13 Best Restaurants in Moab and Southeastern Utah, Utah

One of the jewels of the local culinary scene, this elegant restaurant serves adventurous cuisine with a Southwestern flair, all in a historic brick building in downtown Moab. The menu shifts with the seasons but always includes a good selection of game and fish, including elk and Chilean seabass. Vegetarian and vegan options are available, and the in-house baker creates a delectable, constantly changing dessert menu. There's also a full bar and patio, which is especially pleasant on warm evenings after the sun has gone down. 

Moab's finest dining experience is found in a small adobe house just off Main Street. Whether you eat inside or on either of the peaceful patios, anticipate thoughtful flavor combinations in artful salads, locally sourced beef, and delicious vegetables. The handmade agnolotti pasta stuffed with mushrooms and Italian cheeses, and the beef fillet crusted with gorgonzola are both impressive. Dylan, a longtime chef here, recently purchased the bistro with his wife, Leslie, and they've maintained all the charm and dishes that diners have been raving about for years. The menu changes seasonally, but you can count on creative pastas, sweet and savory salad combinations, and surprise ingredients from kiwi to quinoa any time of year.

One of the best restaurants in the area, this eclectic spot is housed in a false-fronted wooden building that looks straight of an old cowboy movie. The menu includes burgers, sandwiches, pastas, and salads—often with creative flares and fun names. Eat inside or out, and be sure to check the local art displayed. 

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. 

The only full-service restaurant serving dinner in town, this very casual eatery specializes in authentic Navajo fry bread, used in a variety of massive, delicious dishes. Often busy, people also come here for a full range of steak house staples, fish dishes, and the only salad bar around. Blanding is a dry city, so no alcohol is served.

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.

Right on the main drag, this friendly spot serves up south-of-the-border fare with the culinary spirit of Baja, California. That means in addition to expected Mexican favorites (burritos, enchiladas, quesadillas, etc.), Miguel's is also known for its excellent fresh seafood dishes (yes, even in the desert). The house-made margaritas are a big hit, too, and you can sip yours either inside or on the pleasant shaded patio. Because of its super-central location, expect a wait during busy times of year.

Both the tomatillo and the red sauce are fairly spicy so taste them first if you aren't fond of hot foods.

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.

A former drive-in for generations, this casual spot leans into its retro roots, with robin's-egg–blue booths and checkerboard floors—and the best burgers, shakes, and fries in town. This is also the perfect place to try Utah's famous fry sauce, made from ketchup, mayonnaise, and a few other ingredients too secret to name. While it can get very busy, the staff is always friendly, and there's a helpful sign on the wall that lights up with the estimated time your order should take. 

Moab's bright-yellow gourmet food truck is permanently parked in the heart of town, where it offers a shaded spot under water-misters to dig into its extremely thick and tasty meat and veggie quesadillas. Not strictly Mexican or Southwestern, the food here is more of an inventive fusion with nontraditional ingredients, and the menu even includes a vegan option or two. The line can be long, and once you take your first bite, you'll know why. Truck closes at 5 pm, so it's perfect for lunch, a heavy snack, or early dinner. 

This casual burger joint connected to a gas station is probably the best-known stop between Lake Powell and Capitol Reef. Even if you're not hungry, it's worth a visit for the incredibly thick shakes that rise out of their cups, but just be ready for some long lines on busy days.

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.

Authentic Thai food may not be what you expect to find in the middle of the desert, and that's exactly why this cozy, central place so highly recommended by locals. Some of the tastiest dishes here are the noodle options, such as the tangy pad Thai or the spicy, pan-fried drunken noodles. The curry dishes are also very popular. Being a hot spot in town, staff here can get overwhelmed at times. If it looks crowded and you're short on time or patience, you might want to eat elsewhere and come back when they are less packed. It's worth it.