Salt Lake City has one of the most distinctive burger cultures in the West. Two local habits define it: piling pastrami on top of a cheeseburger, and dunking fries in fry sauce, the pink mix of mayonnaise and ketchup you will find all over Utah. Add a set of chef-driven restaurants downtown and a few lively bar burgers, and you can eat a very different burger every day of a visit.

Most of the spots below are close to downtown. Broadway and 200 South have several restaurants within a short walk of each other, the Post District sits on the west side near the rail lines, and the Ballpark area lies a few minutes south. Hires Big H is on 700 East, east of downtown. Every restaurant here is also on the cards above, and our restaurant directory covers more cities.

Best burgers in Salt Lake City by style

Local classics

Hires Big H has been serving Salt Lake since 1959, and its Big H burger with fry sauce is the classic local order. Crown Burgers is the home of the pastrami burger for many locals, with a charbroiled cheeseburger topped with thin-sliced pastrami. Both are family businesses with a loyal following, and both are easy, affordable stops. For more spots in this style, see our best classic burgers page.

Bar burgers

Lucky 13 is a 21-and-over roadhouse near the Ballpark area with a long menu of big burgers and house-smoked bacon. Proper Burger Co. sits next to a craft brewery and uses the house beer in its Rarebit Sauce, with vegan and veggie burgers too. Both are good choices for a burger and a beer with friends.

Smash burgers

Copper Common serves a thinner smash-style patty on sweet brioche in a downtown cocktail bar. Urban Hill in the Post District takes the style upscale, with Niman Ranch beef, hatch chiles and smoked bacon. If you are new to the style, read smash burger vs. regular burger or browse our best smash burgers picks.

Chef-driven burgers

The Copper Onion grinds its own blend and finishes the burger with caramelized onions and aioli. HSL serves its house burger on house brioche with pickled red cabbage and tomato jam. Both are sit-down restaurants where a burger shares the menu with plenty of other dishes. Find more like them on our best gourmet burgers page.

Local burger traditions

The pastrami burger is Salt Lake's signature. A beef patty, usually with cheese, gets a generous layer of thin-sliced pastrami on top. Crown Burgers, started downtown by a Greek immigrant family, is the best-known example. Salt Lake Magazine has also pointed to Hires Big H among the places that serve one.

Fry sauce is the other must-try. It is a simple, tangy blend based on mayonnaise and ketchup, and in Utah it comes with fries almost by default. Ask for extra. If you want to make something similar at home, our guide to burger sauces covers the basics.

Tips for visiting

Pair stops by area. The Copper Onion and Copper Common share a block on Broadway, and HSL and Crown Burgers are both on 200 South.
Check age rules. Lucky 13 is 21 and over, so it is not an option for families.
Check hours before you go. Some restaurants on this list close on certain days or serve their burger only at certain meals.
Book ahead at sit-down spots like The Copper Onion, HSL and Urban Hill, especially on weekends.
If you cook burgers at home, the USDA recommends 160°F for ground beef. Our burger doneness guide explains why.

Browse by style

Want just one kind of burger? See our shortlists of the best gourmet burgers in Salt Lake City.

FAQ

What is the best burger in Salt Lake City?

For a true local experience, try the Crown Burger at Crown Burgers or the Big H at Hires Big H. For a chef-driven burger, The Copper Onion and HSL are two of the most recommended in the city.

Where can I find a cheap burger in Salt Lake City?

Crown Burgers and Hires Big H are casual, family-friendly spots that keep prices reasonable.

What is a pastrami burger?

It is a cheeseburger topped with a layer of thin-sliced pastrami. It is a Salt Lake City specialty, and Crown Burgers is the classic place to order one.

What is fry sauce?

Fry sauce is a pink, tangy dip made mostly from mayonnaise and ketchup. It is served with fries all over Utah, including at Hires Big H and Crown Burgers.