The best burgers in Utah are in Salt Lake City, and the two local habits to try are pastrami on a cheeseburger and fries dunked in fry sauce. Start with the pastrami burger at Crown Burgers and the Big H at Hires Big H. Then add a bar burger at Lucky 13 and a chef-driven burger at The Copper Onion or HSL.
This roundup is built from the restaurants in our Salt Lake City burger guide, grouped by style. Check hours before you go.
Quick picks
- Most Utah burger: the pastrami burger at Crown Burgers.
- Best for fry sauce: Hires Big H.
- Best bar burger: Lucky 13.
- Best smash burger: Copper Common or Urban Hill.
- Best chef-driven: The Copper Onion or HSL.
Utah's 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, and Salt Lake Magazine has pointed to Hires Big H among the places that serve one.
Fry sauce is the other must-try. It's a simple, tangy blend based on mayonnaise and ketchup, and in Utah it comes with fries almost by default. Ask for extra.
Most of the spots below are close to downtown. Broadway and 200 South have several restaurants within a short walk, the Post District sits on the west side near the rail lines, and the Ballpark area is a few minutes south. Hires Big H is on 700 East, east of downtown.
Local classics
- Hires Big H: serving Salt Lake since 1959. The Big H burger with fry sauce is the classic local order.
- Crown Burgers: for many locals, the home of the pastrami burger, with a charbroiled cheeseburger topped with thin-sliced pastrami.
Both are family businesses with loyal followings, and both are easy, affordable stops. More spots like these are on our best classic burgers page.
Bar burgers
- Lucky 13: a 21-and-over roadhouse near the Ballpark area with a long menu of big burgers and house-smoked bacon.
- Proper Burger Co.: on South Main Street next to a craft brewery, using the house beer in its Rarebit Sauce, with vegan and veggie burgers too.
Smash burgers
- Copper Common: a downtown cocktail bar serving a thinner smash-style patty on sweet brioche.
- Urban Hill: in the Post District, it takes the style upscale with Niman Ranch beef, hatch chiles and smoked bacon.
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. See more on our best gourmet burgers page.
How to plan a Salt Lake City burger day
- Start with a local classic. Crown Burgers downtown gets you the pastrami burger first.
- Walk the downtown cluster. The Copper Onion, Copper Common and HSL are all downtown, so a sit-down dinner and a bar burger are easy to pair.
- Head west to the Post District. Urban Hill is a short trip from the center.
- Go south for a beer. Lucky 13 near the Ballpark area and Proper Burger Co. on South Main are good evening stops. Lucky 13 is 21 and over.
- Save Hires Big H for a family meal. It's an easy, casual stop east of downtown.
Beyond Salt Lake City
Our Utah coverage centers on Salt Lake City for now. Pastrami burgers and fry sauce show up across the state, so if you know a great burger in Ogden, Provo, Park City or near the national parks, suggest a spot.
What to order at each stop
- Crown Burgers: the pastrami cheeseburger with fries and fry sauce.
- Hires Big H: the Big H with fry sauce.
- Lucky 13: any of the big burgers with house-smoked bacon.
- Proper Burger Co.: a burger with the beer-based Rarebit Sauce.
- Urban Hill: the smash burger with hatch chiles and smoked bacon.
- The Copper Onion: the house-ground burger with caramelized onions and aioli.
- HSL: the house burger with pickled red cabbage and tomato jam.
Make a Utah pastrami burger at home
Start with our classic backyard cheeseburger. Warm thin-sliced pastrami on the griddle until the edges crisp, then pile it on the cheese. For fry sauce, stir together mayonnaise and ketchup, then season to taste; our guide to burger sauces has more ideas, and our crispy oven fries are the obvious side. Cook ground beef to 160°F for USDA-recommended doneness.
FAQ
What burger is Utah famous for?
The pastrami burger: a cheeseburger topped with thin-sliced pastrami. Crown Burgers in Salt Lake City is the best-known place to try one.
What is fry sauce?
A tangy pink sauce based on mayonnaise and ketchup. In Utah it comes with fries almost everywhere.
Where can I get a pastrami burger in Salt Lake City?
Crown Burgers is the classic. Hires Big H is another long-running local spot that has been mentioned for the style.
What is the best burger in Salt Lake City?
For a local classic, Crown Burgers or Hires Big H. For a chef-driven burger, The Copper Onion or HSL.
Is Lucky 13 family-friendly?
No. Lucky 13 is a 21-and-over bar. For a family meal, Hires Big H and Crown Burgers are easier picks.
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