With the announcement of Utah’s MICHELIN-recommended restaurants this week, we started thinking: Which restaurants would earn a star if we were handing out the honors? One star means a restaurant is worth a stop, two stars mean it’s worth a detour, and three stars mean it’s worth planning a trip around.
If it were up to me, here’s where some Utah favorites would land.
One of the things I love about the MICHELIN Guide is the range of restaurants it recognizes. Fancy or casual, the philosophy is simple: Good food is good food.
That’s why Victor’s is at the top of my list. I know a restaurant has won me over when, no matter how hard I try to convince myself to order something new, I end up going back to the dish that made me fall in love with the place in the first place.
At Victor’s, that dish is the tamales.
The filling is packed with flavor, while the masa is moist, tender, and just the right amount of fluffy. And while the tamales are the star of the show for me, the rice and beans might be my favorite part of the meal. They’re consistently delicious and make the whole plate feel like comfort food in the best possible way.
Rating: ⭐⭐
What I’m ordering: The smothered tamales combo comes in under $15, and the portions are generous enough that I can stretch one order into both lunch and dinner.
I’m a firm believer that we should eat more tapas. I want a bite of everything, not necessarily one big plate. Which is why I love Koyote. And so did the MICHELIN reviewers, who recommend the SLC ramen and tapas joint.
At the heart of Koyote is food designed to be shared. The menu takes familiar ingredients and pushes them in unexpected directions, layering spicy, savory, sweet, and tangy flavors into dishes that are as fun to eat as they are to talk about. It’s the kind of place where you might order something because you recognize an ingredient, only to discover it prepared in a way you’ve never tried before.
Koyote also embraces the idea that a great meal should feel like an experience rather than a formal occasion. The atmosphere is energetic and welcoming, making it easy to settle in for a few rounds of food and drinks.
Rating: ⭐⭐
What I’m ordering: house gyoza, karage wings, deluxe chashu-don, whipped tofu
The MICHELIN reviewers gave this Jewish deli a Bib Gourmand award, which celebrates “restaurants worldwide that serve exceptional food at a great value.” Which is exactly what Feldman’s does best. The french fries and fry sauce alone are worth it. But I will have a sandwich, too. I’m making good choices here.
Michael and Janet Feldman came to Salt Lake City from New Jersey in 2000. After discovering Utah was missing the Jewish deli food they grew up with, the couple opened Feldman’s in 2012, bringing classic New York-style pastrami, bagels, matzo ball soup and more to Salt Lake City.
Rating: ⭐
What I’m ordering: The Rachel with fries
