Where to eat on the west side of Salt Lake City: Redwood Road and beyond

Visitors to Salt Lake City often stay on the east side of the freeway and miss the neighborhoods where much of the valley eats on an ordinary Tuesday. The west side, along Redwood Road, North Temple, 900 West and 1300 West, is home to taquerias, bakeries, grocery stores with hot counters and family-run dining rooms. Here is how to approach it, what to order and how to find places worth the drive.

What is the west side of Salt Lake City, and why eat there?

The west side is the part of the city west of Interstate 15, including neighborhoods such as Rose Park, Glendale and Poplar Grove, and it continues into West Valley City and the communities along Redwood Road. Much of the valley's Latin American, Pacific Islander, Asian and African communities live and run businesses here. The city itself publishes a list of locally owned westside restaurants through the district office, and it includes Mexican, African and other cuisines. Eating here means smaller rooms, simpler decor and food made for neighbors, not for visitors.

How do you eat your way along Redwood Road?

Redwood Road is one long road with dozens of locally owned kitchens, and restaurants on it open and close all the time. Pick a section of the road, park once and walk between a taqueria, a bakery and a market, rather than driving across the valley for a single address.

What should you order at a taqueria or panaderia?

At a taqueria, start with tacos in small corn tortillas, ordered by the meat: asada (grilled beef), al pastor (marinated pork), carnitas (slow-cooked pork) or lengua (beef tongue) for the adventurous. Salsas are usually on a counter or in small cups, and the green one is often the hotter one, so taste before you pour. A torta is a sandwich on a soft roll, and a burrito is usually larger than a taco order. At a panadería, a Mexican bakery, you take a tray and tongs, choose pastries from the shelves and pay at the register. Conchas, the shell-topped sweet rolls, and empanadas are classic choices. Hours vary, so check before you go.

How do you find a good place when you do not know the neighborhood?

Look for a line at lunchtime, a menu board with a short list, and customers who speak the language of the menu. A place with a full parking lot at noon on a weekday is serving the neighborhood. Read recent reviews, but treat them as a starting point, since many family-run places have a small online presence. Consider ordering one thing you know and one thing you do not, and ask the person at the counter what they like.

What about cash, language and hours?

Many small west-side restaurants take cards, but a few are cash only or have a minimum, so carry some bills. Menus may be in Spanish or another language, with photos or English translations on the board. Staff are usually glad to help if you ask, and a few words go a long way. Hours vary: some places open early for breakfast and close mid-afternoon, others stay open into the evening, and some close on Sundays or Mondays. Call or check a recent post before a long drive.

How does eating on the west side fit with the rest of the city?

You can pair it with the rest of a day in the valley. The Downtown Farmers Market at Pioneer Park is on the edge of the west side, on summer Saturdays, and a taqueria lunch nearby makes a natural pairing. The North Temple corridor connects the airport, the Delta Center area and downtown by light rail, so a quick meal on the way in or out is possible without renting a car. For a longer trip, the Redwood Road stretch is best by car.

When is the best time to go, and what about parking?

Lunch on a weekday is the easiest time for a first visit. Counters are busy but moving, the full menu is usually available, and you can park in the small lot most taquerias keep beside the building. Weekend afternoons are the busiest, with families ordering by the dozen, and some bakeries sell out of popular items by midday. If you want a particular pastry, go in the morning. Evenings are quieter on weekdays, and a few places close by 8 or 9 p.m. The west side is best reached by car, although the North Temple light rail line serves part of it, and a rideshare is an easy option if you plan to try a drink with a meal.

What are the etiquette basics?

Order at the counter if there is one, and wait to be seated if the room has tablecloths. Tip 15 to 20 percent at a table-service place and a dollar or two in a jar at a counter, if you like. Be patient on weekend afternoons, when families gather for large meals. Photos of food are fine, photos of people need permission. If you have a food allergy, say so clearly and ask what is in a dish, because translation can blur details.

How do you remember the best taqueria order on the west side?

Four taquerias in one afternoon, three kinds of salsa, and a concha for the road: the details are the point and they fade fast. Mosey is a food app for finding, rating and sharing places to eat, and it rates by the dish, so the al pastor, the torta and the pastry each keep their own score.

Tag your ratings with what you would tell a first-timer, such as Hidden Gem or Quick Service, and build a west-side list that a friend can join with an invite link. Follow friends who eat here every week and their picks save you the guesswork on a long road.

Rate your best taco of the day in the Mosey app.

More guides to read next:

• Best restaurants near me in Salt Lake City: a neighborhood guide (2026)
• Best brunch in Salt Lake City (2026): how to choose and when to go
• Cheap eats in Salt Lake City: how to eat well for under $15

More in the US food guides and the ranked lists of places.