Ogden, for me, was a happy surprise. It turned out to be the perfect “home base” during my trip to Utah. Close to all the outdoor adventures I could want, walkable, and had some amazing food.
During my first trip to Utah, where I hiked the Mighty 5 National Parks, I was pretty disappointed in the food. I think this was just a result of very small towns that aren’t really tourist destinations. So, I wasn’t expecting anything special to eat in Ogden. But boy was I surprised!
These are my top 7 recommendations to check out after a day riding the powder in the mountains.
Breweries
(yes, they do exist in Utah!)
UTOG Brewery (2331 Grant Ave, Ogden, UT 84401)
This place had a great vibe and was packed. Wait times can be long but the beer is so good and the food is pretty fantastic.
The beer here is amazing. From the dark stouts to their peach-flavored Hefeweizen. Some of the beers only came in cans or bottles, so we didn’t get the opportunity to try all the ones we had hoped (we are firm believers in only drinking draft when at a brewery. It’s just better).
Get there after the main rush and you will be rewarded with a relaxing meal with no one trying to push you out to seat the next group.
What’s in a name? I was curious where the name UTOG came from and it turns out it’s not all that original. UT – for Utah and OG – for Ogden.
Roosters Brewing (253 25th St, Ogden, UT 84401)
This was the first place we checked out. A brewery that seemed more of a restaurant than a brewery, the food was amazing. I had a nice steak with mashed potatoes that was dripping in a house made sauce (no beef gravy from a can here!).
Their beer was decent. I can be a bit picky about my porters. They have to be thick and sweet, if they’re not, then my assessment is they have ok beer.
The atmosphere was also very cool with little roosters displayed in paintings and figures on the walls and several floors. The place was huge!
Best Places to Eat in Ogden
(that aren’t breweries)
Pig and a Jelly Jar (227 25th St, Ogden, UT 84401)
This place, located on Historic 25th Street, is more of a brunch place or breakfast and lunch place. If you are into BBQ, this is the place to go in Ogden. It has a fun open and airy atmosphere, nothing fancy style but the food is solid and they make their own sauces and jams.
Tona Sushi (210 25th St, Ogden, UT 84401)
If you are looking for something a bit more “date night” or fancy and love sushi, Tona Sushi was nominated as best date restaurant multiple years in a row by Trip Advisor. Make sure to get a seat in the side room, where shoes come off and the tables are set deep into the floor so it appears as though you are dining on the floor.
Also on Historic 25th Street, the authentic vibe is perfect in this part of the restaurant, the other side is pretty typical for sushi restaurants all over the country. The sushi is extremely fresh, though I noticed that some of the wait staff tended to be more attentive to the groups that were dressed up than to those of us who just spent the day snowboarding and threw on a t-shirt and jeans to go out because we were starving.
But trust me, the sushi is worth the poor wait staff.
Ramen Haus (2550 Washington Blvd, Ogden, UT 84401)
I feel like whenever I go on a snowboarding trip, all I want is ramen. Does anyone else feel that way?
Maybe it’s just because it tends to be the thing to get at the mountains but I just can’t seem to get enough of it! Ramen Haus is a good choice if you have a hankering for something warm and salty to eat in Ogden.
Another place that isn’t anything special to look at, the wait staff were super friendly and you can see the chef preparing your food. And OMG the ramen! It couldn’t have been more perfect.
Union Grill (315 24th St #1401, Ogden, UT 84401)
The historic Union Grill used to be located at, you guessed it, Union Station. But it grew too big for its breeches. So, they moved one street over into another historic building.
This new location, formally known as the Berthana Ballroom, was all the rage when it opened in 1915. Everyone who was everyone came here to party.
Now it has to settle for being a family restaurant with decent food, but it still maintains the historic charm. For that reason alone, you should go.
The Sonora Grill (2310 Kiesel Ave, Ogden, UT 84401)
If you are feeling feisty and maybe a little zesty, check out Sonora Grill. The best Mexican food to eat in Ogden. Really. It’s amazing. And so are their margaritas.
The restaurant has an Italian restaurant feel but is 100% Mexican. With house-made guacamole and fish tacos, you just can’t go wrong. We followed the drink advice of our server and she did not steer us wrong and she also threw in free dessert (probably because of all the money we spent on margaritas, which aren’t exactly cheap).
Concluding Thoughts
I never thought Utah could have such a vibrant food scene but Ogden really opened my eyes. There is a little something for everyone’s tastes. What are you hungry for?
