After a long day of adventures on the trails, on the river, or exploring the national parks, a satisfying meal is non-negotiable. Fortunately, Moab offers a plethora of great dining options that belie its small-town status. With offerings from breakfast to BBQ and food trucks to fancy fine dining (and just about everything in-between), these are some of the best places to eat in Moab.
For Breakfast
Love Muffin Café
Open Daily 6:30AM-1PM
139 North Main St.
lovemuffincafe.com
If you’re looking for a quick stop for some pre-adventure fuel, you’d be hard-pressed to do better than coffee and a breakfast panini or burrito from the Love Muffin Café. With a seasonal, organic menu comprised largely of local ingredients, there are also plenty of lighter options like house-made granola and quinoa bowls. Though Love Muffin may be best known for its breakfast offerings, their lunch menu is just as delicious, featuring fresh sandwiches and salads made with house-made bread, sauces, and dressings. And while the line can often reach out the door, the friendly staff keeps it moving along at an impressive clip.
Jailhouse Café
Open Daily 7AM-12PM
101 North Main St.
Website
Pop into this cute, historic diner for delicious comfort breakfast foods and an atmosphere that instantly feels like home. Built in the late 1800’s, the Jailhouse was once Moab’s official County Courthouse, an office space, and a post office; but now it’s known as “Moab’s Breakfast Place”. Some of the can’t-miss dishes here are the chorizo scramble, Swedish pancakes, and the eggs benedict (which have a reputation for being the best in town). Wake up early for a table at this popular breakfast spot, the coffee is hot and the friendly staff is ready to help you start your day off on the right foot.
For Lunch or Dinner
98 Center
Open Thursday-Monday 11:30AM-9:00PM
Closed Sunday
98 E Center St
98centermoab.com
In Salt Lake City, Utah, two chefs, Frankie Winfrey and Alex Borichevsky, bonded over their shared love for Asian cuisine while working at the Arie Sushi Bar at Snowbird Ski Resort. They both enjoyed skiing in the winter and pursued outdoor adventures in Moab during the summer, where they noticed a gap in Moab’s culinary scene. Determined to bring fresh and diverse flavors to Moab, they founded Sabaku Sushi, later evolving it into 98 Center at 98 East Center St. Despite initial skepticism, their dedication to quality and innovative dishes like Pho, Banh Mi, and specialty cocktails garnered success, creating a vibrant gathering place for locals and tourists alike, emphasizing fresh, organic, locally sourced ingredients made from scratch.
Frankie and Alex, along with Alex’s wife Natali, worked tirelessly to refine 98 Center’s menu, drawing inspiration from a trip to Vietnam to add new dishes and cater to various dietary needs. With exceptional service complementing their culinary offerings, 98 Center became a staple in Moab’s dining scene, open five days a week and participating in local events, enriching the community with their commitment to quality and creativity.
Trailhead Public House and Eatery
Open Daily 11:00am-9:00pm, Monday-Saturday. Closed Holidays.
Corner of Main & 100 North
moabtrailhead.com
Trailhead Public House and Eatery is located in an historic building (constructed in 1886) on the northeastern corner of 100 North and Main Street in Moab. Trailhead serves American food in an ambiance influenced by European pubs. Fresh ingredients and high-quality Wagyu beef set Trailhead apart, along with homemade soups as well as vegetarian and gluten-free offerings. Currently, it features classic pub favorites like fish and chips and several varieties of chicken wings, plus a selection of one-third pound burgers served with house-cut french fries. The Hot Trails and Bacon burger boasts house fire-roasted hot peppers and ghost pepper cheddar for the adventurous, while the Whiskey Tango features a zesty whiskey tango sauce. Trailhead also serves salads made with seasonal ingredients and several types of grilled cheese. The on-site bar serves beer, wine and other spirits.
Moab Food Truck Park
Open Mon. to Fri. 11AM-8PM, Sat. 5-10PM
Closed Sunday
39 West 100 North
facebook.com/MoabFoodTruckPark
OK, so technically this isn’t one restaurant so much as a collective of various mobile eateries, but the newly opened Moab Food Truck Park is not to be missed, especially if you’re part of a group that has a tough time settling on one place to please all palates. With a wide variety of mouth-watering food truck fare such as Red Wok Chinese Express, Tacos El Gordo, Hokulia Shave Ice, Downtown Dawgs, Delicate Donuts, The Krusty Crab, and Big Don’s Pizza, there’s truly something for everybody. The shaded and misted seating area comes in handy during hot weather, and if you’re lucky, you might even be treated to some live music while enjoying your meal.
Sultan Mediterranean Grill
Open Daily 11AM-8PM
574 North Main St.
sultanmoab.com
The Sultan Mediterranean Grill is relatively new to Moab, and they’re on a mission to bring vibrant Greek and Lebanese flavors to the desert town. Stop in for any of the lunch specials after a busy morning playing on the red rocks, or end your day with an authentic Mediterranean feast. The food is beautifully presented, fresh, and expertly prepared. Plus, the menu has a great offering of vegetarian options and lighter plates. You can’t miss the spicy hummus, a lamb kebab or gyro, or the falafel pita.
Desert Bistro
Open Nightly at 5PM
36 South 100 West
desertbistro.com
While most Moab restaurants won’t give you a second glance if you come in covered in a fine layer of desert dust, you’ll definitely want to get cleaned up a bit before visiting this fine dining establishment. The menu puts a Southwestern spin on classic French cuisine, with nightly game specials and fresh seafood flown in from the coast. Desert Bistro also boasts an extensive wine and cocktail list, as well as fresh-baked bread and desserts, all made in-house. Reservations are recommended, especially during the busy season.
Sabaku Sushi
Open Tues. to Sun. 5-9PM
90 East Center St.
sabakusushi.com
If sushi isn’t the first food that springs to mind when you think of desert fine dining, you’re probably not alone. But one meal at Sabaku (the Japanese word for “desert”), and you’ll quickly realize that great sushi doesn’t have to be served anywhere near an ocean. With fresh fish overnighted in several times per week, as well as house-made tamago and anago, Sabaku will delight even seasoned sushi connoisseurs. Those with food intolerances will be happy to know about the gluten-free tempura batter.
Josie Wyatt’s Grille
Open Daily 7AM-10PM
99 North 100 West
josiewyattsgrille.com
One of the newest restaurants in Moab, Josie Wyatt’s Grille puts a southwestern flair on fine western steakhouse dining. You’ll find the restaurant in Moab’s first 4-Diamond hotel, the Hoodoo, just off of Main Street. It’s ambiance pays homage to the namesake Western icons. The most popular plates pair locally sourced produce with premium quality steaks, which are expertly prepared and can be finished with a delicious sauce (like the horseradish crème fraîche). To top off the entire experience, spend some time talking over one of their wonderful cocktails on the patio.
Antica Forma
Open 11:00AM-9PM, Closed Sunday
267 North Main
anticaforma.com
The name Antica Forma means “The old form.” The restaurant features true Neapolitan pizza made in a wood-fired oven which burns at around 800-900 Fahrenheit. Head pizzaiolo Israel Hernandez trained under two of the top Neapolitan pizzaioli, or “pizza makers,” in NYC. Don Antonio Starita is a third generation master pizzaiolo whose family’s pizzeria in Naples is a local favorite. He, along with Roberto Caporuscio of Keste Pizza & Vino in NYC, trained Israel in the art of pizza Napolitano. Authenticity and quality are important to Antica Forma, so their ingredients are either imported from Italy or made fresh in house every day. Even the oven was flown in from Naples. Genuine Neapolitan pizza dough made with double zero flour (doppio zero ‘’00’’ caputo flour), fermented at a cool temperature for at least 24 hrs for better taste. Their pizza sauce is made with San Marzano tomatoes, grown on the volcanic plains to the south of Mount Vesuvius. Mozzarella is hand-stretched and made in house daily. This is pizza unlike any other in southern Utah.
Suffice it to say that Moab has no shortage of eating options; these are just a few of our favorites. For more options, browse our complete list of
restaurants in Moab.
