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South Salt Lake Restaurants Serve Sizzling Specials During Restaurant Week

Aug 30, 2016 04:23PM ● By Brian Shaw

Lunchtime at Pat’s BBQ in South Salt Lake. —Trisha Gold

For many South Salt Lake residents, driving along State Street in either direction between 2100 and 3900 South will give you a clear picture on what there is to eat. 

And, for one week in August, these area restaurants offer some delicious deals during the third annual Restaurant Week, Aug. 14-20.

“We started doing this event in 2013 when we were doing [the city's] 75th anniversary,” said Leslie Jones, event organizer for the city of South Salt Lake. “At the time, we were doing 75 events in 75 days to celebrate [our 75th anniversary] and so this event came out of that thought process and just seemed to happen organically.”

And so, this writer began his own culinary journey, heading to South Salt Lake with his wife in tow. Certainly no stranger to the city—having been former residents—we started off Restaurant Week like anyone looking to start their morning: at IHOP on 2100 South and just off 300 West. Their “breakfast anytime” menu hit the spot. 

After filling up with their bottomless coffee and a few menu items at IHOP, we popped on over to Best Chicken and Ribs a few blocks to the south on 116 East 2700 South for $7.99 lunch specials like their gyro plate and quarter-pound chicken—which comes with one side dish and drink for one low price. 

For dessert, we headed two blocks east to State Street and visited Village Inn, offering—since it was on a Tuesday--$2.00 off any pie slice you choose. The next day, we continued south along State Street, sampling Ho Mei BBQ House—where we got a free drink with our purchase—as well as Ichiban Sushi where the wife enjoyed her favorite treat, the California Roll and at half price. 

Meanwhile this writer waited patiently for his turn to eat--then sampled a ½ turkey sub and soup for only $6.99 at East Coast Subs ‘cause he's a soup-and-sandwich-type-of-guy and even got a free drink, too. After we finished our meals at those fine establishments, we needed something nice and smooth to wash it all down, so we headed over to my former haunt, Bad Ass Coffee on 3530 South State, going—once again—for a BOGO free deal the establishment was offering during Restaurant Week. 

For dinner, we ate at Mi Ranchito Grill and took advantage of their BOGO free entree deal, which was delicious. The wife got the chile relleno platter while I had the chile verde. Outstanding, on both accounts, and the wait staff were as friendly as always, making the occasion more enjoyable. “We went there not too long ago and I was highly pleased with the friendly service. It was really festive in there and all of their food is made fresh and natural,” said Jones.  

The next day, this writer got back in his family truckster and headed down to 3300 South a few blocks, landing our gas-powered vehicle at Mano Thai Diner, where we sampled the Pad Thai, getting both meals half off. Considering it comes with stir-fried rice noodles with egg, green onion, tofu and bean sprouts, tamarind juice and ground peanuts and is also served with fresh lime on the side, well, you'd better come hungry. 

To that end, Jones urged people from all over Salt Lake to sample next year's Restaurant Week. “People don't often realize that South Salt Lake is here. We wanted to do a couple things with this event: first, to draw people's attention to South Salt Lake. Second, we have a lot of really good restaurants, we want people to know we have some diversity. There are all kinds of foods here in South Salt Lake, and so for us, it's really a win-win situation,” added Jones. 

Other restaurants along 3300 South offering deals that this writer wasn't able to sample due to time constraints during Restaurant Week were Navajo Hogan, a landmark across the street from the old Granite High building and Sweetaly, a newer establishment with its authentic Italian gelato you can't find in many places around town; and The Med and Zabb Noodles, both featuring fresh food from local markets. All had specials going on as well during Restaurant Week. Also, a little off the beaten path on 155 West Commonwealth Avenue, but well worth a visit according to Jones, is Pat's BBQ and Catering—which has been featured on Food Network. 

Another restaurant offering a special along State Street was the Asian eatery Red Mermaid Bistro, as well as the longtime local’s favorite, the Left Fork Grill just west of Harman's KFC on 3900 South State.