After three years of living in Kimball Junction, Utah, I have had the chance to try just about every restaurant in Kimball Junction. Whether you are just passing through on I-80 or visiting the mountain town of Park City, there are some really good restaurants in Kimball Junction. While you’ll find a few chain restaurants in Kimball, there are some really great locally-owned options, too! Don’t overlook some of these strip mall spots!
Sample some of Park City’s best restaurants on this Food and Culture Walking tour!
Bartolo’s
Bartolo’s is one of my favorite restaurants in the Junction. Two former International students from South America and Asia have managed to open one of the best Italian restaurants in Park City! They have also expanded to Salt Lake City and Farmington in recent years. Their Italian food is fantastic, and the prices are much more reasonable than what you’ll find on Main Street. In addition to serving really great Italian food, Bartolo’s also offers a tasty weekend brunch. I recently had baked eggs that were really yummy and probably the best mimosa I’ve ever had in my life. For an “Italian-inspired” menu, there are some pretty good gluten-free options as well!
Hearth and Hill
Another local favorite, Hearth and Hill has a little bit of everything on their menu, which is contemporary American with global inspiration. They also have a nice bar when you just want drinks and a couple of appetizers. My favorite apps are the Arancini and the Shrimp Sumai. However, their menu changes seasonally, so there are always new dishes to try. Their Salt Lake restaurant, Urban Hill, is also supposed to be very good. If you’re looking for a nice dinner and don’t want to bother going downtown Park City, Hearth and Hill is a great choice. They also do lunch and weekend brunch.
If you follow the Utah Real Housewives, the Barlows just had Jack’s 21st birthday celebration at Urban Hill!
Hill’s Kitchen
The newest outlet from the owners of Hearth + Hill, Hill’s Kitchen, is a breakfast and lunch spot. They supposedly have amazing monkey bread that is always sold out by the time I get there. (Drawback of being a late sleeper!) I have had a few other bakery items and was not disappointed. Their lunch offerings include hot paninis and flatbreads, plus a nice selection of pre-made sandwiches and wraps. The smoked chicken club sandwich is really tasty!
Aubergine Kitchen
Although many of us were a bit salty when ‘Bout Time closed, Aubergine Kitchen is a great spot for healthy, casual food. I had the chance to interview the owner, Elcio Zanatta, for a Mountain Magazine article, and just loved his passion for what they are doing. The Blue Wave smoothie is my favorite, although I wish they offered a smaller size. At $14, it’s pricy, but so delicious, especially if you love coconut. (I prefer this over Vessel Kitchen, which everyone loves. It’s a little too healthy for me, lol)
Chop Shop Park City
This is a great local full-service butcher shop where a lot of locals stock up on high-quality meats and cheeses. If I had a grill, I would be here every week picking up something to cook on the grill. Fortunately, they also have a small menu of charcuterie boards and sandwiches, as well as some grocery items like seasoning and pasta. This is a fun store to browse around while you wait for your order to be ready. The “breakfast all day” sandwich is fantastic! The owners have also just opened up The Bake Shop across the street, which has an impressive array of baked goods. Their green Chile quiche is excellent.
Full House Asian Bistro
This is probably the best Chinese food in Park City, and while that’s not saying much, their pork fried rice hits the spot when I’m craving Chinese food. Their potstickers and crab wontons are great, too! They also have sushi; I’m a big fan of the Park City Roll. Takeout orders are always quick, so I can call when I leave work and my order is ready 15 minutes later. I 100% recommend this over Szechwan Chinese Kitchen, the other Chinese restaurant in Kimball Junction. (unless you count Panda Express, which I totally do!)
Ghidotti’s
There are several Italian restaurants in Kimball Junction, and Ghidotti’s seems to be the most formal. Think crystal and chandeliers everywhere. If you’re looking for Osso Bucco in Park City, head to Ghidotti’s. They have a great wine list and a nice menu of pasta dishes and entrees. I had the shrimp and crab fettuccine, while my mom had the veal marsala, which we both enjoyed. The dessert menu was nothing special, I think there were only three options, so we passed on that.
Maxwell’s East Coast Eatery
This is my go-to neighborhood bar. When I have time to watch a Cubs game, I’ll head here for a beer and a slice of pizza. Maxwell’s East Coast Eatery is located on the first floor of the Newpark Hotel. Maxwell’s serves up East Coast favorites like New York-style pizza and Philly Cheesesteaks. The bar is really popular in the winter, as the outside patio is in summer, especially when there are concerts on the lawn at Newpark. They sell pizza by the slice, but if you order a whole pizza, it only comes in one size, which is pretty giant. The Salt Lake location was featured on Guy Fieri’s show “Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives” and more recently, Dave Portnoy of Barstool Sports visited Maxwell’s and gave it a 7.1 on his pizza scale, calling it “crazy doughy.”
Red Rock Junction Park City
For solid brewpub food, you can’t go wrong with Red Rock Brewery. There are three locations: one in Kimball Junction and two in Salt Lake City. The Kimball Junction restaurant is in the Redstone Town Center, with a lively patio that wraps around two sides of the building. In the summer, there is always a line on weekends. I’ve had great salads here; their avocado toast appetizer is delicious, and I love their Hefeweizen. If you want good American food at relatively affordable prices, Red Rock Brewery is a great choice.
Tilly’s Charcoal Chicken
Sammy’s Bistro Express has been replaced by Tilly’s Charcoal Chicken, a casual charcoal Chicken joint, which is apparently a staple in most Australian towns. Opened by the same Aussie owners as Park City’s favorite breakfast, Five5eeds, and newcomer Matilda, this is a great spot for a variety of chicken dishes. Their Hot Chicken Roll, with stuffing and gravy, is like Thanksgiving dinner on a Hoagie. So good, and I easily made two meals out of this $16 sandwich. I’m not sure how I feel about the fries with chicken salt; I think I need another tasting to decide. It’s definitely a unique flavor for your French Fries!
Sterling Steakhouse & Lounge
This steakhouse opened up in December 2020 and has live music every night. I love the vibe in here, and since it’s super close to my home, it’s a great place to grab a bite and a drink. The blackberry mint mojito is really tasty, and the Bleu Cheese Chips are a great appetizer! The owner’s dad opened several House of Blues locations, so the decor inside is very Blues-focused, with guitars and artist portraits all around. It is licensed as a restaurant, not a bar, so kids are welcome, but that also means you can’t just have a drink. You are “encouraged” to order food as well. (I don’t know if it’s legally required though) Crazy Utah liquor laws! Be prepared for an expensive menu; the quality is worth it, but it feels like you’re paying Park City Main Street prices aimed at tourists, not locals.
If you get a patio seat in the summer, you’ll have a great view of Swaner Nature Preserve and the Newpark Amphitheater, which hosts free live music in the summer. (When there’s no concert, Sterling’s will pipe their live music out to the patio.
Sushi Blue
For sushi in Kimball Junction, Sushi Blue is the place to go. Another product of Bill White restaurants, this sushi spot also has other dishes, including hamburgers. I’ve had a few rolls here and they are decent. I’ve found the rolls at Blind Dog and of course, Yuki Yama to be better, but for a carryout option I can walk to, Sushi Blue fits the bill. They also have a nice patio that’s open in the summer months. I have a friend who is a burger aficionado and she swears that Sushi Blue has the best burger in town. I’ve yet to verify.
Taste of Thai
I’m definitely not a connoisseur of Thai food, so I’m no expert on what’s good and what’s not. However, I can say this is a great place for a quick bite, although it does seem overpriced for a plate of noodles. (Welcome to Park City!) I had the chicken Pad Thai, and it was good. The tofu garden rolls were good, and my friend had the pad see ew, which she enjoyed. They do charge extra to use a credit card, so bring cash to save money at this Park City Thai restaurant. My local friends who know more about Thai food than I do prefer Glyn Thai, which does have great appetizers and dessert! The pad Thai is good, but I have no idea what’s actually good.
Don’t miss out on these Park City restaurants!
Other Kimball Junction Restaurants
So I haven’t tried every restaurant in Kimball Junction. Consider this my “to do” list for the upcoming winter
- Park City Brewing has a good selection of craft beers and a nice selection of food. I prefer this spot in summer when the patio is open.
- Cortona – this Italian cafe is a fan favorite of many of my guests in the winter, and that’s saying something as there are several other great Italian restaurants in Park City.
- Leonardo’s is a Mexican market and taqueria in the same strip as Full House. I’ve been in for pastries but haven’t tried the tacos yet. I’m not a fan of Loco Lizard, so I’m still looking for good Mexican food in Kimball Junction besides Del Taco!
- We are starting to see more fast-casual chains in Kimball Junction. SlapFish was replaced by Spitz, a Mediterranean street food chain. We’re also getting a Mo Bettah’s, which I haven’t tried yet.