Taiwanese and Mexican flavors in Utah’s latest restaurant reviews – Gastronomic Salt Lake City

Alex Springer profiled five restaurants in City Weekly last month, with Drunken Kitchen being a standout. You can also read what I thought of the fried chicken wings here. Other names include Blind Rabbit Kitchen, Seven Brothers Burgers (City Creek location pictured above), Contento Cafe, and Aker, the latter of which is downtown SLC’s new chic Japanese-inspired restaurant. Aker was recently opened by the team behind Ruby River Steakhouse/Hoppers through a lavish renovation of the former Maxwell’s space.

In Salt Lake Magazine, Lydia Martinez looks at the Utah scone. Martinez also discusses open-fire cooking with Chef John Mucko and talks to Alta Club veteran John Hiner about what three decades behind the historic bar looks like.

In Utah Stories, Ted Scheffler takes a look at Canyons Village and also takes a closer look at the KITA located in Pendry. Pendry? Here’s everything you need to know about one of Summit County’s newer resorts. Scheffler also stops by Kevin Finch’s residency at The Ruin. Finch has been popping up here and there for months, and word is that it’s all leading up to a permanent spot for the talented chef. As a reminder, a previous fleeting appearance by Finch was one of the best meals I’ve enjoyed in 2022. Also in Utah Stories, Bianca Dumas heads to Escalante, and Heather L. King goes over the details on four food trucks.

In the Trib, Kolbie Peterson reviews three chicken sandwiches and declares Ramen Ichizu the best she’s ever had. Peterson also continues her ongoing exploration of Redwood Road, highlighting these five favorites. Habibi Grill in particular is one of my favorites, here’s my take on their delicious lamb shinwari karahi.

To close out the month, Axios’ Kim Bojórquez dines at La Cevicheria, Ryan Aston explores Riverdale’s Ichiban Sushi, and Christian Ledek tries out Scottish fare at The Bruce in SLUG. On TV, ABC4 features Sagato Bakery, Contento Cafe, and Milly Chalet, while FOX13 highlights Aker.

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Hi, I’m Stuart, nice to meet you! I’m the founder, writer, and organizer of Gastronomic SLC. I’m a multi-award-winning journalist and have been writing about the Salt Lake City dining scene in myopic detail for nearly seventeen years.

I have worked extensively with several local publications, from Visit Salt Lake to Salt Lake Magazine, and not least have served as a consultant for national television. Pause at the credits, yes, that’s me! I’ve also been a restaurant critic for over five years and have worked for the Salt Lake Tribune. I’m mostly driven by a critical obsession with rice, alliteration, and using big words I don’t understand. What they say about me: “Not inaccurate,” “I thought he was older,” “I don’t share his feelings.”

Want to know more? That’s why I am the way I am.