One of my favorite things to do when traveling is to eat food I can only get at that location! My husband’s job has recently been requiring a little more travel, so he has the opportunity to visit a few different places across the U.S. And this has given him the opportunity to try places he would never eat at otherwise- unless he chooses to go with something he’s familiar with ;).

Sometimes we take our hidden gem restaurants for granted, but they are usually some of my favorite places to eat! I live in Utah County, and here are just a few places that are my absolute favorite. If you’re local, you’ll definitely want to try these out- if you’re not, put them on your list in case you ever visit!

Station 22 Cafe in Provo. This place is so fun! They serve your drinks in Mason jars and there’s a huge wall of different flavored unique sodas to try. They serve a variety of burgers (my favorite has pesto mayo, avocado and roasted red pepper!) and sandwiches, as well as some classics like Mac n’ Cheese. They also have a variety of southern favorites like chicken and waffles and pulled pork plates. And everything I have tried there is amazing. They also have a special sauce that they serve with the fries that’s to die for!

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Chubby’s in Pleasant Grove. Don’t let the name scare you off. This is some seriously good food. They have the most amazing burgers and chicken sandwiches ever! Each burger and sandwich comes with a unique sauce, and there beer-battered fries are perfection. Not to mention their amazing scones… yeah, there’s a reason this place is called Chubby’s ;). But you’d be crazy not to go!

Roy’s Pizza in Ephraim. My family is willing to go the distance for good food, and we sometimes will drive for an hour just to visit this small-town pizza place. It’s GOOD pizza. They also have these incredible cinnamon sticks with frosting that just melts in your mouth, and they’re cheese sticks are a must as well! They also have a fun candy wall (Willy Wonka candy shop style!) and ice cream parlor inside the restaurant, which makes it even more fun, and adds to the small hometown feel. If you don’t quite feel like driving that far south, there’s a copycat version in Payson, called Fat Jack’s that’s pretty much just as good! (Except the cinnamon sticks- they’re not even close;) ).

*The picture above is one we took after I graduated from Brigham Young University way back in 2011- and we celebrated in style with a long drive and good pizza ;).

Red Iguana in Salt Lake City. If you like Mexican food then you’d be CRAZY to not visit this place. We’re talking real, authentic Mexican food. I usually just order the mushroom quesadilla and split the nachos with my husband because even the appetizers are to die for! This place is usually insanely crowded, so be sure to make a reservation or plan on a nice long wait ;). The food is totally worth it! And if you let them know it’s your first time, you’ll get to sample all their moles! (Authentic Mexican sauces!)

Dairy Keen in Heber. Also known as the home of the train! This place is a lot of fun- for adults and for kids! There is an iconic train out front, and they have a little electric train that runs around the entire restaurant. They also have incredible food, but they are especially known for their killer shakes!! My family stops here anytime we are even passing ;).

Obviously, this just represents a couple of the tasty and unique restaurants we have here :). Have you been to any of these restaurants? What are your favorite hidden gem restaurants in the places you live? I’d love to give my husband some suggestions for when he visits around the country!