St. George has all the basics when it comes food places, but there are a few hidden gems only locals would about.  

The most popular places tend to be fast-food franchises that have made their way to Southern Utah. Some of those include the beloved Chik-Fill-A, In-N-Out Burger, and Café Rio. But those can be found just about anywhere in the U.S. and in Utah.  

One common complaint locals make is the lack of “good food”. Now, what that means exactly is up for debate but it could have to do with low- quality, low quantity, and outrageous pricing at some places. There is also a limited number of restaurants that offer uniquely cultured food outside of the usual burgers, tacos, and sandwiches.   

Unsplash-Ashley Green
Unsplash-Ashley Green
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That is not to say that burgers, tacos, and sandwiches aren’t good, just that maybe there could be more food culture diversity.  

Now, there are some popular locations like Red Fort Cuisine which is definitely the most popular place to grab Indian food in town. The garlic naan is the best I've ever had and good enough to pay a pretty penny for. Slurpin’ Ramen Bar is a great cozy “hole-in-the-wall" location that serves unique ramen. It's even vegan friendly.  

If a tourist were to come to town, those two places and all the other generic ones would be on the list. But, Southern Utahn’s know about “secret places” like special food pop-ups and mostly unknown restaurants simply from being here so long. That knowledge is gold for any foodie-tourist.  

Here are some of those local food places to try: 

Hawaiian Poke Bowl- 

If fish is not your favorite, I would recommend skipping this one. The Hawaiian Poke Bowl is island cuisine but limits the menu to only poke bowls, unlike places like Island Grinds. The fish is marinated in different sauces and placed over cabbage and rice. Though it's basically 99 percent fish/seafood there are kalua pork bows available for those who are anti-ocean food. Its also only open from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. during the weekdays so availability to the public is limited.

Judds- 

Next up is every local's favorite, Judds. It honestly doesn’t look like much from the outside even located downtown. However, it undisputedly has the best breadsticks around. The soda pop selections, the old-fashioned ice cream, and even the soups and sandwiches have a homemade vibe. The prices are also fair and it's like walking into some 1950s’ movie.  

Kitchen Thai Express- 

Everyone loves Benja's Thai Garden but we can all agree it can get to be a little expensive. Well, there is a solution though you’ll have to go without sushi; Kitchen That Express. This place boasts a faster Thai food experience while it also has a variety of options from curries to pan-fried noodles and more.  It's not truly a “secret” but it's definitely not the first on most minds for Thai food in St. George. It does have a 4.7 rating on Google Reviews so it certainly can’t be that bad.  

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