Best Lunch Spots in Salt Lake City's South Valley

You're sitting at work, bored and hungry. You're deciding what you want to eat, but more importantly, where. The southern end of the Salt Lake valley certainly has some respectable restaurant fare, but most of it falls into the franchise TGI Friday's variety.

You know why it's important to support local business. You know that supporting local business is what kept Crown Burger and Greek Souvlaki alive and thriving.

But where to go?

The southern end of Salt Lake Valley has also experienced some hits and misses. Some buildings seem cursed to a string of one unsuccessful mom and pop after another. It can be challenge to find something you can trust.

Let me offer some local options, all are solid on quality, atmosphere and service.

The Philadelphian
9860 S 700 E Ste 13
Sandy, UT

As the strip mall door swings open, you can smell the Philadelphian.

This is not a place to count calories or worry about your treadmill.

This is a lunch to last you all day.

While there are a number of menu items, there's no reason to skip their Philly sub, in 6", 8" or 'feed a village' 12" sizes. Everything is made to order, and while that slows down service, the wait is worth it.

Also, if you crave the doughy goodness of freshly fried onion rings, the Philadelphian will claim ownership of your favorite restaurants list.

Mi Ranchito Grill
9560 S State St
Sandy, UT

China Chef
652 Union Sq
Sandy, UT

Oh the pitfalls of buffet-style dining!

Not only do you have to find a restaurant whose menu items top the bar of mass production; not only do you have to find a place who keeps their buffet fresh and full, but you also want to find one with a reasonable price without compromising your experience.

Let me offer two options, the Mi Ranchito Grill and China Chef.

Mi Ranchito has a family style Mexican buffet with a wide, fresh selection. The buffet is large enough to provide you with all that a good buffet should: the opportunity for a multi-course meal. The food is various, the service is attentive and oh yeah, they have an on-duty buffet cook.

When you walk into the China Chef, you're greeted as a friend of the house. You're sat quickly and your beverage order is right behind you. The buffet has the usual assort of Chinese fare, but it also as a sweets and salad section that is worthy of a small contribution for each plate you fill. Be sure to try the sweet and sour, the beef and broccoli and the dumplings.

Nagoya Sushi
1086 Fort Union Blvd
Midvale, UT

If you'd rather enjoy a lighter, reasonably priced lunch, you'd be hard pressed to find a better sushi place in South Valley than Nagoya Sushi. It's located in the shopping center, and a little hard to find, but this also means that it's less well known and a better find.

The chefs are talented and creative, and several of the rolls - particularly the Utah and Tiger - are worthy of a nice long session of sushi goodness.

Another advantage is the price, making Nagoya easy on the taste buds, the stomach and the wallet.