Saffron Valley expands into major restaurant space in downtown SLC

Wowser. It’s not even been a month since my last recap of the new and notable. And yet, here we are again, with another two dozen new names opening around the state. Let’s begin with some pretty, pretty, big news…

Central by Saffron

Top of the shop for this month’s new restaurant roundup – this grand opening in downtown SLC. Central is the latest outing for the award-winning restaurateur Lavanya Mahate (pictured top), with her Saffron Valley brand taking over a huge fine dining space in the city.

The space makes for one of the grandest South Asian restaurant spots in the city, clocking in at a little over 8,000 square feet. The previous occupant of the space, Stanza, could accommodate 140 in the main dining room, with a couple of hundred more via the various event and patio spaces dotted throughout. Before Stanza opened in 2016, fact fans will remember this was home to Faustina; notably razed to the ground except for the bar, in order to retain the liquor license, as Stanza was rebuilt around it.

The huge building remains as eve opening as ever, now slightly remade with the central dining space wall retooled with a railway aesthetic, reflecting the greater theme of the restaurant, “inspired by the golden age of India’s railways.” The menu also chugs along with the locomotive thread, including plenty of familiar dishes, not least a few unexpected turns; paneer apricot kebab, Amritsari fish and chips, and lamb shank rogan josh – to name just three.

Aroon Thai Kitchen

A second location for the Aroon name is expected to open to the public any day now. The Thai restaurant will take over the former Angry Korean space in Cottonwood Heights. To say the original in Murray is well-regarded would be an understatement; just go check out the reviews.

Benchitos

Burritos, birria, breakfast, and a whole lot more. The menu for this new South Salt Lake Mexican spot is extensive, to say the least. Early online reviews seem promising, and who doesn’t love to see a salsa bar? Especially noteworthy are the opening hours, with the business listing 2.00 a.m. weekdays and 3.00 a.m. weekends.

Bix

It’s a busy month for Mahate, with her casual cafe spot Bix also reopening in Sugar House. The Trib interviewed the owner on the comeback in this article. For a little more reading on Bix, check out our own article on the business back in 2023.

Caracas Dog

Now firing up the links in the Woodbine Food Hall, a new vendor offering “fully-loaded Venezuelan hot dogs, bursting with authentic flavors and fresh ingredients that will transport you straight to the streets of Caracas.” Options include the Pepito Dog, an absolute unit loaded with shredded Gouda cheese, diced onions, shredded cabbage, corn, caramelized onions, sautéed peppers, crispy potato sticks, and signature sauces.

Caracas Dog follows the recent arrival of Marcato Kitchen in the food hall, which has been on something of a concerted reinvigoration of late. The location now features ten different vendors.

Chicken Boy

Open Wednesday through Saturday, this Provo arrival began life as a food truck before cementing its new brick and mortar in Utah County. The house specialty is gluten-free chicken tenders, served on a compact menu with fries, slaw, and a quartet of sauces.

Crazy Croffles

A new option at The Gateway laser focused on croffles – waffles made with croissant dough. Amidst the array of configurations, you’ll spot the currently trendy Dubai chocolate as a possible option.

El Tonga Tacos

This one’s for U of U students, and I am very jealous. The news was announced in this article back in August. The original North Salt Lake location of ETT closed back in March – here’s hoping their U opening can spur further growth so we can all sample their fab fare once more.

El Tonga’s Cecina and Arabe tacos were previously some of the best I’ve tasted in SLC. The former, air-dried beef, is stacked with a tremendous depth of beefy and smoky flavor; the latter, a Pueblan-Middle Eastern fusion. Magical, sublime stuff. Similarly, the accompanying salsas are all rich in complexity and nuance.

Happy Assai

Located in Midvale’s Latin Market along State Street (you’ll find them towards the back of the store), this acai bowl option brings Colombian flair and flavor to proceedings.

House Of Mother

Now in business in the former Alibi space, a new 21+ spot. Cafe and coffee shop by day, bar by night. Mother retains a similar craft cocktail approach to their predecessors with drinks available such as Of All The Gin Joints, a briny martini featuring stirred feta and gin with tomato water, dry vermouth, olive brine and black pepper.

Kin Sen Thai Tapas

I’m anxious to try this new Holladay spot, the latest from restaurateur Pornpimon Prathummas. Why? Here’s a primer on her original Kin Sen, and a subsequent update story on an evolving menu as the business moved East. Pictured top is the Kao Kha Moo from Kin Sen at the latest Kin Sen location in Millcreek.

Prathummas’ latest effort will focus on “small tapas and craft Thai cocktails,” and given her exceptional skills in the kitchen, I am more than a little excited to see what’s cooking. You should be, too.

La Vaca Steakhouse

This Utah County steakhouse has a menu liberally seasoned with South American flair – Ecuadorian, Mexican, Peruvian, and Argentinian flavors all wend their way into a variety of dishes. An impressively eclectic parrillada platter comes loaded with short ribs, entrana, morcilla, chorizo, chinchulin, moyeja, chicken, potato salad, salad, fries, and mixed veggies. Plenty for a whole table to share.

Mad For Chicken

A new chicken shop has joined the options over at South Salt Lake’s Chinatown complex. The poultry in question is Korean fried, with the Mad chain known for its signature soy garlic chicken. Alongside the fried stuff, expect to see sizzling hot stone rice bowls, unique kimchi fries & bulgogi mac and cheese.

Mank’a

I believe this is a new location for the Mexican restaurant, moving to a new home in South Salt Lake. Not too much info on this one yet, but the business does say, “we serve authentic Mexican and Latin America food made fresh every day. From street tacos and burritos to traditional plates like Lomo Saltado and bistec ranchero, everything is cooked with homemade flavor and fast service. “

Mr Dumpling

A duo of dumplings (chicken or beef) leads the charge at this new Provo restaurant. Quickly following them is a lineup of other Southeast Asian bites such as lumpia, chicken karaage, and kimchi.

No. 1 Asian Cuisine

A very keenly priced menu at this Eagle Mountain newcomer. The pan-Asian restaurant’s prices largely hover around the $12 mark for most of the Chinese dishes on offer. Maki sushi appears later in the list, as do a handful of sushi burrito options.

Pho 888

The menu at this Saratoga Springs restaurant goes a little further than the name might suggest. In addition to the named Vietnamese staple (as well as banh mi, and vermicelli noodle options), the restaurant also dabbles with Japanese, Thai, and Chinese dishes.

Plov & Borsch

Operator Zhazira Begaly previously ran a pasta production and cafe business in Kazakhstan, and with this new opening in the Beehive, is offering a menu that is completely unique, as far as I know. Pelmeni, Kuyrdak, Manty, and more – Central Asian and Eastern European dishes are the stars of the show here.

Salty’s

This spot recently opened in Lehi, close to the city’s Harmons location. A comfort food menu starts with a simple smash burger at the ten-dollar mark – with piled-up creations coming next. A hot dog, chicken sandwich, and grilled cheese comprise the other handhelds.

Sir Walter Candy

Moving to Utah from California back in 2008, this candy company now has a new retail location for the public in South Salt Lake.

SLC Pub

Once upon a time, home to Good Grammar and, most recently, Coterie, this Gallivan Ave spot has a new 21+ bar to enjoy. Owner Scott Hanna’s spin on the space leads with a movie theme, the front of the bar space remade with sofas and a screen. On the food side, patrons can grab a Cincinnati dog for five bucks.

Soulful Sips

This Millcreek coffee shop has a healthy, organic approach to its menu. Alongside a range of familiar coffee shop pours, you’ll find crepes on the food side of things.

Taste Of Philly

Those on the hunt for the best Philly Cheesesteak have a new option to check out. Recently opened in SLC, this appears to be the first Utah location for the chain, with more than 30 years in the business. The business doesn’t look to settle the debate of what makes the best cheesesteak (wisely so) offering whiz, provolone, swiss, cheddar, or white American cheese.

Wanyen Cafe

Opening a little while ago, and including here now for completeness. Remember, you gotta catch ’em all. The restaurant promises to be your “new fav ice cream cafe” and sports Southeast Asian inspired flavors such as matchacha, milky Hokkaido, and Bangkokian tea.

Coming soon

Bombay Palace Indian Cuisine

Coming to Tooele any day now (according to FB posts here and here. Given the name, it looks likely this one will be an expansion from the similarly named Murray-based Indian restaurant – this is currently speculation on my part, however.

Buc-ee’s

Yep, they’re headed to Utah. KSL has the scoop on what you can expect at this cult-status brand out of Texas; suffice to say, the 74,000 square feet with North of 100 fuel pumps will surely bring the crowds from all over to the Springville location. According to the KSL piece, expect the development to take a couple of years to see the light of day.

Knoops Chocolate

This British name, known for its drinking chocolate, has secured a spot in SLC, over in the 9th and 9th neighborhood. The opening will be their first-ever U.S. outing. Hat tip to the wonderful Mile High Food Fairy for this tip off.

Molly Tea

I haven’t seen an official announcement yet, but a little birdie tells me we should see an outlet of this name in the coming weeks over in Chinatown. The bubble tea shop currently operates a trio of East Coast locations in Flushing, Brooklyn, and Manhattan’s Chinatown.

Penny Ann’s Cafe

Midvale should be the next stop for the PAC crew.

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Stuart Melling

Hi, I’m Stuart, nice to meet you!  I’m the founder, writer and wrangler at Gastronomic SLC.  I’m a multiple-award winning journalist and have written in myopic detail about the Salt Lake City  dining scene for the better part of seventeen years.

I’ve worked extensively with multiple local publications from Visit Salt Lake to Salt Lake Magazine, not least helped to consult on national TV.   Pause those credits, yep, that’s me! I’m also a former restaurant critic of more than five years, working for the Salt Lake Tribune.    I’m largely fueled by a critical obsession with rice, alliteration and the use of big words I don’t understand.   What they’re saying about me: “Not inaccurate”, “I thought he was older”, “I don’t share his feelings”.

Want to know more? This is why I am the way I am.