When I moved to Utah, many friends from my old stomping ground in Los Angeles pitied me since I was moving away from such a mecca of diverse food. I can’t lie–it was something that I worried about as well. I have found that you can find just about any type of cuisine in the Salt Lake Valley, as well as very high-quality food, but it might take a little more searching than it would in other cities. These hidden gems aren’t so hidden in the summer, when an abundance of high-quality, diverse food is demonstrated in our food truck scene.
With rising rent prices due to recent years’ economic turmoil, many beloved restaurants have recently shut down. More and more chefs are turning to food trucks and food halls as an affordable launching-off point for their businesses. Not all of these restaurants will blow you away, but many are some of Salt Lake’s best-kept secrets. Two trucks in particular are standing out this summer as ones you don’t want to miss out on.
Smash Kabob is an Afghani food truck serving up tender, grilled meats, flavorful saffron rice, and the flakiest paratha you’ll ever eat. Their specialty is Middle Eastern grilling, and all food is made fresh and packed with spices. The chicken skewer plate is a popular option at the truck, featuring juicy, fall-apart chicken that is so delicious on its own that it makes most other chicken seem boring in comparison. Served with rice, a salad, and savory homemade sauces, this is a well-rounded meal that leaves you full, but not stuffed.
My personal favorite is the chicken wrap, featuring the aforementioned mind-blowing paratha bread. Recently, I ate at the truck with many of my neighbors, who raved about their smash burger. I have yet to try something at Smash Kabob that didn’t make me want to enthusiastically recommend it to friends.
While many food trucks can be difficult to track down, Smash Kabob can always be found at 5469 S Redwood Road, Monday through Saturday from noon to 9.00 p.m. Their food is made fresh and on-demand, but trust me, when I say it is more than worth the wait. As you eat their food, it becomes obvious how much love and care go into each meal, not just from the quality of the food, but also from the impressive packaging of the takeout.
Next we have Girls Who Smash, the buzzed-about smash burger food truck. The owners, Cami and Carly, sought out to update what you traditionally think of as a smash burger, infusing a fresh take on sauces and toppings. For example, the Hot Mess burger, the truck’s most popular item, is topped with a unique smash sauce (possibly a combination of mayo and a whole-ground mustard, but hard to say exactly) and grilled onions, American cheese, and–get this–banana peppers. The combination of these ingredients works wonderfully, and you don’t miss the typical toppings you would expect on a standard burger.
My personal favorite is the Spice Girl burger, which differs from the Hot Mess by featuring a chipotle mayo and pickled jalapeños as toppings. The tanginess of the toppings, the creaminess of the sauces, the savoriness of the two patties, and the richness of cheese and onions combine to make some pretty perfect burgers. Cami and Carly also appreciate the art of a good side, frying their crinkle-cut fries in beef tallow and topping with a secret seasoning that is also used on top of their burgers. And our vegetarian friends can rejoice because either burger can be made with an Impossible patty.
Girls Who Smash has a saying that “Rushing ruins the romance” because they refuse to serve low-quality food even during their busiest times. They encourage you to talk to those around you in line, promoting the community they want to establish. This isn’t just about food but an experience. The truck can be found at various locations Thursday through Sunday, with regular appearances at the Downtown Farmer’s Market every Saturday. You can track their whereabouts by following them on Instagram, too.
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Moriah is a mom by day, and a therapist by night. In her free time, she loves cooking for others, trying new restaurants, throwing themed parties, reading, and traveling. When it comes to food, she is especially passionate about fries, ice cream, and anything new. She lives in the Salt Lake area with her family and can usually be found wearing something sparkly.
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