After studying the cocktail menu in the waiting area for a few minutes, we’re taken to a bright corner table by the window. The drink selection is unusual, most of the combinations are interesting twists on traditional cocktails: the Kingston Mule, the Rye Negroni. The liquors are familiar — tequila, gin, rum — but are combined with egg whites or chocolate bitters. Our collective favorite is the Paper Plane, although none of them disappoint.

We start the meal with Truffled Mac and Cheese. The gooey mass is fragrant with sage and Gruyere, and four forks make it disappear far too quickly.

  The common combination of asparagus and egg is similar to what you might find at any number of restaurants, but is perfectly executed.

The menu’s Asian flare is best showcased by sizzling pork belly tacos. They come topped with daikon, chili pickles and cilantro, a filling and tasty version of lettuce wraps.

We are tempted by one more appetizer, the potato salad. It’s no ordinary backyard BBQ fare. The array of colors and textures is surprisingly elegant. White and purple potatoes, slices of egg with vibrant yoke, topped with pieces of chives and bacon (see photo above).

After enjoying the selection of appetizers (and saving a few to try next time – mushroom toast with fontina, kale beet salad with marcona almonds) we manage to find room for burgers. One beef, one black bean. Both are on the hefty side and are served with a generous portion of fries – your choice of flavor- spicy togarashi (red chili pepper), garlic herb, or truffle herb. Fresh aioli is an added bonus. It’s a satisfying end to our meal, although I would have happily tried another round of drinks if it weren’t for an early yoga class the next morning!

You can always expect good music at Rye: it’s owned by the same team that runs next-door music venue Urban Lounge. If you’re lucky enough to be there during a show, you’ll even be treated to live video streaming of the concert!

Rye Diner and Drinks
239 South 500 East
Salt Lake City

Lucky for me I have many friends who love finding good food in the city. Although I get to be the one who documents the experience, I must give full credit to my friends Amanda and Mark for first introducing me to this new find.  Oh Mai is a Vietnamese Restaurant on State Street in Salt Lake, serving up all of the best traditional fare of their country including Bánh mì and Pho. 

This small cafe has come up in countless conversations around town after we discovered it.  Many people calling it a great ‘hole-in-the-wall’ Vietnamese Restaurant but I must tell you that although it is located on State Street and serves up ethnic foods at cheap prices, it is no hole-in-the-wall.  The owners have taken great pride in making their atmosphere comfortable and quaint, with art on the walls, lighting made from vintage colanders and hanging plants over the window sills. I’m really not sure what constitutes a hole-in-the -wall anyways but in my book this is not one! (though I will interject to say I have nothing against hole-in-the -wall restaurants!)

My first trip to Oh Mai my friend Amanda and I shared their Thit Nuong, a Bánh mì sandwich with honey glazed pork, and a bowl of their Pho Chin, a Pho noodle dish with brisket. Bánh mì is technically the baguette bread that is used for a traditional Vietnamese sub sandwich, although we most commonly refer to Bánh mì the as the whole sandwich.  The sandwich is comprised of meat: usually grilled, oven roasted or pan roasted, with an assortment of vegetables: sliced fresh cucumbers, pickled carrots, and cilantro.  At Oh Mai I experienced my first Bánh mì sandwich and loved every bite!  The crunchy pickled vegetables perfectly complimented the honey roast pork making each bite full of interesting flavors.  And any excess bread happily found its place soaking up the excess broth of my Pho noodle dish.

On our second visit, I reluctantly tried one of their rice dishes, which I enjoyed but I must say that I really longed after the Bánh mì that I tried on our first visit. Luckily Josh was generous enough to give me a few bites of his sandwich.

The biggest surprise of our meal was the Thai Iced Tea that we ventured out to try.  It’s orange color wasn’t the only shock, the flavor of the tea was unlike any drink I’ve ever tasted.  I honestly have no idea what the flavors were but we sipped and enjoyed, finding it a perfect cool compliment to the spicy sriracha sauce that we drizzled over our food.

If you haven’t already you must go and try a Bánh mì at Oh Mai soon and let me know what you think!  If you have already been there, please share with the rest of us your favorite dish or sandwich.

Oh Mai 2 locations:

3425 South State Street and 6093 S. Highland Dr.

Plum Alley
111 East 300 South

Beyond the food, I am always amused by the service and menus.  I love the small, bizarre little shop front that houses this cafe.  Its sign is sometimes flickering, a few letters might be missing light, and you never know if they are even going to be open when you arrive.  If they are open, the dining room is full, sometimes even packed.  Some might find these characteristics annoying or frustrating but somehow I find them endearing.

Another side note you should know before arriving is they prefer for you to share your dishes.  Maybe prefer is not a strong enough word….they nearly demand you share and do not understand why you would want to order two of the same dish.  We’ve been told, “You are in Thailand now.  We share dishes here.”  This is totally cool with me, I actually love sharing and trying several dishes, but my husband would sometimes just like his own bowl of Gang Dang without having to share with anyone.

After a few years of dining at Chanon Thai, we understand the rules and we often share or get take out.  They still remain our favorite Thai in Salt Lake.  In fact, after a bad day the Gang Dang puts a smile back on my face.

Oh and if you want brown rice come before 6pm.

Chanon Thai Cafe
278 E 900 S

After settling back in after a few weeks of crazy traveling around the country, I asked some Twitter friends what I had missed in the food scene of Salt Lake. They told me about Ekamai Thai, one of Salt Lake’s newest Thai food cafes. Ekamai is located near Pioneer Park and conveniently also right by several of my favorite food stops in the city: Aquarius (freshest seafood in town), Bruges (to die for Belgian waffles and fries), Tony Caputo’s Market (delicious gourmet foods market and restaurant), and Carlucci’s Bakery (who sells my favorite cannoli in town). Now I can grab some Thai food after picking up some specialty cheese at Caputo’s or fresh tuna steaks at Aquarius, and maybe even a waffle on my way out. It is almost foodie overload in this little street across from the park.

When asking about Ekamai on twitter, I was told that it was “Like a street cart with a door and roof.” After checking it out myself I agree with that statement but also add that the food is absolutely beyond what you would think of most food cart food. Food carts are stepping up in many cities around the U.S. and you can read more about food carts in my post of Portland here. This tiny cafe serves up a delicious assortment of Thai food favorites. Their menu changes daily so make sure and check out their website or if you’re in the area you can check the chalkboard by the street to see what they are offering that particular day.

I had the pleasure of meeting my fellow food friend, Heather from slclunches on Twitter, who shares my love for adventurous dining and trying new things. We went on a Thursday and loved their Coconut Curry Chicken Soup. I ordered the one-choice lunch option, which is only $4.99. You can get two choices for $7.99. I tried the brown rice, which was a beautiful, almost purple, rice, and ended up being tossed right in with my soup making for an amazingly tasty lunch.

All of their food is fresh, from the fresh ginger in my soup to the bright green basil in the curry. I highly recommend their food and their outdoor dining is inviting. The owner makes sure to greet everyone and see how they all like the food. Friendly service, fresh tasty Thai food, cool location…I couldn’t ask for much more.

Ekamai Thai Curry
336 West 300 South
Monday-Friday 11am-7pm
Saturday from 12pm-7pm

For more info read Heather’s review at The Salt Lake City Lunch Examiner.

My Thai is a relatively new Thai Restaurant on 300 West in Salt Lake. Some coworkers introduced me to My Thai recently and since then I’ve been back just to have a few of these delicious fresh spring rolls. All of their food was tasty but these spring rolls were especially good. Probably the best in the valley. Fresh mint, lettuce, clear noodles, shrimp, chicken, bean sprouts, and carrots are rolled with special care into rice paper. All of the ingredients are fresh but what really makes the rolls so amazing is the sauce that comes with it. I have no idea what is in the sauce besides peanuts but it is delicious. Go try My Thai!
My Thai
1425 South 300 West
(801) 505-4999

After being on our list of places we’d like to go for way too long, we finally went to Takashi, one of Salt Lake City’s best restaurants, in my opinion. It is located in a narrow downtown street surrounded by several other great restaurants and bars. Market Street is one of downtown Salt Lake’s most fun areas with Takashi, Market Street Grill, The New Yorker, and Kristauf’s.We had heard all about Takashi and their amazing, high-grade, fresh sushi but had never been there because their prices are quite high. But for a special occasion it is well worth the money you spend. We celebrated our anniversary there and after polling friends on twitter, we were loaded with lots of great recommendations. So many recommendations, that we were unable to try many of them, so it looks like we will have to go back. I took lots of pictures so I won’t bother you with words, you can see for yourself.

The Sable Fish was amazing, probably the best fish I’ve ever had. It was perfectly buttery with a touch of sweetness and almost melted in your mouth.
The T n’ T Roll, perfect for the spicy lover, a deep fried yellowtail & salmon roll served with a very spciry horseradish sauce
The Strawberry Feilds Roll, was very unusual and came highly recommended to us so we had to try it. I would suggest it more as a dessert or last roll of the evening. But it was good even dipped in soy sauce for the perfect salty-sweet balance
The Spicy Tuna roll is my go to roll at any sushi restaurant and it was exceptionally good at Takashi!
I realize that we were going out on a limb ordering a Dessert Crepe from a sushi restaurant but Takashi proved its diversity because it was really tasty and it was also nice being a lighter dessert because of the fresh fruit.
What we’ll try next time:
The Box- made with 3 different types of fish
The Mermaid- a version of spicy tuna
Green Papaya Salad

Our favorites:
Easy Rider- not pictured above but this was my favorite: a salmon and basil-filled roll
T n’T- tepura yellowtail & salmon served with a very spciry horseradish sauce

Takashi Sushi
18 West Market Street

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