
Ruth's Diner
A historic diner in a trolley car nestled in Emigration Canyon, serving American comfort food with a legendary biscuit.

Highlights
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Ruth's Diner

Highlights
Must-see attractions
A historic diner in a trolley car nestled in Emigration Canyon, serving American comfort food with a legendary biscuit.
"Enjoy a taste of history with iconic biscuits on a charming patio, a true Salt Lake City gem."
Plan for Waits
The indoor space is small, so expect waits, especially on busy days. Visit off-peak.
Embrace the Patio
Opt for outdoor seating on the scenic patio when weather permits for a delightful experience.

Quick Facts
Cuisine
American
Price
Mid-range
Phone
(801) 582-5807
Address
4160 Emigration Canyon Rd, Emigration Canyon, UT 84108, USA
Website
ruthsdiner.com/Highlights
Discover the most iconic attractions and experiences

Mile-High Biscuits
Iconic 3-inch-high biscuits served with housemade fruit preserves are a must-try, a delicious tradition since 1930.

Charming Trolley Car Setting
Dine inside a renovated 1930s trolley car for a unique, historic experience with a cozy atmosphere.

Scenic Patio Dining
Enjoy your meal on a beautiful, tree-shaded patio in Emigration Canyon, offering a serene dining escape.
Plans like a pro.
Thinks like you
Insider Tips
from TikTok, Instagram & Reddit
Plan for Waits
The indoor space is small, so expect waits, especially on busy days. Visit off-peak.
Embrace the Patio
Opt for outdoor seating on the scenic patio when weather permits for a delightful experience.
Try the Biscuits!
Don't miss the signature Mile High biscuits served with housemade fruit preserves.
Summer Barbecue Nights
Consider attending their summer barbecue nights featuring live music for a special evening.
Tips
from all over the internet
Plan for Waits
The indoor space is small, so expect waits, especially on busy days. Visit off-peak.
Embrace the Patio
Opt for outdoor seating on the scenic patio when weather permits for a delightful experience.
Try the Biscuits!
Don't miss the signature Mile High biscuits served with housemade fruit preserves.
Summer Barbecue Nights
Consider attending their summer barbecue nights featuring live music for a special evening.
What Travellers Say
Reviews Summary
Ruth's Diner is cherished for its historic trolley car charm, scenic patio, and iconic mile-high biscuits, making it a beloved local institution. While many rave about the breakfast offerings and pleasant atmosphere, some diners find the food to be average and note recent price increases with declining portions. The service can be hit or miss, with some experiencing rushed service and others enjoying attentive staff.
"Always an enjoyable experience, Ruth's Diner is one of the best restaurants just outside of the city. Whenever we have guest from out of town, we make time to have lunch or dinner here. Our last visit was pleasant and we were actually there to experience the live band which complemented the patio scenery. They do not accept reservations so plan accordingly, we have never had to wait longer than 15 minutes."
Jennifer Toledo
"It is a charming spot in Salt Lake with great service and a lovely patio. The hot chocolate was rich and comforting, and the bread with jam was absolutely delicious. The bacon was cooked to perfection. We were however not that happy with the pancakes. Still a perfect place for a relaxed breakfast!"
Sourav Das
"Great cute place, I love the history and fact that it's a restored trolley car. I only went here once, but the staff and atmosphere were great.
I ordered the quiche of the day and that was my only issue. It had the veggies I wanted, but the eggs were a bit soggy and the crust tasty but not as flaky as I'd expect. The flexibility of the quiche as I cut it hinted that it wasn't baked completely, and was reheated later. If it was just reheated in a toaster oven, the crust would be flaky again and the eggs complete. This just wasn't it for me."
Joshua McCauley
What People Like
What People Dislike
Frequently Asked Questions
Ruth's Diner is most famous for its mile-high biscuits served with housemade fruit preserves, and its unique setting in a historic trolley car.
No, Ruth's Diner does not accept reservations, so be prepared for a potential wait, especially during peak hours.
Yes, Ruth's Diner features a charming and scenic patio area, perfect for dining when the weather is nice.
Yes, breakfast is served all day, every day at Ruth's Diner, allowing you to enjoy their signature dishes anytime.
Yes, Ruth's Diner offers vegan and gluten-free options, catering to various dietary needs.
The atmosphere is charming and historic, especially when dining inside the renovated trolley car or enjoying the serene patio.
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Families love the gussied-up old railcar that serves as Ruth's dining room and the best creek-side patio in the city—you just have to navigate your way up gorgeous Emigration Canyon to find it. Breakfast (served until 4 pm) has been the diner's trademark since 1930, and it starts with 3-inch-high biscuits followed by massive omelets like the King of Hearts (artichokes, garlic, mushrooms, and two cheeses). In summer the barbecue fires up every Thursday night for ribs, fish, chicken, or whatever the chef concocts, with live music on the patio.
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OK, maybe it actually is, since it’s been open since 1930, but the vibe is decidedly non-octogenarian. Built inside a renovated trolley car and located 20 minutes outside the city in Emigration Canyon, the small indoor space means long waits, but they also have a spacious outdoor patio. Every meal starts just how Ruth (the original owner who has since passed away) used to make it: with a biscuit served with housemade fruit preserves.
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The scenery from the outdoor patio of Ruth’s Diner is awe-inspiring: restaurant-goers are shaded by giant trees and towering canyon slopes to really offer a taste of authentic Utah. If you visit Ruth’s during the winter, sit inside the remodelled trolley car and enjoy snow-covered mountain vistas. The diner is located a few miles outside of the city, in Emigration Canyon, and is one of the oldest in the state.
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The grandmother of SLC eateries, Ruth’s has been flipping burgers since 1930 – though it’s changed locations and hands over the years. Tucked away in Emigration Canyon, this local institution has a sprawling, verdant patio that feels like a well-kept secret. What’s not a secret are Ruth’s mile-high biscuits, which make excellent fluffy vehicles for everything from bacon to maple syrup.
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Take a 20-minute drive into Emigration Canyon for breakfast on the tree-shaded patio at Ruth’s Diner, with the sounds of the babbling Emigration Creek in the background. Order Ruth’s “famous mile high” biscuits with house-made jam, and then walk them off at Red Butte Garden, a sprawling park known for its native plants.
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Located in a renovated 1930s trolley car parked right in the heart of Emigration Canyon, Ruth's Diner serves all your favorite American and southwest breakfast dishes, from sausage and pancakes to huevos rancheros. The popular eatery has gained quite a substantial reputation for its morning fare over the years, and even better, breakfast is served all day, every day. Although its salty founder, Ruth, died at the ripe old age of 94 in 1989, the business she built lives on, buoyed by her independent spirit.
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To get away from the urban setting you might enjoy a run up 400 South to Emigration Canyon to the popular Ruth’s Diner for Chinese, Italian, Cajun, and Mexican dishes in a 1940s atmosphere. (Yes, the old trolley car is still part of the building.) For the best cozy canyon dining, ride outto the Mill Creek Inn in Mill Creek Canyon, east from Wasatch Blvd. at 3800 South. From the dining room a wall of windows looks out over the natural landscape where you might be visited by deerorotherwildlife.
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Where: 4160 Emigration Emigration Canyon Road, Salt Lake City. The scene: The eponymous Ruth was a Utahn legend - a cabaret singer turned chef who could ‘swear like a sailor and smoke like a chimney.’ Her restaurant - which she opened in a derelict railway carriage in 1949 - is still going strong, with people travelling from miles around for the famous comfort food. Order this: Grandma Claire’s mac and cheese, breaded, deep-fried and served with marinara sauce.
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Ruth’s Diner is a locally loved and very historic restaurant situated in a picturesque trolley cart at the mouth of Emigration Canyon. The patio at Ruth’s is just as welcoming as the inside of the trolley cart restaurant, complete with beautiful leafy trees, twinkle lights, plenty of seating, and live music if you’re lucky. The menu highlight at Ruth’s is always the mile-high biscuits, which we love enjoying with copious amounts of butter and jam.
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OK, maybe it actually is, since it’s been open since 1930, but the vibe is decidedly non-octogenarian. Built inside a renovated trolley car and located 20 minutes outside the city, the small indoor space means long waits, but they also have some of the best views of Emigration Canyon. Every meal starts just how Ruth (the original owner who has since passed away) used to make it: with a biscuit served with housemade fruit preserves.
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Ruth’s Diner started life as the archetypal roadside trolley diner, and despite changes and expansions over the years, still remains a popular destination with locals and visitors alike. One of the reasons are the wonderful views of Emigration Canyon where Ruth’s diner is nestled; another of course is the food. Every meal at Ruth’s starts with complementary ‘mile high biscuits’, fist sized, fluffy slices of buttery biscuit.
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Just a few minutes up Emigration Canyon, Ruth’s Diner’s outdoor patio offers live music at 6:30 p.m., from Thursday through Sunday. This year marks the 94th anniversary of the diner, where locals go for Mile High biscuits and cinnamon roll French toast. Breakfast, lunch and dinner are served with hearty items like chicken fried steak, grilled Idaho red trout, butter squash carbonara and Ruth’s famous dessert menu.
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4160 Emigration Canyon Rd | Open Sun-Mon and Thurs 8 AM - 9 PM, Fri-Sat 8 AM to 10 PM. Housed in a repurposed trolley car tucked into the mouth of Emigration Canyon, Ruth’s Diner feels like your eccentric great-aunt's mountain hideaway. Their Mile-High Biscuits—which actually require altitude adjustments to bake properly at sea level—emerge steaming from the kitchen, begging to be smothered in country gravy.
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Ruth’s Diner The dining car that was the original Ruth’s is almost indiscernible under all the re-remodels of this Salt Lake classic. You can now order a drink to ease the inevitable wait for a table, which is great but the best part of Ruth’s is the tree-shaded patio out back and it’s bigger than ever. The laid-back vibe and a cold beer—or malt—makes you feel like you’re always on vacation.
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Snuggled up the famous Emigration Canyon on the east side of Salt Lake City sits one of the most beloved eateries in Utah, Ruth’s Diner. Founded in 1930 by an outspoken cabernet singer, the diner was originally located downtown and was frequented by the local hamburger junkies. In the late 40s, the diner was moved up Emigration and has since been a “must go” location along the Wasatch Front.
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Ruth’s Diner: If you’re up for a short drive through the early bits of Emigration Canyon, hit up the back patio of historic Ruth’s Diner for some fresh air, fam vibes, and (depending on the day/time) live music. Getting up one of our gorgeous canyons is always sure to lighten your mood—Ruth’s is one of very few places that offers up the opportunity to dine amongst the pines, so to speak.
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Although the vintage Salt Lake City trolley car is the showpiece of Ruth’s Diner, the patio is the heartbeat of the Emigration Canyon restaurant, offering the best seats. “You get mountain views with a beautiful box elder tree, string lights,” said Patrick McIver, general manager. “The live music, of course, helps, and each musician brings a different atmosphere.
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Featured on Food Networks Diners, Drive-Ins, Dives, this restaurant, held in an old train car, opened in 1949. Located a short distance from downtown up Emigration Canyon, their mile high biscuits are the best in town. You literally can’t go wrong on this menu, though the Pecan Cinnamon Roll French Toast or Pulled Pork Benedict are favorites.
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Located just a few miles up Emigration Canyon, Ruth’s Diner offers both an escape from the city and tasty home-style cooking. Brunching on their back patio during the summer months is one of our most favorite things to do. Be ready to try their famous mile-high biscuit while waiting for your order to come out – they’re delicious!
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Now in their 93rd year, Ruth’s Diner in Emigration Canyon combines nostalgic fare such as chicken fried steak, pot roast, and meatloaf with more contemporary flavors like butternut squash carbonara, and owner Erik’s famous raspberry chicken. Enjoy them all on the sprawling patio – the perfect spot for breakfast, lunch or dinner.
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Drive or bike up Emigration Canyon to stop off at this iconic and beloved roadside restaurant inside of a trolley car. Sit outside on the scenic patio with blankets and heaters on a nice morning, or inside one of the cozy booths. Each table is served a plate of fluffy mile high biscuits unlike any biscuit you've had before.
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When it comes to kid-friendly foods, diner foods are some of the best out there, and Ruth’s Diner has those. Ruth’s Diner is your classic, all-American diner that has been a Utah tradition since 1930. Additionally, the waitstaff here loves kids, meaning you can count on getting excellent, family-friendly service.
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If you’re looking for a classic American diner experience, Ruth’s Diner is the place to go. This local favorite has been in operation since 1930 and is known for its delicious comfort food and historical murals. The diner is open Thursday through Monday from 8:00am to 9/10pm and is closed on Tuesday.
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You have to drive just a bit into Emigration Canyon for this one, but you will not regret it. Ruths has filled many an empty belly since 1930, making it the oldest establishment on this list. You start with a mile high biscuit, and you can stop there to make it a plate with biscuits and gravy.
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Nestled in Emigration Canyon, Ruth’s Diner is one of Salt Lake City’s most beloved dining spots. This historic diner offers a charming, rustic atmosphere and a menu full of comfort food classics. Their famous Mile-High Biscuits are served with nearly every meal and are worth the visit alone.
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We have fond memories of running up and down Emigration Canyon on Saturday mornings in high school all because we would promise ourselves a mile high biscuit if we did it. It was worth it every time (and that’s saying a lot!) Love this place for breakfast, lunch or dinner.
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Local favorite with a vibrant atmosphere, live music, and standout biscuits that keep everyone coming back for more. Ruth's is a staple of the community and if you haven't been here yet you're doing SLC wrong. The biscuits are to die for and come with being seated.
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– Rating: 4.5 / 5 (1,258 reviews)– Detailed ratings: Food (4.0/5), Service (4.5/5), Value (4.0/5), Atmosphere (4.5/5)– Type of cuisine: American, Diner– Price: $$ – $$$– Address: 4160 E Emigration Canyon Rd, Salt Lake City, UT 84108-1764– Read more on Tripadvisor
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- Rating: 4.5 / 5 (1,270 reviews)- Detailed ratings: Food (4.0/5), Service (4.5/5), Value (4.0/5), Atmosphere (4.5/5)- Type of cuisine: American, Diner- Price: $$ - $$$- Address: 4160 E Emigration Canyon Rd, Salt Lake City, UT 84108-1764- Read more on Tripadvisor
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Speaking of history, you’ll find Utah’s second oldest restaurant — Ruth’s Diner — up Emigration Canyon. And there’s another nod to the state’s past: It’s housed in a trolley car. Breakfast and lunch items are served with a gravity defying mile high biscuit.
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Ruth’s Diner is a quintessential American diner—and the second-oldest restaurant in Utah. With such an ample menu, no one in your family will leave hungry. But save room for Ruth’s chocolate malt pudding and save us a bite, too.
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For over 94 years, Ruth’s Diner has been a popular haunt for breakfast in Salt Lake City. It is the second-oldest operating restaurant in all of Utah, and for good reason. The classic old-fashioned menu never goes out of style.
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4160 Emigration Canyon Rd, Salt Lake City, UT 84108Phone: 801-582-5807 Visit Website. View this post on Instagram. A post shared by TROY Marin County & SF Foodie (@destroyeats)
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A post shared by Salt Plate City (@saltplatecity) on Oct 10, 2019 at 8:09am PDT. Neighborhood: Emigration Canyon. Address: 4160 Emigration Canyon Rd, Salt Lake City, UT 84108
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Ruth’s Diner is a local icon as one of the oldest restaurants in Salt Lake City. Plus, it has outdoor dining. This is a win-win for families.
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