Must Eats in Moab: Where to Fuel Up Between Hikes

Moab isn’t just about arches, slickrock, and sweating your way through national park trails. It’s also about food—lots of it. Between morning hikes and sunset views, I made it my mission to try as much as I could, and let me tell you, Moab’s food scene is way better than you might expect from a small desert town. Here’s everywhere I ate (and loved), complete with the little details that made each meal memorable.

Vessel Kitchen

If you’re driving in from Salt Lake City, Vessel Kitchen is a perfect first stop. The portions are generous enough to keep you full through your first round of hikes. I ordered the Andrelipe bowl with shredded chicken, cilantro lime slaw, macha corn, mango salsa, cotija, avocado, adobo pepitas, and their Peruvian green sauce. Flavor explosion? Absolutely. A little spicy? Also yes. So if spice isn’t your thing, definitely ask before you order. Still, Vessel is one of the healthiest, most flavorful places in town—a good way to balance out all the pizza and pastries that are inevitably coming.

Antica Forma

Antica Forma was love at first bite. Everything is fresh, local, and wood-fired, and they make their own cheese, which makes a big difference. I started with the Girella appetizer—basil, pesto, roasted pepper, and artichokes wrapped in homemade mozzarella. It was light, refreshing, and the perfect warm-up for pizza.

Now let’s talk about the pistachio pesto pizza. This was hands down my favorite meal of the week. The pistachio pesto was rich and nutty, the shaved fennel sausage was a nice change from the usual rounds of sausage, and the cheese was so fresh you could taste the difference in every bite. I’d order this every single time.

Of course, I also tried a second pizza because moderation isn’t exactly my strong suit. The prosciutto and sun-dried tomato pie was lighter, with good flavor, but if I had to pick one, I’d go pistachio all the way. Pro tip: if you’re splitting an appetizer, one pizza is plenty for two people. But if you’re me? Just get two pizzas and call it “research.”

Cactus Jacks

For breakfast, my favorite spot was Cactus Jacks. The space is hip, modern, and decorated with a little desert flair, but the real star is the food. Always ask about the specials—they don’t list them on the menu, and you don’t want to miss out.

I ordered the biscuits and gravy breakfast and their French toast. Honestly, just reading the menu, the French toast didn’t seem that exciting, but here it’s a game-changer. They use thick-cut bread from a local bakery, crust it with cornflakes for crunch, and then top it with fresh berries and real maple syrup. It’s indulgent in all the right ways. Pair that with the biscuits and gravy, and you’ve got a breakfast that will fuel even the longest Moab hike.

Love Muffin Cafe

Love Muffin is another great breakfast spot, especially if you’re in a hurry. They make pastries fresh every morning (and yes, they sell out fast). I grabbed a caramel apple pastry and the bacon sunrise panini, but here’s the kicker: I added their apricot aji amarillo jam, which took the sandwich to another level. The jam was sweet, tangy, and had just enough kick. My friend ordered the Wescial, which came loaded with green chilies and a fresh salsa—spicy, but delicious. We rounded it all out with fresh-squeezed orange juice that tasted like sunshine in a glass.

Desert Bistro

When you’re ready for a high-end dinner in Moab, Desert Bistro is the spot. Their garden courtyard is adorable, complete with sunflowers and mountain views. They focus on seasonal menus, which always tells me they’re working with the freshest ingredients.

The bread service came with tiny rosemary honey butter florets and an olive tapenade. I could have popped those honey butter florets in my mouth like candy—they were that good.

For mains, I ordered the gorgonzola and piñon crusted beef tenderloin with roasted tomato demi glaze, garlic mashed potatoes, and sautéed snap peas and radish. My friend had the agnolotti pasta filled with truffled mushrooms, parmesan, and asiago, served in a light broth with marsala wine, three kinds of mushrooms, lemon zest, balsamic vinegar, and sage. Every bite was rich, layered, and comforting.

We finished with the dessert trio—because why commit to one when you can try all of them? It was the perfect way to end the meal.

Thai Bella

Thai Bella looks like a cute little cottage, but the food inside is next-level. I started with their seasonal cucumber salad, which featured organic locally grown cucumber from Moab Homegrown Farm. It was crisp, fresh, and such a nice way to start the meal.

For mains, I went with the Khao Soi, their best seller. I ordered it mild, and it came out perfectly balanced—rich broth, coconut milk, lime, cilantro, and just the right amount of warmth. I also tried the Massaman Curry, which was packed with flavor and had that creamy coconut base I love. Both dishes were so good, I’d happily order them again.

Moab Food Truck Park

The Food Truck Park is one of the most fun places to eat in town. It’s shaded, misted (a blessing in summer), and has tons of options. I went with the sushi truck and ordered the chicken spring rolls and Japanese house salad with sesame dressing, which was incredible. My friend had the Supreme Crunchy Roll and couldn’t stop raving about it.

And because one meal at a food truck park is never enough, we headed straight for Miss Gelato. I tried white chocolate raspberry and salted caramel—both absolutely dreamy.

Moab Brewery

Moab Brewery is big, casual, and easy, which makes it a good spot for families. I ordered the giant soft pretzel with beer cheese (which looked more impressive than it tasted), a burger with a side salad, and finished with a root beer float made with their house-brewed root beer. Was it the best burger or beer cheese of my life? No. Was it a solid, easy meal after a long day of hiking? Absolutely.

Final Thoughts

For a small desert town, Moab has a surprisingly diverse and delicious food scene. From fresh mozzarella and wood-fired pizzas at Antica Forma to Thai curry in a cottage at Thai Bella, there’s something here for every craving. My advice? Don’t just plan your days around hikes—plan them around meals, too. Sunrise at Delicate Arch followed by biscuits and gravy at Cactus Jacks, or a canyon-hopping afternoon capped off with honey butter florets and beef tenderloin at Desert Bistro. Because yes, the trails will blow your mind, but the food might just steal the show.