5 Road Trip-Worthy Restaurants in Kanab, Utah

A remote small town draws inspiration from wilderness to elevate its culinary scene.

Written By Andrew Dash Gillman

In the southernmost part of Utah, Kanab is a remote outpost to adventure that also boasts an unexpectedly refined culinary scene.

In the 1870s, Major John Wesley Powell set up a survey camp in Kanab for an expedition into the Grand Canyon. It was there that Powell's team created a map that first recorded the name "Grand Canyon" (Read the story: Chasing John Wesley Powell). As Rocking V Cafe owner Victor Cooper tells it, "Kanab was truly the end of the road, part of the last stretch of land surveyed in the U.S."

These days, this dining hub at the "end of the road" welcomes an international clientele thanks to Kanab's central position among Grand Staircase–Escalante, the Grand Canyon, Zion National Park, Lake Powell, Paria Canyon-Vermilion Cliffs Wilderness Area and other destinations. Increasingly, locals are getting to know what's on the menu too.

Cooper, served as a tour guide for a group of us who came to visit the best restaurants that Kanab, Utah, has to offer.

Kanab is a remote outpost to adventure, including the mountain biking at Gooseberry Mesa.

Photo: Ted Hesser

Privy to the longest and deepest slot canyons in the southwest, Kanab's refined culinary scene is most unexpected.

1. Rocking V Cafe

Eclectic menu of made-from-scratch, slow-cooked dishes of pasta, fish, chicken, beef and lots of greens, including gluten-free and vegan options.

Cooper opened Rocking V Cafe in 2000 and immediately differentiated it not only with its eclectic menu but its brightly colored decor, off-beat personality and big-city hospitality.

Without any coffee, Cooper sustained conversation and boundless enthusiasm from 7 a.m. until after sundown. That's the benefit, he says, of not being a coffee drinker: You can hop out of bed and get right to it. That energy matters because it's the foundation of his business model. He'll always graciously and enthusiastically welcome anyone to his restaurant, and demands the same of his staff.

"With the fiber of my being, I get it. I understand the experience because I've been on the other side of the equation. You're excited to be here. And I love people. It's like a drug. You meet these people from all over the world and you're sharing in their joy."

How does that enthusiasm translate to the plate? "You can get a steak anywhere — it's not as good as ours — but it's about the experience that comes with it." At one time, Cooper's salesman father sold Omaha Steaks and informed his son that it's not about the steak it's about the sizzle. (Though at Rocking V, it is a perfectly marbled cut of rangeland Ribeye fired to a buttery finish and topped with green peppercorn-brandy demi-glace, among other cuts.)

Sego Restaurant focuses on regional and new American cuisine in a rotating menu with seasonal ingredients.

Photo: Ted Hesser

2. Sego Restaurant

A selection of regional, new American cuisine focusing on what makes this country unique and eclectic. Just try it.

In the new geography of Kanab's culinary scene, Rocking V Cafe was pretty much the lone island in town until Sego Restaurant opened 15 years later. (Read: Utah’s Unexpected Pit Stops.) Sego Restaurant focuses on regional and new American cuisine in a rotating menu with seasonal ingredients.

"When Shon opened Sego it was huge. He's from here. Here's this guy; he's one of ours. People saw that,” says Cooper.

Besides being a local, Chef Shon Foster brought an award-winning resume to Sego that included a stop at the helm of luxury resort Amangiri's kitchen. The friendly competition produces incredible results because everyone in the new culinary landscape seems to have adopted Cooper's top objective.

"I don't want to be good, I don't want to be great. I want to be excellent," he says.

Kanab Creek Bakery is an artisanal pastry and espresso bar.

Photo: 3 Strings Productions

3. Kanab Creek Bakery

Old world style artisanal bread and pastries using locally sourced ingredients when possible plus traditional breakfast, lunch and excellent coffee.

Only two blocks from the Sego Restaurant, you can find Kanab Creek Bakery, an artisanal pastry and espresso bar. The cafe’s mesa-style architecture is a delicious blend of rustic desert bistro and modern eatery. The outdoor patio is the best place in town to sip hot coffee in one of the bakery's heavy, handmade ceramic mugs.

We are joined by Walt Thirion, one of the founders of the Kanab Creek Bakery. Thirion is an environmental conservation photographer and restaurateur who shares Cooper's passion for top-tier hospitality, food and Kanab's abundant natural beauty.

Thirion keeps a clean and bright studio and gallery space next door to the bakery — which is supported by the culinary stylings of nearby Sego Restaurant's chef, Shon Foster.

"The service we provide, it's not 'It's good for a small town.' It's good on any level," says Thirion.

The visitor who comes to Kanab could easily spend a week or more sampling the landscape and the dining options.

Photo: Andres Calderon

4. Vermillion 45

Casual bistro serving slow-cooked, home-style French and Italian dishes plus a great menu of wine and cocktails.

In addition to the bakery, Thirion recently opened Vermillion 45, a casual French and Italian comfort-food bistro that stays open late during peak seasons. "It's a small town, yes. And yes, you compete, but only one place will not carry it. This competition is good for the town. We're all in this together."

One of the reasons for the bistro’s booming success is co-founder Chef Cesidio d’Andrea. He classically trained at the French culinary academy Chateau des Coudraies, worked at several Michelin-starred restaurants, and apprenticed under the top chefs in Paris. The authenticity of Vermillion 45’s gourmet French cuisine owes many thanks to Chef Cesidio.

Vermillion 45 is quickly gaining a stellar reputation not only among locals, but from travelers worldwide. Their reviews are full of fans raving about the excellent cuisine, polite service, and award-winning presentation.

Fun fact: the grill was named after the nearby Peekaboo slot canyon.

Photo: Ted Hesser

5. Peekaboo Canyon Wood-Fired Grill

Vegetarian and vegan with artisanal pizza and a full menu of international and locally inspired dishes.

Best Friends Animal Sanctuary co-founders Francis and Silva Battista own Peekaboo Canyon Wood Fired Grill, a vegetarian and vegan restaurant that lives up to the sanctuary's guiding principles of kindness, positive influence, leadership, authenticity and transparency.

The grill was named after the nearby Peekaboo slot canyon, a spectacular trail that winds through a tall, narrow redstone canyon. The dishes start arriving. Quina Dressed Avocado, Southwestern Salad, one of their wood-fired pizzas and the best bowl of oatmeal I've ever had.

The grill’s general manager, Kathy Chadbourne, has the motto: "Community, Conversation and Cuisine." She says that her whole life has been about this motto, and was thrilled by the opportunity to take it Kanab. "It's just kind of what I do, and I get to do it here," she says, emphasizing "here" and motioning to the space around her.

To the space around Kanab? Francis Battista turns to the sanctuary to describe it: "So much of the work of Best Friends is inspired by the environment of the canyons and this whole area. It is transformative."

"I think we all believe the beauty of this area is its most valuable resource. It's irreplaceable," says Mr. Battista. "Of course, we're right here on the doorstep of the monument, which is a spectacular and amazing place as well."

"I think we all believe the beauty of this area is its most valuable resource. It's irreplaceable."

Kanab has changed greatly over the last 150 years, but many of the surrounding lands remain as wild and untouched as they were when John Wesley Powell's team set up camp to survey this part of the American West for the first time. Kanab is no longer just the “end of the road”. It’s a beating heart of culture and adventure nestled in the magnificent deserts of southern Utah.

Next time you’re nearby, exploring the Wave at Coyote Butte North or White Pocket, take a coffee break at Kanab Creek Bakery or end the night with some dessert and wine at Vermillion 45. Not in the area? Consider Kanab for your next adventure. It’s worth the trip.

More Fan-Favorite Food in Kanab

Wild Thyme Cafe

Prepare for a bit of wait for this popular hot spot. Wild Thyme Cafe is a small-batch, from-scratch kitchen that uses ingredients from its organic gardens, including one on-site. This garden-to-table approach focuses on southwestern-Cajun flavors that include gluten-free and vegan options, in addition to burgers, prime rib, craft cocktails, microbrews and mocktails. It’s no wonder why this cafe is highly rated, considering its diverse menu options to appease everyone post-adventure hankerings.

Escobar’s Mexican Restaurant

The crowd formed outside Escobar’s Mexican Restaurant speaks volumes about its popularity. This longtime family-owned staple of Kanab serves up hearty Mexican staples, including taco salads, enchiladas, chili relleno and carnitas — perfect after a day of exploration. The food comes quickly, the service is friendly and the cost is budget-friendly.

Ironhorse Restaurant & Grill

Welcome to the Wild West and Kanab’s prime smokehouse, Ironhorse Restaurant & Grill. Conveniently located in the town center, the grill treats diners to mouth-watering brisket, pulled pork, ribs and barbecue chicken, surrounded by Old West-style decorations — iron horse sculptures, horse-drawn carriages and antler chandeliers.

About the Author – Andrew Dash Gillman

Andrew Dash Gillman is a marketing professional and freelance writer. He has written extensively in travel and outdoor recreation and for regional publications in Utah and New York. He is the editor of the third edition of Falcon Guide's "Hiking Utah’s High Uintas." He devotes his leisure time to running, writing a novel and tending an ever-expanding garden.

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