This article is part of an occasional series of Redwood Road Challenge.

I’ve been working on my Redwood Road Challenge project since January and I think I’m starting to get good at finding hidden restaurants along this main west side thoroughfare.

In case you missed my previous stories about this challenge, I have set a goal to eat at every local restaurant on Redwood Road (in Salt Lake County) by 2025. So far, I’ve eaten at about 30 restaurants, all north of West Jordan. I still have a long way to go, especially as I continue to discover more and more restaurants, some so hidden that their “sign” is just a single piece of paper.

Or sometimes the restaurant has a real sign, but it’s so full of other signs that you don’t look for it as you walk by. Or the restaurant is hidden inside a store. Or the restaurant is technically on Redwood Road, but is set back from the road.

But I’m getting better at finding these hidden gems. Most of the time, it’s worth checking out any mall for food options. Sometimes a simple Google search for “Redwood Road restaurants” turns up something in an area I never would have looked.

Here are five of the best hidden restaurants I’ve found on Redwood Road so far, serving everything from classic American sandwiches to authentic al pastor tacos to succulent kebabs.

Don’t be afraid to stick your head into strangers’ doors on Redwood Road. You never know what delicacies you might find there.

Know of a hidden restaurant on Redwood Road? Tell me about it by emailing [email protected].

Kabul Cuisine

The main sign on this building at 2407 S. Redwood Road in West Valley City reads “Halal Market: Products from India, Pakistan and the Middle East.” To the right of the sign is one for Kabul Kitchen, but when I got there in June, I didn’t see that the Afghan restaurant had a…door?

So I went into the store and asked the man behind the counter how to get to the restaurant. He kindly showed me to one of the farthest corners of the store and said if I went down the last aisle I would find it. I followed his directions past dried fruit, cookies and nuts and magically ended up in a small bright room sparsely decorated with tapestries and a few tables and chairs.

After making sure that what I assumed was Kabul Kitchen was open, I sat down at one of the tables and was handed a menu.

I opted for the chicken kebab ($15.99), which the menu said consisted of tender cubes of chicken marinated in herbs and fine spices, grilled on a skewer and served with salad and pellaw (basmati rice).

I don’t usually like chicken breast, it’s dry and tasteless. But this chicken blew me away. It was hot, very tender and very juicy and bursting with flavor. I finished my plate happily. As I left, I went back to the store to buy some date-filled cookies and dried apricots.

(By the way, I learned that the restaurant does has its own door at the south end of the building. You just can’t see it from the parking lot.)

Katerina

This Honduran and Salvadoran restaurant is located south of 3500 South in West Valley City, at 3584 S. Redwood Road.

The mall it’s in is a hip place, by the way – the day I was there, there were lots of people coming and going, and there was a man selling toys from a cart. It’s full of little shops. The layout of the doors and signs can be a little confusing, so just look for the big blue and white sign for Catrachos.

Inside, you’ll find a small market area where you can buy flan, soda, cheese, chips, health foods, and more. If you walk further into the restaurant, you’ll see colorful paintings and murals on the walls and a full bar.

After I sat down and was handed a menu, the server brought me not only salsa and chips, but also a spicy bean dip that I had never tried before in the ubiquitous “chips and salsa aisle.” Delicious!

For lunch, I ordered Carne Guisada ($16.99), a spicy stew with chunks of slow-cooked beef, carrots and potatoes in a rich sauce, served with rice and salad. I foolishly ordered two bean and cheese pupusas ($3.25) to go with it, and it ended up being far too much to eat in one sitting.

However, I threw myself into the task and devoured the stew and pupusas with fervor. Next time I visit, I’ll stop at the nearby Esperanza Bakery for dessert.

This sandwich shop

Wow, this is really hidden! After visiting this place, I was surprised that it was even considered to be on Redwood Road. But Google says it is, so here we are.

Find That Sandwich Shop by turning west onto Learned Avenue from Redwood Road, south of North Temple. Then turn into the mall parking lot on the immediate right, 55 N. Redwood Road in Salt Lake City. Make another right so you’re driving along the building. You’ll see doors with letters above them. Stop at the one with the “E” above it, and you’re there.

It really doesn’t look like much, but if you see a piece of paper in the window that says “That Sandwich Shop,” you’re in the right place.

According to That Sandwich Shop’s website, having a secret location and keeping a low profile is kind of their thing. Hopefully they won’t come after me for blowing their cover.

The interior is cozy and decorated with Star Wars memorabilia (including a Mr. Potato Head dressed as Darth Vader), with the odd Elton John item thrown in as well.

The menu includes classic deli sandwiches (like the BLT, turkey, and tomato-avocado) and classic hot sandwiches (like the meatball and Philly cheesesteak). They also have a few signature sandwiches, including the Jeepers!, which comes with seven different meats. I ordered the 10-inch French dip ($11.95) and it was served with a bowl of piping hot gravy.

I found the sandwich satisfying and delicious, although it wasn’t anything special – just thinly sliced ​​roast beef and melted mozzarella on fresh bread. But this simple sandwich was a blast when dipped in the gravy.

Habibi Grill

If you blink, you’ll miss this restaurant at 3460 S. Redwood Road as you drive by. But if you know what you’re looking for, you’ll find Habibi Grill in the far corner of Redwood Plaza in West Valley City.

According to Mohammad Zaib, whose father owns the restaurant, Habibi Grill’s menu focuses on food from the Pakistani city of Peshawar – so you’ll find dishes like naan, curries, biryani and kebabs.

The interior is beautiful and much more ornate than you’d expect from a mall restaurant, with shimmering floral details on the tables and colorful wasaskets hanging on one of the walls.

The last time I was at Habibi Grill, I had the vegetarian samosas ($4.99) and the chicken coconut korma ($16) with rice. I really enjoyed the vegetarian samosas: crispy fried pastries filled with a fiery mix of potatoes, peas and spices. And the chicken coconut korma was not only delicious, but also beautiful to look at: the orange and yellow rice grains looked great with the orange-brown korma on top.

And don’t even get me started on the complex flavors. There was a lot going on in this korma, which consisted of chicken with a mix of yogurt and coconut and just a hint of spice. And the portions are so huge, you’re sure to have leftovers for another meal.

Cakes and jars El Morelense

From Redwood Road, there is no indication that there is a taco shop in West Valley City’s Rancho Plaza, better known as the Latino Mall, at 2470 S. Redwood Road.

Trust me. Park on the east side and go through the automatic door. Immediately after entering, you will find Tortas y Jugos El Morelense on your left. Just look for the neon sign that says “El autentico taco al pastor.”

If you speak Spanish, you’ll get by better, but you can get by without it. I ordered three al pastor tacos ($3.35 each) and a lengua (beef tongue, $3.45) just to try it out. (I quickly discovered that lengua tacos aren’t my thing.)

My tacos came out piping hot, with pineapple chunks on the al pastor tacos, and chopped white onion and oregano sprinkled over the top, with lime wedges in the middle.

It was perhaps the best al pastor I’ve had on Redwood Road so far, and I’ve tried many. The edges of the marinated meat were slightly crispy and everything was so juicy and flavorful. As I was eating, a man came in and started playing guitar and singing for all the guests.

Afterwards, I strolled through the food court and got a strawberry ice cream for dessert at La Bonita.

Editor’s Note • This story is available only to Salt Lake Tribune subscribers. Thank you for supporting local journalism.