Several Utah dining establishments, including Carson Kitchen and Baek Ri Hyang, have closed their doors, according to a report published October 29. The closures and moves affect various locations across Salt Lake City and Escalante.
Carson Kitchen has permanently closed its downtown Salt Lake City location after a five-year stint. The restaurant, which first debuted in the late Summer of 2020 as an expansion of a famous Las Vegas name started by chef Kerry Simon, appears to have closed at the end of the Summer. While the downtown Salt Lake City location is closed, the downtown Las Vegas location remains open.
In South Salt Lake's Chinatown complex, Baek Ri Hyang has closed after a seven-year run. Online discussion suggests the owners returned to South Korea due to family issues. A restaurant called Udubu is expected to fill the space, with a potential focus on sundubu.
North Creek Grill in Escalante confirmed its 2026 season would be its last, with an official closing date of October 31. The restaurant cited challenges including war, increased gas prices, and low tourism as reasons for the decision. While the North Creek name is ending, the staff intends to continue serving the area through events, pop-ups, farm dinners, or private chef work.
Other local shifts include O' Falafel and Chez Nibs. Osama Khader's O' Falafel has closed its current space, with plans to return to a location on 3300 S. early next year. Romona Rasmussen's Chez Nibs has also closed its downtown location but expects to return at a new location in the future.
Rasmussen's business presence in the area spans nearly two decades, including previous associations with Les Madeleine and the bao-focused Xiao Bao Bao on 50 South.
