South Salt Lake City - Salt Lake City, UT Area Guide

The town of South Salt Lake did not become established until 1938, and it did not officially become a city until 1950 when many schools and businesses moved into the area. Since then, the area has grown dramatically, and many low-income families began to reside in the area. Before long, the need for better housing in South Salt Lake became apparent. Many new, energy-efficient homes and apartment complexes have been built in the neighborhood.

Though South Salt Lake does not have many annual festivals or cultural events of its own, Salt Lake City proper puts on more than enough for the entire county. The neighborhood offers events like the Utah Arts Festival as well as the annual Gay Pride parade, which is one of the biggest in the nation. South Salt Lake presents both a quiet neighborhood and proximity to excellent cultural entertainment.

The sushi restaurants in the area engage in cutthroat competition, especially the ones located along State Street. Almost all of them have lowered their prices, and almost all the prices for sushi rolls have been slashed by 50 percent. Of the cheap sushi restaurants, Ichiban Sushi comes out on top. With a great selection of vegetable, tuna, salmon, and crab rolls that only cost $2.50 each, you can fill up your belly with exquisite sushi for under $5. And, if you buy two of the cheaper rolls, you can get a free soup. The wonton soup reigns over the others, though you have to wait additional time for it.

Craving Vietnamese food? Oh Mai offers uncommonly flavorful sandwiches, including the lemongrass-bean-curd sandwich and the always-popular honey-glazed ham sandwich. With fresh baguettes and generously piled ingredients, Oh Mai remains a local favorite for either lunch or dinner.

Among the exotic cultural cuisine in the area resides Old Bridge Café , which serves traditional Bosnian delights and Turkish coffee so beautifully presented it feels like a sin to drink it. Everything, from the goulash to the kebabs, delights the taste buds and frequently convinces locals into liking Bosnian food of every variety.

Downtown Salt Lake City remains the place to go for upscale bars and clubs. You can expect a friendly environment and a great atmosphere whether you want to go alone or bring friends.

Salt Lake City’s public transportation system proves reliable and vastly convenient for locals and tourists alike. Whether you want to cruise along down State Street on the 200 or the 201 bus, or take the 33 bus down toward the South Salt Lake Trax station, getting around South Salt Lake and downtown Salt Lake City rarely presents a problem, though night time service can limit efficient transportation.

Interstate 15 and Interstate 80 on-ramps provide easy accessibility for residents living in South Salt Lake; you can't travel more than 4 or 5 miles before reaching one. Congestion while driving in the neighborhoods remains rare in South Salt Lake, though State Street around rush hour slows down somewhat. Street parking remains widely available, and only a few parking meters exist in the area.

You won’t see many taxis, but plenty of taxi companies accept pickup requests over the phone. Uber serves South Salt Lake, which often makes transportation much more affordable.

In most areas of South Salt Lake, walking around to find a coffee shop or an appetizing place to eat doesn't pose a problem. Many of the establishments reside along 33rd Street, State Street and 1300 South, which make them accessible on foot.

Though Salt Lake City makes an effort to improve the safety and accessibility of bike lanes in the area, South Salt Lake lags behind in that regard. Bikers often ride on sidewalks with pedestrians.

Unfortunately, much of South Salt Lake does not provide an exciting park scene. However, South Salt Lake Lion’s Park gives your dogs the chance to run around and tire themselves out. A narrow and fenced area, dogs can run freely on the 2 acres of green space. South Salt Lake Lion’s Park costs nothing to use, though you should clean up after your pooch.

Fitts Community Park serves as the best park in South Salt Lake with plenty of room for families to have a picnic, feed the ducks or play on the playground. The park remains free and open for public use, though you can rent it out for private use.

South Salt Lake primarily appeals to residents because of its low cost. The cost of living in the neighborhood runs about 6 percent less than both the national average and the average for Utah. The housing in the area costs much less than the average, and a one-bedroom apartment rents for around $650 a month.

The cost of getting around town remains reasonable at $2.50 for a 2-hour bus or train ticket. Gas costs about 7 percent lower than the national average, making it easier on commuters. To get a beer at a local pub, expect to pay $3 to $4.

Though the South Salt Lake area offers plenty of restaurants, the shopping in the area remains sparsely available. The Game Changerz provides a haven for video gamers in the area, though Game Night Games remains the best place to go for all types of board games and local tournaments.

Most of the residents head in to Salt Lake City proper to visit one of the large malls, either City Creek Center or the Gateway Mall. Both malls take no more than a fifteen minute drive. The Gateway houses more inexpensive clothing, with stores such as Forever 21 and Wet Seal while City Creek City caters to upscale stores, such as Tiffany’s and Nordstrom.

For groceries, many residents head over to the local Smith’s, which provides fresh, reliable produce. Whole Foods presents as another option for residents in the area who are looking for organic produce.

Because South Salt Lake does not have its own farmers market, many locals head down to the giant farmers market held weekly during the summer in downtown Salt Lake City.