Buffalo Trails Trading Company — Restaurant in Virgin

Where do I begin? There are so many mixed feelings about this place but bottom line, Bob’s World Famous Buffalo Burger is just that, the absolute best.

I was traveling with some friends, and on our way out of Zion National Park we decided to try a local restaurant prior to heading out. We searched on Google and stumbled upon this gem. We liked the reviews and couldn’t wait to experience this buffalo burger everyone rants about.

When we arrived, shortly after 7pm, we noticed the outdoor space was somewhat run down. Having committed to the experience we decided to walk in anyways. Upon walking in, I was immediately with the feeling of concern and worry. The place is old and dusty, the “thrift”/art/vintage side of the store looked like an abandoned museum covered in dust but we stuck it out nonetheless.

We noticed some customer sitting down waiting for food in the restaurant portion and thought to ourselves, “well, they’re still alive so why not, let’s eat.”

We sat down and we’re very graciously greeted by Bob. He definitely gives off awkward creepy vibes but once you get past your own personal pre assumptions of him, he’s actually a nice guy.

We proceeded to order drinks and of course, we all ordered the World Famous Buffalo Burger. After all, this is what the world knows about this place.

Service was good, drinks came out fairly quick. As time proceeded we took a glance by the counter and realized there is only a team of 3 at work. I was very relieved to see everyone wearing gloves. Soon after, the burgers came out and to my surprise, Bob recommended we don’t “ruin the burger” by adding ketchup.

I was confused, at first I wondered “why is he recommending such an un-American thing to do like abstaining from adding such a paramount ingredient of American sauce goodness like ketchup which is very much part of the burger DNA makeup?” But, as he recommended, I obliged AND boy let me tell you it was worth it.

After taking the first bite, I was greeted by one of the most savory burgers I’ve ever had. The sweet tenderness of this wild, sweet grass fed local delicacy that is the Buffalo was unmatched by anything I’ve ever had. I remember thinking “Dear sweet baby son of Zeus, this is incredible.” The first bite was followed by the second and then the third. After finishing of the burger, I was overcome by a feeling of satiation and guilt for ever doubting this place.

All in all, this place can definitely use a good cleaning BUT, the service is good, the food is A+ and Bob is a decent guy. I recommend it and would...

Ahh. Okay. I was naive initially when looking at places to eat in the Zion area. I had seen two different businesses under the same name of Buffalo Trails Trading company, and additionally a company by the name of The Cactus Room, that all looked like the same place online and had the same menus displayed on the reviews. I gave it a shot regardless, but upon entering, my friends and I immediately realized how unsanitary this place was, from the plywood ceilings to the dust covered jewelry cases, my stomach immediately started churning. Ignoring my intuition, we ventured to peek at the whiteboard menu with the marked up the prices for food and saw how odd a “Hawaiian pasta salad with garlic bread” and a “rosemary/raspberry chipotle chicken breast with spaghetti western potatoes” were to have on the menu.

When we recognized this, we quickly told the owner we were in there for “pie to-go” just to be nice, given his enthusiasm. We had asked him what kind of pies he had on the menu since they weren’t listed on the whiteboard, and he gave a speech to the ENTIRE restaurant about the pies he had, so he didn’t have to repeat this announcement to every guest who was curious about dessert options. After this 3 minute long announcement, we should have taken that as a cue to leave, but instead, ordered the pies, and waited a whole 20 minutes for something that we had figured was pre-prepared. While waiting, we recognized the owner was a one-man show, basically acting as a waiter, checking people out, and cooking the food. We waited patiently and thankfully, took the pies and ate dinner elsewhere. After dinner, we ended up eating the pies we purchased, considering each slice was $10 each. We thought these were going to be at least worth the $10 each ($30 for 3 slices of pie), but instead, we got what amounted to be 3 slices of stomach-cramping, like Reddi Wip mixed with canned puree on a Pillsbury pie crust. Needless to say, after a few bites, the remains were discarded. I’ve had better pies in the frozen section of a grocery store. I write this as a warning to anyone who is looking for a proper pie, or even a sanitary burger after a long...

A Hidden Gem – A Must-Visit!

If you’re anywhere near Buffalo Trails and don’t stop in, you’re missing out on one of the best culinary experiences around! We found this spot toward the end of our week-long adventure out west, and let me tell you—after our first meal there, we had to go back the next open day. Yes, it was that good!

From the outside, Buffalo Trails might seem like just another unassuming spot, but the moment you step inside, you’re in for a treat. The service here is something special. The staff isn’t just there to take your order—they’re genuinely excited about the food, and their enthusiasm is contagious. Dining here was like a breath of fresh air, full of fun, laughter, and good vibes. It’s not often that you find a place where the service is as memorable as the food, but here, it’s a perfect match.

Now, onto the food! The burgers were out of this world—juicy, perfectly seasoned, and so satisfying. I’m still dreaming about them! And the desserts? Don’t even think about skipping them. Every single one was a masterpiece, from the rich zesty key lime pie to the soft creamy coconut and the perfectly tart cherry pies that captured the taste of summer.

But the dish that truly stole the show for me was the Hawaiian chicken pasta salad. It was fruity, fresh, and so unique that I immediately knew I had to figure out how to recreate it at home. The combination of flavors was unexpected and delightful, a true testament to the creativity in the kitchen.

In short, you can’t go wrong with anything on the menu. We loved it so much that we squeezed in two visits before the end of our trip, and honestly, we would have gone back for a third if we had the time. This place set a new bar for dining experiences, and I can’t wait for the next time we find ourselves out west.

Do yourself a favor and make sure you eat here—it’s an...