Herm’s Inn Restaurant in Logan, Utah

It’s time to think about traveling again! The long, long, long winter has, it seems, finally given up its strangehold on us all, especially here in Northern Utah. In Logan, Utah, the most northern metro area of the state, many tourists travel through town on their way to various parks and recreational areas. If you want to take the scenic byway through beautiful Logan Canyon on your way to Yellowstone, the Tetons and Jackson Hole Wyoming, then you should also take a moment to stop and have breakfast or lunch at a little diner known as Herm’s Inn.

Getting There

Located at 1435 Canyon RD in Logan, UT, Herm’s Inn isn’t the easiest place to find. If you are traveling north from Salt Lake City or Brigham City, you will enter the city of Logan. Stay on Main Street until you get to Center Street. Turn East on Center and continue through the lights until the road dips down over a small hill. Then turn left onto the next street named Canyon Rd. Then simply remain on that street until you arrive at Herm’s at the mouth of the canyon.

History of the Building

When Herm’s was built in the early 1900’s it was on the only route from town to Logan Canyon. The road passed by it on the way to the Bear Lake and Yellowstone HWY 89 route. Herman and his wife Lizzy Johnson immigrated from Sweden. They built the diner since it was the last place to fill up on gasoline and get a quick lunch before heading through the canyon. That made it also the first place to get gas and a bite once you drove the long distance through the canyon.

The cafe stayed in business for years. The roads changed, however. HWY 89 shifted to the hill above the store, bypassing it completely. Now people drove on a four lane street onto the bench of Logan, passed Utah State University and then into Logan Canyon.

Business dwindled and the diner/store eventually closed due to lack of customers. It had been a staple of Logan dining from 1926 to 1948. The building remained empty following the closing. There had been talk for quite some time of tearing it down. But, instead it remained, decaying a little each year.

Rebirth

In 2012 Ryan Bird, a Salt Lake City man who had been working in restaurants for over ten years, took a gamble and decided to bring the place back to life. It took a lot of work to restore the building, but eventually it was reopened and has become a gathering place for locals as well as tourists who are looking for a unique place to have breakfast or lunch.

I go there for breakfast almost every Sunday morning. Unlike “Angie’s”, the other favorite diner in town, “Herm’s seems to cater to the university crowd. A much more liberal, intellectual, organic clientele meet to talk about their travels, or the ever heated political climate.

I’ve found that you need to get there around 9 am or 9:30 at the latest since it gets busier as the morning progresses. At 10:00 it explodes. Since Herm’s doesn’t take reservations the wait can be up to 45 minutes.

The inside is like stepping back in time. It offers two room in the upstairs. Both are good. There is also a basement with extra tables. I try and avoid sitting down there since I always feel cut off from the activities. It feels more like a cave there and is now as pleasant. It does work for larger crowds, however.

Parking in the residential neighborhood was a big problem in the beginning. The homeowners around the diner were constantly complaining, even posting “No Parking” signs in front of their houses. That has all been fixed when Herm’s bought one of the homes and tore it down. They built a parking lot in its place.

Hours and Menu

One drawback to Herm’s is that they are only open Sunday Thru Saturday 7:00 AM to 1:50 PM. They do not serve dinner. They often do private parties or university events at night. They recently added a nice outdoor sitting area with lights and a fireplace. You can only really enjoy it during one of these parties since there is never a fire going in the day. Herm’s is also available for catering.

The food I haven’t mentioned yet. It is always good. I usually build my own breakfast, but there is a big variety offered. Here is their MENU.

Happy Travels

I write this blog in mid-April which means that travelers and tourists and adventure seekers will soon be hitting the roads again. Thousands of people pass through Logan, Utah on their way to various sightseeing excursions. If you a passing through this area and want to see the spectacular scenery in Logan Canyon on your way, stop at Herm’s for your breakfast and lunch on the way. It will be a place you will remember and look back on with fondness. Happy Travels Everyone!