Cactus Room

I am on a road trip across the country, going from national park to national park. My friends and I have been stopping at restaurants all across the country for lunch and dinner. They have all had great service and even better food, but none of them can even come close to this restaurant. The chef Bob Korros has mastered the art of cooking and can grill a ribeye steak to ABSOLUTE perfection. It is the greatest steak I have ever tasted and I’m 100% sure nothing can beat this steak. If you are ever in the area even if you’re just driving through, you have to stop and try the food.

Stopped in for the buffalo burger and fish taco and was not disappointed! Food and ambiance were fantastic! A gem of a place. Highly recommend

The old cliché, don’t judge a book by its cover, is exemplified by the Cactus Room. When we drove by the first time on our path east on Highway 9 to Springdale I saw the sign for «fine dining» and laughed out loud. Let me tell you, it is no joke. We were looking for a place to eat dinner on our way out of the Zion National Park area and I am glad I read through the other reviews here and gave the Cactus Room a try. It was outstanding.
My other initial concern with the Cactus Room was for the 2 vegetarians in my family. The menu does not include vegetarian options other than salad. However, once again there is more than meets the eye. Bob, the proprietor, is an amazing chef. He prepared a special vegetarian pasta dish for my daughters, which was amazing.
We also enjoyed the rib eye steak which was marinated to perfection and the Buffalo Burger which was truly the best any of us has ever had. Save room for Bob’s homemade pies. I’m a connoisseur of Key Lime pie. Bob’s is outstanding! We also tried the peanut butter pie. It is as delicious as it looks. (See my photo.)
Finally, the native American pottery, jewelry and art on display and for sale make for interesting viewing while you wait for your food. Bob prepares each order himself, so patience is well advised and well-​rewarded.
This was by far the best restaurant we found in the greater Springdale area. It is well worth the short drive if you are staying in Springdale.

Saw the sign for buffalo burgers, so we made a note. Arrived at 8:50, and were the only people there. 15 minutes later more people started to show up. Great burger! Girlfriend is vegetarian, they were very accommodating. The chef was very nice. Will definitely stop back here!

We are visiting Zion and met friends here tonight for burgers. What a great place– a little wacky– but you won’t be disappointed! Seriously worth the 15 minute ride out of town. Food was excellent and the staff was awesome about my son’s food allergies and our vegan friend’s food preferences. They have a interesting store filled with all kinds of pottery, jewelry and art as well as wonderful stories to tell. My son even had the alligator jerky– they have many kinds. Not just dinner– dinner and a fun family memory we won’t forget! Thanks again!

What a great find! We all 3 enjoyed Bob’s famous Buffalo Burgers, highly recommend! They raise their own buffalo… Was so delicious! We also walked out with some Wild Boar & Alligator jerky! With a side of smoked Rattlesnake! Something new to try… if ever in the area, it’s a place to stop for sure.

Ha ha !!! Virgin Utah has its own gem in this little tiny town. This place, the Cactus room is different, really I just wanted some coffee to get through to drive back from Zion National Park, my wife wanted to also saw this sign where in the way to Zion and made a point when we come back to stop by and check it out. This place surprised me totally. No thought it would be one of those «general» stores that sells you common snacks and drinks at over price rates. I was wrong, it was more a combo of souvenirs, and authentic rare exotic food… Canned rattles snake, alligator meat, a variety of jerkies from alligator to Elk
Anyway my wife May been wanting to try buffalo meat. Ever since we went to yellow stone park, she was trying to convince me to try and taste it. We missed that one … But his time we weren’t going to. Or at least she wasn’t going to (lol I was very reluctant) we were greeted by Heather, the store manager and she was very friendly, my wife ordered the buffalo burger … I insist on just having a coffee but ended up eating half of the burger because to my suprise it was good (I think it’s better that the cow meat IMO) Bön, the owner served us and he was pretty entertaining and nice. It was a very pleasant stop over.
If you ever go to Zion national park, make sure you check this place out and don’t be chicken like me on trying some exotic /​bizarre food

Buffalo burgers!
To tell you the truth if not for the name of the little town that caught my eye [the town name is Virgin] we wouldn’t have stopped here. So on our way back from enjoying a day at Zion National Park we stopped by this town. Hubby wanted some coffee and we saw the «café» sign. We walked in thinking we could just get the coffee to go but we were met by the manager, Heather, and was instantly welcomed! I asked to see a menu and was led to a huge whiteboard which posted their specialties. To the side of the whiteboard was a stand that caught my eye and displayed their world class exotic beef jerky in venison, elk, buffalo, alligator, and duck. Apparently, we saw some patrons come and go inside the café just to purchase these special beef jerkies!
Were not really planning on having an early dinner as we were going to meet with our friends from the UK back in Las Vegas but I really wanted to try a buffalo burger! Hubby wasn’t too excited to try one but I managed to convince him and we split one buffalo burger. It took awhile for our food to be prepared but when the burgers were brought out I was pleasantly surprised by how tasty and soft the meat was. It was cooked to perfection, granted it was my first buffalo burger experience and I couldn’t compare it with anything else. A flavor sensation in every bite. The potato salad was delicious also and tasted very much like mom’s homemade. The burger was a bit expensive maybe because it’s buffalo meat and I don’t know how much they go for in the market. Our meal was $ 15.50.
Anyway, hubby had his coffee and a taste of his first buffalo burger. Owner Bob came out and served us our meals. Heather was a sweetheart, extremely friendly. The café is connected to a small store selling unique items and pottery but visitors come here for the beef jerkies. This place is definitely worth a try and we will come back if we’re in the area again… don’t forget to sign their guest book!

Bob is one of the most passionate cooks out there. Everything is fresh and made to order. The menu is small, but everything is delicious. Be patient because it will take awhile before you get your food, but it will be more than worth it. This place was really hard to find once the sun was gone, but I’m so glad we didn’t give up the search!

The food is amazing and Bob the owner was amazing. We were in Zion national park and left to find firewood and came across this place advertising jerky. We came in for the jerky and he convinced us to come back and try his bison burger. My friend and I shared a bison burger and ribeye steak sandwich. They were so delicious and there was seriously no need for condiments which is rare cause I always put ketchup and mustard on my burgers. The bread he used for the ribeye steak sandwich was phenomenal. You can really tell he loves what he does and puts his heart into his cooking. Bob was so nice and accommodating too. You seriously need to try this place.

Scoot over Salt Lake, THIS is the place! Stumbling in here looking for firewood was the best thing that happened on our trip to Zion. I’m sure we will remember the great food and hospitality we received at Bob’s for the rest of our lives. You must try to Buffalo Burger and if he has cheesecake do not say no!

At the end of a 10 day trip hitting 7 national parks and a beautiful day hiking in our last park, Zion National Park, we were heading west on hiway 9 approaching Hurricane, Utah, when my wife saw a sign advertising buffalo jerky, among other types of jerky, off on the left side of the road. We decided on a whim to stop. What we saw was an older building, set back from the road, with signs for Buffalo Trails Trading Company with authentic native made jewelry and tribal art. Also a couple small window signs saying «café» and «restaurant». Two playful chocolate labs greeted us with tails wagging and the boundless energy they are known for. We were the only car in the lot. We had no idea what to expect when we went through the door. We were greeted by a genteel vision of Buffalo Bill and one the most amazing displays of American Indian art and jewelry found outside of a museum. While discussing this treasure trove with Joel, our Buffalo Bill guide, informed us that this was also a first class restaurant. Got our attention when he said the owner had worked at Commanders Palace in New Orleans. We decided to stay for dinner. When Bob Korros, the owner and cook came out and introduced himself and began regaling us with stories about the art and jewelry and then the menu, we were hooked. We ordered dinner and Bob hustled into the kitchen to prepare our requests. Still, I wondered why we were the only customers in this amazing place. It took about 35 minutes for our food to be prepared, but it was well worth the wait. We spent the time waiting going through the trading post and looking at all the incredible pieces on display. Even decide to buy a gorgeous Navajo bowl. Then dinner came. It was by far the best food we ate on the whole trip, and some the best food I’ve ever eaten. My rib eye was huge, cooked in a wine reduction with carmelized onions on top, and sides of something Bob calls «spaghetti western potatoes» and local vegetables in an indescribable sauce. My wife had a buffalo burger served on gluten free bread with the same side veggies and it was delicious. Gluten free too! Then, Bob asked about dessert. He produced a homemade strawberry cheese cake that was out of this world. A five star meal found in a little off road trading post a few miles from a small town in southwestern Utah. Amazing find! Spread the word! The Cactus Room Restaurant found at the Buffalo Trails Trading Company is world class. But back to the question that puzzled me all night; why were we the only customers? With a little probing, we found the answer and it’s one that doesn’t speak well for the locals of the area. Turns out that Bob is Jewish and is not well accepted by the largely Mormon community. His attempts to get better signage to promote his business are routinely denied by the powers that be, so he is unable to attract more customers. Being unable to attract more customers means he has no help, so his meals, cooked to order deliciously, take a little longer to arrive. This seems to be classic case of discrimination that should not be tolerated in 2015. Next time you travel to or from Zion National Park, stop by the Cactus Room Restaurant at the Buffalo Trails Trading Company, 771 West Highway 9, Virgin, Utah, 84 779 and have not only a world class meal, but strike a blow against discrimination in all its ugly forms.

You will not go wrong at the Buffalo Trace Cactus Room. Do yourself a favor and stop in for a Bison burger or steak sandwich. Come on people’s, let’s stop eating at chains and visit some of the local treasures. There is beautiful artwork and jewelry on display… Remember to save room for dessert. It’s all fresh… And amazing.
Our best meal in Utah without doubt.

Great find! Bob the chef and Heather our server were great. It’s nice to go to a place and be treated like family and be fed well. It made me feel at home. The food was outstanding and the homemade cheese cake and yummy buffalo burger were the best ever! I would definately go back again and again!

You MUST go here and eat! You wouldn’t expect it from its humble exterior, but once inside and enjoying the most fantastic food you’ve ever put in your mouth, you will not be disappointed for the stop. Don’t judge a book by its cover! Bob, the chef, is amazing and I have never had a better rib eye steak, not to mention the potatoes, vegetables and bread that comes with, nor have I ever tasted something as delightful as his Mom’s-recipe cheesecake with fresh strawberries and whipped cream. Not only will you be fed, but you’ll also have the pleasure of conversing with Bob and his staff, truly amazing people. You would be doing yourself a disservice by not stopping here … Don’t forget to grab some of their amazing jerky or beautiful Indian art!

The reviews were accurate. My husband and I both had the ribeye. It was outstanding. I am so glad we took the chance and went to the Cactus Room for dinner. Bob is a great cook. We loved it so much we are probably going back tomorrow for the burger. Don’t let the appearance of the building keep you away. The food is outstanding.

I had the ribeye tonight and it was the best steak I’ve had in about 10 years! And that’s only because I use to be married to a Texan who was an amazing grilling and BBQ expert. This ribeye was prepared very similarly. With just the right amount of sweetness in the marinade, it makes a very flavorful steak.
The grilled and marinated veggies were simply delicious.
Bob is very friendly and takes great pride in his cooking. He makes everything from scratch and to order so expect to be there a while. Place your order and browse around the shop. Sit and enjoy a beer. He had a nice selection including local brews.
This is a must stop place to eat.

OK Unilocalers, we are going to need to pick it up with The Cactus Room AND Buffalo Trails Trading Co. –both of these places are amazing and the people coming here are mostly Europeans. So come here please, have the best buffalo burger, or rib eye steak sandwich, or rib eye steak you’ve ever had, then write your review. My husband and I came here two nights in a row. The first night we ordered the rib eye and the rib eye steak sandwich. We really wanted to try the buffalo burgers, but had a burger earlier in the day and didn’t want to double down. Needless to say both of our meals were amazing. The owner, Bob, also has a great selection of local beers that are as delicious as anything you’d get at a microbrewery, and they’ve got great names– Polygamy porter, Evolution amber ale, and Chasing Tail English ale. These go perfectly with burgers and steaks. Everything was so fabulous we knew we had to come back before leaving town. Next day, we’re in Zion doing a strenuous hike and thinking about the amazing burgers we’re going to have afterwards at the Cactus Room. Which is exactly what we had-​amazing buffalo burgers. Bob told us the night before that his daughter was making a cheesecake, which is my husband’s favorite dessert, so we knew that was going to happen, and I got the key lime pie, all fresh, homemade and guaranteed to knock your socks off.
Now be forewarned, you may not get your food quickly, that’s because everything is made fresh to order. Now, I’m guessing you’re on vacation, probably leaving Zion, and you could relax a little. So do just that, put your order in, get a beer, then go over to the trading post and do a little shopping. I bought a gorgeous necklace by a famous Native American jeweler. The selection is outstanding and unique. Bob and Heather are great fun to talk to and they put a lot of love into the food. They don’t just want you to like it, they want it to be the best you’ve ever had. It probably will be.

Great food and service! Tried the buffalo burger and the steak sandwich and it was excellent. He makes his own desserts all from scratch. We tried the peanut butter pie and it was excellent.

Excellent food. The buffalo burger is a must try and the jerky you can buy at the store is absolutely awesome! Also great service that is fast and enjoyable.