CURRY IN A HURRY
Utah’s First Halal Curry Institution — Since 1998
Curry In A Hurry is a Salt Lake City legend — Utah’s first Halal Indian & Pakistani curry restaurant, serving bold, authentic flavors at pace since 1998.
Founded by Mona Nisar, who brought her family’s rich culinary heritage from Kenya and blended it with her husband’s Pakistani roots, Curry In A Hurry was born from a deep love of real, home-style curry cooked with care and served with warmth. What started as a modest takeout spot has become a community cornerstone, beloved by locals and visitors alike.
At its heart is the Gold Chicken Curry — a fan favorite for decades — and a straightforward menu built for comfort, speed, and unforgettable flavor.
More than just a favorite stop for everyday meals, Curry In A Hurry has earned its place in Salt Lake City culture. Diners come for the rich, halal curries and stay for the stories — from regulars who return week after week, to out-of-town visitors who make it a must-try destination. Locals describe it as a cozy, Community-centric spot with hearty portions and reliable satisfaction, perfect when you want something flavorful, quick, and comforting. Years of loyal patronage have made Curry In A Hurry a go-to for quick, satisfying halal takeout, and its reputation stretches beyond State Street — people remember it as a place they stop on the way home, or recommend to friends and family passing through Salt Lake City.
Fast • Halal • Authentic
Serving Salt Lake City since 1998.
📍 2020 South State Street


Locals and Celebrities Flock to Curry In A Hurry in Salt Lake City (Jan 2026)
Curry In A Hurry has long been a beloved Salt Lake City institution—known for its fast, authentic halal curry and its welcoming, no-pretense atmosphere.
Over the years, the restaurant has drawn a diverse and distinguished following that includes political leaders, professional athletes, and visiting public figures, alongside its loyal local regulars. In the few minutes it takes to prepare your food, guests can browse the framed photographs displayed beneath the glass countertop—quiet reminders of the many memorable visits.
Among those connections is Olympic skier Lindsey Vonn, a longtime friend of Rana Nisar. According to founder Mona Nisar, Vonn has remained a supporter over the years, even sending gifts from time to time—a reflection of the genuine relationships formed inside the restaurant’s walls.
It’s moments like these that define Curry In A Hurry:
a place where great food, real hospitality, and lasting connections bring people together—no matter who they are.
Curry In A Hurry: The SLC Hotspot That Quietly Draws A-Listers
— as featured by The Plateful
Curry In A Hurry has long been a Salt Lake City staple—but its reputation reaches far beyond the neighborhood.
While locals line up daily for fresh, halal curry served fast and without pretense, the restaurant has also become a quiet favorite among Hollywood actors, professional athletes, and visiting talent. In the few minutes it takes to prepare your meal, you can glance beneath the glass counter and spot framed photos documenting years of unexpected visits.
One standout moment includes a photo of actor Scott Wolf smiling alongside co-owner Rana, a snapshot that captures the restaurant’s warmth and unforced hospitality. Owner Saifar also recalls a late-night visit from Tom Cruise, who stopped in quietly—no fanfare, just great food.
That’s the appeal of Curry In A Hurry.
It isn’t curated for celebrity—it’s built on authenticity. And that authenticity has a way of drawing everyone in, whether you’re a first-time visitor or a familiar face passing through.
Curry In A Hurry: Dave Chappelle’s Halal Go-To in Salt Lake City
Curry In A Hurry isn’t just a local favorite — it’s one of those rare places that quietly transcends categories.
For Salt Lake City regulars, it’s the fastest way to experience authentic Halal Indian & Pakistani curry. For everyone else, it’s a discovery. And on one unforgettable day, it became something more.
Comedy icon Dave Chappelle made a surprise visit to Curry In A Hurry while in Salt Lake City, stepping into the modest, no-frills spot that has fed the city for decades. He met with co-owner Saifar Basha Nisar, shared a moment with the team, and joined the long line of unexpected names who’ve found their way to the counter.
No entourage. No spectacle. Just great food, genuine hospitality, and a shared appreciation for authenticity.
That moment captured what Curry In A Hurry has always been:
part neighborhood staple, part cultural crossroads — a place where locals, travelers, artists, and legends all show up for the same reason.
Curry In A Hurry: The Curry Potatoes That Keep Governor Huntsman Coming Back
Curry In A Hurry has long been a favorite among Salt Lake City locals—but its reach goes well beyond the neighborhood.
Among its many devoted fans is Governor Jon Huntsman, who has returned time and again for one simple reason: the restaurant’s signature curry potatoes. Comforting, deeply seasoned, and unmistakably soulful, they’ve become a quiet favorite—proof that the most powerful flavors don’t need embellishment.
In a city as diverse as Salt Lake City, Curry In A Hurry stands as a rare common ground. A place where everyday regulars, community leaders, and public servants all order from the same counter and savor the same dish.
That’s the magic of Curry In A Hurry.
Great food, cooked with care, has a way of crossing every line—and bringing people back.
A Curry Between Takes: A Mission Impossible Moment at Curry In A Hurry
Back in 2000, while Salt Lake City briefly became the backdrop for one of cinema’s most dangerous cliff-hanging stunts during the filming of Mission: Impossible 2, Curry In A Hurry had its own unforgettable moment.
According to longtime staff and local recollections, Tom Cruise stopped by Curry In A Hurry one evening during production. No cameras. No entourage. Just a quiet stop for food between demanding days on set.
This was before cell phones and social media, before everyone carried a camera in their pocket—so there’s no photo to prove it. But the memory stuck.
The order remembered most?
A Spinach Curry Plate.
Warm, nourishing, and grounding, it was exactly the kind of meal you’d want after hours of intense physical work. True to the spirit of Curry In A Hurry, the moment passed without fanfare. The food went out fast. The line kept moving. The kitchen stayed focused.
Looking back, the lack of a photo almost makes it better.
It was real. It was unplanned. And it perfectly reflects what Curry In A Hurry has always been—a place where great food comes first, and everyone, famous or not, is treated the same.
Just one of many stories woven into the restaurant’s long history—proof that even the biggest stars pause, briefly, for something honest.




CURRY IN A HURRY
Fast Halal Indian & Pakistani Curry
Serving Salt Lake City since 1998
📍 Address
2020 South State Street
Salt Lake City, UT 84115






