Utah County’s Purple Diner Has Been at the Same Address in Pleasant Grove Since 1968

The Purple Turtle at 85 East State Road in Pleasant Grove has been there since 1968. The building is bright purple. The menu has evolved carefully. The address hasn't changed.

Generations of Utah County families have measured their summers by the Purple Turtle. Parents who ate here as teenagers bring their own children and grandchildren.

'We're still here, still purple, and still deliciously dedicated to you since 1968,' the restaurant's website reads. That's accurate. It made Only In Your State's national burger feature.

Utah County has grown enormously around the Purple Turtle. Alpine, Highland, and Lehi have expanded within a few minutes' drive of the door while the kitchen maintained the same pace and the same menu. That kind of sustained focus across 55-plus years is the most honest endorsement a restaurant can offer.

What to Order

The Turtle Deluxe is the signature: a 1/4-pound beef patty layered with thinly sliced pastrami, Swiss cheese, pickles, mayo, mustard, and sliced tomato. That combination converts first-timers into devoted regulars on the first bite.

The Blue Cheese and Bacon Burger brings blue cheese crumbles, homemade ranch, lettuce, and tomato. Handmade onion rings are crispy and fresh-battered.

Fifty flavors of milkshake, available as hand-spun shakes or Tornado creations in up to three flavors. Fresh sherbet is a Purple Turtle specialty that's been on the menu since the early years. For more on the food scene nearby, see Utah County restaurants worth the drive from Salt Lake.

Over 55 Years at the Same Pleasant Grove Address

The Purple Turtle has been at the same East State Road location since 1968. The building has been updated structurally but maintains its instantly recognizable purple exterior.

The staff is consistently described as genuinely friendly in reviews that span decades. That kind of sustained warmth reflects an ownership culture rather than a training program.

The sherbet at the Purple Turtle deserves its own mention. Fresh sherbet has been made in-house since the early years of the restaurant. It's the dessert that parents who grew up eating here specifically want their kids to try.

Pleasant Grove sits between American Fork and Lindon in Utah County, an area that has grown dramatically as the Silicon Slopes tech corridor has expanded. The Purple Turtle is one of the few businesses in the area that predates that growth by several decades and has watched it happen from the same address.

The sherbet at the Purple Turtle has been made in-house since the early years. It is the dessert that parents who grew up eating here specifically want their kids to try.

Real estate in Pleasant Grove has become valuable as Utah County has grown along the Silicon Slopes corridor. The Purple Turtle has stayed put at 85 East State Road anyway, which is its own statement about what matters. For more of the state's dining history, see classic Utah diners with decades of history.

Plan Your Visit

Purple Turtle is at 85 East State Road in Pleasant Grove. Hours run Monday through Saturday from 10:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. Closed Sunday.

Drive-through and dine-in available. Just off I-15 at the Pleasant Grove exit. Call (801) 785-2444. While you're planning the trip, check out the best locally owned restaurants in Utah.