Stacked with flavor, family and pastrami, Crown Burgers has been a Utah staple for nearly 50 years

SALT LAKE CITY — If you've lived along the Wasatch Front for a while, you've likely stopped by the fast food restaurant Crown Burgers. After nearly 50 years serving signature burgers, crispy onion rings and savory gyros, it's become a bit of an institution in the state.

The family-run business opened downtown on the corner of 200 South and 400 East but quickly outgrew itself.

"The first building, sat just east of (the current location)," Dean Markoudas said. "Tiny little restaurant. I like hearing my father in-law tell the story. As he says, we were so busy, the door never closed."

For the uninitiated, Crown Burgers is known for its quarter-pound cheeseburger topped with pastrami that's been simmered in a special sauce.

"If you can only come here once, I would definitely say (order) the Crown Burger because it's our signature burger," George Katzourakis said. "That's what really made us famous."

But the thing that makes Crown Burgers really special? Since its inception, it's stayed in the family. The first was opened by Katzourakis' father, John, and uncle, Nick Katsanevas. Today, Katzourakis shares managing duties with his sister, Eleni, and brother in-law, Dean. For the most part, at least one of them is always there.

The other locations were started by aunts, uncles and cousins.

Watch the video above to learn more about the secret recipe that makes Crown Burgers so successful. You might also want to try the hidden gem.

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