I was recently driving around Salt Lake City and saw something that made my heart drop. I saw a gold seal and banner that said “Voted Best Mexican Food in Salt Lake City.”
Why did my heart drop?
It was hanging outside a local chain restaurant that sells Tex-Mex cuisine.
What in the world??? Who let that kid in here? Have we become a brainwashed society that doesn’t know the beauty, complexity, and delectableness of authentic Mexican food here in Salt Lake City??
Am I being dramatic? Maybe, but as anyone who has had real Mexican food can attest, this is a travesty.
Do I eat at this “winning” restaurant? Yeah, I do. And I like it. But never in a million years would I consider it to have the best Mexican food in Salt Lake City.
So instead of just complaining, I’ve decided to educate everyone with a list of where you can find the actual, LEGIT best Mexican food in Salt Lake City and its surrounding neighborhoods.
Because, let’s face it, people probably just don’t know what real Mexican food tastes like. And that’s where I’ll provide the assist.
Here are the best Mexican restaurants in Salt Lake City in no particular order:
La Casa del Tamal
Located west of Salt Lake City (technically in West Valley) lies La Casa del Tamal, an unassuming family-owned restaurant tucked into a strip mall. I was first introduced to this restaurant from a recommendation of a friend, and have returned 3 times since.
What is the restaurant like?
As you walk into the large restaurant, you’re greeted with a clean and modern layout of tables and booths, almost always filled to capacity. The sleek ambience leads you to think that you’ll be paying a premium for your meal, but that’s not the case – prices at La Casa del Tamal are surprisingly reasonable.
What’s on the menu?
The name “La Casa del Tamal” literally translates to “The House of Tamales,” so you know for a fact that tamales are on the menu. And they’re delicious. Their tamales are made daily, and, good news, you can special order a dozen ahead of time if you want a different flavor than they typically offer.
Tacos, enchiladas, tortas (a type of sandwich), caldos (broth soups), and molcajete (pot of food served in a mortar and pestle-style dish) are all featured on the menu.
My personal recommendation:
After trying about a dozen items on the menu, my absolute favorites would have to be the tacos de birria con consume (shredded beef tacos with melty cheese that you dip in a broth/consume) and the huarache de asada o tinga de pollo (fried masa in an oblong shape, loaded up with protein, beans, salsa, and queso fresco (cheese). When I get brave, I’ll get it next with huitlacoche (corn truffle) or flor de calabaza (zucchini blossom)!
Santo Taco
Once upon a time, a couple from Mexico moved to Salt Lake City and decided to open up a little taco joint. Much to the delight of the couple, the news spread about their delicious tacos and people from all over the valley came to taste everything. Due to their success, they’ve since expanded and opened 2 new locations, with 2 new set to open in Winter 2022. This is the story of Santo Taco.
What is the restaurant like?
Bright, intimate, and smells like heaven. Well, at least the OG restaurant. Currently (September 2022) there are 3 locations open, and I’ve only been to 2 of them: Rose Park and Holladay. The Holladay location is situated within a food hall, similar to a hawker center that you’d find in Southeast Asia.
What’s on the menu?
Tacos! Yes, they also have other options such as quesadillas, nachos, and mulitas (double-decker quesadillas with meat), but let’s be honest, you come here for the tacos and all the toppings you get to choose from. The menu varies slightly from location to location and they have daily specials you should definitely take advantage of!
My personal recommendation:
I always get a plate of tacos when I go. You’ll always find tacos al pastor on my plate (spit-grilled pork with pineapple), birria con consume, and if I’m feeling adventurous, lengua (beef tongue) or nopal (grilled cactus).
(Pictured below: 2 birria and 1 al pastor, consume in the cup, picked red onions (a must) and salsas.)
The Red Iguana
The Red Iguana is a staple in Salt Lake City and will always live at the top of everyone’s best Mexican food in Salt Lake City lists. I was first introduced to The Red Iguana when I moved to Utah in 2009 and have tried to convince everyone I know to visit. It’s also on my list of things to do on your first visit to Salt Lake City.
Although they were featured on Diners, Drive-ins and Dives on the Food Network, locals have flocked here for the quality of food, love that gets poured into it, and the fact that everything on the menu is yummy.
What is the restaurant like?
Bright, colorful, and fun things on the wall and hanging from the ceiling. Prints by Frieda Kahlo and others adorn the walls (along with a homies poster, IYKYK) and mini piñatas tempt every child at heart. It feels like you’re in someone’s house that just happens to be an amazing cook.
What’s on the menu?
The menu at the Red Iguana is one of the reasons it’s some of the best Mexican food in Salt Lake City. There’s a wide variety of tacos, enchiladas, mixed plates, but then so much more. The Red Iguana is known for complex, delicious moles (sauces with about 100 ingredients in them), and you can ask for a sample plate with dollops of the different varieties to taste. They also include icons on the menu that signify which items are gluten-free, vegetarian, and “adventurous.”
My personal recommendation:
For the longest time, I was obsessed with their Tacos Don Ramon (sirloin tips grilled with chorizo) and combination plates with chile relleno (a favorite from childhood – stuffed pepper with cheese, fried, and smothered). But then I thought I’d be “adventurous.” I now get the cochinita pibil pretty much every time. It’s shredded pork that’s been roasted with vinegar, peppers, and oranges, served with rice, beans, pickled onions, and tortillas. SO YUM!
Chunga’s
Want to know when a place is good? It’s good when there’s alway a line no matter what time of day. Chunga’s is a great place for delicious, authentic Mexican food, and one that I was recently introduced to. Plus, it’s super easy to get via Uber Eats while I’m at work.
What is the restaurant like?
Chunga’s currently has 2 locations in Salt Lake City and are both in stand-alone buildings. Instead of a sit-down restaurant feel, you order at the counter and carry your items to your table. It’s a no-frills atmosphere, focused on the delicious food. Sometimes the lines can get long at lunchtime, but it’s so worth it!
What’s on the menu?
Chunga’s is well-known for their tacos al pastor, but they offer a variety of options at reasonable prices, giving you an opportunity to try something new. Try their pambazo (sandwich made with special bread dipped in a red pepper sauce) or their alambre (platter with grilled meat, bell peppers, beans, and cheese with salsa). Feeling nostalgic? Gorge on their delicious tacos.
My personal recommendation:
I’ve loved tacos al pastor since my best friend introduced me to them in San Diego. I can’t recommend them enough! I’ve also loved their pambazo, and this was the first place I’ve tried it. I also got the gordita, which is a masa-stuffed sandwich, similar to an arepa. Yum!
I don’t have any good pictures from the restaurant, but I did order lunch from here the other day and had it delivered to my office. The pictures don’t do any justice to how delicious the food is. On the left is the gordita with pastor, and the right is the pambazo. The gordita was the size of my hand and the pambazo barely fit in the takeaway box. Proof that you get your money’s worth.
Del Barrio Cafe
Not going to lie, I was a little skeptical that a Mexican restaurant would put “cafe” in their name, but one visit squashed that skepticism. Del Barrio Cafe is down the street from my house and I’d driven by it multiple times before I realized I was making a mistake by not stopping and eating! I remember trying to get in for Cinco de Mayo, but that wasn’t going to happen. It seems like everyone knew the secret that Del Barrio Cafe has some of the best Mexican food in Salt Lake City.
What is the restaurant like?
Del Barrio Cafe is a small, intimate building tucked between a divey drive thru and car dealership, and it would be hard to pick out if you weren’t looking for it. I love going to Mexican restaurants where they present your tacos in those little taco holders, making them ready for Instagram and easier to pick up and devour. Like you’ve come to expect, the decorations are bright, cheery, and reflect Mexican culture that Salt Lake City needs.
What’s on the menu?
Tacos! Seriously, you first come here for their tacos de birria. But then you take a longer look at the menu and see taco styles that you would be hard-pressed to find anywhere else in Salt Lake City, such as Yucatan pork or Michoacan. Grab some guacamole or some nachos as an appetizer and you’re set.
My personal recommendation:
Yeah, tacos de birria. Get the tacos de birria. I’m also a sucker for their chicken tinga tacos (marinated shredded chicken) and their Baja-style fish tacos. I honestly have such a hard time picking what to get when I come here, because everything I’ve had is so delicious and drool-inducing.
(I didn’t have a picture from my visit, so here’s a free picture I found online)
Los Tapatios
Yes, the name of this restaurant looks like the hot sauce. But actually “los Tapatios” refers to people from the downtown Guadalajara city in Jalisco, Mexico. It can also be used to describe anything from Guadalajara or the highlands of Jalisco. Continuing with our anthropological lesson, birria is a beef stew that originated from Guadalajara. So whenever you’re eating a taco de birria, you’re literally tasting Mexico!
What is the restaurant like?
Like any restaurant that proves to be authentic and delicious, they expanded. Los Tapatios boasts 2 locations and are both worth a visit. The flagship is located right next door to a Rancho Market that I used to frequent when I lived in the area, so it was like going home for me. You walk in and order from the counter and it feels like you’re sitting in your friend’s dining room. Pure nostalgia.
What’s on the menu?
Los Tapatios is known for bringing their birria straight from Guadalajara, so the menu revolves around it. You can get a taco, burrito, or quesadilla filled with birria, or just save more room for the meat and get the plate. It’s also one of the few places in Salt Lake City (outside of someone’s home) where I’ve found authentic chilaquiles (special nachos).
My personal recommendation:
Because I’m greedy and want as much birria as I can get, I usually stick with mulitas (the double-decker quesadilla) or burrito. If you’re looking for something lighter and they have it on the menu, get the chilaquiles.
(I really need to get better at taking pictures of my food before I eat it, but hey, can you blame me for just diving into the best Mexican food in Salt Lake City??? So here’s a picture of picture-perfect chilaquiles that I found for free online)
Well, there you have it. A list of places to get the BEST MEXICAN FOOD IN SALT LAKE CITY! You have no excuse. These restaurants are easy to access, legit, you have recommendations on what to get so you don’t have to stress, and they’re all super affordable.
Like I mentioned above, there’s nothing wrong with Tex-Mex food. It’s delicious and a staple in the US for a reason. But – authentic Mexican food is going to change your life. Trust me.
Do you agree with my list of where to find the best Mexican food in Salt Lake City? Where else have you been that deserves to be on this list?
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