Brian Nagele
Mexican food is some of my favorite food in the world. It is such a diverse cuisine that I cannot get enough of it.
I’m always on the lookout for good Mexican restaurants.
I was recently on a trip to Salt Lake City, and I had the chance to try some of the best Mexican restaurants in the city.
After eating at several incredible restaurants, I recognized that Salt Lake City was a Mexican food hot spot.
I decided to find the best Mexican restaurants in Salt Lake City, and after several days and dozens of tacos and burritos, here are my results.
Chile- Tepin
307 W 200 S, Salt Lake City, UT 84101
Phone: 801-883-9255
Visit Website
Chile-Tepin is in downtown Salt Lake City on the corner of 200S and 300W.
It is only minutes from Pioneer Park and the Clark Planetarium.
The name comes from the only chile native to the United States, the tepin.
The tepin is known for its small size, distinctive flavor, and smokey finish, and Chile-Tepin follows in the footsteps of this delightful little chile.
Chile-Tepin is a casual spot that has all the Mexican food classics plus beers and margaritas.
The menu is simple, with starters, tacos, burritos, enchiladas, and sides.
The Chile-Tepin chile relleno are some of the best I’ve ever had.
A chile relleno is a chile stuffed with cheese and then deep fried.
It is one of my favorite Mexican foods and a musty try at Chile-Tepin.
Chunga’s
Multiple locations
Visit Website
I firmly believe everyone loves tacos, which means everyone loves Chunga’s.
Chunga’s chain restaurant in Salt Lake City serves incredible tacos and other classic Mexican dishes.
There are several locations throughout Salt Lake City, so you are never far away from a fantastic taco.
The tacos at Chunga’s are some of the best I’ve ever had.
They use fresh, locally sourced ingredients and the portions are generous.
I highly recommend the tacos al pastor.
I also love their chips and salsa.
The salsa is made fresh daily and perfectly balanced with spice and flavor.
If you are looking for a casual spot to enjoy some fantastic Mexican food, then Chunga’s is the place for you.
Red Iguana
736 W N Temple St, Salt Lake City, UT 84116
Phone: 801-322-1489
Visit Website
Red Iguana is a family-run Mexican cafe serving traditional Mexican fare and some incredible gluten-free options.
You can find the Red Iguana in the Fiarpark neighborhood of Salt Lake City, a few blocks north of the Clark Planetarium and a few blocks east of the Utah State Fairpark.
The Red Iguana is famous for its mole and is some of the best I’ve ever had.
The mole is a sauce made from various ingredients, including chili peppers, nuts, and chocolate.
If you want some of their famous mole, be prepared to wait.
The line often stretches out the door and around the corner.
The line indicates how good the food is at the Red Iguana.
Blue Iguana Salt Lake City
165 S W Temple St, Salt Lake City, UT 84101
Phone: 801-533-8900
Visit Website
The Blue Iguana is in downtown Salt Lake City on the corner of West Temple and South Temple.
It is only a block away from the Utah Museum of Contemporary Art.
The Blue Iguana is a casual Mexican restaurant that serves all your favorite Mexican dishes like tacos, burritos, quesadillas, enchiladas, and more.
However, the most famous dish featured at the Blue Iguana is the molcajete.
A molcajete is a traditional tool for grinding up ingredients.
At the Blue Iguana, they take the bowl and fill it with ingredients.
The molcajete comes out ripping hot and keeps all the ingredients warm throughout your meal.
I was blown away by the presentation. You don’t want to miss this dish.
Hector’s Mexican Food
2901 E 3300 S, Salt Lake City, UT 84109
Phone: 801-487-3850
Hector’s is a local favorite for Mexican food in the Canyon Rim neighborhood of Salt Lake City.
It is south of the Parleys Historic Nature Park and north of Skyline High School.
Hector’s is a casual restaurant that won’t blow you away with its decorations or appearance.
However, it is a local favorite because of the incredible service, great food, and reasonable prices.
I highly recommend the breakfast burrito, which is served all day.
The breakfast burrito has eggs, cheese, ham, and green chiles.
It is the perfect way to start your day or enjoy a late-night snack.
If you are looking for a fantastic Mexican meal without all the bells and whistles, then Hector’s is the place for you.
Lone Star Taqueria
2265 Fort Union Blvd, Cottonwood Heights, UT 84121
Phone: 801-944-2300
Visit Website
Lone Star Taqueria is a casual Mexican restaurant in the Cottonwood Heights neighborhood of Salt Lake City.
It is on Fort Union Boulevard, just east of Interstate 215.
The Lone Star Taqueria is known for its fast service and great food.
I highly recommend the tacos; they are some of the best I’ve ever had.
The tacos are made with fresh, locally sourced ingredients and generous portions.
I highly recommend the fish tacos.
I have no idea how they get fresh fish in a land-locked state, but they make it happen at Long Star Taqueria.
Maria’s Méxican Grill
3336 S 2300 E, Salt Lake City, UT 84109
Phone: 801-883-9774
Visit Website
Maria’s Mexican Grill is a family-run restaurant in the Sugar House neighborhood of Salt Lake City.
It is on 2300 East, just west of Interstate 15.
Maria’s is a casual restaurant with a relaxed atmosphere.
The food is traditional Mexican fare and is as authentic as it gets in Salt Lake City.
I highly recommend the enchiladas.
The enchiladas are made with fresh, homemade tortillas and filled with your choice of meat.
I also highly recommend the chimichangas and the margaritas.
The chimichangas are perfect.
Taqueria 27 Downtown
149 E 200 S, Salt Lake City, UT 84111
Phone: 385-259-0940
Visit Website
Taqueria 27 Downtown is a casual Mexican restaurant in the heart of downtown Salt Lake City.
It is on 200 South, just east of Main Street.
Taqueria 27 Downtown is known for its fresh, made-to-order food.
The menu features all your favorite Mexican dishes, but the tacos are the best.
I highly recommend the carne asada tacos.
The carne asada is tender and juicy, and the taco comes with all the fixings.
It’s the perfect meal after a long day exploring Salt Lake City.
If you are craving something sweet, I also recommend the churros.
Alberto’s
511 S 300 W, Salt Lake City, UT 84101
Phone: 801-531-0411
Alberto’s is a casual Mexican restaurant in the heart of downtown Salt Lake City.
It is on 300 West, just south of Temple Square.
Alberto’s is known for its quick service and delicious food.
Unlike many of the best Mexican restaurants in Salt Lake City, Alberto’s has a drive-through, which makes it the perfect place to stop for a quick bit to eat.
The essentials like the tacos and burritos are good, but the carne asada fries are mind-blowing.
They are a must-try.
Alberto’s is the place if you want a quick, delicious, affordable meal.
Cafe Rio Mexican Grill
Multiple locations
Visit Website
Cafe Rio Mexican Grill is another excellent Mexican chain restaurant in Salt Lake City.
It is a fast-casual restaurant with multiple locations throughout the Salt Lake Valley.
Cafe Rio is known for its made-to-order food.
I highly recommend getting a burrito with their delightful sweet pork and smothering it with their green sauce.
It is perhaps the best thing I’ve ever had at a fast-casual restaurant.
What sets Cafe Rio apart from other Mexican restaurants is its commitment to using fresh and local ingredients.
El Asadero Mexican Food
1011 W N Temple St, Salt Lake City, UT 84116
Phone: 801-328-4747
Visit Website
El Asadero Mexican Food is a casual Mexican restaurant on the west side of downtown Salt Lake City.
It is on North Temple, just west of Interstate 15.
El Asadero is known for its fast service and authentic Mexican food.
It is a family-run restaurant that uses family recipes that go back generations.
They make their corn tortillas in-house and by hand.
They are incredibly delicious and take everything on the menu to the next level.
I highly recommend the al pastor tacos. The al pastor is slow cooked and incredibly flavorful.
The tacos come with fresh guacamole and homemade salsa.
La Casa Del Tamal
2843 S 5600 W Suite 140, West Valley City, UT 84120
Phone: 385-266-8729
Visit Website
La Casa Del Tamal is a casual Mexican restaurant on the west side of Salt Lake City.
It is in West Valley City, just off of 5600 West.
La Casa Del Tamal is known for its tamales, and they have all sorts of different tamale flavors and are all incredibly delicious.
I highly recommend the chicken mole tamales. They are my favorite.
In addition to tamales, La Casa Del Tamal also has a full menu of Mexican favorites.
I recommend the birria tacos. They are slow-cooked and seasoned perfectly.
La Hacienda Salt Lake
1248 S Redwood Rd, Salt Lake City, UT 84104
Phone: 801-973-0738
La Hacienda Salt Lake is a casual Mexican restaurant on the west side of downtown Salt Lake City.
It is on Redwood Road, just south of Interstate 15.
La Hacienda Salt Lake is known for its quick service and authentic Mexican cuisine.
The enchiladas are some of the best in town and are worth a try. I also recommend the chile verde.
The chile verde is the stuff of legends and no matter what you order, ask for a side of the chili verde.
Or, get your whole burrito smothered in it.
Nico’s Restaurant
1458 W N Temple St, Salt Lake City, UT 84116
Phone: 801-364-0363
Visit Website
Nico’s Restaurant is a casual Mexican restaurant on the west side of downtown Salt Lake City.
It is on North Temple, just west of Interstate 15.
Nico’s rose to fame because of a Tik Tok video.
The owner’s son posted a video about how hard his dad worked despite not getting any business.
Since the video, the restaurant has blown up because of the quality of the barbacoa.
I highly recommend the barbacoa tacos because the meat is slow cooked and pulled apart tender.
The tacos come with fresh salsa and handmade tortillas.
Red Iguana 2
866 W S Temple, Salt Lake City, UT 84116
Phone: 801-214-6050
Visit Website
Red Iguana 2 is a casual Mexican restaurant on the west side of downtown Salt Lake City.
It is on South Temple, just east of Interstate 15.
Red Iguana 2 is the second location of the famous Red Iguana. It is known for its mole.
The mole is a family recipe passed down for generations. It is unlike any other mole I’ve ever had.
I highly recommend the mole verde.
I had never had mole verde before, and the Red Iguana 2 made me a believer.
Final Thoughts
Those are the best Mexican restaurants in Salt Lake City.
They are all excellent restaurants that are known for their authentic Mexican cuisine. I highly recommend all of them.
Check out our favorite Italian joints as well while you’re here in Salt Lake City!
Did we leave a restaurant out of this list? Make sure you leave us a comment, and we’ll check it out!
Best Mexican Restaurants in Salt Lake City
- Chile- Tepin
- Chunga’s
- Red Iguana
- Blue Iguana Salt Lake City
- Hector’s Mexican Food
- Lone Star Taqueria
- Maria’s Méxican Grill
- Taqueria 27 Downtown
- Alberto’s
- Cafe Rio Mexican Grill
- El Asadero Mexican Food
- La Casa Del Tamal
- La Hacienda Salt Lake
- Nico’s Restaurant
- Red Iguana 2
