Utahns love Mexican food, and we have plenty of Mexican restaurants to choose from across the state. Red Iguana, at 736 W. North Temple in Salt Lake City, is without a doubt the most popular Mexican restaurant in the entire Beehive State – queue up on a Saturday night to wait for a table, and you’ll see what I mean. Have you visited this neighborhood restaurant?
Ramon and Maria Cardenas opened Red Iguana in 1985.
minkcover/Trip Advisor It quickly became THE place for Mexican food in Salt Lake City.
Still family-owned, Red Iguana is managed by Lucy Cardenas (Ramon and Maria’s daughter) and her husband, Bill Coker.
Red Iguana/Facebook
Be prepared to wait awhile.
DavidG8834/TripAdvisor While the restaurant does accept reservations for parties of six or more, everyone else has to wait in line.
Expect at least a one-hour wait on weekend nights.
Esteph55/Trip Advisor
If you get bored, you can check out all the stickers adorning the front window.
mstickler/Trip Advisor
This humble neighborhood place isn’t fancy.
CharlaAV711/Trip Advisor This isn’t a stuffy, fancy dining establishment; you’re here for the amazing food and service…not linen tablecloths and a snooty maitre d’. The interior is painted with bright, festive colors, giving it a warm, friendly vibe.
Red Iguana is a place for community.
CynthiaM/Trip Advisor Some patrons have been coming here since the restaurant opened in 1985. People visit Red Iguana for date night, birthday parties, working lunches and family get togethers. It’s the kind of place where you can lean over to the people at the table next to you and ask them what that amazing-looking dish they’ve ordered is, and they’ll happily tell you - and then introduce themselves.
Red Iguana is well-known for its moles.
Red Iguana/Facebook There are several to choose from including mole poblano, amarillo, negro, coloradito and verde.
Dru Y/Trip Advisor This is the puntas de filete a la norteña; one of the restaurant’s most popular menu items. It’s top sirloin tips with bacon, jalapeno, onion and tomatoes, topped with almond mole.
If you’ve never tried mole, ask for a sampler.
Strawberrythailand/Trip Advisor
Sip a “Killer Margarita” with your meal.
Red Iguana/Facebook Red Iguana does these better than anyone else. There are nine to choose from (not counting any specials they might have).
Try the Housemade Sopapillas for dessert.
Brian A./Trip Advisor You probably won’t have room for these by the time you finish your meal. Maybe get them to go?
Red Iguana consistently receives awards and accolades.
Red Iguana/Facebook Awards include City Weekly’s Best of Utah, the Utah “Fabby” Award and Salt Lake Magazine Hall of Fame. It has almost 2,000 reviews on Yelp and over 2,500 reviews on Trip Advisor, both with 4.5 star ratings.
Is the wait worth it?
TWalker03/TripAdvisor Don’t show up hungry…it’s going to take some time to get to that mole and those margaritas. Is it worth it? I think so…do you?
Red Iguana’s food and service is amazing, but there are plenty of other delicious Mexican restaurants in Utah. Here’s a list of 16 Mexican Restaurants in Utah.
minkcover/Trip Advisor
It quickly became THE place for Mexican food in Salt Lake City.
Red Iguana/Facebook
DavidG8834/TripAdvisor
While the restaurant does accept reservations for parties of six or more, everyone else has to wait in line.
Esteph55/Trip Advisor
mstickler/Trip Advisor
CharlaAV711/Trip Advisor
This isn’t a stuffy, fancy dining establishment; you’re here for the amazing food and service…not linen tablecloths and a snooty maitre d’. The interior is painted with bright, festive colors, giving it a warm, friendly vibe.
CynthiaM/Trip Advisor
Some patrons have been coming here since the restaurant opened in 1985. People visit Red Iguana for date night, birthday parties, working lunches and family get togethers. It’s the kind of place where you can lean over to the people at the table next to you and ask them what that amazing-looking dish they’ve ordered is, and they’ll happily tell you - and then introduce themselves.
There are several to choose from including mole poblano, amarillo, negro, coloradito and verde.
Dru Y/Trip Advisor
This is the puntas de filete a la norteña; one of the restaurant’s most popular menu items. It’s top sirloin tips with bacon, jalapeno, onion and tomatoes, topped with almond mole.
Strawberrythailand/Trip Advisor
Red Iguana does these better than anyone else. There are nine to choose from (not counting any specials they might have).
Brian A./Trip Advisor
You probably won’t have room for these by the time you finish your meal. Maybe get them to go?
Awards include City Weekly’s Best of Utah, the Utah “Fabby” Award and Salt Lake Magazine Hall of Fame. It has almost 2,000 reviews on Yelp and over 2,500 reviews on Trip Advisor, both with 4.5 star ratings.
TWalker03/TripAdvisor
Don’t show up hungry…it’s going to take some time to get to that mole and those margaritas. Is it worth it? I think so…do you?
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