Red Iguana offers a truly unique dining experience – authentic Mexican food in a festive, casual atmosphere. Our menu is a collection of award-winning Cardenas Family recipes that are gastronomically creative interpretations of classic dishes proudly prepared for generations in regions of Mexico and the Southwestern United States. Try one of our signature mole (MOH-lay) dishes or one of our traditional Mexican specialties. Sample the spicy, rich, and bold flavors at Red Iguana and you’ll see why we’ve been voted as the Best Mexican Restaurant in Utah for more than 25 consecutive years.
Guy Fieri, host of Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives
Red Iguana is honored to be rated #1 on Yelp’s “Salt Lake City: Top Local Eats 2025”, standing out among the city’s most-loved restaurants. This achievement reflects the support of our loyal guests and the dedication of our team to serving bold, authentic Mexican food in Salt Lake City every day.
Top sirloin tips sautéed with bacon, jalapeño strips, onions, and fresh tomatoes, served atop our mole almendras. Refried beans and tortillas complete this much-loved dish.
Seven large tiger prawns sautéed in garlic and butter with lemon and a hint of pepper. Served with Mexican white rice, black beans, and tortillas.
Shredded beef, chicken, or cheese enchiladas in two corn tortillas, topped with our house-made dried red chile powder enchilada sauce, finished with melted Jack cheese, and served with rice and beans.
A generous portion of totopos topped with refried beans, pork chile verde, house-made pork chorizo, melted Jack cheese, pico de gallo, guacamole, sour cream, black olives, green onions and jalapeños.
Our succulent pork carnitas smothered in our spicy mole amarillo and melted Jack cheese, topped with two poached eggs and two strips of crispy bacon, garnished with a crown of flour tortilla chips, and served with a side of Spanish rice and refried beans.
A flour tortilla filled with vanilla ice cream, shredded coconut, cinnamon sugar, and fried golden brown, topped with caramel and chocolate sauce, cinnamon sugar, and whipped cream.
Corn tortillas layered with shredded chicken, smothered with tangy tomatillo sauce and melted cheese, garnished with shredded lettuce, cotija cheese, diced tomato, and Mexican cream.
Three corn tortillas folded into triangles, filled with refried beans, topped with mole negro, sprinkled with a queso fresco and cotija blend, then topped with pickled red onions.
Three grilled corn tortillas filled with tender top sirloin tips, grilled with pork chorizo, garnished with shredded lettuce and queso cotija, served with pico de gallo and a salsa de aguacate.
Why do locals consider Red Iguana a must-visit Mexican restaurant in Salt Lake City?
Red Iguana is a local favorite because it consistently delivers authentic Mexican food with bold flavors, generous portions, and great service. Many Salt Lake City locals consider it the best Mexican restaurant in the city, thanks to its famous mole sauces and family-run atmosphere that keeps people coming back.
What kind of Mexican food does Red Iguana serve?
Red Iguana specializes in authentic Mexican cuisine inspired by regions of Mexico and the Southwest. The menu features tacos, birria tacos, carne asada, al pastor, enchiladas, house-made salsa, and guacamole. Along with these dishes, they’re famous for their 10+ flavors of mole that can be added to any dish, and their seasonal moles are a fan favorite. There are also vegetarian tacos and plenty of options for different tastes.
Is Red Iguana good for dinner, special events, or group dining?
Yes. Red Iguana is an excellent choice for dinner, family meals, holiday parties, and special events. The dining room has a lively atmosphere, and the restaurant also offers catering options for larger gatherings in Salt Lake City, UT, and surrounding areas.
Do I need reservations, and is there usually a wait?
Because Red Iguana is often packed, especially on Saturday nights, reservations are highly recommended. There can be a wait during peak hours, but many guests say the food is absolutely amazing and well worth it. You can also order online if you prefer takeout.
What makes Red Iguana different from other Mexican restaurants?
Unlike many other local Mexican spots, Red Iguana focuses on traditional recipes from Chihuahua, Mexico. They are a Salt Lake City institution known for delicious food rooted in Mexican heritage. What really sets them apart is their use of fresh ingredients and their in-house sauces. From rich Oaxacan-style mole to street-style tacos and a Cadillac margarita, everything is cooked with care and flavor in mind. It’s often described as a hidden gem with food that’s both comforting and unforgettable.
Mole is the Mexican national dish for holidays and feasts. But how and when was mole first created? Among the common folklore of its creation includes a tale from the early colonial period. According to the legend, upon hearing that the archbishop was going to visit the Convent of Santa Rosa in Puebla, the nuns were in a panic because they were poor and had nothing to prepare. They prayed about the situation and brought together the little bits of what they had to make a sauce. This included peppers, spices, day-old bread, nuts, and a little chocolate. They served the sauce on top of some turkey and the Archbishop loved it!
Red Iguana is famous for our moles (pronounced moh-lays) and we have at least 8 different types that are available regularly — Mole Negro, Amarillo, Poblano, Verde, Coloradito, Red Pipian, Mango, and Almendras. If you’d like to sample each mole currently available, ask your waiter for a mole sampler (seen below).
During his visit to the Red Iguana, Diner’s, Drive-ins, and Dives host, Guy Fieri exclaimed, “Holy Moley!” while helping owner Lucy Cardenas add ingredients to a giant vat of mole.
