Recognition / Press
Utah’s Most Awarded Mexican Restaurant
Red Iguana is proud to hold the title of Utah’s Most Awarded Mexican Restaurant as well as One of the Top 100 Rated Restaurants in the Nation. Here are just a few of our recent accolades:
Salt Lake Magazine 2023 Dining Awards Names Red Iguana Utah Classic
“Red Iguana fulfills the promise of its slogan. It is, in fact, Killer Mexican food that is absolutely worth the wait. For nearly 40 years they’ve been serving up delicious and perfected family dishes like chile verde and world-famous mole. ”
Yelp Names Red Iguana as #35 on the List of the Top 100 Best Restaurants in the Country
“The Cardenas family has been serving hungry Salt Lakers since 1965 at the colorfully decorated Casa Grande and Red Iguana restaurants, also featured on Food Network’s “Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives.” Founders Ramon and Maria Cardenas passed along their beloved Mexican recipes to the children, who proudly continue the family tradition. Expect an hour wait any night of the week at the Iguana, whose tagline proudly boasts: “Killer food that’s worth the wait.”
2019 DatingAdvice.com “Editor’s Choice Award”
“As far as date nights go, Red Iguana is a crowd pleaser. Couples may have to speak up to hear each other at this popular dive, but they’ll be in foodie heaven once their dishes arrive.”
Trip Advisor Hall of Fame
Fodor’s Choice 2010
“From hidden-away restaurants to can’t-miss museums, Fodor’s Choice selections recognize the top sights, properties, and experiences our editors and updaters have found in their travels,” says Fodor’s publisher Tim Jarrell. “These places are the best of the best, providing a remarkable experience in their price range or category.”
2023 PathFinder—Lucy Cardenas
47th Salt Lake Chamber of Commerce Women in Business Conference-Athena Awards
2023 Utah Classic Award
Salt Lake Magazine Dining Awards
2023 Best Mexican Restaurant
Salt Lake City Weekly’s Best of Utah
QSaltLake Magazine “Fabby Award”
2022 Best Mexican Restaurant
QSaltLake Magazine “Fabby Award”
2022 Lifetime Achievement Award
Red Iguana
Lucy Cardenas & Bill Coker
Utah Restaurant Association
Yelp’s Top 100 US Restaurants 2022 (#35)
(The only restaurant from Utah in the Top 100)
yelp.com
Red Iguana
SBA Utah Small Business of the Year 2022
Lucy Cardenas & Bill Coker
SBA Utah Small Business Persons of the Year 2022
U.S. Small Business Administration – Utah District
Top 3 Mexican Restaurants in Salt Lake City
Best Business of 2021
ThreeBestRated.com
Best Mexican Restaurant 2021
Salt Lake City Weekly’s Best of Utah
Travelers’ Choice 2021
tripadvisor.com
Best Mexican Restaurant 2020
Salt Lake City Weekly’s Best of Utah
Most Faaabulous Mexican Restaurant 2019
Qsaltlake Magazine
Best Mexican Restaurant 2019
Best Restaurant to Impress Newcomers 2019
Salt Lake City Weekly’s Best of Utah
Editor’s Choice Award 2019
DatingAdvice.com
#44 of 50 Best Places for Mexican Food in America 2019
BigSevenTravel.com
Best Mexican Restaurant 2018
Salt Lake City Weekly’s Best of Utah
The People’s Choice 2018
Chili Verde, Chili Colorado
The Road Home 32nd Annual Chili Affair Fund-Raising Contest
Hall of Fame – 5 Years of Excellencce
2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018
tripadvisor.com
#1 Top Mexican Restaurant 2018
FemaleFoodie.com –Top 10 Mexican Restaurants in Salt Lake City
Most Faaabulous Mexican Restaurant 2018
Qsaltlake Magazine
Best Restaurant Hall of Fame 2017
Salt Lake Magazine
Hall of Fame 2017
“10 Years of Being the Best of the Best”
Salt Lake City Weekly’s Best of Utah
Certificate of Excellence 2017
tripadvisor.com
Most Faaabulous Mexican Restaurant 2017
Qsaltlake Magazine
Best Restaurant Hall of Fame 2016
Salt Lake Magazine
Best Mexican Restaurant 2016
Salt Lake Tribune newspaper, Readers’ Choice
Best Mexican Restaurant 2016
KSL Local A-list Winner
Most Faaabulous Mexican Restaurant 2016
Qsaltlake Magazine
Best Mexican Restaurant 2015
KSL Local-A-List
Most Faaabulous Mexican Restaurant 2015
Qsaltlake Magazine
Certificate of Excellence
Hall of Fame – 5 Years of Excellence
2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015
tripadvisor.com
Best Mexican Restaurant 2014
Salt Lake City Weekly’s Best of Utah — 25 Year Edition
Best Mexican Restaurant 2014
KSL Local-A-List
Certificate of Excellence 2014
tripadvisor.com
100 Fastest Growing American Companies #82
#6 in Food & Beverage
ICIC Foundation InnerCity100 & Fortune Magazine
Most Faaabulous Mexican Restaurant 2014
Qsaltlake Magazine
Best Mexican – 2014
Reader’s Choice
Best Mexican Restaurant 2013
KSL Local-A-List
Certificate of Excellence 2013
tripadvisor.com
100 Fastest Growing American Companies #75
ICIC Foundation InnerCity100 & Fortune Magazine
Most Faaabulous Mexican Restaurant 2013
Qsaltlake Magazine
Best Mexican Restaurant 2012
KSL Local-A-List
Certificate of Excellence 2012
tripadvisor.com
100 Fastest Growing American Companies #68
ICIC Foundation InnerCity100
Most Faaabulous Mexican Restaurant 2012
Qsaltlake Magazine
“Would You Open a 2nd Restaurant Two Blocks From the First?”
New York Times 08-24-2011
Best Mexican Restaurant 2011
Salt Lake City Weekly’s Best of Utah
Certificate of Excellence 2011
tripadvisor.com
100 Fastest Growing American Companies #96
ICIC Foundation InnerCity100
Most Faaabulous Mexican Restaurant 2011
Qsaltlake Magazine
Best of the Beehive 2010
Salt Lake Magazine Dining Awards
Best Mexican Restaurant 2010
Salt Lake City Weekly’s Best of Utah
1 of the World’s Top Establishments 2010
Fodor’s Choice Award
Minority Small Business of The Year 2010
Salt Lake City Chamber of Commerce
100 Fastest Growing American Companies #89
ICIC Foundation InnerCity100 & Bloomberg Business Week
Most Faaabulous Mexican Restaurant 2010
Qsaltlake Magazine
Best Mexican Restaurant 2009
Salt Lake City Weekly’s Best of Utah
Best Business Casual Restaurant 2009
Utah Business Magazine Corporate Cuisine Award
One of America’s Top Restaurants 2009
ZAGAT Restaurants Survey
Most Faaabulous Mexican Restaurant 2009
Qsaltlake Magazine
Restaurant Hall of Fame 2008
Salt Lake Magazine Dining Awards
Fodor’s Choice Award 2008
Fodor’s Choice Award
The Best Restaurants in America 2008
Bon Appétit Magazine
Best Mexican Restaurant 2008
QSaltLake Magazine Fabby Awards
Best Mexican Restaurant 2007
Salt Lake City Weekly’s Best of Utah
Best Mexican Restaurant 2007
Salt Lake Magazine Dining Awards
26 Best Roadside Dishes in America – “M” for Mole 2007
Men’s Journal
Most Faaabulous Mexican Restaurant 2007
Qsaltlake Magazine
Best Mexican Restaurant 2006
Salt Lake City Weekly’s Best of Utah
Best Mexican Restaurant 2006
Salt Lake Magazine Dining Awards
Audience Winner — Mexican Food 2006
CitySearch.com Best of CitySearch
Culinary Artist of the Year 2006
Governor’s Mansion Foundation Artists Series Awards
Most Faaabulous Mexican Restaurant 2006
Qsaltlake Magazine
Best Mexican Restaurant 2005
Salt Lake Magazine Dining Awards
Best Mexican Restaurant 2005
Salt Lake City Weekly’s Best of Utah
Best Mexican Restaurant 2005
Salt Lake Metro Magazine
One of Nation’s Best Mexican Restaurants 2005
ZAGATS’ America’s Top Restaurants
Arts Festival Culinary Award 2005
Utah Arts Festival
Most Faaabulous Mexican Restaurant 2005
Qsaltlake Magazine
Best Mexican Restaurant 2004
Salt Lake Magazine Dining Awards
Best Mexican Restaurant 2004
Salt Lake City Weekly’s Best of Utah
Best Enchiladas 2004
Salt Lake City Weekly’s Best of Utah
Best Tacos 2004
Salt Lake City Weekly’s Best of Utah
Best Place to Eat: Salt Lake City 2004
GQ Magazine
Business Achievement Award 2004
Ramon Cardenas
U.S. Small Business Administration
Best Mexican Restaurant 2003
Salt Lake Magazine Dining Awards
Best Mexican Restaurant 2003
Salt Lake City Weekly’s Best of Utah
Editorial Winner — Mexican Food 2003
Audience Winner — Mexican Food 2003
CitySearch.com Best of CitySearch
Best Mexican Restaurant 2002
Salt Lake City Weekly’s Best of Utah
Best Mexican Food 2002
Top 20 Best Buys
Top 20 Most Popular
Top 20 Overall Traffic
Top 20 Favored by 20’s Crowd
Top 20 Favored by 30’s Crowd
ZAGAT’S Best in Utah
Editorial Winner — Mexican Food 2002
National Winner — Mexican Food 2002
CitySearch.com Best of CitySearch
Best Mexican Restaurant 2001
Salt Lake City Weekly’s Best of Utah
One of Nation’s Best Mexican Restaurants 2001
ZAGAT’S America’s Top Restaurants
Editorial Winner — Mexican Food 2001
Audience Winner — Mexican Food 2001
CitySearch.com Best of CitySearch
Best Mexican Restaurant 2000
Salt Lake Magazine Dining Awards
One of Nation’s Best Mexican Restaurants 2000
A “Gastronomic Gem”
ZAGAT’S America’s Top Restaurants
Editorial Winner — Mexican Food 2000
Audience Winner — Mexican Food 2000
CitySearch.com Best of CitySearch
Best Mexican Restaurant 1999
Salt Lake City Weekly’s Best of Utah
One of America’s Best Meal Deals 1999
ZAGAT’S Restaurant Survey
Best Mexican Restaurant 1998-99
Salt Lake Magazine Dining Awards
Best in the West 1998-99
ZAGAT’S Restaurant Survey
One of Nation’s Best Mexican Restaurants 1997-98
ZAGAT’S America’s Top Restaurants
Best Mexican Restaurant 1997
Hall of Fame, Best of Utah
Private Eye Weekly Best of Utah
Utah’s Top Mexican Restaurant 1997
ZAGAT’S America’s Top Restaurants
Maria Cardenas
Superior Performance & Outstanding Contributions in the Field of Business 1986
Utah Hispanic Women’s Conference
