ABOUT US

Maria and Ramon Cardenas Sr. at the original Red Iguana

THE RED IGUANA STORY: A RICH HERITAGE AND AUTHENTIC MEXICAN FOOD, MADE WITH LOVE.

The Cardenas family has had the pleasure of serving our dedicated patrons in the Salt Lake Valley since 1965, starting with Casa Grande, and now with Red Iguana restaurants. Our menu is a collection of Cardenas family recipes that are gastronomically creative interpretations of classic dishes proudly prepared for generations in regions of Mexico and the Southwestern United States.

THE INGREDIENTS

For over 50 years, our recipes have withstood the test of time. You might be surprised by the ingredients we use to create our spicy, rich, and bold flavors. We use chilies, cinnamon, garlic, cumin, onions, cilantro, epazoté, plus nuts, dried fruit, and fresh vegetables.

SIGNATURE DISHES

We’re betting you’ll love Red Iguana’s moles (pronounced MOH-lays), like our Mole Coloradito. But you’ll also want to try Red Iguana classics like Tacos Don Ramon, Chile Verde, Burritos, Chimichangas, Enchiladas Suizas, and our famous Cochinita Pibil—slow-roasted pork rubbed with achiote, orange juice and spices.

THE CARDENAS FAMILY

The Red Iguana story goes back more than a century, with the birth of our founders.

Ramon Cardenas Sr. was born in 1933 in San Luis Potosí, a state that spans eastern and Central Mexico. Maria was born in 1924 in Chihuahua, Mexico, to Manuel and Luz Corral Quinonez. Maria was a natural born artist from a young age and became very involved in the art scene. She came to the United States in 1953, where four years later she met and married Ramon. Together, they shared a passion for Mexican cuisine, and created recipes and dishes that proudly served as delicious expressions of their cultural background.

In 1965, Ramon and Maria Cardenas took over running the small Casa Grande restaurant in downtown Salt Lake City. Maria cooked while Ramon waited on customers. The couple was eager to share their love for their heritage and cultural dishes with their Salt Lake City neighbors – and enjoyed great success as Utahns preferred Maria’s authentic cuisine to the dishes served at other area Mexican restaurants. A journalist for the Salt Lake Tribune wrote:

“Mrs. Cardenas delights in heading for the kitchen, tying on her apron and preparing the kind of elegant Mexican cuisine […] To see what Mrs. Cardenas had prepared was, to know a culinary artist had been at work.”

In 1985, Ramon and Maria Cardenas reinvented Casa Grande as Red Iguana. Almost overnight, Red Iguana became very popular. Over the years, the restaurant has gained a cult-like following, attracting customers from across the country.

The unique yet traditional Mexican dishes Ramon and Maria created were soon passed on to the Cardenas children, Lucy and Ramon Jr., who started at a very young age, washing glasses, greeting & seating customers, cooking, and assisting in any way they could. Ramon Jr. (Red Iguana’s legendary chef) became the face and name of the Red Iguana until his death in 2004. His influence and memory live on.

Ramon Cardenas Jr.

THE TRADITION CONTINUES

Today, the Red Iguana tradition continues under the careful management of Lucy Cardenas, her husband Bill Coker, & their family of 150+ employees. Together, they take pride in offering the legendary Mexican cuisine that people the world over have come to expect from Red Iguana.

MORE PHOTOS FROM THE ARCHIVE

A young Maria Cardenas in her kitchen
Ramon Cardenas Sr. at work in the kitchen at Red Iguana
Maria Cardenas preparing her famous Paella
The Cardenas family home was regularly filled with music

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As Seen on “Diners, Drive-ins, and Dives”

Since 2008 when the Red Iguana was featured on the series, Diners, Drive-ins, and Dives with Guy Fieri, people the world over have added the restaurant to their “must try” list. “There will only be one Red Iguana…”, Guy remarked during a return visit to the restaurant in 2020. “You were the high-water mark to which I’ve measured all the other restaurants since then.”