RED IGUANA “THE O.G.”: Salt Lake’s BEST MEXICAN RESTAURANT

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736 W North Temple St
Salt Lake City, Utah 84116
(801) 322-1489

Hours
Sunday-Thursday 11am-9pm
Friday & Saturday 11am-10pm

See Holiday Hours

Dine in: Reservations are recommended but not required, with the exception of groups of six or more. For reservations, book on Toast.com.

Book Now

To-Go: Visit Toast.com or click the button below to place a To-Go order

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Catering: For catering and deliveries (up to 100 people)

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What is table 45?

This is the original location (we affectionately call it “the O.G.”) of the world-famous Red Iguana, where we’ve been serving up authentic Mexican food since 1985!

By the time Ramon and Maria Cardenas opened Red Iguana, the Cardenas family recipes had already become locally famous across the Salt Lake valley. Soon after opening, word spread and people from all over the country wanted to visit the funky little Salt Lake City diner famous for award-winning Moles. While getting a table at the “OG” can be a little challenging at times, making a reservation is a sure-fire way to be guaranteed a seat at the table. Once you get a seat, you’ll love both the fresh food and the hospitality. We love getting to know the Salt Lake community and making customer service our top priority.

Enjoy The Best Mexican Food in the Valley

We’re known for our famous Moles, but you’ll love everything on the menu! From our housemade guacamole to sizzling fajitas, you’ll find something for everybody. We smother our delicious burritos with your choice of Mole, Chile Verde, or cheese, and our many unique tacos are the perfect entrée for celebrating a birthday, graduation, or anniversary. If you’re looking for a more laid-back evening, we recommend taking a seat at the bar to enjoy our specialty margaritas, made with your choice of tequila.

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

Red Iguana was featured on The Food Network’s Diners, Drive-ins and Dives with Guy Fieri for the first time in 2008. In the episode, when Red Iguana owner Lucy Cardenas lets Guy assist in preparing more than 15 gallons of mole, Guy tosses everything from garlic to peppercorns to chocolate into a huge vat. Just for fun, he tosses in a plantain from across the room, then jokes, “Next we’ll be cooking with my sock.”

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VISIT “THE O.G.”

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Our Lady of the Iguanas

Near the To-Go counter at the original location of Red Iguana (736 W North Temple St), you’ll find an old painting of Nuestra Señora de las Iguanas (Our Lady of the Iguanas). The unique artwork was found near Juchitán, Oaxaca, Mexico. It was later discovered that the painting was created and adapted from an original photograph taken in 1979 by one of the best-known Mexican photographers, Graciela Iturbide.

The image was featured in her breakthrough photo essay Juchitán of the Women, and was meant to show the power and dignity of a Zapotec woman, who carries live iguanas on her head to form a bizarre crown.

Red Iguana’s Wall of Fame

The “Wall of Fame” found in the original Red Iguana’s main dining room includes photos and autographs of world-renowned celebrities who have dined at Red Iguana over the years. You’ll see images of Louis Perez (“Los Lobos”), ZZ Top, Elvira (Mistress of the Dark), Guy Fieri (Diners, Drive-ins and Dives), Lewis Black (Political Satirist), and more.

Also, be sure to peruse the dozens of awards and accolades we’ve received over the past four decades.

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Holiday Hours

Thanksgiving Day: Closed
Christmas Eve: Closed
Christmas Day: Closed
New Year’s Eve: Open 11am-9pm
New Year’s Day: Open 11am-9pm

KILLER REVIEWS

“Wowza! This place is amazing. The staff was super friendly and helped us pick our meals. Food exceeded expectations in every way. We will definitely be returning often. Thanks so much!”

“Worth the wait! If there is a line don’t turn around. Wait it out and get some of best Mexican food around! The mole sampler is great and can help you pick which delicious dish is calling your name. The staff is great and the atmosphere is lively and comfortable. Def add this place to your to-go list.”

“Simply my favorite Mexican food, with a great variety of menu items I’ve never found elsewhere.”

“I can tell you with absolute certainty that I will never make a trip to SLC without having a meal at red Iguana (or Red iguana 2). The dinner I had there recently was one of the most exceptional meals I’ve had in a long time. I’m still thinking about the delicious mole.”

“Food was as fantastic as ever! It has been over 15 years since I had eaten there and took my new bride to taste it for the first time! We weren’t disappointed one bit!”

“EAT HERE! No seriously, stop looking and come here! My brother and I saw the many good reviews, which got us here, and it was amazing!!! ”

“This place is one of the Diners, Drive ins and Dives stops. It is definitely a place to stop for Mexican food. Stop outside and wait for a table and it is so worth it. Table side with views into the kitchen!”

“The hype is real – get ready to be served up large portions of high quality, authentic Mexican food. The menu is large and the daily specials always catch my eye, it’s hard to decide what to order but I’ve never been disappointed with my choice.”

“Wow – what an incredible experience! My custom reposado margarita was perfect, and the mole enchiladas were the best I’ve ever had. On top of it all, our large group of 13 was taken care of very well by the wait staff. Thanks for a great night!”

“I told Mike Ness from Social Distortion to go there when he was in town a long time ago. Favorite restaurant, food is amazing, authentic mole, ambiance is magnificent!”

“Best Mexican food ever in 70 years. Friendliest staff, great setting. Here another 3 weeks and will eat there at least 3-5 more times.”

“Best Mexican food I’ve had so far in Utah. I’ve had my fair share of Mexican food and they’ve all been pretty equal.. but Red Iguana is just different. You can instantly tell the difference in the quality of Mexican food you’re getting compared to other places.”

“OMG! We are very new to Utah and love Mexican, and this is by far the best that we have ever had..Love the history of the menu, the cheese dip,margaritas, food entrees and we had the BEST server.”

“Once again! Great service! The Guacomole was incredible. The chips that accompanied, raises the flavor and enjoyment. Margarita very good. Shrimp Quesadilla, delicious. It is rich and flavorful; especially the shrimp garnishment. Mike had the Red Iguana. A variety that is delicious. A share plate for sure!”

“The food? BEST MEXICAN MOLE ON EARTH. WOW. Service, vibe and standout ALL. MUST GO BACK!”

“I love this place! Everything on the menu is delicious! And the service is top notch and friendly! I’ll drive from my house, which is an hour each way, just to eat here!”

“Our server, Marjorie made great recommendations and we enjoyed a complimentary sample plate of moles to decide which one was for us. Our appetizer and dinners were superb and servings were generous, so come hungry. Thank you for such an enjoyable dinner. We’ll be back next time we are in SLC!”

“Stumbled across this place by accident but would almost be willing to fly there from Hawaii just for another taste. Try the quesadilla! Definitely worth the wait! Don’t eat anywhere that’s not crowded.”

“Worth the wait!! Everything we ordered was absolutely amazing in terms of flavors and portions! Puntas De Filete may be the most incredible meal I’ve ever had. That mole sauce had me literally wiping the plate clean with my last tortilla.This place left a lasting memory for my family and I, can’t wait to get back there again.”

“Great food. Great service. This place is fabulous.”

“From the outside, it does not look like what you’d expect, but when we got seated there was already chips and salsa at our table. The service was fast, the margaritas were strong, and the food was amazing! For sure will be going back.”

“Amazing food. Had great service. Good margaritas. Amazing queso . From Texas, and this was so good.”

“The food is great. Love the Mole Negro. Service and everyone on staff are super friendly and nice. Great place for everyone.”

“That’s right folks, it’s just as good as everyone says it is! As a girl raised in Salt Lake City, when I returned to my hometown for the first time in four years, Red Iguana was on my MUST DO list. How had I never been here before? They have a massive menu that you can never get tired of and specify which dishes are vegetarian, gluten-free, etc. to accommodate any palate.”

“This place never disappoints! We enjoyed their killer nachos to start and they are THE MOST DELICIOUS nachos you’ll find anywhere. They are so flavorful, with giant chunks of smoky and spicy chili Verde and chorizo. They have a perfect amount of Pico and green onions on top, along with tons of jalapeños.”

“Booked Red Iguana for a holiday party this weekend and it was a fantastic experience. The delivery was right on time, and Hector had everything set up and ready to go in about twenty minutes. The food was fresh, flavorful, and perfect.

“I mean, I can’t say enough great things to say about this place. It lived up to all of the hype. The food was incredible, margaritas were excellent, service was great. We had three little ones with us and 8 adults, and they took our orders quickly, food came out quickly and hot. This place is AMAZING”

“If we lived nearby we would be here often! The food and service were excellent. Triple D place that lives up to the hype.”

“Always amazing! I prefer the combination platters, their tiger prawns and moles, but everything is good and prepared fast! The chips and salsa are amazing as well and don’t sleep on their Mojitos! Absolutely fantastic experience and service every time!”

“Excellent food, a friendly staff and cool decor make this a great place to eat. It’s the only authentic Mexican food restaurant I have found in Utah.”

“Fantastic Food! Must do if in SLC!”

“We had a reservation and were immediately seated. Our server, Virginia, was the best. The food was beyond great! It was our first time and won’t be our last.”

“We were recommended to try The Red Iguana by my physical therapist. We were not disappointed! The menu is fabulous and extensive, and we went off-path from our usual Mexican standards to try some of the specialties of the house: the molé! It was amazing, and our server guided us to some other choices for future visits. We’ll make a point of stopping by!”

“We love Red Iguana 2! The food is always fantastic and they make sure the whole party is served at the same time. Staff is cheerful too.”

“TY so much to the host. We arrived with a party of 8 & it was a 30 minute wait. But he was able to seat us as two parties of 4 at tables next to each other with no wait. Service was prompt and food was delicious. Thank you again!”

“Really kind service, knowledgeable servers, and a dedicated crew to just clearing tables which decreases turnover time which is awesome. And of course, fantastic food!”

“Great food, friendly and efficient service, can’t wait to go back!”

“Fantastic and Authentic Mexican food in an authentic setting. Food is first class and service terrific”

“Great from the time we walked in until we left. Staff was friendly and courteous!”

“Always wonderful from the time we are seated to the time we leave. Excellent food. Excellent staff. We live in Heber City and have to come to Salt Lake City to eat the best food. Thank you!!”

“The food was great 10/10 wish you guys were in Boise. Will for sure be back next time we are in town”

“Simply the best Mexican food ever!”

“Our food was fantastic. The service was great. We’re from Texas and are used to Tex-Mex. This is not that! It’s authentic Mexican food. We loved it.”

“Fast, friendly service. Reasonable prices and amazing food. Huge portions. The whole staff seemed to be having a fun time. Was contagious.”

“The Best Mexican food in Utah! Excellent service check the Red guana out!”

“Always so good. It’s our favorite restaurant”

“It goes without saying that this is a crown gem of Salt Lake City. The food is absolutely delicious and I can’t describe enough how great it is too eat here.”

“Absolutely delicious!! Highly recommend but make sure to get a reservation as the wait times can be long.”

“We were so looking forward to dining at Red Iguana and it was amazing. The margaritas were absolutely wonderful, a perfect balance of sweet and tangy.”

“First time to this place and I loved it. The service was great. I recommend to get a taste sampler of the different moles.”

“If there’s a Mexican restaurant that has completely redefined my standards for authentic Mexican cuisine, it’s The Red Iguana in Salt Lake City.”

“The food here was spectacular. The menu has many great options and they’ll even go further to customize the dishes how you need. The drinks were delicious.”

“I love this place! I usually never get the same meal when I go to a restaurant, but I get the mole every time I come here. It’s so good and I haven’t found it in any other Mexican restaurant in Utah!!”

“Super cute, authentic restaurant! I’m keto and was able to amend the fajitas and it was so yummy. Definitely recommend!”

“In the six years I’ve lived in Utah I have heard that Red Iguana has the best Latin/Mexican food in the state. I cannot believe I didn’t try this place sooner.”

“Yum! Holy smokes we came in for lunch and it was so delicious! Plentiful portions and was so stoked that we could make reservations for lunch.”

“The atmosphere was vibrant and the service was so friendly! The tacos and magarita were top notch!!”

“Best Mexican! I have been looking forward to trying this place since we started booking our road trip. This is probably the best Mexican food we have ever had and the staff was amazing!!”

“This place is out of this world! We don’t have the best Mexican food in the Northeast. This was a treat. I have the Mole Coloradito. It’s was huge and delicious.”

“Food was so delicious that we went there twice during our ski trip stay in SLC. All dishes were fresh and authentic, the staff were wonderful, and we liked the real Mexico vibe.”

“Everything went smoothly from the reservation to arriving. We were immediately seated and served. The food was delicious as always. The server was excellent and attentive to everything.”

“This is hands down the best Mexican food in all of Northern Utah. The Killer Nachos are my favorite but share cause you’ll definitely have enough!”

“Amazing! If I had to pick one single thing to tell people to do while in SLC, this is it. Food was amazing, fun atmosphere, great service. Get a reservation, it will make your life way easier.

“Still my favorite Mexican resteraunt in SLC. Attention to detail and the sophisticated moles set it apart.”

“Outstanding service. I live in Texas and previously in Arizona and visited SLC recently. A friend recommended Red Iguana and let me tell you… this is some of the best Mexican food I’ve had outside of Mexico.”

Typically a line out the door and around the building, for good reason. This place is a local legend. Known for the molé, you won’t be disappointed.

“We loved the Red Iguana. We are from Denver but if we lived in SLC, we would be regulars here. Loud, fun atmosphere. We loved our server Aaron. Food was great and the Cadillac margarita was as good as it gets.”

If you want some really amazing, authentic Mexican food then this is where you need to go. The flautas in particular are the best I’ve had in my life.

Their reputation speaks for itself. This is amazing mexican food. Delicious refried beans and rice. Everything was good, fresh and authentic.

“Authentic Mexican food; mole sauces were great. Can’t go wrong here. Get there early otherwise you’ll wait. Service was excellent.”

“Went here for dinner on a Tuesday and the place was happening. Great mole and margaritas, friendly staff, just get there early or make reservations. Excellent Mexican restaurant!”

“Oh my, Delicious! Were there at 2 pm after flying into SLC. Had to wait 5 minutes for a table. It was packed! And, oh, my, was it delicious! Food tasted so fresh and the beer was cold! Check it out!

“Best Mexican food I’ve had…ever! This establishment was highly recommended by others, so we decided to try it. We were greeted kindly by the hosts outside. The service we received was superb. We did not have to wait for a server to greet us, nor did we have to wait for refills on beverages.”

“The best Mexican ever. Hands down this is the best Mexican restaurant I have ever been to.There was about a 35 minute wait on a Wednesday in the early evening, so be aware that this a popular restaurant. But it is well worth the wait.”

“Amazing Mexican cuisine! And we were lucky to come to the restaurant before the prime time and did not have to wait for a table (there was a huge line when we were leaving).

“Very good menu with a modern flare to traditional Mexican food. Old style setting with a strong local feel. This place has been here awhile and for good reason. Very good food and friendly staff”

“This place is awesome. You wait outside like your getting into a secret club, and then inside is warm and colorful with pictures of birds and Frida everywhere. Their food is some of the best I have had in the city.”

“Great food! Food and service was amazing! The selection of mole was incredible. I enjoyed the variety of dishes both traditional and unique!”

“Worth the wait. Was definitely worth the wait. Everything was wonderful. Shrimp quesadillas, traditional beef hard shell tacos were by far the best I ever had.”

“Best food and service! When in SLC, I highly recommend finding time to eat & drink at Red Iguana! We have been going for years & it never disappoints!”

“Worth the hype. SLC and Utah’s dining scene can be less than stellar, so we were skeptical that this place would live up to the hype. Truth be told this place was absolutely delicious and we would definitely return. “

“Highly recommended – great experience – starts with the addictive salsa and continues with the entrees and their amazing mole sauces.”

” Don’t miss this place! Great authentic Mexican food. Service is awesome and priced really reasonable. This place is busy almost all the time but they do a great job moving people through quickly. Definitely a must stop if you’re anywhere close to the Red Iguana.”

“Loved the food. You can have authentic taste of mexican cuisine. We tried chili verde, fajita and flur. All of the were tasty. The desert was outstanding.”

“A Salt Lake must! The Red Iguana has been a staple in Salt Lake for years and is legendary within my circle of business associates. I make it a point to go there every time I can when I’m in Salt Lake. The Mexican food is authentic and delicious.”

“Food is full of flavor thats for sure! Had Carne Asada burritos, and was great! I do wish the salsa was spicier but thats it. Must try!

” Soooo good. Leaves you stuffed! Food and service was outstanding. 4 of us had the Mole …. OMG! This place is a must stop!”

“The red iguana is indubitably the most incredible restaurant i have ever had the pleasure of entering. The service is charismatic and loveable. Our server, the man in the green shirt, was AMAZING.”

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LOCATIONS

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Red Iguana (The “OG”)

736 W North Temple St
Salt Lake City, Utah 84116
(801) 322-1489

HOURS

Sunday-Thursday 11am-9pm
Friday & Saturday 11am-10pm

Make a Reservation

Succulent Mexican dishes at Red Iguana restaurant showcasing vibrant flavors.

Red Iguana 2

866 W S Temple St
Salt Lake City, Utah 84104
(801) 214-6050

HOURS

Sunday-Thursday 11am-9pm
Friday & Saturday 11am-10pm

Make a Reservation

Succulent Mexican dishes at Red Iguana restaurant showcasing vibrant flavors.

LOCALLY-OWNED AND OPERATED BY THE CARDENAS FAMILY FOR MORE THAN FOUR DECADES

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