While there are countless Mexican restaurants up and down the Wasatch front, a select few offer something extra special. The following is my own pick of the very best Mexican restaurants in Salt Lake City and the surrounding areas. I’ll start by covering the restaurants I’ve personally been to in recent times, and love! After that, some other picks that are popular with locals in town. The list has something for everyone. From refined fine dining through to drive-thrus and the best spots for authentic tacos and street eats.
El Morelense
The star of the show here is the mesmerizing al pastor. There’s a prominent backbone of warm clove, maybe allspice, and just a hint of sweetness. It’s wonderfully seasoned, packing a powerful salty punch. You can order the al pastor, dorada style, which is, I believe, a sizzling crisp finish on the flat top, but I can’t imagine messing with the meat as is – perfectly juicy as it is from the rotating spit. I won’t disagree with anyone who lists this as the best in the city.
Feeling like switching it up? Try a torta over a taco (pictured top). The bread does a remarkable job of supporting the complete ensemble. There’s a slightly crisp exterior with chew, and loads of floury, pillowy softness. Inside there’s tomato, guacamole, onion, mayo, jalapenos, and the star of the show – al pastor, sliced directly from the trompo.
Neighborhood: West Valley City
Address: 2470 S Redwood Rd, 84119
Guisados Home Style Mexican Cooking
Neighborhood: Taylorsville
Address: 2654 W 4700 S, Salt Lake City, UT 84129
This Taylorsville mom and pop is home to nearly a dozen different taco options – as well a variety of heartier dishes. My favorite dish right now from Guisados is their barbacoa de res pictured above. The finished plate features luscious tenderly beef, the type that shreds with a simple prod from the fork. It’s bears all the unmistakeable notes beef that’s been carefully slow roasted for hour upon hour.
Emiliano’s
Neighborhood: South Salt Lake
Address: 2646 S 700 E, Salt Lake City, 84106
When my beloved Taqueria Los Lee turned off the lights, I had every carpal and metacarpal crossed that someone would come close to replicating what came before. Which is to say affordable food cooked with aplomb. Then Emiliano’s opened up and immediately became one of the best restaurants in the neighborhood.
The prices are unfailingly fair, and the tacos are real delights. Carne asada comes more chopped than sliced and was a surprise favorite. Carnitas were also worth it, full of a fatty porky flavor. As you can see from the picture above, Emiliano’s loads them to the brim – pico, cilantro, and guac merrily piled high.
Katrina’s Mexican Restaurant
Neighborhood: Millcreek
Address: 3041 E 3300 S, Millcreek, UT 84109
Katrina’s opened in 2022, adding another great Mexican eatery to the Millcreek neighborhood. The menu at this local independent is also a little different to others around town as well – case in point – the pictured Chile Colorado above. You’ll also find a quartet of house made moles (available in a variety of dishes) as well as shareable dishes like molcajete.
Real Taqueria
Neighborhood: Holladay
Address: 1869 E Murray Holladay Rd, Holladay, UT 84117
Over in Holladay, the Valdez family craft a menu of authentic Mexican cuisine. Proteins are extensive with al pastor, asada, barbacoa, carnitas, lengua, pollo asada, veggies and nopalitos. Speaking of cactus you can snag a hearty salad, pictured above, paired with some equally excellent house made tortilla chips – making for a texture masterpiece. Bonus points for those in a rush: real have a handy drive-thru option too.
Chunga’s
Neighborhood: North Salt Lake / West Valley City
Address: 180 S 900 W, Salt Lake City, UT 84104
Address: 1895 S Redwood Rd, Salt Lake City, UT 84104
Regulars come back time and again, and often for one item in particular: al pastor. Chunga’s luscious rotisserie roasted and seasoned pork is available in a range of dishes – burritos, tacos, enchiladas, quesadillas – even nachos. Chunga’s is open six days a week, at 11 p.m. on the weekends, for whenever those al pastor cravings hit.
Tacos Garay
Neighborhood: Granary District
Address: 909 300 W, Salt Lake City, UT 84101
This mom and pop spot in SLC offers one of the most wallet friendly deals in town. Tacos Garay family packs come with a pound of meat, 10 tortilla, beans, rice, salsa and toppings – the whole thing coming in happily under $25. Bonus points: one of the best breweries in town is mere seconds away…
De Los Muertos
Neighborhood: Sugar House
Address: 1215 Wilmington Ave, Salt Lake City, UT 84106
Nestled in the heart of Sugar House, the restaurant lies adjacent to the Spitz, who own and operate this fast casual Mexican spot. It’s a kiosk ordering, and seat yourself type of place, which means you can get in and out of here as fast as you like. Highlights for me include the chicken mole burrito, and the eye catching patio outside – it’s THE spot for al fresco margaritas in the Summer months.
About this list
These are all restaurants that I (Stuart) have eaten at and enjoyed, or one of the writers has spoken highly of. I try to update these lists as often as I can, but sometimes one might slip through the net and be left unattended for a while. Do keep that in mind. For reference, this list was last reviewed and refreshed on June 12th, 2026. If you think I’ve missed someone who deserves attention, just drop me a line to contactus@gastronomicslc.com
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Hi, I’m Stuart, nice to meet you!  I’m the founder, writer and wrangler at Gastronomic SLC.  I’m a multiple-award winning journalist and have written in myopic detail about the Salt Lake City  dining scene for the better part of seventeen years.
I’ve worked extensively with multiple local publications from Visit Salt Lake to Salt Lake Magazine, not least helped to consult on national TV.  Pause those credits, yep, that’s me! I’m also a former restaurant critic of more than five years, working for the Salt Lake Tribune.   I’m largely fueled by a critical obsession with rice, alliteration and the use of big words I don’t understand.  What they’re saying about me: “Not inaccurate”, “I thought he was older”, “I don’t share his feelings”.
Want to know more? This is why I am the way I am.
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Is the dish, Chilies en nougada served all year long?
I see a reference to chiles en nogada here. Is there a local restaurant that currently serves this dish? It appears the comment is a decade old.
I believe so yes Vera, I just checked their website and they list this dish for dinner. To be sure, always do call before hitting up the restaurant, wouldn’t want to disappoint!
I have eaten at Taqueria 27 twice and the food was barf.
Sorry to hear that Phil, what did you try?
We did a work lunch at Taqueria 27 and those taco’s were very delicious. We also had some of the guacamole, and that was also very good. I would definitely go back there.
Anywhere I can get green chili and a crispy chili rellano? I’m a Denver transplant, and I’m having trouble finding anything similar. I believe it is closer to New Mexican than Tex-Mex.
Hi DJ, I threw your question out to our readers here, hope this helps: https://www.facebook.com/gastronomicslc/posts/897423573674952
Phil is right – T27 is donezo. They used to be great but I’ve had bad experience after bad experience and I”ll never go back. I even sat down with Todd and explained what was happening and it just got worse. They should have stuck with one location and figured out their service issues.
I love T27!
If you take a drive to Spanish Fork you can get some of the best salsa I have ever tasted at Casa Salza
Tres Hombres should be on the list.
El Asadero on N. Temple is a great mom and pop restaurant. Just down the street from Red Iguana and Julias, I have eaten at both. Julias albondigas soup is terrific but El Asadero definitely should be on this list.