Red Iguana

oh this place is good, very good. sure there may be a waiting line, but it's because the food is excellent. this is one of the best places serving food in slc. it does though of course have it's imperfections mainly because of the location and building, but the food is absolutely excellent.

Pros: authentic food, not typical

Cons: there may be a waiting line

Posted 10/19/09

The wait is much too long for a restaurant that serves bad food. I don't know what all the hype has been about but the food is NOT good. There was so much cinnamon cooked into EVERYTHING that I couldn't take more than a couple bites. The seating itself is much too crowded and too loud to carry a conversation with anyone. It?s like a yelling match to talk to the person next to you. Horrible food - will never go back. If I could give zero stars I would have.

Pros: Nothing

Cons: Everything

Posted 09/20/09

Red Iguana

736 W North Temple, Salt Lake City, UT 84116
Headline
For the love of god, can RI get a decent place for people to wait or WTF? It's complete torture to wait for a table at RI; usually some beggar comes up and wants me to fund their drunkeness campaign, or a huge bus pulls up and lets 30 conventioneers off (all the while i am sucking bus fumes), or some other baudy street scene from one of SLC's WORST neighborhoods unfolds. No shade, no shelter, no drinks, a couple of bombed out benches facing North temple, the ugliest place on the planet. Good grief, make a small bar out of the quarter of the parking lot in the back and SERVE your customers. Sheesh

Pros: I can smoke on tailpipes for free

Cons: waiting outside in the WORST place on earth.

Posted 09/11/09

pretty good stuff

Posted 07/11/09

I use to always order take out from this place and the Mole and sala are great but I stopped going here as everytime I got my food to go I would get back to work and my food was cold and many time just wrong.

Pros: Great mole

Cons: take out always cold

Posted 06/25/09

Red Iguana is the Orrin Hatch of Mexican Restaurants. Orrin Hatch took office about the same time Red Iguana opened. They both took Utah by storm and established their presence as a major player in their respective fields: Hatch = politics & Red Iguana = Mexican food.

25 years later, both Orrin Hatch and the Red Iguana are living and succeeding off of the reputation that they built many years ago. However, their product and service have gone down hill and they are both past their prime.

Hatch is out of touch with the average person because he's been in Washington way to long. Red Iguana believes that their reputation can overshadow their sub-par food.

The common thread between Hatch and the Red Iguana is that the people of Utah continue to sing their praise because it's all they know. They follow blindly echoing the sentiments of their friends, neighbors, and ward members.

I will admit that the mole at Red Iguana is very good. However, the rest of their menu is unimpressive.

If you'd like to try an authentic Mexican restaurant in Salt Lake City, try either Mi Ranchito on State St. or Hector's Miramar on 1300 South.

***I've eaten at Red Iguana since 1993. I only eat there now when I have clients who request it. My wife is Mexican. I've spent considerable time in multiple cities in Mexico. I wish Red Iguana had better food, because I live on Capitol Hill and Red Iguana is very close to my home***

Pros: Mole

Cons: long lines, average food

Posted 06/23/09

This is the best mexican restaurant in Utah. Nothing else comes close. I order something different each time, and it's always good. You can't go wrong here.

Pros: everything is good

Cons: none

Posted 06/16/09

I love this place.

Every time my in-laws come to town they take my husband and I here. It has authentic Mexican food and a cool (but crowded) atmosphere. The food is always great!

If you don?t like waiting outside in the hot/cold weather, you can call in your order and eat at home! I would recommend trying both. This place is great.

Pros: Yummy Food, Great Service, Reasonable $$

Cons: It's in Rose Park, Long Wait Time

Posted 03/01/09

This has to be one of the few places in the entire state of Utah that KNOWS what authentic Mexican food is, should taste like, and how to cook it up right. I have eaten here twice now since I've lived in Utah, and it's as close to what I ate on a regular basis back in So Cal. The wait is usually long, which stinks, but it lets you know that people are coming here, and keep coming back, for a reason. The eatery itself is small and seating on the cramped side. It's very noisy during busy hours, so not a romantic place by any sense of the word if that's what you're looking for.

If you're looking for tasty, spicy, plentiful food - this is your place!

Pros: Excellent food!

Cons: Crowded, with long wait times to be seated

Posted 02/12/09

We have been here often, many of our friends love this place, but one thing.... we do not understand why everyone goes crazy about the food.... we feel it is quite average... but fun place to go, like the family and the staff, but the food could be much better. We would recommend a better Mexican Food place in Park City called El Chubasco... tiny mex diner type place with great authentic mexican food, not Baja Mex, and crazy cheap prices...

Posted 12/25/08

We love the Red Iguana. Have been many times and have never been disappointed. Everything on the menu that we have tried has been great. The service is always quick and thorough. Did I mention the food is fantastic? It really is the best Mexican food ever. I won't bother going anywhere else as I know it will just not measure up.

Pros: great food, great value

Cons: very very busy at lunchtime!

Posted 12/22/08

Red Iguana is the best Mexican food I have ever had. It's always my first choice when going out to eat. How anyone could poorly rate this place is beyond me. Try the Cochinita pibil- slow-roasted pork served with tortillas, rice and beans. Chile verde doesn't disappoint and the chimichangas are tasty, too! I still need to venture out and try a mole. Next time I might order a sampler to figure out which one pleases my taste buds the most. They are very accommodating if someone in your party is celebrating their birthday - complimentary tres leches cake (yummy!) and the (friendly and efficient) staff will sing to your guest, too.

If you don't want to wait, get there as they open. We were the first ones seated last Saturday and had the place to ourselves for about five minutes. By the time we left, there was a big group waiting.

Pros: Fun atmosphere, local hotspot, awesome food

Cons: The wait...well worth it though.

Posted 10/21/08

I go to the Red Iguana all the time.... I think I'm addicted. I've tried several things on the menu but I always come back to the Puntas de filete a la Nortena. Long name, but so delicious! The steak is always tender and perfect and the almond mole is to die for. I could probably drink it! Everything there is delicious from the chips and salsa to the fried icecream and flan. They don't have the crappy fried icecream with the cornflakes on the outside either... theirs is killer! The Killer Nachos are probably my second favorite. They are huge! Definitely a meal all on their own. Even though the building looks kind of dumpy, it is clean and I think it adds to the atmosphere. Make sure you go early because there is always a huge line during lunch and dinner.

Posted 08/20/08

I visit Austin frequently on business and Red Iguana is the only Tex Mex in Utah that comes close to the food I eat while I'm there. You gotta try the moles.

Posted 06/19/08

I have been to the Red Iguana twice now...still I'm not sold on the "killer mexican", but I'm not going to say they are absolutely awful. They are constantly busy, so the wait can be a problem, however if you are up for a late dinner (say past 8:30pm) you dont have to wait at all. I was surprised at how friendly the staff was even when large groups showed up to eat even 10 minutes before they are supposed to close...Our waiter was nice, the chips and salsa were fresh, and the food was decent and their bathrooms are surprisingly clean. For the price, you really cannot complain. Their style mexican is more the classic take, and if you go there I suggest going for the moles or perhaps tacos...their enchiladas are okay, but not all they are cut out to be. I know some people complain about getting sick, but I think it's more of the spice mixtures than a food-borne illness. Being a Chef myself, I have recognized that dozens of spices are put into their sauces, which can cause a gastronomical event if your body is not used to that...basically, welcome to traditional mexican food! Go there...judge for yourself...but in all honestly, it's good food, just not "Killer Mexican". For that price...you get what you pay for, simple as that.

Sidenote: Not sure who coined this restaurant to be a "five star", it's more in the standards of "three star", but still good.

Pros: Fast cooking, clean facility, good food

Cons: Long waits, limited parking (at times), crowded facility

Posted 06/13/08

I intentionally wait to eat mexican cuisine until I can go here. This seating is a little tight, but I could care less. It's the best in Utah. Try it, try everything it's all wonderful. I go here at least twice a month and I am never disappointed.

Posted 11/30/07

Mole! Mole! Mole!
enough said.
Well, ok....not enough said.....for a reason I cannot explain, RI has THE best chips and salsa in the whole wide world!

Pros: chips and mole

Posted 11/13/07

The other reviews are right, they have great food. However, after eating dinner all of us got sick. I made a friendly phone call to give the owner a heads up that something wasn't right with their food. I thought that information might be helpful to prevent others from getting sick as well. Instead of listening to me, I was treated like I was at fault, and was told to call the Board of Health. When I asked why she was being so rude to me, she stated, "Yeah I know, you want something now and you're never coming back. Call the Board of Health." She then hung up on me. I never asked for a thing. I did call the Board of Health. They were happy I called and they do track cases. Make sure you call them if you ever have a problem with any restaurant, including a "five star" restaurant like the Red Iguana.

Posted 11/01/07

When we have friends from out of state visit, we take them to the Red Iguana. When they return, they always want go back. Some tell us they only reason they want to come to SLC is to eat at the Red Iguana. This place has the best Mexican food in Salt Lake. If you have to stand in line it's worth the wait. If we don't have the time, we now order take out and eat at home. No one is ever disappointed. The prices are very reasonable. The neighborhood is interesting.

Pros: You have to wait for a table

Cons: None. This place has the best Mexican food in town.

Posted 10/24/07

I love this place! I live in Phoenix, however I have family in SLC that I visit a few times a year. Everyone knows that when we go to SLC The Red Iguana has to be one of the places we go to eat. The Cochinita Pibil is jaw dropping! Also the Enchiladas Lago Salado are great! If you have ever lived in Mexico, it is so hard to find anything that comes close to the sabrosa comida that you eat there. The Red Iguana is the closest thing that I have found to south of the border cuisine!! Drop by if you are in the area, you will not be dissapointed!

Pros: Fun enviroment, Everything on the menu

Posted 07/15/07

The wait is a challenge so I arrive a little early or a little late to avoid peak times. Allow me to say: I LOVE MOLES!!! And the Red Iguana is the only restaurant I have visited in the USA that makes so many Moles Sauces fresh every day. Yes, they offer other wonderful plates but I LOVE THE MOLES!!! Try a sampler plate to decide which you like best. My favorite is the Mole Amarillo over shrimp but I do like to mix it up. So every other visit I order a different Mole. After all, variety is the spice of live!

Great service, funky ambience, up-tempo energy, full line of beer, wines and Margaritas!

Pros: Great taste, great fun

Cons: The wait

Posted 07/02/07

The food is well worth the wait. You know it is good when you see the lines on the sidewalk outside. The mole negro is superb. Authentic.

Pros: Mole Negro and pretty much all of the other items

Cons: the wait

Posted 08/15/06

I have not been to the Red Iguana in years and I miss it. On business trips to SLC I would always go there for lunch. If you are a traveller to SLC, don't miss it.

Pros: Really good food

Cons: Can be a long wait for a table

Posted 07/18/06

Red Iguana has the best Mole I've ever tasted. It does get a bit crowded, and the staff sometimes has difficulty meeting the demand.
Food has always been fantastic, and they serve actual beer without any hassle.
I don't live in Utah, but every time I travel to SLC, I make a point to eat there. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!!!!!

Pros: Great food. reasonable prices. Eat there as often as possible!

Cons: Too busy after 7PM.

Posted 07/04/06

We have a lot of family from out of State that come to visit us in Utah. First stop after the airport is always the Red Iguana. We live in Utah County, but travel North often for the delicious food they have to offer.

Pros: food, service

Posted 12/31/05

Read many reviews and decieded to try the Red Iguana while on vacation. Arrived early on a tuesday, It was already getting crowded. Sat right down and great service. Just as described, small and busy. Mole is good and more traditional Mexican is better. If you are looking for fancy, look elsewhere. If you are looking for just good good in an inviting surounding give them a try. I also watched larger groups (5-8) get seated fairly quick.

Pros: Great Food, Service, Price

Cons: Crowded, Tight tables

Posted 12/29/05

Had a visitor from Los Angeles last week and went here for dinner and then to the lighting at Temple Square and downtown. Our guest was blown away by the food. We LOVE this place!! The hardest ting is deciding what to eat. The moles are fantastic, as are the tamales, but thought I would try the Chile Rellanos for a change. Just as good as everything else. :)

Pros: superb food, service, fair prices

Cons: busy, busy, busy

Posted 11/30/05

It astounds me that anyone would feel justified in rating this restaurant poorly. The food is AMAZING!! First of all, if you would ever say that Mexican food is "too spicy," perhaps you should consider whether or not you've ever eaten real Mexican. Secondly, if you think that the food is "mediocre," you've obviously been ordering from the kids menu (please don't expect a bean-and-cheese burrito to be anything more than it is). Killer Nachos with Chile Verde are to die for. But the real treasure is the MOLE. Mole Negro is the most delicious montage of complex flavor in the world (my fave on Enchiladas Suizas, Poblano is better for first-timers). If you're not sure about mole, get the free sampler plate a few times with your chips: you'll warm up really quickly. I have yet to find a place to rival the Red Iguana for AUTHENTIC mexican food!

Pros: Moles Negro & Poblano, Killer Nachos, Not Gringo-ized

Cons: Can't go every day :(, Crowded, Evry1 Else luvs it 2

Posted 10/16/05

My wife and I moved here in Feb and we have been hooked on this place since we moved here. The best mexican food we have both ever had (we are very picky) We now eat here at least twice a week. Never had a bad plate!! GREAT FOOD!!!

Posted 09/22/05

I've been to the Red Iguana several times and I've been tremendously impressed with their food every time! Their moles are fabulous, and they will let you sample the different flavors so that you can make a good choice for your personal palette. The lines are always long, even during the week, but it moves fairly quickly! Service is generally pretty good, but I can NEVER get them to fill my water glass often enough. I think they're understaffed. But they do give you a pitcher of water if you request it.

Pros: terrific food

Cons: long wait

Posted 09/20/05

The Red Iguana is all about the food. If you want to find out what rich,
flavorful Mexican food tastes like, go to the Red Iguana. The atmosphere is chill, I call it "upper-class" hole-in-the-wall. The service is great but not overwhelming, which is a plus. The whole ambience of the place just says, "check out the food, it is great."

I have Mexican friends from Southern California who are great cooks, and they can't wait to come up to Utah again to get the Mole at Red Iguana. It is that good. I have never taken someone to the Red Iguana who has walked away less than enthralled. I just can't get over the food.

The only bad thing I can say is that it is getting more and more crowded on the weekends. So maybe this review is counter-intuitive, but I can't lie, the food is off-the-hook.

Pros: Simply great food, relaxed environment

Cons: longer weekend waits

Posted 08/02/05

the place is very crowded during lunch and the tables are close together. You will feel like you are eating with people you don't know. The food is great. Best chicke tacos I have had although I asked for flour not crispy shells. Salsa is great. Plan on a little wait during lunch. The initial order was quick but soda and sala refills were very slow.

Pros: great taste, great salsa

Cons: service lacks, pothole parking, close seating

Posted 05/01/05

The darker the Mole sauce the better it is. Go for the Moles. Why would you order anything else? UPDATE: With the passing of Ramone the quality has changed, and not for the better. However, the two best dishes are still the most expensive. Get the Lomo de Puerco en Mole de Almendras (three half inch slices of pork loin stuffed with dried fruit). Sensational! The other dish is Puntas de Filete a la Nortena (top sirloin slices sauteed with bacon, chiles, onions & tomatoes). Pass on the bland refried beans and the awful rice. Ask for a dinner salad instead.

Pros: mole, mole, mole, quality, quantity

Cons: neighborhood, parking potholes

Posted 03/23/05

I was there last December and the food was yuck! I ordered "Bife acebollado" and the steak was as hard as a rock, with plenty fat, and the rice and beans were cold! Horrible experience! Plus the restaurant is so small that I had to be seated almost in the bathroom.

Posted 01/07/05

There are few restaurants outsside of Oaxaca, Mexico that daily serve a list of Moles... The Red Iguana consistantly offers seven! If a blend of 24 plus ingredients in a single suace intrigues, you have found your next place to dine! When not in Oaxaca, it's the Red Iguana!

Posted 06/13/04

I JUST HAVE TO TELL EVERYONE OUT THERE THAT WHENEVER I GO TO THE RED IGUANA IT IS SUPERB I LOVE IT. AND THIS IS COMING FROM SOMEONE WHO KNOWS AND LOVES MEXICAN FOOD. I HIGHLY RECOMMEND THIS PLACE TO EVERYONE I KNOW, BECAUSE I KNOW THAT THEY WON'T BE LET DOWN. THIS IS MY FAVORITE RESTAURANT.

Pros: INEXPENSIVE, GOOD PARKING

Posted 05/22/04

I've been dining at Red Iquana for many years, but the last few times was a waste of money. How can you serve beans and rice that are cold but dry on the edge? Maybe sitting on the plate too long. Sorry you miss the mark. I'll won't be coming back.

Posted 06/14/03

Hands down the best mexican in the entire west, Nothing comes close! Good ambiance and wonderful menu items make this a must when in Salt Lake.

Posted 06/08/03

Wow! I stayed in Salt Lake City in the winter of 2002 to particpate in the Olympic Games. My first Sunday there, I stumbled upon the Blue Iguana and was taken away by the taste of the food and the value that came with it. To this day, it is by far BY FAR, the best tasting Mexican Food I have ever had. Daniel Wilkins - Chef

Pros: Great Tasting, Open Sundays, Value

Posted 05/04/03

Was visiting slc and wanted great mexican food. Went to Red Iguana. The worst I have ever had. i lived in Ca. for 25 years and traveled and eaten much mexican food. This was by far the worst. Hamburger meat and too damned hot and spicy and mild was ordered.

Pros: mexican decor

Cons: do away ground beef, too spicy, too greasy

Posted 01/31/03

Outstanding food, large portions, nice and simple atmosphere, great service. This is the best restaurant in SLC, I believe.

Posted 01/24/03

I really enjoyed the authenticity of my meal. It didn't taste like anything you could get from Dos Serrano's. Give this place a try if you're looking for authentic tasting Mexican food!

Pros: authentic, good value, portion size

Cons: location

Posted 01/23/03

I only have one of the moles when I go here so I probably shouldn't say anything. But the moles are great (I don't like the black mole but that is personal. The decor is appropriate. The service is efficient. They remember me most of the time, which is cool.

Pros: mole, service, speed of food

Posted 01/20/03

If you like authentic Mexican food you HAVE to visit the Red Iguana. I highly recommend their Carne Asada Tacos and their Chili Verde. I get cravings for these weekly. The prices are very reasonable. $6 for 2 good sized Chile Verda burritos with plenty of meat. I always have left overs. Their salsa and chips are very good too. The service has always been great, and the waiters friendly. The interior is very festive and lively.

Pros: Authentic, Price, Service

Cons: parking

Posted 01/13/03

I moved from SLC to NYC in 1993, and I tell you I still dream about the black bean soup with chorizo and white cheese (served with chips for dipping), the entomatodas and mole, and the killer nachos! The portions are huge and the prices great! This is probably one of the best authentic Mexican places in the country, let alone Southwest. I don't know if the neighborhood it's in has gotten better but it sure is worth going to any time!!!

Pros: great authentic food, big portions, great prices

Cons: crowded, no reservations

Posted 01/10/03