Red Iguana

My parents migrated to Chicago from Mexico back in the 80s. I have a deep love for my culture’s culinary and am very picky about Mexican food. I have gone to many Mexican joints here in Utah and I will say its very disappointing but one stands out. I heard about this place called the Red Iguana. To me it sounded like some sort of club or bar but I was told and have read it has been continuously been rated the number one Mexican restaurant in all of Utah. I went for the first time a couple of years ago and fell in love with it. The atmosphere is pretty loud and I have never been there when it wasn’t packed. For me a good Mexican restaurant has to have two good things. The agua de horchata has to be amazing and their tortillas must be good. The Red Iguana has the best horchata I’ve come across here in Utah! Now I wont lie, I have tried about everything on their menu and I have not been disappointed by anything. A couple of days ago I ventured into their mole section on their menu. This is another area in which Im very picky about since I consider my mother’s mole to be the best mole around (like most Mexicans feel about their mother’s mole). I highly recommend their black mole which is the classic mole of Mexico. They serve it with a fried plantain which I found interesting but gave the mole a good taste when eating the two. You can ask for either turkey or chicken mole when ordering. I went with the chicken since its always how I have mole. I also tried their mole Amarillo. Now if you like to get spicy food over and over in your mouth then I recommend this mole for you. It was a little bit smoother than the black mole but like I said, it is on the spicy side. I personally didn’t enjoy it. I like food to be spicy where it actually gives it flavor. This mole I couldn’t taste its flavor because of how hot my mouth kept getting every time I put it in my mouth. I was a little disappointed that there tortillas are not homemade. Maybe im just too picky but I think it would enhance their already famous restaurant by tenfold. My mother makes awesome chiles rellenos back home. If you are not familiar with what they are they are peppers stuffed with cheese and fried in an egg batter. The Red Iguana impressed me with their chiles rellenos very much that I’ve had them twice already. If tacos is your thing, try the tacos Don Ramon. Its there house tacos which were the very first things to catch my eye. They actually fry the corn tortillas so it gives it a good crunch to them. I usually get beans and rice on the side. As of right now this restaurant stands as my favorite restaurant in all of Utah. Great food great atmosphere with great music! I joke with my friends when I go there that I feel like cleaning since the music that is playing is the music is the same music my mother listens to when its time to clean the house! I recommend this place for a date, family outing, anything. It looks like you cant make reservations but I may be wrong. Check there website at rediguana.com for more info on that. Their main location is at 736 West North Temple in Salt Lake City.