When I’m in the mood for Latin cuisine, there are some definite places around Utah that are my go-to and that I recommend to people all the time depending on where they live and the price point that works for them. Our state is lucky to have so many amazing restaurants featuring truly delicious Latin food, and if you haven’t had the pleasure of sampling the dishes at these establishments, then you’re truly missing out! Here are five of my favorites to help get you started.
1. Sol Agave
What started out as a food truck has now become one of the hottest restaurants around! Sol Agave is located in American Fork, and it has been one of my favorites since my first visit.They offer great service, and you must try the filet mignon enchiladas served with creamy sherry wine and two jumbo wild Mexican prawns (called Mar Y Tierra on the menu). And don’t leave without sharing a butter cake with your date. Served with vanilla Haägan-Dazs ice cream and chocolate abuelita mousse, it’s to die for!
2. Monarca
Located in downtown Salt Lake City, this place is worth the drive from anywhere in Utah! Owners Alfonso and Claudia Brito moved from Mexico to Utah in search of the American Dream, and they have made it a reality by bringing the true Mexican cuisine of their heritage to the Beehive State. The menu at Monarca is modern and focused. You’ll love their costilla al guajillo (short ribs in mole colorado mancha manteles, served on a bed of creamy mashed potatoes and grilled vegetables) or their salmon al chorizo (grilled salmon with chorizo and Brussels sprouts on a bed of roasted sweet corn). And with their wide variety of gourmet tacos, there is truly something for everyone!
3. Chimayo
Chimayo offers a refined and elegant interpretation of Latin cuisine by blending their Southwestern culinary style with a progressive French-American technique of cooking. Located in Park City, this restaurant offers an amazing ambiance with festive lighting, wrought-iron detail, and an authentic Mexican tile floor. From their pepper corn and sesame crusted elk London broil to their famous seared trout or chicken fajitas to their tangy stuffed avocado salad with chile vinaigrette, you’re sure to appreciate the genius behind Chef Arturo Flores’s delectable dishes.
3. Lone Star Taqueria
Just off Fort Union, you’ll discover a locals favorite that has been around for nearly 20 years. Lone Star Taqueria is super casual, and the place is always packed. Aside from their lively decor and authentic cuisine—including a variety of tacos, burritos, nachos, tamales, and quesadillas—their claim to fame is their appearance on Guy Fieri’s Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives.
4. Chili-Tepin
This restaurant is located in downtown Salt Lake City, and I go here a lot! Chili-Tepin serves traditional Mexican dishes created from family recipes that have been handed down for generations. Menu items include carnitas, carne asada, fajitas, moles, and much more. (Their namesake, the chili-tepin pepper, is used in many of their dishes.) They offer quality ingredients and extra attention to great service at a moderate price point.
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