Red Iguana

"Red Iguana has been making some of the city’s best Mexican food since opening in 1985. Both its downtown locations are right by the airport, so it makes for a great stop if you just touched down and sipping a margarita is more important than unpacking. They have six signature mole sauces—spice lovers will enjoy the habanero-spiked mole amarillo, while the mole negro and mole poblano lean sweeter. And if you’re actually headed to the airport, take one of the mole sauces to go, if you can be trusted to properly wrap a pint in your suitcase. Just know neither spot takes reservations, and you might have to wait an hour for a table. photo credit: Blake Peterson" - Jenny Willden

"Started by Ramon and Maria Cardenas in 1985, Red Iguana features a wide variety of Mexican recipes, including many utilizing house-made corn tortillas and moles, at three downtown locations. They don’t take reservations so arrive early to ensure you snag a table, or be prepared to wait. Try the standout puntas de filete a la nortena: top sirloin tips sauteed with bacon, jalapeno strips, onions, and fresh tomatoes, served atop almond mole. Another favorite is a take on enchiladas suizas, which outperform your typical tomatillo-smothered enchiladas: Two corn tortillas are filled with avocado and chicken cooked in sour cream, topped with a complex mole poblano, and finished with melted jack cheese and an extra dollop of sour cream." - Sarah Entwistle

"Red Iguana has been serving some of the best Mexican food in town since opening in 1985. It’s right by the airport, so it makes for a great stop if you just touched down and sipping a margarita is more important than unpacking. They have six signature mole sauces—spice lovers will enjoy the habanero-spiked mole amarillo, while the mole negro and mole poblano lean sweeter. And if you’re actually headed to the airport, take one of the mole sauces to go, if you can be trusted to properly wrap a pint in your suitcase. Just know the restaurant doesn't take reservations, and you might have to wait an hour for a table. " - jenny willden

"There’s almost always a wait at this Mexican eatery, but it’s worth it. Located just off the northwest corner of downtown and within easy striking distance of a number of hotels, the flagship location serves around 700 hungry guests a day. When Ramon and Maria Cardenas opened the restaurant in 1985, it seated only 18 guests, but that location eventually burned down. After reopeningin its current location to great fanfare,they've since opened a second location, the Red Iguana 2, just a few blocks away. Most recently, they launched“Taste of Red Iguana” in the new City Creek Mall, serving their classic meals food-court style."