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The Salt Lake Valley runs deep on good tacos, from downtown carts to Rose Park trucks to suburban taquerias pressing their own tortillas. These are the spots locals send their friends to first.
This little Baja-style shop off Fort Union has been a valley institution since 1994, and the fish tacos are what put it on the map. The chef buys his seafood fresh daily, so the fish rotates between cod, mahi-mahi, ahi, and salmon depending on the catch. The patio fills up fast on warm days and the salsa bar is loaded.
Utah's first original street taco stand, parked on the corner of State and 800 South since 1998. Everything is fresh-griddled to order, nothing frozen, at street-cart prices. Nearly 30 years on the same corner has made it a true late-night and lunch landmark.
The al pastor here gets carved off the spit with pineapple, and it comes out filling without being greasy. Loyal regulars drive over for that one taco alone, and the fresh fruit waters are a nice pairing. The Redwood Road spot keeps the menu tight and focused on what it does best.
A family-run taqueria where the tortillas are pressed fresh right in front of you and the birria is the headliner. The quesabirria and the consome are the reasons this place lands on every local birria list. The elote street corn is worth adding on, too.
One of the most loved taco trucks in the valley, parked in Rose Park and turning out generous, fresh tacos at truck prices. The suadero, carnitas, and lengua all get high marks, and the toppings bar with four house salsas lets you finish each taco your way. It takes cash and card.
A small family-run spot in the Granary that does the full traditional menu, including cabeza, lengua, buche, and carnitas done right. This is the place to branch out past asada and pastor, and the friendly counter makes first-timers feel at home.
Clean, friendly, and stacked with overstuffed tacos on fresh-pressed tortillas, each one served with lime and radish. The house salsas have a real kick and are not watered down, and there is a row of them to work through. Easy to bring the family or take a date, and there is a drive-through now too.
The carne asada is the headliner here, big tender chopped beef that regulars hold up as a valley standard. Tacos come in street and regular sizes so you can mix and match, and the long daily hours make it a reliable fallback. Dine in, take out, or get it delivered.
Famous for its lineup of more than seven complex house moles, this is the sit-down pick when you want tacos with a little ceremony. There is almost always a wait, and there is almost always a reason for it. A second location nearby, Red Iguana 2, takes the overflow.
A solid south-valley pick when you do not want to drive downtown, with marinated al pastor cooked with pineapple and the usual onion-and-cilantro finish. Friendly, fast counter service makes it handy for the Sandy, Midvale, and West Jordan crowd. Dine in, take out, or delivery.
A great taco in the Salt Lake Valley comes down to a few simple things. Look for fresh tortillas, meat cooked to order, and a real salsa lineup instead of one watery red sauce. Al pastor should be carved off a spit with pineapple, fish tacos should taste like the fish was bought that morning, and a spot that does cabeza, lengua, and buche is usually one that takes the whole craft seriously.
Think about how you want to eat, too. Carts and trucks like Tacos Don Rafa and El Jaripeo are best for a quick, cheap, late-night or lunch run. Sit-down places like Red Iguana fit a longer meal with margaritas. The valley spreads its best tacos from downtown out to Cottonwood Heights, Holladay, and West Jordan, so you rarely have to drive far. Check hours before you go, since several close Sundays or run daytime only.
Keep exploring Salt Lake Valley: The Best Mexican Food in the Salt Lake Valley · The Best Sushi Spots in the Salt Lake Valley · The Best Pizza in the Salt Lake Valley. Need a local pro? Browse Valley Approved businesses. Planning the weekend? See the Events Hub.
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