Utahns love Mexican food, and we have so many incredible Mexican restaurants here that it would take years to try them all. While you can find excellent, authentic food everywhere from roadside taco trucks to fancy restaurants with table-side guacamole, sometimes the best places to get Mexican food are hiding behind unassuming exteriors. One example is El Chihuahua in Salt Lake City. Take a look:
Manuel and Dolores Quinonez brought their family recipes with them from Mexico to Utah, and opened a restaurant in 1978, with the hopes that they and their children could work hard and live the American dream.
El Chihuahua/Facebook
Fast forward to 2019. You’ll have a hard time finding a parking spot in front of this unassuming restaurant located in a strip mall in Holladay, because the food is so good that people flock here to dine. El Chihuahua doesn’t look like much from the outside, but don’t be took quick to judge…
Josh Peterson/Google
…this place is one of the best Mexican restaurants in the Beehive State.
El Chihuahua/Facebook
You’ll love the bright, colorful decor here, and the service is always impeccable - even on a busy Saturday night.
Dan Ellis/Google
From the taco salad…
El Chihuahua/Google
…to the smothered burritos and enchiladas, every item on the menu is mouthwatering.
El Chihuahua Restaurant/Facebook
Can’t decide what to get? Try one of the combination plates. You’ll soon have a favorite dish that you’ll crave every time you think about Mexican food.
El Chihuahua Restaurant/Facebook
Pair your Mexican food with the most popular drink here - the Death Star. The regular Death Star comes with Rothchild vodka, Everclear, and 151, and you can order it in more than 20 fruity flavors. It’s served in a glass the size of a fishbowl, and they’ll only serve you two Death Stars during your visit.
El Chihuahua/Facebook
The Ducky Deathstar is the same as the regular Death Star, only they also add a Bud Rita or Wicked (and a cute duck that you can take home as a souvenir). They’ll only serve you one Ducky Deathstar, and you’ll want to have a designated driver or call Lyft for a ride home after one of these - it will certainly put you over Utah’s new legal limit.
george wilkerson/Google
El Chihuahua is open seven days a week, and you’ll often find a long line of folks waiting to get in - even on weeknights. Be patient - it’s well worth the wait.
Nick Brooks/Google
Visit El Chihuahua’s website to see the full menu, and follow the restaurant’s Facebook page to see the latest specials. Have you visited El Chihuahua? What’s your favorite menu item, and what’s your favorite flavor of Death Star?
El Chihuahua/Facebook
Josh Peterson/Google
Dan Ellis/Google
El Chihuahua/Google
El Chihuahua Restaurant/Facebook
george wilkerson/Google
Nick Brooks/Google
Looking for more great Mexican food in Utah? Check out this rustic restaurant that serves endless tacos, and you’ll definitely want to visit this well-known neighborhood restaurant that consistently wins awards for the Best Mexican Food In Utah.
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