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SALT LAKE CITY — Not everyone lunches downtown, but for those of you who do, we’ve picked another bunch of our favorite lunch spots in Salt Lake City.
Broken up by cuisine, below you’ll find five of our favorite lunch spots (and be sure to check out seven of our sandwich, pizza and American fare restaurants in this previous article).
Mexican
Red Iguana is a classic Mexican joint among Utahns, and recognized nationwide as one of the best (possibly the best) Mexican restaurant in Salt Lake City.
Great mole (get the sampler plate to try all the variations), chile verde and horchata.
The menu prices are reasonable, so get your entree and an appetizer to share with your co-workers.
Even though Red Iguana has three locations, anticipate a line, especially at the original. Head over to Red Iguana or Red Iguana 2, and skip the City Creek location for its best offerings.
736 W. North Temple 801-322-1489
Related:
7 great places to eat lunch downtown
Though sometimes it feels like there are only chain restaurants around, downtown Salt Lake has a lot of lunch options for those who want to try something different.866 W. South Temple 801-214-6050Frida Bistro
Frida Bistro welcomes you with a giant mural of its namesake, Frida Kahlo, a Mexican artist. Formerly Cafe by Rico, Frida’s dispels the association with Rico’s frozen burritos and tortillas with their beautiful restaurant and dish presentation.
The blue corn-dusted calamari served with lemon-roasted jalapeno aioli is fried goodness, and it is one of the only restaurants in SLC to serve up ceviche — and it is good. But man cannot survive on appetizers alone, so get the delicious carnitas tacos to fill you up.
Go for lunch and save yourself a few dollars trying Frida.
545 W. 700 South 801-983-6692
Taco carts
No list of Mexican lunch spots would be complete without a mention of the ubiquitous taco cart. Taco Hidalgos in front of The Depot at The Gateway, as well as the taco carts in front of Sears on State Street and 900 South serve up street-style tacos, burritos and other grill-able Mexican fare from behind their carts.
300 West South Temple State Street and 900 SouthAsian
My ThaiThis is a great inexpensive lunch option with lots of flavor.
Spring rolls dripping in their chili lime dipping sauce topped with peanuts will make you come back, and their curries will keep you full.
Their lunch express combo lets you choose two entrees and a fried spring roll for $6.25, so you can have your curry and drunken noodles, too.
1425 S. 300 West 801-505-4999
La Cai Noodle gives you a ton of delicious noodles prepared a bunch of different ways. Their pho is as comforting as any chicken noodle soup your mother would prepare, but they serve it in a bowl the size of your head. For the lightweight, it easily becomes two meals’ worth of soup.
If you prefer to eat your noodles on a plate, take your pick of the Vietnamese vermicelli dishes. Also, get some egg rolls.
961 S. State Street 801-322-3590
