Planning an event in Salt Lake City and want Mexican food? Good instinct. Mexican catering travels well, feeds crowds efficiently, and tends to be the thing people actually talk about after the party. The trick is knowing which caterers can back up the promise with food worth remembering. Here are the best options in the Salt Lake area.
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Our Picks for the Top Mexican Restaurants That Cater
Red Iguana
Red Iguana is the anchor of this list for a reason. The restaurant has been a Salt Lake City institution since 1965 and has been voted the best Mexican restaurant in Utah for more than 25 consecutive years. What makes it one of Salt Lake’s favorite places? For one thing, it’s delicious. Its catering program draws from the same Cardenas family recipes that built that reputation, not a simplified version of the menu, but the real thing, straight from Mexico.
The popular dishes for events include carne asada, pork chile verde, and shredded chicken enchiladas topped with house-made mole sauce. Sides cover the full spread: house-made guacamole, fresh pico de gallo, Mexican rice, refried beans, and warm tortillas. Gluten-free and vegetarian options are available, which matters when you’re feeding a mixed crowd.
A few practical details worth knowing before you book:
- Groups of up to 100 people
- Drop-off and delivery within the SLC Valley on orders of $50 or more
- Mileage fee of $0.70 per mile (2025 rate), with additional charges beyond 15 miles
- 20% deposit required at booking
- 72-hour advance notice requested for delivery orders
- No delivery fee, no automatic gratuity
- Chafers available for purchase if needed
For catering inquiries, reach them at [email protected] or 801-300-4214. The full catering menu and booking details are at rediguana.com.
Taqueria 27
Taqueria 27 brings a more modern approach to Mexican catering in Salt Lake City, UT, and offers some of the best Mexican food on its catering menu. The menu skews toward elevated taco formats and shareable small plates, making it a good fit for cocktail-style events, company happy hours, and gatherings where guests will be standing and mingling rather than seated for a full meal.
Santo Tacos
Santo Tacos works across a wide range of group sizes, from smaller private dinners to larger celebrations and corporate events. The menu centers on tacos and traditional Mexican dishes, and the kitchen can adjust to the scale of the event. For planners who need a caterer that scales up or down without much friction, Santo Tacos is worth a call for your next event.
Lone Star Taqueria
Lone Star Taqueria has a loyal following in Salt Lake City built largely on its fish tacos, served with a creamy jalapeño sauce. Its catering menu suits casual events well, such as outdoor parties, team lunches, and low-key celebrations where you want to serve great food, but it does not need to be formal. If fish tacos are the centerpiece request from guests, this is the most direct answer.
El Morelense
El Morelense has two locations serving the Salt Lake area, one on Redwood Road in Salt Lake City and one in South Jordan, and both operate as caterers in addition to their standard restaurant service. The kitchen is built around al pastor, slow-roasted and marinated with traditional spices, served on tacos, in burritos, on tostadas, and loaded onto quesadillas. It is about as focused a menu as you will find at any Mexican restaurant on the Wasatch Front.
How to Choose the Right Mexican Caterer for Your Event
Not every caterer works for every event. A few things to sort out before committing:
Headcount and delivery range. Red Iguana caps catering service at 100 people and delivers across the SLC Valley. Confirm that any caterer you’re considering can reach your venue before the conversation goes further.
Dietary needs. Gluten-free and vegetarian guests are common at any group event. Red Iguana explicitly offers both. Ask the same question of any other caterer on your shortlist.
Setup and equipment. Delivery does not always mean setup. Red Iguana offers some setup on request and sells disposable chafers separately. Know whether you need someone to stay and arrange the spread or whether drop-off is enough.
Booking lead time. Red Iguana requests 72 hours for delivery orders. For large or complex events, more lead time is always better, regardless of which caterer you choose.
The Bottom Line
For most events in Salt Lake City, including corporate catering, birthday parties, wedding receptions, and holiday gatherings, Red Iguana is the strongest starting point. The food quality is established over six decades, the logistics are clear, and the menu is broad enough to work for almost any crowd. Reach out through rediguana.com to check availability and get a catering inquiry started.
