Cinco de Mayo - a celebration of Mexican culture and heritage - is alive and well in Salt Lake. With an Hispanic and Latino population of almost 19%, there are many excellent (and delicious!) local ways to enjoy the day. Check out these tasty restaurants and fun events.

FOOD

Red Iguana

One of the absolute go-to restaurants in Salt Lake, Red Iguana has been in operation since the 1980s, and is famous locally for its legit and delicious Mexican dishes. Known for their mole dishes, it's hard to go wrong with ANY of their menu items. And if the wait is too long when you go, nearby are sister restaurants Red Iguana 2 and Taste of Red Iguana. To see more about this Salt Lake staple, check out this Salt of the Earth feature about them.

Chile-Tepin

Named for "the mother of all peppers," Chile-Tepin is a more recent addition to the local food scene - but the family recipes they create have been handed down in the owner's family for generations. Highly recommended is the Molcajete, a creation-for-two with mouth-watering carne asada, chicken, shrimp, queso fresco, and nopales served in a stone dish (a molcajete is the traditional Mexican version of a mortar and pestle). Also be sure to try the Churro Cheesecake, because, well, you're celebrating - and a Churro Cheesecake has got to be one of the best ways to do exactly that.

Taqueria 27

Taqueria 27 serves up made-from-scratch, local, sustainable and delicious creations that are creative, creative, creative. Traditional dishes are side-by-side with plates made with less traditional ingredients, and the results are definitely worth more than one visit. We very much recommend the Achiote Marinated Fried Chicken Breast Tacos, as well as the Roasted Mushroom and Veggies Enchiladas for the vegetarians out there. Their margaritas also come highly recommended.