I've seen a lot of 1 star reviews so I wanted to try it and give it a very honest evaluation. I rounded up to 5 stars because I feel the one stars are incredibly undeserved and I will address some of those points here. First of all, this is NEW Mexican food, not Mexican. So go in expecting things to be a little different than you might be used to. Also remember that your host is in her late 80s and give her the patience you'd give your own grandmother. She WILL forget your sour cream, but she is a delight, just ask a second time. This isn't fast food. You're at grandma's so relax. Let's talk about our tacos first. They come out piping hot and freshly deep fried. They are simple. Tomato, lettuce, cheese, ground beef. But you can't beat that fresh, crisp, homemade shell and at better than fast food prices. I ordered the enchiladas ranchero and she brought the enchiladas chili verde. We rolled with it. They were delicious. When eating New Mexican food it is usually a good idea to try things with chilies. Speaking of, the chili relleño was a delight, done just the way I like it. The egg batter was thin and light so as to not overwhelm the chili. The cheese inside is cooked to perfection so it has the perfect bite. Again, not too much of anything so the balance of flavors was perfect and allowed the chili to shine. They do charge you for the chips and salsa. BUT, the salsa and chips are made in house. The salsa was well balanced with a touch of heat. I'm also not going to complain about the charge when the menu is so inexpensive in general. We did hear the microwave beep a few times but have no complaints about the quality, texture, or temperature of the food. The beans were well flavored and I really liked the rice. My companion prefers a "wetter" rice but this is just how I like it. The atmosphere is exactly what you'd expect from viewing the exterior, it's old, it's worn out, it's all part of the experience. If you're not in a hurry, please stop by Salazar's. You will get to meet a couple of delightful humans and enjoy incredible food. read more

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Ok so the prices are VERY reasonable, which is why I'm giving it 4 stars rather than 3. Hard to find a Mexican place where a burrito plate isn't $20. Food was great. Flavorful, hot, very good. Tacos are VERY well done so beware, the beans were much better than most Mexican places I've been to. Beware the sodas come in bottles, they are not fountain, and the chips and salsa are not complimentary. They will ask you when you come in if you want them, so beware they are not complimentary. Honestly, I'd pass they weren't incredible, they were fine but not worth the $4.50 I was charged. Note that we tried to come in 30 mins after opening and the owner wasn't there and they couldn't open without her. We ran and did some errands and when we came back we were able to eat. I'd come back for sure. read more

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Chips and salsa were stale and tasteless. Entree was cheap ingredients put together poorly. Don't think they are even trying. Just terrible.

Came for some home cooking. Left with some Kroger mild cheddar cheese sprinkled sparingly between two store bought tortillas. This experience felt like when Grandma's home cooking fell off the cliff...Father Time is still undefeated. read more

I heard about this restaurant from someone on TikTok, and since my family of origin are Mestizo from New Mexico, I had to check this place out. It was fabulous! Their refried beans are super authentic--just like my grandmother's! Traditional red sauce made from Chimayo red chiles (if you know, you know!). Family owned. My new favorite Mexican restaurant! Check it out! read more

Great service and good food! Owner and staff are very kind and friendly. Prices are extremely reasonable and affordable. Will be back :) read more

Salazar's Cafe - #2 Enchiladas - Mexican Near Me - Salt Lake City, Utah

Amazing food for a very reasonable cost, the owners are beyond welcoming and went above and beyond to make sure that our first time dining there went smoothly. Would recommend to anyone looking for great Mexican food! read more

I have been regularly attending Salazar's cafe since technically before I was born. Ida's chile verde was the main dish my mother craved when she was pregnant with me. Ida's is my home and my comfort food. Somehow with all of the inflation recently Ida is still striving to provide her delicious food at reasonable prices. If you're looking for delicious meals with great company. This is the place to go. read more

Family owned with authentic Mexican flare!!! The red chile, beef and beans with rice was tasty. The Coke was a product of Mexico and you can tell the difference in the flavor. read more

Had such a good meal here! Ida was our server and was amazing!! The food came out quick and the service was fantastic! Go visit!!

Great mom & pop style Mexican restaurant. Food was tasty, especially the red sauce and homemade tortillas, ambiance was homey, service was friendly and super quick. I'll be back. read more

If you're looking for good homade Mexican food without the oil greasy dish from La Frontera or places like that, you need to come to Salazars. The service is wonderful with people who care about your food. The ambiance is like an old mom and pop Mexican restaurant reminiscent of my childhood. Come down to Salazars and get yourself some real Mexican food at a great deal read more

I really wish I had anything nice to say about this place, but it was just truly awful. The dining area had a bunch of storage stuff laying around. We still decided to give it a chance and ordered. The menus were dirty when we got them. I ordered the Railroad Bill and some waters and a coke. They apparently only serve bottled water they charge for. When we got the bottle of coke, it was already opened when they brought it and it tasted like it was old or flat. We couldn't hear or smell anything cooking, and sure enough, our food all came microwaved. The tortillas were soggy like they were microwaved and the rice and beans were old. Two plates and the waters and a coke costed $33. The owners were nice, but the quality is just too awful to ever recommend to someone else or return. Update: the food made us both sick. read more

Quick friendly service and delicious food. I have visited several times and have been extremely impressed with the food quality and large portion sizes. This place has been around 42 years and is very authentic! read more

Well folks it's covid19 and I've got to I love this little family restaurant. They are truly sweet people. The owners told me they just missed watching people smile as ate. I had the green chili burrito smothered she put beans in it and I have to say they have some of the best beans around. I'll get some pics later. read more

A true mom and pop Mexican restaurant right here. It's a little red shack, their inside is closed and they are just selling takeout thru the window but if you want to sit at the tables outside to eat you can. I recommend the chorizo, it was very tasty. I had the Chile Verde burrito which was a bit salty for my taste. The rotating daily specials are always a good deal for $7 though. Pro tip: use cash, there is a 4% charge for card transactions. read more

Classic Mom & Pop hole in-the-wall Mexican goodness here. No frills, pitched straight down the middle. Simple shredded chicken enchiladas reminded me of places like this off of US Highway 90 near the Mexican border. I'll be back to try the tamales. Lovers of Texas & New Mexican simplicity, have a seat. read more

Salazar's food is very tasty and the price is definitely right! Nothing fancy, but a place that I returned too often for a good solid meal.

Stumbled upon this place just being in the area looking for something good to eat. It's a classic joint. Feels like a little slice of Mexico. Good ole mom and pop restaurant with reasonable prices and good eats. Had the chile verde super burrito and would recommend read more

TIP: Try the chorizo burrito! It's the least greasy and best tasting Mexican chorizo I've ever had. I've taken friends here who aren't chorizo fans and they end up raving about it. I don't know what kind of kitchen sorcery they use to do that but keep it up! read more

Can't believe the reviews on here. Tried it once a couple of years ago and we all still talk about it. Well today is the day, going back to SLC and to Salazar's. If it's not what I remember I guess I'll change the review. Stay tuned! Edit******* No no no, shame on those that have given bad reviews here. I eat Mexican all over the country. The chips are such a great texture, the salsa is home made and the food is delicious. Shame on the people on here especially the white people. How dare you! read more

Don't know about the food. But I called to get some info, asked him if he spoke Spanish. He said "no, I'm an American" then hung up. Myself being a hispanic with an accent, talking with another Hispanic with an accent - didn't think I asked a wrong question. Anyway, good luck with the service. I don't know about it but after this call I didn't want to find out. read more

I'd been in Colombia for three months. In Colombia, there are no Mexicans. Thus, good Mexican is tough to come by. I'm kind of a whore for solid Mexican food. Not mind-blowing, but solid - I wanted something that pegged somewhere in the realm of "taco-cart good". After a cursory visit to El Rancho across the street to pick up some newly-introduced South American culinary staples, I stopped by here for a small bite, assuming it would have slightly more adventurous offerings than the Rancho cafeteria staples of Pastor, Pollo, and the like. I was wrong. A quick glace at the menu confirmed my fear when I saw not a lick of Spanish on any interior signage. Ground beef, chicken, and bean were the taco choices. At this point, a slightly older, wiser me would have bailed, even under the guise of being the solitary individual in the establishment with the older couple who owned it and their grandson. I didn't, and eventually paid $8 for the worst tacos I've consumed since the night I was 18, drunk, and convinced that Hershey's syrup was a wise accompaniment to avocados, mustard, and tortillas on a "fusion" bender. Low-grade chuck doused in Generica "Taco Seasoning". Chicken breast boiled to lifeless. Both slathered in Sysco's finest "Shredded Cheese Product" , wilty iceberg, and stuffed into an oil-soaked tortilla that left an Exxon Valdez-sized slick on the plate. Meanwhile, ownership was fielding calls from debt collectors. I felt horrible, and incredibly bad for the proprietors - but couldn't bring myself to tell them how terrible the food was. Instead, I ate a quarter of the plate, gave an outsized-for-my-empty-bank-account tip, and vacated, feeling guilty I'd wasted calories here. It makes La Frontera look like The French Laundry. Get out while you can. read more

This place is an insult to food. I'm not going to mince words and waste your time; the food is simply revolting. There is no other way around it. I've not had had Mexican food this bad in long time, if ever. I drove past this place several times and never saw anyone in here. I asked around an no one I knew had been there nor did they know anyone who has visited this place. Yeah, my fault for being the adventurous one. I was rewarded with a disgusting, no flavor, pile of yuck. If you were dying of hunger you would not want to save yourself by eating here. read more

Have wanted to stop in this place for a while, looks like just the hole-in-the-wall that would have the best food around. Well, not the best. The service was nice. The people friendly. They don't have A/C, just a swamp cooler in the small place. I ordered the ground beef enchiladas, which came two in the combo plate. It looked good but tasted much like the enchiladas you buy in the frozen section. Just real basic flavor in the meat, topped with a basic read sauce. Rice was good, beans were salt less, and most mashed. Mediocre. I overheard the cook or the owner saying it is "New Mexican" style, as that is where she's from, though the place says "Mexican". I guess they just left off the "New part. read more

I am shocked to see the reviews of this place! I drive past Salazars a lot, and finally decided to go for lunch one day. The staff is awesome, and the flavor is superb. I eat a lot of mexican food, and many of the restaurants in the area seem bland to me. The flavor here is very good, and the price is even better! Try this place out! read more

WOW 10/10 WOULD RECOMMEND!!! My pal and I are friend Texas and have been on the hunt for solid Mexican food, 5 months later we have found the spot. Great food, vibes,& staff!!! read more

It's an ok place for a lunch. Not the best Mexican food but decent. The service is great and the servers are super friendly. The salsa is fantastic! read more

I had high hopes for this spot since it looks authentic from the outside. Unfortunately all our food tasted of was salt. Except for the tortilla chips, which had no salt...what gives?! I was about to rank at a 2 star until I tasted the cheese enchilada which was actually quite bad. Not sure how they messed that up. The sauce was surely from a can. The rice was old, clumped together and soggy. The beans had a ton of salt. The tortillas were soggy. The chips were bland and old tasting. The salsa was decent for a pico style but I was hoping for more of the liquidy style verde sauce. And to top it off, $8 for a bean & cheese burrito w/rice & beans??!!! No way will we be going back here unless they really step it up. $20 for 2 meals is waaaaay to much for this low quality of food. read more

After passing this place for years, I finally stopping in 6 months ago. I have been here over a dozen times since. This is a family run business and one of the best kept secrets of the Salt Lake valley. I have no choice but to assume some of the negative reviews come from people with broken tongues. Everyone I have brought here has loved it. As my friend put it "best chips in Utah". They have a unique texture and in my opinion they are perfect. I love the salsa and since trying their ground beef tacos, I get one on the side each time I come! My Mexican room mate who is extremely picky loved this place also! Try for yourself! read more

From out of town and wasn't sure where to eat. Drove by and decided to stop. People are nice but the food was horrible and the service sucks!!! Forget about refills on drinks or chips. We did come in with a large party though and it was older people running the place. Food took an hour and came like 10 mins apart once it finally started coming out. So by the time some of us were finished eating the rest were just getting their food. Orders were not even completely right but forget about trying to get it fixed. Horrible horrible!!!!! read more

Salazar's Cafe - Mexican Near Me - Salt Lake City, Utah

Ever since my wife and I moved from the Central Coast of San Luis Obispo, Calif. we have looked for a good Mexican restaurant. Salazar's is a quaint small mom and pop run restaurant that aims to please. Our favorite dish include homemade tamales and chile verde! The ingredients for all their items are fresh. The salsa is great! Yes, they could add a bit more to their tacos, just ask them. They have a great reasonably priced tasty combination daily plate and are always friendly with great service. Give them a try. Keith and Sharon read more

Such a sweet place! The food was absolutely delicious and they handmake their own chorizo, which was the best I've had outside of Mexico. We ate at their outdoor tables and enjoyed talking to the owners, who were really sweet. The helpings were generous, the prices were good, and it felt great to support a family-owned shop during a time that's been so hard on small businesses. read more

This place is a gem! The homemade salsa was amazing, service was fast, plus I love supporting small businesses. Awesome, authentic Mexican food. read more

Love this place for the Salazar special: burrito, enchilada, rice, beans and a taco. made fresh for under $10!

Great Mexican food for being in Utah! I used to live in Southern California, and Utah Mexican food is bland in comparison. Excellent homemade chips and salsa! It's seriously difficult to find good Mexican food in Utah at any price. Just wish they would add shredded beef to their menu... read more

Just a small place serving up some decent Mexican food. I wasn't super impressed by anything on the menu. But it wasn't horrible at all. The super thick chips for the chips and salsa were awesome. That is one thing I will give them huge props on. read more

I enjoyed this place. Friendly service and decent food. To the two haters that commented badly on this page, ignore them. One of them claims she was with her boyfriend but yet had to pay separate and the other is a douche named Jason who claims death was better than this food. They're both morons. Food was good. Service was great. read more

My daughter has been wanting to go here, so we went a couple of days and the food was awesome. We'll definitely go again soon.

Best Mexican food in Salt Lake City. The Chile Verde is succulent and melt in your mouth. Everything in this restaurant is made from scratch. You won't find a can of tomatoes in this kitchen. Best Chile Relleno in the valley. The tamales are to die for. I personally recommend ordering the Salazar special or the #1. If you are in the mood for some special salsas be sure to ask Albert in the back for some of his amazing concoctions. Although Salazar's has been in business for 27 years, there may be some growing pains due to a new fan base. Be patient through that and enjoy the epitome of deliciousness. read more