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Let’s talk about Mexican food

infection

infection

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Needing to try some new places. Salt Lake or Utah county. I’ve mentioned El Gallo Giro multiple times here. Good place. Probably eat the most at Mi Ranchito, but that’s because I’ve acquired a massive taste after eating there so many times over the past 14 years.

Don’t recommend Draper Rancheritos.
 
Red Iguana.

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prodigy said:
I would have put that high on my list in the past. But I got really sick the last time I ate there.
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People blame their own issues on restaurants all the time. It generally takes at least 12hrs for food poisoning to kick in, if not 24-48hrs. If you got sick a couple hours later think of what you ate the day before. And if you just had the runs or whatever, that's not what food poisoning is.
 
gandalfe said:
Red Iguana.

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Red Iguana does a few things really well, but their entire menu is not blow your socks off material.

Why? Well because they are largely offering the same menu they had in 1985. It is family friendly. Their prices are not ridiculous even though they are the highest rated and the most rated restaurant in Utah. You can get an entre there for $9-$16. They could charge 25% more across the board and they'd still have a line out the door. But they don't. And they also haven't fancied up their menu.

There is a lot on their menu that is decidedly UNIMPRESSIVE. Like it's basic. Basic Mexican that you can get a lot of places and it wouldn't be noticeably different.

But there are a few things to know, things that matter. Red Iguana does a few things exceptionally well.

First, their consistency is unbelievable. That's not easy and it's not something that happens by accident. If you order basic shredded beef tacos one day you can come in 100 more times and you will get those same basic *** shredded beef tacos, exactly the same every time. But if you're not dumb and you know the Tacos Don Ramon are where it's at, they are better than most tacos, you can get the Tacos Don Ramon exactly the same as you got them in 1999, in 2005, in 2013 or 2020. Not only that, but they cost the same. If you want the option of 6 different moles well, in Utah you have one option, Red Iguana.

I've had better Mexican food in Utah. But I've never had better Mexican food at the same place consistently. I've never had better Mexican food that cost the same. I've never had better Mexican food that went best vs best menu items than Red Iguana.

People say Red Iguana is overrated. Those people heard the hype, they went in with a "prove it!" attitude, they ordered basic **** and were excited to be able to proclaim "Red Iguana is overrated! Yargh! I had a better taco at a taco stand!" Good on them. They didn't want to get it and they didn't get it. Must be fun.
 
Taqueria 27.

I've eaten at two of their locations (both multiple times). the Foothill location and the Fashion Place Mall location.

If you're going to WAY overspend for fancy tacos I highly recommend doing so at the Foothill location.

They are trying HARD (really hard) to make fancy tacos. Some of them are pretty good, some of them are really good, some of them are WTF applesauce, why did you do that to a taco?

They also have in-house hot sauce (taco sauce). It is all full on garbage. The next to the hottest (it's been over a year) roasted red one is plain nasty. Their "OMG be careful" hottest one is not all that hot and not all that flavorful. Their lower heat ones taste better but none of them are impressive.

The thing they do that is special is that they have the widest selection of tequilas in the state. So... if that's something you want, they are the ones providing that. That is the only reason to single them out and say that's the best place to go. Well, unless you want a Pork Belly Taco with like mango something on it. I mean, if that's what you want, they are your Taqueria.
 
Gameface said:
Red Iguana does a few things really well, but their entire menu is not blow your socks off material.

Why? Well because they are largely offering the same menu they had in 1985. It is family friendly. Their prices are not ridiculous even though they are the highest rated and the most rated restaurant in Utah. You can get an entre there for $9-$16. They could charge 25% more across the board and they'd still have a line out the door. But they don't. And they also haven't fancied up their menu.

There is a lot on their menu that is decidedly UNIMPRESSIVE. Like it's basic. Basic Mexican that you can get a lot of places and it wouldn't be noticeably different.

But there are a few things to know, things that matter. Red Iguana does a few things exceptionally well.

First, their consistency is unbelievable. That's not easy and it's not something that happens by accident. If you order basic shredded beef tacos one day you can come in 100 more times and you will get those same basic *** shredded beef tacos, exactly the same every time. But if you're not dumb and you know the Tacos Don Ramon are where it's at, they are better than most tacos, you can get the Tacos Don Ramon exactly the same as you got them in 1999, in 2005, in 2013 or 2020. Not only that, but they cost the same. If you want the option of 6 different moles well, in Utah you have one option, Red Iguana.

I've had better Mexican food in Utah. But I've never had better Mexican food at the same place consistently. I've never had better Mexican food that cost the same. I've never had better Mexican food that went best vs best menu items than Red Iguana.

People say Red Iguana is overrated. Those people heard the hype, they went in with a "prove it!" attitude, they ordered basic **** and were excited to be able to proclaim "Red Iguana is overrated! Yargh! I had a better taco at a taco stand!" Good on them. They didn't want to get it and they didn't get it. Must be fun.
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The conchinita pibil literally made me question my atheism. Just for a moment, but I got the sense that it was so perfect, there must be something to all of this.
 
So tonight I wanted to make Chile Verde, but I didn't have any chicken broth. I'm not about buying chicken broth so I decided I had to make some. The Chile Verde is what I'm going to eat for my lunch for the next 5 days. So I have to buy some roasted chickens so that I can use the bones to make chicken broth so that I can make Chile Verde. But if I buy roasted chickens I'm going to have a lot of chicken meat to use. So, tonight is chicken taco night for the Gameface family. I pull all the meat off the bones of two chickens. I separate it into two portions, I only need one portion for the tacos.

Once I have to bones I put them in my pressure cooker with some other stuff (I've posted my chicken bone broth techniques in the recipe thread) and make my broth.

I cheat a little and use some fancy taco seasoning I got in a gift package and mix it with the chicken meat. I carmelize some onion. I chop some cilantro. I put out some "fiesta mix" shredded cheese as well as 4 types of store bought taco sauce. Then I heat up the "street taco" sized tortillas in some beef fat in a cast iron skillet. I also made some Spanish Rice for a side. Taco dinner done.

That out of the way I'm ready to make my Chile Verde. First thing is to roast my fresh Tomatillos. I pull off the husk, cut them in half and place them on a baking sheet, then brush them with olive oil, then bake at 400f for 45min. I bought a large container of "hot" Hatch Chilies, which is why I decided to make Chile Verde, but I normally roast a bunch of Amarillo and Poblano Chilies, peel off the skin and use those with some jalapenos. Today I used store bought Hatch Chilies. Added a bunch of cilantro, cumin and a yellow onion along with about 1.75L of the chicken bone broth I had just made. Simmer that for 3 hours and then portion out for my lunches.

I can't eat Mexican food anywhere like the food I make. I make it the way I like it, and I like it a lot.
 
Probably not really what you are looking for but my wife and i LOVE sweeto burrito. Good prices too. You get a huge burrito and a side (chips and salsa, which are pretty good, very very good fries with fry sauce, onion rings, or tater tots) for like 8 dollars. They have some unique burritos. So far every one i have tried has been fantastic. The burrito named after the establishment is my favorite so far though.


Sent from my iPad using JazzFanz mobile app
 
El Mexiquense in that used to be in American Fork is really good. Think its in Lehi now maybe? Might even have a few locations around.
 
Also the taco stand on the corner of main and 100 S has the best carnitas tacos I've ever had. So so so good.
 
Move to NorCal... go into any taqueria... it will be great.
 
Gameface said:
Red Iguana does a few things really well, but their entire menu is not blow your socks off material.

Why? Well because they are largely offering the same menu they had in 1985. It is family friendly. Their prices are not ridiculous even though they are the highest rated and the most rated restaurant in Utah. You can get an entre there for $9-$16. They could charge 25% more across the board and they'd still have a line out the door. But they don't. And they also haven't fancied up their menu.

There is a lot on their menu that is decidedly UNIMPRESSIVE. Like it's basic. Basic Mexican that you can get a lot of places and it wouldn't be noticeably different.

But there are a few things to know, things that matter. Red Iguana does a few things exceptionally well.

First, their consistency is unbelievable. That's not easy and it's not something that happens by accident. If you order basic shredded beef tacos one day you can come in 100 more times and you will get those same basic *** shredded beef tacos, exactly the same every time. But if you're not dumb and you know the Tacos Don Ramon are where it's at, they are better than most tacos, you can get the Tacos Don Ramon exactly the same as you got them in 1999, in 2005, in 2013 or 2020. Not only that, but they cost the same. If you want the option of 6 different moles well, in Utah you have one option, Red Iguana.

I've had better Mexican food in Utah. But I've never had better Mexican food at the same place consistently. I've never had better Mexican food that cost the same. I've never had better Mexican food that went best vs best menu items than Red Iguana.

People say Red Iguana is overrated. Those people heard the hype, they went in with a "prove it!" attitude, they ordered basic **** and were excited to be able to proclaim "Red Iguana is overrated! Yargh! I had a better taco at a taco stand!" Good on them. They didn't want to get it and they didn't get it. Must be fun.
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Generally agree. But if you've got like 8 or so great things who cares if the other 20 are just basic?

What do you like there? The Puntas De Whatever is great, Mole Amarillo, Mango Mole, Mole Negro, Enchiladas Suizas, Chili Verde Chimichanga, Tacos Don Ramon, Tacos A la Iguana, are all excellent. The only thing I've gotten there that I thought was poor was the Mole Verde. Pretty bland and boring.
 
Beer said:
Also the taco stand on the corner of main and 100 S has the best carnitas tacos I've ever had. So so so good.
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There was one on the corner of State and 2nd S when I moved away, about 8 years ago. Any meat street tacos for $0.50.
 
I live in a part of LA where “Mexican” is too broad a term. Must have regional designation.
 
Yeah, I got recommendations, but you need to be in Tucson. We have failings, but good Mexican food isn't one of them.
 
I learned a long time ago, never trust the word of someone from New Hampshire on good Mexican food.
 
infection said:
Needing to try some new places. Salt Lake or Utah county. I’ve mentioned El Gallo Giro multiple times here. Good place. Probably eat the most at Mi Ranchito, but that’s because I’ve acquired a massive taste after eating there so many times over the past 14 years.

Don’t recommend Draper Rancheritos.
Click to expand...

Go to El Paisa Grill, 2126 South 3200 West in West Valley City. Order the molcajete.

https://www.elpaisagrill.com/
 
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