Muertos Cantina: How Sugar House Got Salt Lake City's Most Exciting Mexican Restaurant

The sizzling sound of fajitas hitting the cast iron skillet cuts through the warm buzz of conversation at Muertos Cantina, where co-owner Tanner Slizeski wanted to create "a vibe where people could come and drink and hang out." This isn't your typical fast-casual taco spot. Step into this elevated Sugar House cantina and you'll immediately understand why locals are calling it "the best Mexican Kitchen in Salt Lake City."

What started as De Los Muertos in 2022 has evolved into something remarkable. "Muertos Cantina has definitely stepped up its game," one recent customer noted, and they're not wrong. The restaurant underwent a complete transformation in 2025, moving just doors down from its original Wilmington Avenue location to create the kind of Mexican restaurant Salt Lake City has been craving.

From Fast-Casual to Elevated Cantina: The Tanner Slizeski Story

Tanner Slizeski knows a thing or two about transforming restaurant concepts. The University of Utah grad first made his mark on Salt Lake City's food scene as co-owner of Spitz Mediterranean Street Food, where he and partner Josh Hill brought döner kebabs to downtown Salt Lake after being inspired by European street food travels. After traveling all over Europe, it wasn't the art or architecture that kept Tanner and Josh up at night—it was the Mediterranean street food.

That same passion for authentic flavors and elevated experiences drives Muertos Cantina today. Named De Los Muertos to honor the dishes and recipes that were passed down from generation to generation by the chef/owner's family, each bite channels the spirits of yesterday, brought back to life with modern flavorful twists.

The rebrand from De Los Muertos to Muertos Cantina wasn't just cosmetic—it was a complete reimagining of what Mexican dining could be in Sugar House. The restaurant now features a full-sized bar, plenty of booths and an expanded food menu with heartier plates like shrimp cocktail and fajitas, along with an agave-forward cocktail program. Where the original location could only seat 20 people, Muertos Cantina now accommodates larger parties and special occasions in a space that feels both intimate and celebratory.

The Muertos Cantina Experience: Modern Mexican Meets Sugar House Soul

Walk into Muertos Cantina and you're immediately greeted with complimentary chips and salsa—a small touch that signals this place is about hospitality first. The space buzzes with the energy of an authentic cantina, complete with Day of the Dead-inspired artwork and warm lighting that makes every meal feel like a celebration.

The birria tacos here deserve their own love letter. Corn tortilla dipped in beef consumé, melted Muertos cheese blend, 24hr braised birria beef, pickled red onions, cilantro and 2oz side of birria consumé. That's the technical description, but what arrives at your table is pure magic. The tortillas are perfectly crispy from the consommé dip, the beef falls apart at the touch of a fork, and the accompanying broth is rich enough to warrant ordering extra just for sipping.

The fajita experience is theater and flavor combined. I was a big fan of the tasty fajita platter with chicken, shrimp and steak ($23) that came with a side of tortillas, rice, beans, guacamole and chipotle lime crema, wrote an Axios food critic after the rebrand. The presentation is spectacular—your protein of choice arrives on a sizzling cast iron platter with charred lemon and roasted jalapeño, creating an aromatic announcement that turns heads throughout the dining room.

But it's not just about the classics. Muertos Cantina's menu reads like a love letter to both tradition and innovation. The shrimp cocktail features grilled shrimp mixed with cocktail sauce, pico de gallo, and cucumbers, served with corn chips, salted crackers and romaine hearts. It's a dish that speaks to the restaurant's elevated approach while maintaining the fresh, bright flavors that define great Mexican cuisine.

For vegetarians, the Impossible meat offerings aren't an afterthought—they're crafted with the same attention to flavor as everything else on the menu. De Los Muertos also offers a Vegetarian Menu with plant-based Impossible Meat Tacos & Burritos & more!

Craft Cocktails That Seal the Deal

"We pile high-volume flavor into tacos, birria, burritos, and guac—then let dangerously good cocktails seal the deal," reads the restaurant's description, and they're not exaggerating. The agave-forward cocktail program showcases spirits and flavors that complement rather than compete with the food.

The "Painkiller" cocktail exemplifies this approach—a frozen cocktail mixed with rum, pineapple, orange, coconut and nutmeg that provides tropical relief with just enough complexity to keep you interested. The pineapple agua fresca offers a non-alcoholic option that's equally refreshing, made fresh daily with serious attention to flavor balance.

What sets Muertos Cantina apart in Salt Lake City's competitive cocktail scene is the intentional pairing of drinks with food. This isn't just about serving margaritas (though they do those exceptionally well). It's about creating an agave program that enhances the dining experience, whether you're sharing birria tacos or diving into a loaded nacho mountain.

Sugar House's Mexican Food Renaissance

Muertos Cantina sits at the heart of Sugar House's dining renaissance, on Wilmington Avenue where Mediterranean, Vietnamese, and American cuisines compete for attention. Located at 1201 E Wilmington Ave, Spitz Restaurant offers Mediterranean food just down the street, while the neighborhood continues attracting ambitious restaurateurs who understand that Salt Lake City diners are hungry for authentic, elevated experiences.

The timing of Muertos Cantina's evolution couldn't be better. Sugar House has transformed from a sleepy residential area into one of Salt Lake City's most dynamic neighborhoods, complete with the new Sugar House Station food hall and established favorites like Hearth and Hill. But unlike many newcomers banking on novelty, Muertos Cantina has built its reputation on consistency, flavor, and genuine hospitality.

"An Old Sugar House Favorite, Now Freshly Reimagined -- and Serving Seriously Good Margaritas Muertos Cantina has brought fresh energy to Sugar House, and we couldn't be happier," noted one local food lover, capturing the sentiment of a neighborhood that's watched this restaurant grow from promising newcomer to essential destination.

The restaurant's commitment to community shows in details like catering services for local events and partnerships with area businesses. This is Mexican food with roots in family tradition but branches reaching toward Salt Lake City's evolving food culture.

Planning Your Visit to Muertos Cantina

Muertos Cantina is located at 1215 Wilmington Avenue, Suite 110, in the heart of Sugar House. The restaurant is open Monday through Thursday 11:00 AM - 9:00 PM, Friday and Saturday 11:00 AM - 10:00 PM, and Sunday 11:00 AM - 9:00 PM. The entrance moved during the 2025 rebrand, so look for Suite 110 just off Wilmington Avenue.

Parking is readily available on Wilmington Avenue and surrounding streets, and the restaurant is walking distance from Sugar House Park for those wanting to work up an appetite on the trails. The space accommodates both intimate dates and larger celebrations—something that wasn't possible in the original smaller location.

For first-time visitors, start with the birria tacos and don't skip the consommé. If you're dining with a group, the fajitas provide both spectacle and flavor for sharing. The craft cocktail program deserves attention, particularly if you're an agave spirit enthusiast. And whatever you do, save room for the beignets—four fresh fried beignets covered in cinnamon and sugar, topped with a salted caramel and condensed milk drizzle.

Follow @muertoscantina on Instagram for menu updates and special events, and consider making reservations for weekend evenings when Sugar House dining is at its most vibrant.

The Future of Mexican Dining in Salt Lake City

Muertos Cantina represents something important in Salt Lake City's dining evolution: the marriage of authentic flavors with elevated presentation, family traditions with contemporary energy, and neighborhood intimacy with citywide ambition. "Just dined at the Muertos Cantina - De Los Muertos v2.0. Wow. Amazing. My fave menu is now expanded but my faves are still there," one customer noted, perfectly capturing how the restaurant has managed to grow without losing its soul.

In a city where Mexican restaurants often choose between fast-casual convenience and fine-dining pretension, Muertos Cantina has carved out something more interesting: a place where "people could come and drink and hang out" while experiencing food that honors both tradition and innovation. It's exactly what Sugar House—and Salt Lake City—has been waiting for.

This is Mexican food for people who take flavor seriously, served in a space that understands hospitality, crafted by restaurateurs who know that the best dining experiences happen when authenticity meets ambition. In short, it's why Muertos Cantina has become the best Mexican restaurant in Sugar House—and one of the most exciting dining destinations in all of Salt Lake City.