Manuel Valdez and his brother have been running Lone Star Taqueria on Fort Union Boulevard since 1994, building a loyal Salt Lake Valley following around carne adovada, fish tacos, and the kind of authentic Mexican cooking that Sunset magazine named the “West’s Best Taco.” Lone Star appeared in Season 4, Episode 13 of Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives, “Doin’ Their Own Thing,” which aired November 10, 2008. Guy Fieri said it felt like he walked into a fiesta, called the shrimp burrito “nothin’ but happy,” and was amazed by the carne adovada. The restaurant is open six days a week from a compact space with both dine-in and drive-through options.
Quick Facts
Restaurant: Lone Star Taqueria
City: Salt Lake City, Utah
Cuisine: Mexican
DDD Season: 4
DDD Episode: 13
Episode Title: Doin’ Their Own Thing
Original Air Date: November 10, 2008
Address: 2265 Fort Union Blvd., Salt Lake City, UT 84121
Phone: 801-944-2300
Website: https://www.lstaq.com/
Status: Open
About Lone Star Taqueria
Lone Star operates from a casual, festive space with a drive-through window alongside the dining room. The menu is built around homemade tortillas, fresh fish and shrimp that change throughout the day, and the marinated pork preparations that have built the restaurant’s reputation since 1994. The outdoor seating is particularly popular in the warmer months with views toward the Wasatch Mountains.
What to Eat at Lone Star Taqueria
The Fresh Fish Tacos are the signature, with the fish selection changing every few hours based on what’s freshest. The Carne Adovada, marinated hot pork with deep chile flavor, is the dish Guy called out specifically during filming. The Shrimp Burrito prompted the “nothin’ but happy” reaction. The Carnitas, roasted pork with crispy edges, and the Carne Desebrada, shredded beef, round out a menu worth working through on multiple visits. Three house salsas and housemade guacamole complete every order.
If Lone Star’s taco game inspires your own kitchen, Guy Fieri’s Flavortown Top Secret Sauce adds bold flavor to any taco situation, and Guy’s Flavortown Burger Joint Seasoning works surprisingly well on marinated pork.
Plan Your Visit
Lone Star Taqueria is open Monday through Saturday 11:00 AM to 9:00 PM (10:00 PM Friday and Saturday). Closed Sundays. Drive-through and dine-in available. Find a Salt Lake City hotel on Booking.com for your Utah DDD run.
Address: 2265 Fort Union Blvd., Salt Lake City, UT 84121
Phone: 801-944-2300
Website: https://www.lstaq.com/
Status: Open
Triple D Essentials
Stream the Doin’ Their Own Thing episode on Amazon. Salt Lake City has three strong DDD stops — Lone Star, Red Iguana, and Ruth’s Diner make a very solid day of eating.
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Lone Star Taqueria appeared in Season 4, Episode 13 of Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives, “Doin’ Their Own Thing,” originally aired November 10, 2008. The restaurant has been open since 1994.