Santo Taco
When Santo Taco opened in Rose Park in 2019, one of its staff made masa and pressed tortillas full-time.
Why go
Alfonso and Claudia Brito sold tacos from a cart and then a food truck before they opened this counter at 910 North 900 West in February 2019 (KSL). Alfonso, who was born in Córdoba, Veracruz, told Voyage Utah in 2025 what he was after: At Santo Taco, I wanted to bring the real taquería experience to Utah, Fresh salsas, fresh meats, and bold flavors that represent the streets of Mexico
(Voyage Utah).
Start with the al pastor, pork cut from a vertical spit and served with pineapple. Alex Springer reviewed the counter for City Weekly in 2019: Once those slices of pork get the slow-cooked treatment on that vertical rotisserie, nothing short of taco magic happens
(City Weekly). Then order the birria, beef that is marinated, stewed and shredded, with its broth on the side for dipping. Ted Scheffler ate it in 2024, on a visit to this counter and the downtown one: The cheesy, stupendous birria beef taco at Santo Taco – with that killer consomme on the side – is simply spectacular. It's messy, but absolutely awesome
(Utah Stories).
Springer was cooler on the grilled meats and found the carne asada and pollo asado perfectly serviceable, though I've had a few end up slightly on the dry side
(City Weekly). Most tacos cost $2.50 to $3.00 in April 2024, and Scheffler weighed that against the food: But for my dining dollar – for flavor and value – Santo Taco is pretty hard to top
(Utah Stories).
Order this / avoid
- Order: the al pastor. Alex Springer (City Weekly, 2019) named it the best bet on the menu.2
- Order: the birria taco with consommé, Ted Scheffler's favorite (Utah Stories, 2024).1
- Order: the carne asada fries, loaded with nacho cheese sauce, sour cream, carne asada, guacamole and pico de gallo. Alex Springer (City Weekly, 2019) called them the dish not to miss.2
- Order: the nopal taco if you skip meat. Alex Springer (City Weekly, 2019) found the grilled cactus
earthy, slightly sweet
.2
Good to know
- How it works: walk up and order at the counter, then help yourself at the salsa bar. There is no table service (Utah Stories).
- Price: the El Chingón, three meats on a flour tortilla, was $3.75 in April 2024.
- Where: 910 North 900 West, Suite B, in Rose Park. The Britos run a second Santo Taco downtown.
Verdict
could-visit — Go to this Rose Park counter for spit-roasted al pastor and a birria taco to dip in its broth, on tortillas pressed in house, at about $3 a taco in 2024. Order at the counter, since nobody comes to the table.