Ramón Cardenas Sr., who founded one of Salt Lake City’s most popular and acclaimed Mexican restaurants, has died.

Cardenas — known as Don Ramón — died Friday, “surrounded by his family and loved ones,” the restaurant announced on its Facebook page Saturday. He was 92.

“Ramón’s vision, hard work, and passion for sharing authentic Mexican cuisine helped create Red Iguana — a place that has become more than just a restaurant, but a home for countless memories in Salt Lake City since 1985,” the Facebook post said. “His spirit lives on in every plate served, every tradition honored, and every guest welcomed through our doors.”

Cardenas and his wife, Maria, opened the first Red Iguana in 1985, a small, four-table restaurant on Salt Lake City’s west side. After a fire in 1986 burned that l

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