Restaurant Journeys: Angelica's Mexican Grill

For many people, Mexican food is their first choice when it comes to dining out, but finding a truly excellent establishment that provides consistency with both menu and service can seem daunting.

Look no further! Angelica’s Mexican Grill offers delicious menu options, great service, and value for your next mealtime excursion.

Located on St. George Boulevard, Angelica’s features authentic Mexico City-style street food. Everything on the menu is “made with love” by owner and restaurateur Angelica Lancaster, who immigrated to the United States over fifteen years ago.

The story of how Angelica made her way from Mexico to St. George, Utah, is one of perseverance, hard work, and courage. As a wife, young mother, and new immigrant to Utah, she planned to study in the U.S. for a few months and return home. When her plans did not go as she had hoped, she became a single mother who worked three jobs to support her small family.

That was a challenging time for her. “I would just kiss my daughter goodbye in the morning while she was sleeping and kiss my daughter again at night,” she said. “My mom raised my daughter. I hardly saw her for six years, and that’s a very sad part of my life.”

Always a hard worker, Angelica was employed as a dishwasher at Olive Garden and eventually worked her way up to server by memorizing the menu and studying local news to learn English. She met her husband, Jack, online, and the couple was married not long afterward. The two now work as a team to make Angelica’s one of the busiest eateries on St. George Boulevard.

Although the restaurant has changed locations several times, it continues to be the go-to Mexican restaurant fom residents and visitors alike. In May 2020, Angelica’s carnitas, sweet carnitas, and carne asada street tacos were served for the Republican members of the United State Senate at the invitation of Senator Mike Lee, who became acquainted with Angelica and Jack when he ate at the restaurant.

“I felt very humbled,” Angelica said. “I hope everyone enjoyed the food as much as my customers in St. George. I wanted them to feel the love that I have when I share my culture through the food.”

“It was a huge honor,” added Jack. “[Angelica] never dreamed growing up in Mexico she would be a restaurant owner in the United States. Having her food served to the United States Senate was just beyond her wildest dreams.”

The menu at Angelica’s packs in everyone’s favorites. The street tacos are made with fresh, lightly crisped corn tortillas and loaded with your choice of meat: carne asada, carnitas, pollo asado, chile verde, sweet carnitas, or machaca. Mulitas, part corn tortilla quesadilla and part street taco, are filled with melted cheese, meat, and beans. Add your own toppings at their fresh salsa bar, where they have several choices of salsa, shredded cabbage, chopped onions, and cilantro.

The menu also features soft tacos, burritos, quesadillas, the carne asada platter, and a fan favorite, the torte, stuffed with avocado, onion, tomato, and your choice of carne asada, carnitas, or pollo asado. If you’re feeling confident, take the Torte Challenge: Devour the entire sandwich in ten minutes or less and get a coupon for a free torte on your next visit.

Angelica’s sacrifice, hard work, and dedication have paid off as shown by the restaurant’s nearly five star ratings on Tripadvisor, Yelp, and Google and by their loyal following of customers who come in from near and far for a taste of Angelica’s Mexican food—made with love.