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Monarca | Our Story

A migration story told through cuisine

Monarca began as a journey — from Mexico to Salt Lake City — and every dish still carries that distance. Alfonso and Claudia built this restaurant to honor where they came from and the community they found here.
The name behind the restaurant

The name behind the restaurant

Alfonso and Claudia named Monarca after the monarch butterfly — its migration from Mexico to the U.S. mirrors their own journey.
A chef trained on two continents

A chef trained on two continents

Alfonso trained at Cocina Hermanos Torres in Barcelona — a three-Michelin-star, World's 50 Best restaurant — before bringing that global lens home to Mexican tradition.

Home at the Gallivan Center

Monarca sits on the main floor of the Gallivan Center in the heart of downtown Salt Lake City, a destination worth the arrival. The kitchen is always evolving, and the table is always set.

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A tasting journey, course by course

A tasting journey, course by course

The Omakase Taco Experience is Monarca's fullest expression — a chef-curated tasting paired with cocktails, mezcal, or wine, where each taco becomes something revelatory.
We are community

We are community

They are not just located in Salt Lake City — they are of it, cooking for their neighbors and raising the bar for a dining scene they call home.

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