Eduardo "Lalo" Salamanca (/ˈlɑːloʊ ˌsæləˈmɑːŋkə/ LAH-loh SAL-ə-MAHNK-ə, Spanish: [eˈðwaɾðo ˈlalo salaˈmaŋka]) is a fictional character and one of the main antagonists of the AMC television series Better Call Saul, a spin-off of Breaking Bad. He is portrayed by Tony Dalton, with the character being created by Peter Gould and screenwriter Gordon Smith. Originally mentioned in dialogue from the Breaking Bad episode "Better Call Saul", Lalo was not introduced until the fourth season of Better Call Saul.

Lalo is one of many nephews of Hector Salamanca, an enforcer of Don Eladio Vuente's drug cartel. After Hector becomes paralyzed due to a stroke, Lalo arrives from Mexico to help run the family drug operation in Albuquerque, New Mexico; he takes a greater interest in the day-to-day details of the operation than Hector did. Because of the rivalry between Hector and Gus Fring, Lalo becomes determined to disrupt both Gus' legitimate business and his reputation with the cartel.

Showrunners gave Dalton freedom to diverge from cartel stereotypes and portrayals of the other members of the Salamanca family. Series co-creator Vince Gilligan held himself responsible for delaying Lalo's introduction, which occurred because Gould wanted to introduce Lalo as early as season one. Unlike most other Salamancas, Lalo appears charismatic and cheerful; however, he can also be merciless and chaotic. Dalton's portrayal has been critically acclaimed, with some critics deeming Lalo to be one of the best villains on television.

In July 2018, Tony Dalton joined Better Call Saul in the role of Lalo Salamanca, first appearing in the season four episode "Coushatta". The Breaking Bad second-season episode "Better Call Saul" mentions Lalo and also introduces Saul Goodman—Jimmy McGill's business name—and mentions "Ignacio" (Nacho Varga). In an interview before Better Call Saul aired, Vince Gilligan said the writers had envisioned Lalo as a major character and as with Breaking Bad, they must "keep close tabs on what our characters have done in the past and make good use of it here in the present and the future". Gilligan and Peter Gould, however, had difficulty deciding how to properly introduce the character, whom they considered a bogeyman around the second season of Breaking Bad but had not worked out his personality or motivations. Gilligan held himself responsible for delaying Lalo's introduction, as Gould had wanted to introduce Lalo as early as season one. Gould realized Lalo needed to be different from the other members of the Salamanca family and a foil equal to Gus Fring. He credited the show's casting directors Sherry Thomas and Sharon Bialy for selecting Dalton for the role, adding Dalton had "the charm, and the joy, and the threat" needed for the character and "all the charm of a '40s movie star". Gould said Lalo's name is an homage to the Argentine American composer Lalo Schifrin.

The episode "Wiedersehen", which was written by Gennifer Hutchison, further develops Lalo. Hutchison said while Lalo is just as "scary" as the other Salamancas, he is "a little more circumspect about things". She said the producers wanted him to be "a little charming", in contrast to the other Salamancas, whom she felt have few qualities beyond fearsomeness. Dalton said the season-five finale "Something Unforgivable" provides a breadth not seen in prior episodes. Lalo first appears as a charismatic person his extended family and cartel leaders welcome but shows a vicious, vengeful side after his family is attacked. Dalton said this personality in season six differentiates him from the laid-back personality he displays in season five. Michael Mando, who portrays Nacho, described Lalo as "a Salamanca in every way, just like Tuco and Hector had their own flavors to the erratic Salamancas". Gilligan and Gould gave Dalton freedom to portray Lalo's personality as he saw fit, just as they had allowed Jonathan Banks to develop Mike Ehrmantraut during Breaking Bad, though they told Dalton to think of Lalo as somewhat a "Prince of the Narcos". Dalton considers Lalo to be in juxtaposition to Gus due to Lalo's laid-back attitude and "loose body language" that contrasts with Gus being constantly anxious and having a tighter body language.

According to Dalton, Lalo was not originally intended to be charming; he felt the series needed someone "kind of smiling and carefree and a little bit mischievous" like Jimmy but "in the bad guy's part". Dalton took inspiration from Samuel L. Jackson's character Jules Winnfield in Pulp Fiction (1994) to create a "[k]ind of this smart ass, sort of scary but kind of carefree, kind of cool guy". The negative characters portrayed by Jack Nicholson also influenced Dalton's portrayal of Lalo. Dalton sought to distance himself from his role in the television series Sr. Ávila, in which he played a hitman who he felt had "zero personality". Dalton instead took inspiration from Geoffrey Rush's character in Elizabeth (1998) who smiles while killing. Dalton toned down Lalo's Mexican accent because of his belief the character, given his wealth, was educated in a "good school" in the United States. He chose for the character an accent he had developed while growing up around Laredo, Texas. Dalton gave Lalo an upbeat personality to show the character's normally easy-going outlook on life and to distance him from typical portrayals of cartel members as serious about their work. Lalo is killed by Gus in the season-six episode "Point and Shoot". Gordon Smith said the writers considered having Mike kill Lalo but this idea was discarded to let the "biggest big bads" in the series—Gus and Lalo—confront each other.

Eduardo "Lalo" Salamanca is one of many nephews of Hector Salamanca, an enforcer of Don Eladio Vuente's drug cartel. After Hector suffers a stroke that leaves him paralyzed and unable to speak, Lalo moves from Mexico to Albuquerque to oversee the Salamanca family's drug operation, and takes a greater interest in day-to-day details than Hector did. Ignacio "Nacho" Varga, Hector's subordinate, is secretly responsible for Hector's stroke and acts as a mole for Hector's rival Gus Fring, so Lalo's arrival leaves him uneasy. Lalo visits Hector in the nursing home and gives him a front desk call bell he saved when Hector killed a hotelier and burned down the hotel after the hotelier disrespected him. Lalo attaches the bell to Hector's wheelchair so Hector can communicate by ringing it with his right index finger, the only body part he can move. Lalo then arrives at Los Pollos Hermanos and introduces himself to Gus. Lalo thanks Gus for giving Hector first aid and paying for his care, but surveils Gus' underlings to learn about their regular activities.

While staking out Gus' chicken farm, Lalo observes activity related to Werner Ziegler's escape. He follows Mike Ehrmantraut as Mike tracks Werner, leading him to a Travelwire store. Mike guesses Werner is going to a hot springs resort and persuades Gus to let him retrieve Werner instead of sending hitmen. After Mike and Gus leave, Lalo enters and tries to learn what Mike knows but the clerk, Fred Whalen, refuses to tell him. Lalo kills Fred, reviews the security footage Mike saw, and sets fire to the store. Lalo calls resorts until he finds Werner; he then poses as Gus' employee and tricks Werner into revealing details about the construction of a methamphetamine lab under Gus' industrial laundry. Mike arrives at Werner's location and ends the call but realizes Lalo now has information about the construction. Mike reports to Gus, who realizes Werner will have to be killed to prevent Lalo from learning more; Mike accepts responsibility and kills Werner.