Is there any decent Mexican food in Denver area?
October 16, 2022 12:11 PM Subscribe
So far I've tried three random places that ranged from "actively terrible," to "oddly bland." It doesn't have to duplicate Tex-Mex I'm used to (I like California Mex and am open to varied ingredients) but it should have flavor beyond "we threw some hot-ass peppers on top of otherwise flavorless ingredients."
I can let this go if it's just Not a Thing here, but before I gave up or had another regrettable meal I thought I would ask.
I can let this go if it's just Not a Thing here, but before I gave up or had another regrettable meal I thought I would ask.
>>"actively terrible," to "oddly bland"
Best description I've ever heard of Denver as a whole ;)
Also be aware of the Hatch vs Pueblo chile debate
posted by falsedmitri at 2:06 PM on October 16, 2022 [3 favorites]
Best description I've ever heard of Denver as a whole ;)
Also be aware of the Hatch vs Pueblo chile debate
posted by falsedmitri at 2:06 PM on October 16, 2022 [3 favorites]
Is there something specific you're looking for? There are many great taco places. I love Tacos Tequila Whiskey; also enjoyed Comida and Uno Mas.
Downtown Boulder is lousy with good taco places and also has Centro, which I love and which has a full menu, not just tacos and apps. Santo in North Boulder is an extremely good New Mexican food restaurant.
Thinking about the standard Mexican restaurant experience of my California childhood, that have the classic burritos, enchiladas, fajitas, etc. kind of stuff not fancied up, I'm thinking maybe Efrain's or Santiago's?
posted by mandanza at 2:25 PM on October 16, 2022 [1 favorite]
Downtown Boulder is lousy with good taco places and also has Centro, which I love and which has a full menu, not just tacos and apps. Santo in North Boulder is an extremely good New Mexican food restaurant.
Thinking about the standard Mexican restaurant experience of my California childhood, that have the classic burritos, enchiladas, fajitas, etc. kind of stuff not fancied up, I'm thinking maybe Efrain's or Santiago's?
posted by mandanza at 2:25 PM on October 16, 2022 [1 favorite]
Response by poster: Ok well that is helpful in that I've only been to full-menu type places. Maybe taco places are a better bet. Thank you for those recs!
posted by emjaybee at 2:34 PM on October 16, 2022
posted by emjaybee at 2:34 PM on October 16, 2022
I love El Noa Noa. Their camarones diablo is amazing, as is their chile relleno burrito.
posted by ananci at 3:04 PM on October 16, 2022 [1 favorite]
posted by ananci at 3:04 PM on October 16, 2022 [1 favorite]
El Taco De Mexico (try the buche!)
Blue Bonnet
Senor Burritos
Adelitas Cocina Y Cantina
La Loma
El Noa Noa
Patzcuaro’s
Tamayo (if you're fancy)
I moved here from California decades ago, and I soon learned that some of them will smother everything in green chile if you don't specifically ask for it on the side or tell them to hold it.
Also, I have yet to find a place that can make a decent Baja-style fish taco.
There are plenty of "best Mexican food" guides on the interwebs.
posted by caryatid at 3:27 PM on October 16, 2022 [4 favorites]
Blue Bonnet
Senor Burritos
Adelitas Cocina Y Cantina
La Loma
El Noa Noa
Patzcuaro’s
Tamayo (if you're fancy)
I moved here from California decades ago, and I soon learned that some of them will smother everything in green chile if you don't specifically ask for it on the side or tell them to hold it.
Also, I have yet to find a place that can make a decent Baja-style fish taco.
There are plenty of "best Mexican food" guides on the interwebs.
posted by caryatid at 3:27 PM on October 16, 2022 [4 favorites]
Whenever we’re going to Denver, we scheme to set it up so we can get to Machete more than once! It’s right by Union Station. Their tacos are amazeballs. Be sure to try the lobster on a squid ink tortilla.
(omg also—sorry I know you didn’t ask—but the Vance Kirkland Museum is really cool. I had no idea who he was beforehand and now he’s my absolute favorite. Anyhoo! Have a great trip!)
posted by mimi at 3:40 PM on October 16, 2022 [3 favorites]
(omg also—sorry I know you didn’t ask—but the Vance Kirkland Museum is really cool. I had no idea who he was beforehand and now he’s my absolute favorite. Anyhoo! Have a great trip!)
posted by mimi at 3:40 PM on October 16, 2022 [3 favorites]
burritos smothered in Hatch green Chile salsa
Oof. That's neither Mexican not Coloradan. That's New Mexico, whence Hatch originates, and Colorado does a terrible job of it to boot.
Also not "salsa". Just green chile.
posted by Ardnamurchan at 3:46 PM on October 16, 2022 [3 favorites]
Oof. That's neither Mexican not Coloradan. That's New Mexico, whence Hatch originates, and Colorado does a terrible job of it to boot.
Also not "salsa". Just green chile.
posted by Ardnamurchan at 3:46 PM on October 16, 2022 [3 favorites]
Not a native, but, while visiting Denver, I've had very memorable meals at Tamayo, Zocalito, and El Coco Pirata (I'm at least a little bit fancy).
posted by box at 3:55 PM on October 16, 2022
posted by box at 3:55 PM on October 16, 2022
I definitely second La Loma (love their carne guisada), Adelitas (the molcajete!), and Tacos Tequila Whisky (aka Pinche tacos), but for good authentic stuff I’d check out the area west of Federal and north of Sloans Lake. Lots of moms and places there, some better than others but always fun to try.
posted by tinymojo at 4:00 PM on October 16, 2022
posted by tinymojo at 4:00 PM on October 16, 2022
I grew up in Denver, and always went to Chubbys Burger (only get the Mexican food, though).
My fave was a special burrito, smothered with green chili, but back in the day “special” just meant a bean burrito with onions. It apparently means something else now.
The green chili is the bomb.
posted by dbmcd at 5:44 PM on October 16, 2022
My fave was a special burrito, smothered with green chili, but back in the day “special” just meant a bean burrito with onions. It apparently means something else now.
The green chili is the bomb.
posted by dbmcd at 5:44 PM on October 16, 2022
What are the three places you tried? That would help.
posted by Clustercuss at 6:15 PM on October 16, 2022
posted by Clustercuss at 6:15 PM on October 16, 2022
Response by poster: Two were local places that I can't remember the name of, one (in desperation) 3 Margaritas.
My ideal place is midrange, family-owned, uses good ingredients/makes things like salsa from scratch, and has tender, flavorful meat ingredients. Spiciness can vary, I'm agnostic on chile types. If they bring me a container of homemade warm tortillas, well then we're getting somewhere good.
BUT that may not be as common here so if it's "go fancy or go for tacos" that's fine too! I lived in NYC for several years and adjusted to local specialties.
posted by emjaybee at 6:36 PM on October 16, 2022
My ideal place is midrange, family-owned, uses good ingredients/makes things like salsa from scratch, and has tender, flavorful meat ingredients. Spiciness can vary, I'm agnostic on chile types. If they bring me a container of homemade warm tortillas, well then we're getting somewhere good.
BUT that may not be as common here so if it's "go fancy or go for tacos" that's fine too! I lived in NYC for several years and adjusted to local specialties.
posted by emjaybee at 6:36 PM on October 16, 2022
To the great suggestions above, particularly Adelita's and La Loma, I would add La Fogata and the Rio Grande, known locally for its awesome margaritas. Not everyone likes their food but I think it's great, particularly the salsa. If tex mex is your thing there is a Chuy's in Greenwood Village.
posted by Clustercuss at 7:03 PM on October 16, 2022 [1 favorite]
posted by Clustercuss at 7:03 PM on October 16, 2022 [1 favorite]
Are you looking for authentic Mexican? Because there is absolutely loads, you may just not be looking in the right part of town. Downtown Denver doesn't have much of the real stuff (mostly white people taco joints). Aurora is where you'll find the good stuff of virtually any nationality-specific cuisine. It's been a while since I lived there, so I don't remember where exactly I used to go, but I'd start by looking around East Colfax area. Good luck!
posted by switcheroo at 9:41 PM on October 16, 2022 [2 favorites]
posted by switcheroo at 9:41 PM on October 16, 2022 [2 favorites]
It's been a couple years, but Los Carboncitos immediately comes to mind for me.
posted by j.edwards at 10:23 PM on October 16, 2022
posted by j.edwards at 10:23 PM on October 16, 2022
Get in the car and drive down to Pueblo and grab a table at Estela's Mill Stop Cafe (no website). It's stupid good - and every entree comes with a cinnamon-y/sugar-y giant sopapilla for dessert. The savory stuffed sopapilla is enough to keep you satisfied all day. Arrive early - it's small and it fills up quickly.
posted by tmharris65 at 2:16 AM on October 17, 2022
posted by tmharris65 at 2:16 AM on October 17, 2022
aurora is the place for immigrant cuisine in denver.
posted by j_curiouser at 3:01 AM on October 17, 2022
posted by j_curiouser at 3:01 AM on October 17, 2022
My family's three favorites are El Tepehuan (Englewood); El Tejado (S Broadway) and Little Anita's (NM-style, best for takeaway, on Colorado).
posted by M.C. Lo-Carb! at 7:48 AM on October 17, 2022
posted by M.C. Lo-Carb! at 7:48 AM on October 17, 2022
3 Margaritas is terrible - no wonder you had a bad experience.
My favorite places in Denver are Tacos Jalisco on 38th and Tennyson and El Taco de Mexico at 7th and Santa Fe, but there’s a lot of other great suggestions in other answers.
Keep in mind that the main influence on a lot of Denver-area Mexican food is actually New Mexican food — hence the prominence of green chile. A lot of New Mexicans seeking work migrated north to Colorado and brought their food with them — some of which developed into “Den Mex.” There’s a lot of good places but depending on the origins of the owners, it just makes starts at a different place than restaurants in Texas or California….
posted by heurtebise at 10:44 AM on October 17, 2022 [1 favorite]
My favorite places in Denver are Tacos Jalisco on 38th and Tennyson and El Taco de Mexico at 7th and Santa Fe, but there’s a lot of other great suggestions in other answers.
Keep in mind that the main influence on a lot of Denver-area Mexican food is actually New Mexican food — hence the prominence of green chile. A lot of New Mexicans seeking work migrated north to Colorado and brought their food with them — some of which developed into “Den Mex.” There’s a lot of good places but depending on the origins of the owners, it just makes starts at a different place than restaurants in Texas or California….
posted by heurtebise at 10:44 AM on October 17, 2022 [1 favorite]
Grew up and live in Denver! I'm veg, so that will influence my recommendations, but there is definitely good Mexican food here. Agree with heurtebise that you have to consider the origins of the owners to know what kind of Mexican food you're getting. We have everything from Tex-Mex, to New Mexican, to Oaxacan that deliver all kinds of different experiences. As far as areas to look into, you should also try Federal for a lot of authentic taco places. My faves:
Tarasco's
Kahlo's
Adelita's
Adelita's has a couple sister locations; La Dona is an attached Mezcalaria, and Ni Tuyo is a new taco place, but haven't been there yet
I also like Machete (Colfax location)
There are so many little places; I hope you get out and explore a bit!
posted by LKWorking at 1:17 PM on October 17, 2022
Tarasco's
Kahlo's
Adelita's
Adelita's has a couple sister locations; La Dona is an attached Mezcalaria, and Ni Tuyo is a new taco place, but haven't been there yet
I also like Machete (Colfax location)
There are so many little places; I hope you get out and explore a bit!
posted by LKWorking at 1:17 PM on October 17, 2022
To the above mentioned, Tacos Tequila Whiskey, Santiago's, El Noa Noa, El Taco de Mexico, Little Anita's, and La Fogata, I would add:
Tacos Los Compas (24/7 drive-thru, fast, but don't let that scare you)
Chakas
Las Tortas
posted by Vek at 4:20 PM on October 17, 2022
Tacos Los Compas (24/7 drive-thru, fast, but don't let that scare you)
Chakas
Las Tortas
posted by Vek at 4:20 PM on October 17, 2022
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dunno an upscale mexican, I'm not an upscale person.
posted by j_curiouser at 12:26 PM on October 16, 2022 [1 favorite]