Mexican Food and Cooking

Agave Taco Bar will take the place of The Local in Washington Park

For years -- YEARS! -- I've prayed to the Mexican food gods that someone in my Wash Park 'hood would open a taqueria, or at least a taco joint, saving me from hiking to Federal Boulevard when I want my al pastor fix. And, now, it looks like I'm finally going to get my wish. See also: - Best Taqu ... More >>

Photos: Pinche Taqueria Highland rolls out new salsas and tacos

What do Madhava honey, a vegan history lesson and "liquid fire" have in common? They can all be found on Pinche Taqueria's updated menu. On a slightly overcast Monday afternoon, Kevin Morrison, chef-owner of Pinche Taqueria, gathered his staff around the communal table at the new Highland locati ... More >>

How do I maximize my burrito-eating skills?

Reader: People born and raised in Denver deserve competence at restaurants, too

The discussion over Gretchen Kurtz's review of Restaurant Fourteen Seventy-Two has demonstrated how passionately people care about Platt Park (however it's spelled), why you shouldn't eat Mexican food in Charleston, what constitutes low-country cuisine and other lessons of geography, including itsbo ... More >>

Ignacio Leon, exec chef of Paxia and Los Carboncitos, on the wild rabbit, helping the homeless and Mexican food

Ignacio Leon Los Carboncitos 3757 Pecos Street 303-458-0880 www.loscarboncitos.com Paxia 4001 Tejon Street 720-583-6860 www.paxiadenver.com This is part one of my interview with Ignacio Leon, exec chef of Paxia and Los Carboncitos; part two of our conversation will run tomorrow. Ignacio Leon has ... More >>

Kevin Morrison, exec chef-owner of Pinche Taqueria, on learning enough to move on

Kevin Morrison Pinche Taqueria 1514 York Street 720-475-1337 pinchetacos.com This is part one of my interview with Kevin Morrison, exec chef-owner of Pinche Taqueria; part two of our conversation will run tomorrow. "Just shut the fuck up and give me the taco." That was the order Kevin Morrison re ... More >>

El Senor Sol mixes up Mexican meals for vegetarians and vegans

With five metro locations, El Senor Sol is a homegrown chain -- but the outpost on West Colfax Avenue in Golden doesn't feel like a chain spot. Just up the road from the ubiquitous national chains at Denver West, El Senor Sol feels like the family-run establishment it is, with warm colors, lots of a ... More >>

America's love-hate relationship with Mexicans and Mexican food

Torta Grill opens on East Colfax...to a cluster of habitual addicts

You're back!" booms Steve Clifton, diverting his eyes away from the flattop just long enough to greet a customer who's on his third day straight of tortas. "It's been like that ever since we opened," says Clifton, who, along with his wife, Ardeni, took over the former Pineapple Grill at 1818 East Co ... More >>

Tarasco's transports you to Michoacan and beyond

Slide show: In the kitchen at Tarasco's

Ten Mexican fast-food guilty pleasures

Mexican fare from fast-food chains usually isn't authentic, healthy or even pretty, but it's irresistible. And we all indulge from time to time -- hitting the window at Taco Bell at 2 a.m. after a night of mainlining vodka gimlets; finding any excuse to grab a sunflower-seed-stuffed veggie burrito a ... More >>

Reader: Chubby's is pure Colorado Chicano cuisine

Joe's Buffet Mexican hamburger lives on at Taqueria Mexico

It wasn't until Gustavo Arellano, our Ask a Mexican columnist, started researching the spread of Mexican food in this country -- or what passes as Mexican food in this country -- for his new book, Taco USA, that we realized Denver was not only home to a unique green chile, but was also the place wh ... More >>

Los Carboncitos is still a favorite

I wasn't thrilled with Paxia, the upscale Mexican joint brothers Cesar, Roberto and Ignacio Leon opened in the Sunnyside neighborhood last year, especially because their original restaurant, the vibrant Los Carboncitos, is located just six blocks away. And after I'd eaten my review meals at Paxia, I ... More >>

Denver's ten best nachos

Whether our team makes it or not, Super Bowl weekend is always a wonderful time of year. Mostly because it's an excuse to daytime drink on a Sunday while we munch down truly impressive quantities of bar snacks, which vastly enhances our viewing pleasure. The festivities wouldn't be complete, either, ... More >>

Applebee's picks its official Colorado Burger

​AmRest, which owns and operates over a hundred Applebee's in eight states, had challenged its Colorado stores to create the perfect "Colorado Burger" -- ideally, one that incorporated "Stinkin" Good Green Chile, created by Bronco Mark Schlereth, spokesman for this campaign. He met up with fou ... More >>

Applebee's is looking for the ultimate Colorado burger -- with Stinkin' Green

The Applebee's Cowboy Burger​When the homegrown Smashburger decided to create a burger for Colorado, as it already had for Idaho (topped with potato chips) and Minnesota (topped with cheddar bar cheese and garlic-grilled onions), it came up with an iconic combo for the Colorado Smashburger, ad ... More >>

Taco Mex makes tacos al pastor the traditional way

Denver's five best street tacos

Lori MidsonTacos de trompa at Guadalajara Authentic Mexican Buffet.​We love a good taco here at Cafe Society, and we're willing to hit the pavement all over town to find a good one. While the streets of Denver are filled with street tacos, only a handful rise to the top. Here are Denver's fiv ... More >>

Machete will bring tacos and tequila to Cherry Creek

Lori MidsonElway's Cherry Creek alum Jose Avila will be the exec chef of Machete​Dan Ohlson, the former owner of Chez Jose, the burrito joint in Cherry Creek that shuttered last December after a seventeen-year run, swore up and down that he'd never open another restaurant in Cherry Creek. Neve ... More >>

Paseo rolls out street tacos, empanadas, chilaquiles and Mexican biscuits and gravy from an airstream trailer

Lori Midson​After years of managing restaurants, Scott Skiba wanted one of his own, but building a brick-and-mortar isn't cheap, so Skiba, a former manager of Waterloo, a bar/restaurant in Louisville, went the way that several other chefs and restaurateurs have gone: mobile.

Mezcal's Roberto Diaz on the best carnitas in the world, his love for lard and huitlacoche

Lori Midson​ This is part one of Lori Midson's Q&A with Roberto Diaz, the executive chef of Mezcal. Part two of that interview will run tomorrow. Roberto Diaz Mezcal 3230 East Colfax Avenue 303-322-5219 www.mezcalcolorado.com To celebrate Mexican Independence Day last week, Roberto Diaz s ... More >>

Jack-n-Grill's Jack Martinez on mariachi bands, why frog legs aren't his thing and common sense

Lori Midson​ Jack Martinez Jack-n-Grill 2524 Federal Boulevard; 2630 West Belleview Avenue 303-964-9544; 303-474-4242 www.jackngrill.com This is part two of Lori Midson's interview with Jack Martinez, owner/exec chef of Jack-n-Grill. To read part one of that Q&A, click here. Six words to d ... More >>

The Sprout House serves veggie-friendly mobile food

​With all the food trucks and carts revving up, it was only a matter of time before someone decided to cater exclusively to mobile vegetarians and vegans. That someone was Trevor Smith, who now parks the Sprout House downtown at the corner of 17th Avenue and Lincoln from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Tues ... More >>

How do Mexicans like their coffee?

Mi Cocina v Mi Cocina

​If you can't stand the heat, get out of la cocina. Back in 1995, Saul Sierra was a nineteen-year-old high-school drop-out and dishwasher when he opened Mi Cocina Grille at 4935 West 29th Avenue with the help of his mother. Three years later, he sold that location (it's now LaCocinata) and o ... More >>

Guess where I'm eating?

Lori Midson ​I love a good tamale, and at this Denver stalwart, the tamales, smothered in a piquant green chile, are just as good now as they were back when Westword bestowed them with a Best of Denver award. Can you guess whose tamales have withstood the test of time?

The Mexican picks the country's favorite Mexican restaurants

The late Stella Cordova at the Original Chubby's​Gustavo Arellano, author of Ask a Mexican, is working on a book on the history of Mexican food in the United States, and this past summer he invited readers to "tell me your favorite local Mexican restaurant and what makes it so bueno" -- in 25 ... More >>

Leobardo's Taco Shop adds another 24/7 option for night crawlers

Lori Midson​And the 24/7 taco shop revolution continues! Right on the heels of Tacos Rapido, which recently opened at 2800 West Evans, comes Leobardo's Taco Shop, 825 South Federal, a kitschy roundish shack with a triangular roof that has eight inside stools, give or take, and a couple of al ... More >>

100 Favorite Dishes: Chile Relleno from La Fiesta

The eggroll-style chile relleno smothered in green at La Fiesta​ As a countdown to the Best of Denver 2010, coming April 1, Cafe Society is serving up a hundred of our favorite dishes in Denver. Send your own nominations to cafe@westword.com. Number 89: Chile Relleno from La Fiesta Forty ye ... More >>

Chili Verde serves nearly perfect Pueblan food

Ask a Mexican asks for local Mexican restaurants

Gustavo Arelleno, author of Ask a Mexican, is getting ready to travel around Estados Unidos to do research for his upcoming book on the history of Mexican food in the U.S.-- and he could use your help. He's looking for favorite Mexican restaurants, and is running a contest for the best suggestions. ... More >>

Two new Mexican spots emerge in Aurora

Lori MidsonI was in hot pursuit of a tow truck yesterday, which is neither here nor there, except that my chase landed me in Aurora, and whenever I'm in Aurora, I'm in taco country, and whenever I'm in taco country, I'm happier than a lizard lapping up flies. Today was no exception. In fact, it went ... More >>

Benny's from heaven

Tacos Jalisco offers true southern comfort

El Noa Noa

Order in the courtyard.

Chile Today, Hot Tomorrow

Coming Together

Food and atmosphere unite for a perfect match at Mezcal.

Best Red Chile

La Fiesta

A Taste of Freedom

Salvadoran immigrants have a hunger for the good life.

Best Tamales

La Casita, La Casa de Tamales

Seafood, Eat It

Los Reyes brings an underappreciated taste of real Mexican cooking to Denver.

We'll Take Desert

To Grandmother's House We Go

Mouthing Off

MOUTH OF THE BORDER

OGDEN NOSH

CHILE DAYS AHEAD

HOW AN OLD FAMILY RECIPE STOKED THE FIRES OF A NATIONAL FOOD OBSESSION.

BLAND ON THE RUN

CHILE TODAY, HOT TOMORROW