One of the great things about the recent craft brewery explosion is that even if you're not a fan of craft beer, you can still join in the patio-sitting, cornhole-playing fun without ever touching a brew. Just track your favorite food trucks online and head to a brewery for street food instead of beers and you'll fit right in, especially if you bring your toddlers or labrador retrievers. We stumbled across the Tony Guacamole food truck at shiny new suds factory Declaration Brewing on a recent Friday, when the Colorado sun was bright and beer drinkers were out in full force in the warehouse district just off Broadway and Evans Avenue that so far isn't cool enough to have a neighborhood nickname (officially, it's Overland).
As the name of this mobile Mexican food slinger suggests, Tony Guacamole specializes in mashed avocados — there are four varieties on the menu board with varying ingredients and heat levels. But the menu also encompasses street tacos and an assortment of fried snacks, including nachos that benefit from an on-board fryer, since they're built on a bed of freshly fried white-corn tortilla chips, which give a lighter, flakier crunch than standard yellow corn chips.
Molten queso comes next — not the scary yellow food-service cheese common at sporting events but a creamy and rich blend that adds cheesy flavor while acting as an adhesive for the remaining toppings. Tony Guacamole generally offers at least four meat options; we recommend the carne al pastor, at least for the nachos. While the grill-crisped bits of pork are a little too cumin-heavy compared to most carne al pastor found around the city, it's perfect on nachos, since the heavily spiced meat doesn't get overpowered by the cheese sauce. A big dollop of fresh and zesty guacamole crowns the pile and a confetti of pico de gallo adds freshness to each bite. There are beans in there somewhere too, but the pork, cheese and chips were responsible for the bulk of the work.
Tony Guacamole can be found at a multitude of breweries and other venues throughout the Denver metro area; for easy tracking, check out the food truck's Twitter account.
Even though the Best of Denver 2015 is out, we'll keep counting down the contenders for the best dishes in the city in advance of the Denver Dish, where many of our Best of Denver winners — along with other favorites — will congregate to serve up small plates. If there's a dish you think we need to try, tell us about it in the comments section, or shoot us an e-mail at [email protected].
Hungry for more? All the dishes in our countdown are linked below.
No. 100: Chile Relleno at La Fiesta
No. 99: Gurage Kitfo at Megenagna Ethiopian Restaurant
No. 98: Cochinita Pibil at Work & Class
No. 97: The Greggers Tongue Sandwich at Olive & Finch
No. 96: Baum Cakes at Glaze by Sasa
No. 95: Goat hot pot from Viet's
No.94: Head cheese from Beast + Bottle
No. 93: Kettle Chips from Amerigo Delicatus
No. 92: Pork Belly Confit at Solera Restaurant and Wine Bar
No. 91: Tacos Campechanos from La Calle Taqueria
No. 90: Biscuits from Denver Biscuit Co.
No. 89: Clams and Chorizo at Gozo
No. 88: Aburi Sushi at Sushi Den and Izakaya Den
No. 87: Kimchi and Sausage Torta at City, O' City
No. 86: Mar y Tierra Molcajete at Paxia
No. 85: Crispy Pork Spare Ribs at Table Top
No. 84: Chips and Dip at Euclid Hall
No. 83: Chile Relleno Burrito at El Taco de Mexico
No. 82: Scallop Crudo at Stoic & Genuine
No. 81: Ceylon Curry Dosa at Khazana
No. 80: The Lambada Torta at La Torteria
No. 79: Pork Bulgogi at Dae Gee
No. 78: the Pulled Pork Pig Pen Sandwich at Boney's
No. 77: IPA Mac & Cheese at Hops & Pie
No. 76: Chiles en Nogada at Chili Verde
No. 75: Udon Noodle Bowl at Bones
No. 74: Cinnamon Rolls at the Duffeyroll Cafe
No. 73: Smoked Turkey Croque-Madame at Acorn
No. 72: Pickled Lake Michigan Perch at Trillium
No. 71: Oysters at Jax Fish House Glendale
No. 70: Venezuelan Tostadas at Empanada Express Grill
No. 69: Tahini Cauliflower from Biker Jim's Gourmet Dogs
No. 68: The Ham and Cheese Tartita from Maria Empanada
No. 67: Ronnie's Favorite from Rosenberg's Bagels and Deli
No. 66: Shoo-fly Pie from the Long i Pie Shop
No. 65: Czech Potato Pancakes at Sobo 151
No. 64: Fried Chicken at the Post Brewing Co.
No. 63: Braised Brisket Sandwich at Masterpiece Delicatessen
No. 62: The Scotch Egg from Argyll Whisky Beer
No. 61: Butternut Squash Ravioli at DiFranco's
No. 60: Sesame Balls at Vinh Xuong Bakery
No. 59: Curry Puffs at Suvipa Thai Food
No. 58: Diavola Pizza at Pizzeria Locale
No. 57: Chorizo Breakfast Stew at DJ's 9th Avenue Cafe
No. 56: The Rare Beast Sandwich at Salt & Grinder
No. 55: 48-Hour Short Ribs at Chop Shop Casual Urban Eatery
No. 54: Marrow Bone Brulee at Mercantile Dining & Provision
No. 53: Prawns and Pork Belly at Blackbelly Market
No. 52: Belgian Waffles from Waffle Up
No. 51: Nashville Hot Chicken at Lou's Food Bar
No. 50: Breakfast Burrito from Chickee's Lil Kitchen
No. 49: Monkfish and Romanesco at TAG
No. 48: Cabeza Tacos at Taqueria El Trompito
No. 47: Pupusas Revueltas at Pupuseria San Salvador
No. 46: Sesame Pockets at Golden Plate II
No. 45: Tuna Mousse at Cart-Driver
No. 44: Tavern Tots at the Highland Tavern
No. 43: Carne Asada Fries at North County
No. 42: Pho at Wonderbowl
No. 41: Shredded Bison at Tocabe
