A red awning over a strip mall space in south Denver marks the entrance to Poppie’s, where those in the know have been heading for classic American favorites and high-quality bar banter since 1985. Step inside and let the staff – many of whom have worked there for years – do what they do best: […]
Mexican in Denver
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Known for its clean, minimalist atmosphere and hefty foil-wrapped burritos the size (and weight) of a small infant, Chipotle pioneered the fast-casual, assembly line Mexican food genre that’s since grown to encompass chains like Qdoba and Baja Fresh. The protocol in Denver / Boulder and elsewhere? Diners proceed single-file down the line and orchestrate the […]
It all started here, in the little storefront in Uptown Denver where Las Delicias opened its first location in the mid-’70s. Since then, the family-run operation has expanded both down 19th Avenue and across the metro area, where it now has four outposts. All serve the same big margaritas, crisp chips and salsa, thick and […]
New owners took over El Tejado in 2015, giving the space a facelift that makes it look like something out of The Flintstones. And that’s appropriate, because El Tejado’s green chile remains rock solid. This is a classic Colorado green chile, gravy-like and studded with pork, sometimes tinged a little more orange than green. While […]
The Rio Grande got its start in 1986 in Fort Collins, where college students came to rely on the incredibly strong margaritas — limit three per customer, and no revealing the secret recipe — and big plates of gringo Mexican fare. Today, inspired by owner Pat McGaughran’s early trips to the Yucatan peninsula, the menu […]
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La Fiesta celebrated sixty years in business in 2023, making it one of Denver’s oldest restaurants that’s still operating in the same location and run by the same family that founded it. Located in a former Safeway, it doles out Denver’s unique style of Mexican food done right. While the late-night dance parties of decades […]
The atmosphere at El Camino is fun and welcoming, and so is the food. While the board is too heavy on things like molten cheese and too light on things like intestines to really sate a craving for authentic Mexican food, it’s also not hip like the menu at one of Rick Bayless’s upscale Chicago […]
There’s magic in Mezcal’s off-hours, when it’s just a quiet little neighborhood spot for simple, traditional Tijuana street food in a comfy-funky atmosphere (thanks to an extensive remodel in 2015). Friday night? That’s different. That’s when the kids come — backflow from the Bluebird Theater and shock troops of the local hipsterati in their weekend […]
A friendly neighborhood joint just east of LoDo, Old Curtis Street is one of Denver’s best kept secrets. The atmosphere recalls the warm and welcoming vibe of an old diner. The food and drink prices are beyond fair. With live music three nights a week, bringing everything from punk and indie bands to house DJs, […]
With a history that dates back more than a century, the Buffalo Restaurant & Bar is one of the more popular spots in downtown Idaho Springs. With antique bars that were built in the 1860s and an awesome collection of antique signs, the Buffalo no doubt has a historic feel. The bar serves a decent […]
Down in Texas, right on the border between El Paso and Juarez, there’s a stand – actually, a shack – that sells the best tamales in the known universe. But they’re only slightly better than the green-chile tamales sold every day at La Popular. These fat rolls of masa, pork and whole chunks of fiery […]
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The original Brewery Bar opened in the old Tivoli brewery – which is now the Auraria Campus student union – and moved to Kalamath Street while Nixon was still in office (hence the II in the name). The bar is decked out with sports memorabilia and is host to a crew of regulars who gather […]
Colorado is known for its homegrown big-burrito chains. Illegal Pete’s isn’t the largest, but it’s big on flavor, with a wide-ranging menu that includes everything from the standard chicken- and carnitas-based burritos to versions with fish or potatoes as the main event. The ingredients are all carefully balanced before the burrito is wrapped, ensuring that […]
Wahoo’s Fish Taco, a chain with outposts in California and Colorado, specializes in seafood prepared Baja style. You can get your fish (or shrimp) served on signature grilled corn tortillas for a taco, rolled up in a burrito or mixed into a bowl, but if you’d rather have chicken or pork or carne asada, Wahoo’s […]
The grilled mahi-mahi tacos alone are worth a stop at this fun, Baja-inspired space that specializes in tortillas filled with fish done healthy. Much of the food is made to order, and it’s all delivered in abundance, with rice and black beans rounding out the plates. Wahoo’s also makes an exceptional margarita.
The Rio Grande got its start in 1986 in Fort Collins, where college students came to rely on the incredibly strong margaritas — limit three per customer, and no revealing the secret recipe — and big plates of gringo Mexican fare. Today, inspired by owner Pat McGaughran’s early trips to the Yucatan peninsula, the menu […]
El Noa Noa opened in is a longtime neighborhood favorite — it opened way back in 1980 — that’s survived not only the encroaching trade of the Santa Fe Arts District, but a location next door to El Taco de Mexico, Denver’s most authentic Mexican lunch-counter taqueria. El Noa Noa has charms of its own, […]
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Pete Contos, the late Greek restaurant magnate, purchased the Satire over sixty years ago. From its classic neon sign to its legendary history (Bob Dylan and the Smothers Brothers both performed here), this spot is old Denver through and through, even following a recent update and remodel headed up by Contos’s grandson Alex Barakos. The […]
Inside this unassuming but very brightly painted, salmon-toned building, the Sierra family makes fabulous Mexican food. The pork carnitas are melt-in-your-mouth delicious, and the guacamole is always freshly mashed. Our favorite, though, is the crispy chile relleno, a poblano stuffed with Jack cheese and deep-fried, then buried under a blanket of fiery green chile.
An unexpected Mexican gem in a strip mall, El Lucero makes a mean green, and the daily specials are always interesting. But it also puts together the best tacos al carbon we’ve found, with beef so soft and salty it’s like eating buttery popcorn. No one speaks much English, but “yum” is universal.
Denver is the fast-casual restaurant capital of the country, and it has Chipotle to thank for that honor. Steve Ells launched his burrito chain in a former Dolly Madison ice cream parlor back in 1992, marrying high-end culinary technique with Mexican flavor and counter service. It’s now commonplace to move down a line and assemble […]