El Azteca

Located in the basement of Republic Plaza off the 16th Street Mall, El Azteca holds the Mexican-food slot in this throwback food court. (There’s also a Chick-Fil-A, a Falafel King and nods to quick Chinese, Japanese, pizza and…yeah, you get the idea.) But while this is a lunch spot, with a clientele made up almost entirely of local business types on a fast break, El Azteca has been taking pains with its food since the ’90s, when it first introduced Mexican fare with a slight Cuban accent to Denver. This outpost offers all the regular dishes — tacos, burritos, green chile, breakfast burritos — as well as an incredible roasted chicken.