First Look: Los Dos Potrillos Opens in Denver…Finally

Some of the scene’s biggest restaurateurs have been complaining that it’s impossible to do business in Denver and are now looking for opportunities outside the city…sometimes outside the state. But one of the metro area’s most successful homegrown chains just opened its first location inside Denver city limits.

Los Dos Potrillos founder Jose Ramirez grew up on the Northside, where he got his first job bagging at a grocery store when he was thirteen. He later worked as a server at Las Palmas, working sixty to seventy hours a week and saving up enough money to start his own restaurant. When he opened the first Los Dos Potrillos at 8251 South Holly Street in Centennial in 2002, he had just $5.18 left in his bank account.

With the addition of a massive Los Dos Potrillos in the former Hacienda Colorado space just off South Colorado Boulevard, the family business now has six locations; the rest are in the southern suburbs of Littleton, Highlands Ranch, Parker and Castle Rock (an attempt at counter-casual in Northglenn shut down earlier this year).

In 2019, the year Jose was elevated to the Colorado Restaurant Association Hall of Fame (I was honored to be in that class, too), sons Daniel and Luis Ramirez took over as co-CEOs of the Ramirez Hospitality Group. “My father created his American dream; now we have the ability to create the American dream for others,” Daniel said when he and his brother were named two of Westword‘s people to watch in 2023.

A longtime fan of divier Mexican restaurants close to downtown, I didn’t discover Los Dos Potrillos until my parents moved to Centennial a decade ago; the original’s giant, make-your-own taco platters became a go-to for takeout through the early days of COVID. But I still longed for a location closer to my office, maybe even in Denver.

And now Denver finally has its own Los Dos Potrillos, which officially opened on April 15.

The New Location

The Denver spot is incredibly convenient, right off both Interstate 25 and Colorado Boulevard, with a big parking lot. The building that had become a graffitied eyesore has been buffed up; the interior has been brightened since its days as Hacienda Colorado with a smart, sleek remodel. There’s a large bar in the center of the main room that’s surrounded by clean and comfortable dining areas; an outdoor patio promises to be the ideal place to down those giant house margs come summer.

While it looks more upscale than the original, there’s nothing off-putting about the space…and the servers are just as friendly as at the original.

The Menu

All the Los Dos favorites are on the massive menu, from burritos to ceviche to chamarro, the giant ham hock that’s supposed to take extra time, but arrived at our table faster than a stampeding hog. For a place that was packed, the service was very swift (unlike a recent breakfast at the original, where we waited at our table ninety minutes for our food).

The delicious barbacoa queso tacos that are only available Monday through Thursday had disappeared before we arrived; we settled for street tacos. And unlike other eateries that hold you up for add-ons, the sides of shrimp and guac were each a reasonable three bucks.

The Wrap-Up

Once we polish off the last of the pig that we took home, we’ll definitely be back. But fair warning: Like all the other Los Dos locations, this one does not take reservations…so be prepared to wait. Fortunately, you can down a house marg or two while you do.

Los Dos Potrillos is now open from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily at 4100 East Mexico Avenue in Denver; get more information at los2potrillos.com.