Best Burrito to Go 2001 | The Burrito Co. | Best of Denver® | Best Restaurants, Bars, Clubs, Music and Stores in Denver | Westword
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Best Burrito to Go

The Burrito Co.

If you have a big hunger and not much time, head for the Burrito Co. All day long, people keep pulling up to this takeout-only spot on Santa Fe. They get in line, choose from dozens of possible orders (our favorites all involve the succulent shredded beef), wait about two minutes -- and then collect their orders at the handy service window. Each burrito comes individually, and tightly, wrapped in foil, letting off a puff of steam when it's undone and consumed -- often in the parking lot, usually within seconds. Remember to pack out your garbage.

Best Tamales

La Casita, La Casa de Tamales

Paul Sandoval is the masa of his domains, since his two spots -- La Casita and La Casa de Tamales -- still serve up the best tamales in town. These little corn-husk-covered delicacies -- at once soft, moist, mealy and chewy -- come red (chile mixed with pork), green (chile with cheese) and vegetarian (with jalapeos, tomatoes, corn and onions). A dozen will set you back less than $8 and fill you up for days.

Best Tamales

La Casita, La Casa de Tamales

Paul Sandoval is the masa of his domains, since his two spots -- La Casita and La Casa de Tamales -- still serve up the best tamales in town. These little corn-husk-covered delicacies -- at once soft, moist, mealy and chewy -- come red (chile mixed with pork), green (chile with cheese) and vegetarian (with jalapeños, tomatoes, corn and onions). A dozen will set you back less than $8 and fill you up for days.

Best Red Chile

Julia Blackbird's

Julia Blackbird's, a charming little eatery that stands in northwest Denver but has its heart in New Mexico, makes a red sauce that's as multi-layered, deeply colored and earthy as red-rock country. Made from chiles grown in Chimayo, a town about 25 miles north of Santa Fe, this sauce benefits mightily from the chiles' rich flavor and slight heat. Try it as part of the "three sisters" entree: three enchiladas accompanied by Julia's trio of chiles.

Best Red Chile

Julia Blackbird's

Julia Blackbird's, a charming little eatery that stands in northwest Denver but has its heart in New Mexico, makes a red sauce that's as multi-layered, deeply colored and earthy as red-rock country. Made from chiles grown in Chimayo, a town about 25 miles north of Santa Fe, this sauce benefits mightily from the chiles' rich flavor and slight heat. Try it as part of the "three sisters" entree: three enchiladas accompanied by Julia's trio of chiles.

Best Power Breakfast

Rialto Cafe

At night, the Rialto Cafe is one of the snazziest restaurants around, offering both live jazz and some of the most decadent desserts imaginable. But in the morning, starting at an eye-popping 5:30 a.m., the Rialto gets down to business -- serious business. This discreet, dimly lit space is just the place for the solo salesman to get his thoughts together for that big meeting, or for local power-mongers to lay out their plans for taking over the world -- or at least that block out by Lowry. The Rialto's kitchen does its bit by serving up serious power food: omelettes made from smoked salmon; roasted-red-pepper cream cheese and artichoke hearts; chorizo-stuffed breakfast burritos; and, for the heavy-hitters going light, fresh juice and homemade pastries.

Best Power Breakfast

Rialto Cafe

At night, the Rialto Cafe is one of the snazziest restaurants around, offering both live jazz and some of the most decadent desserts imaginable. But in the morning, starting at an eye-popping 5:30 a.m., the Rialto gets down to business -- serious business. This discreet, dimly lit space is just the place for the solo salesman to get his thoughts together for that big meeting, or for local power-mongers to lay out their plans for taking over the world -- or at least that block out by Lowry. The Rialto's kitchen does its bit by serving up serious power food: omelettes made from smoked salmon; roasted-red-pepper cream cheese and artichoke hearts; chorizo-stuffed breakfast burritos; and, for the heavy-hitters going light, fresh juice and homemade pastries.

Best Fried Chicken

Smacks Cafe

Smacks Cafe is a very small eatery that sits in a strip mall and looks like the sandwich shop it used to be. In short, you'd never expect the place to fry up the best chicken this side of the Mississippi, but that's exactly what Smacks does. Deep-fried to order, the fried chicken can take anywhere from fifteen to thirty minutes, depending on how busy this rib joint is -- but it's always worth the wait. Each piece (a half-bird's worth to an order) has been lightly salted, barely dusted with flour and then fried until the skin turns into a crisp shell barely holding in all the juicy, salty, lightly greasy flesh beneath. Add a side of homemade cornbread, macaroni blanketed with freshly grated cheese, and Smacks' down-home collard and mustard greens, as well as a slice of white cake, and your mouth's gone south for the winter.

Best Fried Chicken

Smacks Cafe

Smacks Cafe is a very small eatery that sits in a strip mall and looks like the sandwich shop it used to be. In short, you'd never expect the place to fry up the best chicken this side of the Mississippi, but that's exactly what Smacks does. Deep-fried to order, the fried chicken can take anywhere from fifteen to thirty minutes, depending on how busy this rib joint is -- but it's always worth the wait. Each piece (a half-bird's worth to an order) has been lightly salted, barely dusted with flour and then fried until the skin turns into a crisp shell barely holding in all the juicy, salty, lightly greasy flesh beneath. Add a side of homemade cornbread, macaroni blanketed with freshly grated cheese, and Smacks' down-home collard and mustard greens, as well as a slice of white cake, and your mouth's gone south for the winter.

Best Free Happy Hour

Del Mar Crab House

Don't be crabby: Join the downtown club that's already found the best place to get happy -- and fed -- as the weekend swings into action. When you buy two drinks during Friday's 4-6 p.m. happy hour at Del Mar Crab House, the feed is free -- and it's a real catch, including shrimp-filled quesadillas, peel-your-own shrimp, hot wings, pepper poppers, and tri-color chips with salsa. If your ship came in at work this week, treat your newfound friends by shelling out for some oysters at reduced prices from the raw bar. This place is a pearl.

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