Michael Diaz de Leon Opening Molino Chido at Stanley

"I'm just ready to have a seat at the table."

July 17, 2025

Image: man in black shirt standing by truck

Michael Diaz de Leon is back in Denver, and ready to set his table. Michael Diaz de Leon

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“It's hard when you leave something that you’ve established, that you’re so comfortable with. To take that leap was scary, but I knew in my heart that I had to do it," said award-winning chef Michael Diaz de Leon in announcing his November 2023 exit as executive chef of Brutø, the Id Est Hospitality restaurant he'd helmed since 2020 that just months before had won a star at Colorado's first Michelin awards ceremony.

His leap started with spending more time with his family, then taking a trip to Uruguay and visiting his hometown of El Paso, the first time he'd been back in five years.

When he returned early last year, de Leon did a pop-up with Tommy Lee, the founder of Uncle and Hop Alley who'd also gotten a Michelin nod. “Me and Tommy have an amazing relationship together,” he shared. “He’s always been a very kind mentor to me. I just admire his work in this community as a restaurateur.”

At the time, de Leon said he planned to open his own Denver restaurant in 2025 that would encapsulate his love of wood-fired cooking, sustainable practices and local agriculture. “I’m just ready to have a seat at the table,” he said. ”If it’s not at their table, I’m going to build my own table.”

click to enlarge

Michael Diaz de Leon Instagram

Now he is...and judging from his recent post on Instagram, de Leon will partner with Lee on that project, which will have a very nice place for that table: De Leon will be opening a spot at Stanley Marketplace, taking on the former home of Comida, which Rayme Rossello closed last September. A spray-painted message outside the under-construction area indicates the name of the Mexico City-inspired taqueria will be Molino Chido.

"We are beyond thrilled to have such talented and wonderful people like Tommy and Michael joining forces to create something entirely new and doing it at Stanley," says Allyson Fredeen, special projects for Westfield, co-owner of the Stanley. "It is exciting for the community. It's a win for Aurora, and we are proud to continue offering our visitors diverse and eclectic dining experiences."

Among the dining spots at Stanley are the award-winning Annette and Miska, just named one of the best places for sushi in the metro area.

Watch for Molino Chido to join the lineup sometime this fall.

Patricia Calhoun is editor-in-chief of Westword, the alt-weekly she co-founded in September 1977. She’s been inducted into the Colorado Press Association Hall of Fame, the Association of Alternative Newsmedia Hall of Fame and the Colorado Restaurant Association Hall of Fame. She’s also received dozens of local, state and national awards for writing, including first place for feature writing and first place for column writing with the Society of Professional Journalists. Patricia is a weekly commentator on Colorado Inside Out, PBS 12's public affairs roundtable, which has won two Emmys.

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