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Enjoying Tacos at Ten of Denver's Best Taquerias

By Danielle Lirette

Wednesday, January 9, 2019 at 5:54 a.m.

Danielle Lirette Carne asada and pastor tacos at Beltran's Meat Market. 1/47

Danielle Lirette Beltran's Meat Market is located at 11920 Washintgon Street in Northglenn. 2/47

Danielle Lirette Beltran's Meat Market opened in 2016. 3/47

Danielle Lirette Beltran's is a complete butcher shop and market as well as a Mexican restaurant. 4/47

Danielle Lirette Swing by Beltran's for tacos and stock up on Mexican specialty items for cooking at home. 5/47

Danielle Lirette El Taco de Mexico has been one of Denver's top taquerias for decades. 6/47

Danielle Lirette El Taco de Mexico is located at 714 Santa Fe Drive. 7/47

Danielle Lirette The bright-yellow building at Seventh and Santa Fe is a beacon for taco lovers. 8/47

Danielle Lirette The food is simple, inexpensive and delicious at El Taco de Mexico. 9/47

Danielle Lirette La Calle Taqueria y Carnitas is located at 1565 West Alameda Avenue. 10/47

Danielle Lirette La Calle's salsa bar is located right next to the order counter. 11/47

Danielle Lirette La Calle's selection ranges from carne asada to specialties like cochinita pibil, Campechana, cabeza and buche. 12/47

Danielle Lirette The owners of La Calle also run Las Tortugas next door. 13/47

Danielle Lirette Tacos el Paisa is located at 1920 Federal Boulevard. 14/47

Danielle Lirette The tacos at El Paisa come five to an order an include birria, adobada and lengua. 15/47

Danielle Lirette Tacos el Paisa is a favorite of northwest Denver residents. 16/47

Danielle Lirette Tacos el Paisa has a full bar, so you can enjoy tequila, cerveza or even Buchanan's Scotch whiskey with your tacos. 17/47

Danielle Lirette Tacos el Paisa is a good choice for Broncos pre-gaming. 18/47

Danielle Lirette Los Carboncitos cooks up tacos at 3757 Pecos Street. 19/47

Danielle Lirette Pull up a bar stool for drinks and tacos at Los Carboncitos. 20/47

Danielle Lirette Los Carboncitos does more than just tacos, like this champiqueso — queso fundido with mushrooms. 21/47

Danielle Lirette Los Carboncitos is at its best after dark, but an afternoon visit means a more relaxing meal. 22/47

Danielle Lirette Los Carboncitos maintains its Old Denver vibe despite the changing neighborhood. 23/47

Danielle Lirette Tacos Acapulco takes up a tiny hut at 8890 East Colfax Avenue. 24/47

Danielle Lirette You won't find better tacos al pastor than those at Tacos Acapulco. 25/47

Danielle Lirette Tacos Acapulco also specializes in Salvadoran pupusas. 26/47

Danielle Lirette There are only a few seats inside Tacos Acapulco. 27/47

Danielle Lirette Tacos Acapulco is the last stop for tacos before you leave Denver city limits heading east on Colfax. 28/47

Danielle Lirette Tacos el Metate serves tacos at 1742 South Chambers Road in Aurora. 29/47

Danielle Lirette Pescado (fried fish) and barbacoa tacos at Tacos el Metate. 30/47

Danielle Lirette Tacos el Metate opened in early 2017, and its newness is evident in the sparse, modern decor. 31/47

Danielle Lirette A metate is a rectangular stone slab used for grinding grain or other ingredients. 32/47

Danielle Lirette Tacos el Metate is hidden in one of Aurora's many strip malls. 33/47

Danielle Lirette Taqueria Corona is located at 2222 South Havana Street in Aurora. 34/47

Danielle Lirette Taqueria Corona is named after the family that runs the business, not for the Mexican beer. 35/47

Danielle Lirette Taqueria Corona serves traditional Mexican antojitos and beverages. 36/47

Danielle Lirette Taqueria Corona served one of our favorite dishes from a year of exploring Havana Street restaurants. 37/47

Danielle Lirette El Trompito Taqueria is located at 1540 West 70th Avenue on Denver's northern border. 38/47

Danielle Lirette Staff at El Trompito Taqueria say UFC fighter Rose Namajunas has been known to stop in for a bite. Her favorite dish is the chicken enchiladas. 39/47

Danielle Lirette Poblano chiles grilling at El Trompito. 40/47

Danielle Lirette El Trompito Taqueria specializes in the food of Mexico City and the surrounding area. 41/47

Danielle Lirette In addition to tacos, El Trompito serves pambazos, molletes, enchiladas chilangos and other dishes that are hard to find elsewhere in Denver. 42/47

Danielle Lirette Garibaldi Mexican Bistro is located at 3298 South Broadway in downtown Englewood. 43/47

Danielle Lirette Garibaldi lets customers decorate the walls of the dining room. 44/47

Danielle Lirette Chorizo and skirt steak blue-corn tacos at Garibaldi Mexican Bistro. 45/47

Danielle Lirette Garibaldi is located between the convenience store and car wash of a Conoco station. 46/47

Danielle Lirette Customers share their enthusiasm on the walls at Garibaldi. 47/47

Enjoying Tacos at Ten of Denver's Best Taquerias

The tortilla is the cornerstone of Mexican cuisine, and what better way to enjoy a tortilla than as the foundation of a taco? Slow-cooked or quick-seared meats, chiles or nopales; a shower of fresh onions and cilantro; and a blazing salsa in red or green are all you need. Here are ten of our favorite taquerias in metro Denver.

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