Denver, Colorado is a great destination for those looking to explore the traditional Mexican cuisine. From La Calle Taqueria Y Carnitas to El Noa Noa, there are plenty of restaurants offering authentic Mexican dishes. La Calle Taqueria Y Carnitas specializes in tacos and barbecue, while Chakas Mexican Restaurant has an extensive menu with drinks, breakfast, lunch, dinner and dessert. La Fogata is a great option for vegetarians, and El Noa Noa is known for serving homemade Mexican cuisine with no frills.
Los Chingones is the perfect place to enjoy modern Mexican cuisine in the Rino neighborhood, and Machete Tequila + Tacos offers an extensive tequila menu and unusual taco fillings. La Diabla Pozole and Mezcal is the first restaurant in Denver dedicated to pozole, a traditional Mexican soup. Chili Verde in Sloan Lake serves Crepas Poblanas, a crepe filled with shredded chicken cooked over low heat and seasoned with creamy poblano sauce. Kachina Southwestern Grill at Maven Hotel has an ostentatious retro-romantic atmosphere and serves Navajo tacos.
Finally, Toro Latin Kitchen+ Lounge at Clio Hotel presents a progressive and eclectic wave of global flavors. When it comes to traditional Mexican cuisine, Denver has something for everyone. From drool-worthy chili peppers to roasted meat, chicken mole, shrimp tacos and more, you can find all your favorite home-cooked dishes. Many restaurants also offer happy hour every day from 3 to 6 p.m., with delicious margaritas and a full seafood menu. If you're having trouble choosing a single item, they have multiple plates combined.
For drinks, they have a full bar, but the huge list of margaritas made with the unique bittersweet blend steals the show. If you're looking for something different from the traditional Mexican cuisine, Machete Tequila + Tacos is the place for you. At their three locations in Denver (Union Station, Cherry Creek and Congress Park), they have an extensive tequila menu and a wide range of unusual taco fillings. Try the Quesabirria taco made with stewed sirloin stew in adobo, Oaxaca cheese, onion and coriander, or the Lobster taco made with grilled lobster, smoked avocado, corn and Morita chili aioli in a squid ink tortilla. At Chili Verde in Sloan Lake, chef and owner Eder Yanez-Mota's menu includes the rich flavors of Puebla, Mexico, in award-winning dishes such as Crepas Poblanas, a crepe filled with shredded chicken cooked over low heat and seasoned and topped with creamy poblano sauce. They also have a wide selection of gluten-free options available. When chef José Ávila opened La Diabla Pozole and Mezcal in Five Points, he set out to honor his roots in Mexico City at the first restaurant in Denver dedicated to pozole, a traditional Mexican soup made with homemade nixtamalized Mexican corn, flavored broth, lettuce or shredded cabbage, radish, onion, lime and meat.
Combine your pozole with an exclusive cocktail for a complete experience. Kachina Southwestern Grill at Maven Hotel has an ostentatious retro-romantic atmosphere and serves Navajo tacos. The main dining room has adobo details, marble tables and orange and turquoise banquettes that pay homage to the colors rooted in the Southwest. Chef and prolific restaurateur Richard Sandoval presents a progressive and eclectic wave of global flavors at Toro Latin Kitchen+ Lounge at Clio Hotel in Cherry Creek. Sandoval's menu clings to ingredients from Brazil, Argentina, Asia, Japan, Venezuela and Mexico for a melting pot of vivid flavors that dazzle on the plate.
