El Taco De Mexico
714 Santa Fe Dr
Denver, CO 80204 (303) 623-3926
- Price Range: $
- Accepts Credit Cards: No
- Parking: Private Lot
- Attire: Casual
- Good for Groups: Yes
- Good for Kids: Yes
- Takes Reservations: No
- Delivers: No
- Take-out: Yes
- Waiter Service: No
- Wheelchair Accessible: Yes
- Outdoor Seating: Yes
- Good for: Lunch, Dinner
22 Reviews for El Taco De Mexico
Been loving this place for over 10 years, some of the best mex in Denver! Their green chili is awesome! The Al Pastor (marinated pork) taco's are the the absolute BEST! If only they poured a margarita.
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Brush up on your Spanish before heading to this Mexican eatery. This way you might truly know what your meat options are. I like trying different foods, but I didn't feel like biting into something that could taste me back.
Small soft tacos with just the right amount of filling. The marinated pork didn't taste marinated, just swimming. The beef taco was pretty damn mouth watering. If I had more cash on me (they only take cash) I may have tried a few other items.
The lady behind the counter seemed annoyed by our presence. Rude, abrupt while we were ordering, no eye contact and frownies. When she got to the next customer she turned a 180 and was all smiles and jolly... maybe because they were Mexican. No loving for the whitey.
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I really like this place. It's a hole in the wall, and the cooks generally ignore me when I come in there, but the food is great. Don't expect exceptional service, and the prices are a bit high, but it's worth it for the tacos de carnitas plate. Mmm good!
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I don't get the hype about this place! It's average Mexican food at best. I guess I've been spoiled by living in California for 9 years, but I can't figure out why Denver doesn't have great Mexican food (it's much better in the southern portion of Colorado, if you ever find yourself in Pueblo or environs).
I know that taste is extremely subjective, but El Taco does not satisfy my Mexican cravings. *le sigh*
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El Taco De Mexico serves authentic tacos you typically find at carts on Federal and such. They're cheap, simple, and the taste is perfect. I agree with the other reviewers that the dining area isn't the best, but service is so fast and the food is so good you'll gobble your lunch and be out of there in no time. I don't think I'll ever get tired of this place.
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This place is fantastic for a quick bite or for a hangover relief!
I like the bar service and the ladies there are really on top of it, even when it's busy as hell which is often.
The green chilie packs a punch and the portions are big and satisfying. There are some pretty creepy things on the menu like tongue....but the breakfast burritos are awesome. the prices are really good too.
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At one time, Denver had relatively few taquerias. But in the last decade, a number of really good taquerias have opened up. The quality of food of El Taco de Mexico is average. However, what I really dislike about the restaurant is the quality of the service. At most Mexican restaurants the employees are cheerful. I find the workers at El Taco de Mexico to be down right rude. It as though they think they are working at a snobby French restaurant. I also dislike the interior of the restaurant. It is cold and unappealing.
I think the reason El Taco de Mexico has such a good reputation it is because it is a place that Anglo hipsters feel relatively safe going into. It is located in a changing neighborhood with up and coming art galleries. The times that I have been in, there have been few Mexicans eating at the restaurant.
In my opinion, the best taqueria in Denver is Los Carboncitos on 7th and Sheridan. They are a true Mexico City style taqueria. Go in there at lunch time and it is filled with working class Mexicans eating a quick meal before they have to get back to work. If you are looking for a really great sit down restaurant, check out El Farolito on 16th and Peoria. They have the best goat and lamb of any Mexican restaurant in Denver.
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Authentic food and service (whatever that means). I had the smothered asada burrito, it was fantastic. Big, tasty, fast. Definitely will be coming back here. As others noted- we got here a bit before the rush and were the only ones here. 15 minutes later every booth was full.
This restaurant is the best in the world. The best. Ever. The best. Can I stress best and ever? Best ever. I would give this 8 stars if I could. Yelp poses the question, "Last meal on earth?" I answer El Taco. Resoundingly. No hesitation. Amazing.
I cant even write a verbose review of this place because it renders me a drooling, hungry, lonely, nostalgic mess.
Their special burrito, smothered, is the single greatest food item to ever be created. The second best item is one of their asada tacos. And their salsa, oh my god, their salsa.
5 stars. Best ever. Ill fight anyone who tries to deny this taquerias' place in the pantheon of greatness. Ill stab someone....twice.
I live in San Fran, among the best Mexican food cities in the US, and no one touches El Tac. Not even close. They win.
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Excellent from dawn 'til late night. Unfortunately too many great W.word reviews got too many people in there and now they won't leave, Hit the off-times for an easy and fast killer meal. De nalgas!
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I moved to Denver three days ago and was in need of some serious comfort food, being from LA divey late night Mexican is my comfort food and El Taco De Mexico did the trick. The smothered burrito was indeed excellent (per the reviews on here) but either the pastor or something in the burrito had a bit too much black pepper in it (hence only 4 stars) but I'll definitely be back to try the carnitas (my favorite burrito filling).
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Just incredible. I live close by and pass this place often, so of course, I also often stop in.
Try the chile rellanos, or a vegetarian burrito smothered in green chile. The green chile is vegetarian, too!
Oh, and authentic.. so authentic... well, I haven't actually been to Mexico and eaten food actually made authentically, right there in Mexico... however, it sure seems authentic; compared to all of the Mexi-americanized restaurants that abound around the city.
And so so so yummy!! The staff doesn't seem to speak english too well, but they'll understand your order fine and cook it up in no time. Good price, deliciouso food! And yay vegetarian!
oh, dear god...where to begin? i feel more strongly about this place than any other in the city.
order a chile relleno burrito, smothered, then liberally dollop the salsa (that sits out on the counter) onto it.
i promise you, you will experience flavors unlike anywhere else in the city (or entire front range, for that matter).
and yes, the service is aloof. their food rocks, and they know it. i've been going there for 14 years, tip every time, and still never get so much as a smile from the ladies behind the counter. i wouldn't have it any other way. think soup nazi.
who cares if it is authentic? i don't care if 'true' mexican food has NOTHING in common with el taco de mexico's fabulous fare - this place has amazing, esoteric flavor that authentic taquerias in deepest mexico should strive for.
who remembers the old tiny space (on same lot) that had a bug zapper light right above the grill? priceless.
oh yeah - their horchata is great too...
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This place rules. The best green chile in Denver, and maybe anywhere. I was introduced to it by a friend from school, and I'm eternally grateful, because it would have taken me years to discover it on my own. It's not any great secret, as you can tell by all the "Best of..." awards haphazzardly mounted to the walls, it's just so unassuming that I wouldn't have even noticed it there on Santa Fe. I feel like it is my civic duty to introduce as many people to this place as possible. Still, I know of at least one person who refused to eat there because she thought it looked "Icky." Her loss, she can go to Casa Bonita for all I care. Start with a simple rice, bean, and cheese burrito, smothered, and with onions, and then move on from there. I'm pretty sure the ladies who work here never take a day off. The service isn't rude, just very basic, although I would probably tolerate verbal and physical abuse if that's what it took to get this food.
in economics we learned or ignored the concept of supply and demand. With El Taco de Mexico the concept is merited by an example. In other parts of the country (SF), I could get a three taco plate for $1.50 per taco. Here, I must pay $10 for the three taco plate. But because of the supply / demand theory, I gladly pay this and tip, for this is the ONLY place in Denver I have found that even resembles a taqueria-Denverites- don't return your plate complaining that your rice is dirty-I know it''s hard to believe but white rice is not the only rice, cowboy.
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Everything about this lemon-hued, dive Mexican joint in the Golden Triangle neighborhood is tiny (it holds only five booths and a handful of bar stools) except the big, bold flavors and the burly guys with flatbeds and engine-revving pick-up trucks who jostle for position at the counter.
But these macho types know good food when they see it, which expains why there's never a lapse in crowds. There's not a miss on the menu: Soft corn tacos brimming with marinated or fried steak or pork, meaty chicken enchiladas, a deliriously delicious chile relleno burrito smothered with a fiery green chile, and a smoky salsa that packs a wallop.
My only complaint? There's no chips to go with the salsa. There today, gone the next. Do what I do and bring your own.
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El Taco de Mexico serves it up just the way you like it. Hott. And after a wait of 20 minutes to 1 hour for a table, you are hungree. Then there is no room at the table for all of your friends and it is quite the predicament. And then you see two of your ex-boyfriend's friends and try to be really nice so they will say really nice things about you.
This place is often crowed, especially during First Fridays. I wouldn't expect you'd be lucky enough to find a parking space here. You probably will find 13 to 20 acquaintances of yours and your friends so keep the mood up. Come to b social; don't eat your burrito in the corner. Oh yeah, they have food here too.
A well-kept secret among Denver's working class and young hipsters alike, El Taco Del Mexico is likely one of the most authentic Mexican dining and atmospheric experiences in the Denver area. Its clean "diner" feel is the perfect backdrop to fantastic, fresh Mexican food.
Prices are reasonable (comparable to Chipotle, another locally-owned burrito joint, just now going national), at about five dollars for the average meal. Orders are ready fairly quickly.
One very interesting thing about El Taco is the fact that I have never seen a man behind the counter. Of the ten or so times I've been, I've seen only women. Also, it is worth mentioning that the service is fairly "cold". Do not fear, though, as it seems to be superficial only.
I highly recommend the Smothered Burrito, a large pork burrito covered in delicious green chili.
Before Chipotle was serving giant gringo burittos there was a little yellow shack on Sante Fe Drive (it seated maybe eight people at the counter) serving authentic giant burritos filled with refried beans (not black beans), rice and a wide selection of flavorful stuffings such as pork, beef, chile rellenos, cheek meat and brains. Now the little yellow shack is a bit bigger (still yellow) but the food hasn't changed. Try the tacos al pastor with a spoonful of hot sauce or stop in for a breakfast burrito on the way in to work. This is a good place to kick off a first friday artwalk down Sante Fe (stay with the Latino theme and head over to the CHAC gallery).
ah...how i fondly remember my first true mexican food. it was in the old place, the shack with the bars on the windows. do you remember? love the chili relleno burrito and i still haven't found a better horchata.
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Their burritos al pastor are awesome.
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