Denver's Best Mexican Restaurants

Get a Taste of Mexico

Image by pj mac

Maybe it's our Southwest region or our large Hispanic population. Whatever it is, though, one thing is clear: Mexican and Americanized Mexican restaurants are some of the most popular dining establishments around. There are abundant choices for when the craving hits, ranging from cheap and filling dishes stuffed with meat, beans, cheese and salsa to artfully prepared dishes combining Mexican traditions with modern culinary trends.

1. Lola

Mexican fare isn't what first comes to mind when you think weekend brunch, but this is when Lola is at its busiest. Heavy on seafood, coastal Mexican dishes are the restaurant's mainstay, though the brunch menu combines American favorites like eggs with Mexican dishes such as chorizo. Stop the roving guacamole cart as it wheels by and get fresh guacamole prepared right at your table, spiced to your preference.

A shaded outdoor patio seating make the Highland restaurant one of the hippest spots for a meal in our city. Another notch on its belt of achievements, Lola holds one of the country's most extensive selections of this blue agave-derived liquor. Even if it is a little early for you to start really drinking, think about having a tequila-based Mexican Mimosa or a chile-infused Bloody Maria.

2. Tamayo

Upscale modern Mexican dishes, employing bold flavors and unexpected taste pairings, are the specialty and culinary invention of Tamayo's famous chef, Richard Sandoval. Note that the emphasis here is on modern Mexican, which means that you won't get the authentic tastes of Mexico but instead cuisine that is based off of many of the country's unique flavors. The LoDo restaurant's main room is topped by a cute little rooftop lounge that affords wonderful views of the city and the nearby Rocky Mountains. For an early evening treat, the rooftop also has some nice, reasonably priced happy hour drinks and dishes.

3. Tacos y Salsas #3

Unmoved by the popular fusion trends of modern restaurants, Tacos y Salsas #3 on South Federal sticks to a menu of standard Mexican fare. With dishes like you would see in Mexico, the authentic taste and preparation of every dish brings them to another level of quality. The food is very affordable, and you get what you would expect for those prices, but the cheap tacos and a wide selection of salsas, red and green, have made it a huge hit. Topped off with a cold beer, mariachi music and vibrantly bright decorations, Tacos y Salsas #3 is an excellent lunchtime destination.

5. Los Carboncitos

Open early and open late, huge portions of Mexican dishes ranging from eggs with chorizo in the morning to huaraches with chicken or pork, draw crowds around the clock. Affordable, convenient and offering prompt service from its Highland location, Los Carboncitos doesn't look like much from the outside. But once you give it a try, you'll love the authentic-tasting Mexican food served with a few strange quirks that give the restaurant a distinctive culinary style.