There are the ever-nostalgic crunchy hard-shell tacos and the even more memorable fluffy soft-shell tacos, but if you haven’t had the chance to sink your teeth into the tiny but bold street taco, then you certainly are missing out.
Luckily, if you find yourself in the Mile High City, there’s no shortage of must-try street taco spots. To help you narrow down your search, we rounded up our 10 favorite street taco shops. From traditional tacos al pastor to corn tortillas filled with beef tongue, pork belly, or grilled shiitakes, these 10 go-to taco hubs will be sure to please even the pickiest of eaters. So, whether your goal is to expand your little one’s palate, or to discover a fun new date night spot for you and your partner, make sure these shops are at the top of your list.
Kachina Southwestern Grill
Address: 1890 Wazee St., Denver, CO 80202
Hours: Monday – Friday, 11 a.m. – 10 p.m. | Saturday & Sunday, 10 a.m. – 10 p.m.
Phone: 720-460-2728
If you’re in search of an indoor-outdoor spot with a cozy patio, vibrant and eclectic interior decor, and an open, airy flow, look no further than recently opened Dairy Block addition Kachina. Not only can the adults enjoy a delicious cocktail or two, but children also can partake in a fun, fruity beverage sans alcohol, such as the Desert Pear, with prickly pear puree, lemon juice, raw sugar syrup, and cucumber water. Don’t forget to dive into one of the many Navajo taco offerings, such as the Pueblo taco, made with tequila carnitas, tomatillo salsa, jalapeño jack, and a crunchy Brussels sprout slaw.
Leña
Address: 24 Broadway, Denver, CO 80218
Happy hour: Sunday – Thursday, 5 p.m. – 6 p.m. | Friday & Saturday, 4 p.m. – 6 p.m.
Phone: 720-550-7267
Family time is important. We all understand that. But, sometimes you just need some time alone with your partner — or yourself. (Just make sure that you don’t forget to lock down your babysitter before you make reservations!)
At this little South Broadway gem, happy hour is the perfect excuse to get away, even just for an hour or two. Enjoy a handcrafted house margarita for $5 and the daily rotating taco special, like the one above, with blood sausage, aji panca crema, and an apple, tomato, jalapeño slaw, all served on scratch-made corn tortillas.
Fun fact: Corn tortillas are made daily in-house by a very dedicated staff. The entire process to make grits, tacos, and corn tortillas takes 24 hours start to finish.
Tacos Tequila Whiskey
Locations:
- City Park: 1514 York St., Denver, CO 80206 | P: 720-475-1337
- The Highlands: 3300 West 32nd Ave., Denver, CO 80211 | P: 720-502-4608
Hours: Monday, 3 p.m. – 10 p.m. | Tuesday – Saturday, 11 a.m. – 10 p.m. | Sunday, 11 a.m. – 9 p.m.
Not only is Tacos Tequila Whiskey a staple in Denver’s dining scene, but luckily the city can now boast two locations for double the enjoyment. Since the first location opened in 2011, the only thing that has really changed is the name — from Pinche to TTW. The cocktails have remained sassy, spicy, and all around delicious, but the real stars are the street tacos. Fifteen varieties of tacos sprawl across the menu. Try the carnitas taco with crispy, juicy roasted pork, avocado crema, and pickled red onions.
Adelita’s Cocina Y Cantina
Address: 1294 S. Broadway, Denver, CO 80210
Hours: Sunday, 10 a.m. – 10 p.m. | Monday, 11 a.m. – 10 p.m. | Tuesday – Friday, 11 a.m. – 11 p.m. | Saturday, 10 a.m. – 11 p.m.
Phone: 303-778-1294
Adelita’s is known for serving up tasty authentic Mexican cuisine, so it’s no surprise their tacos — served in groups of three with the option to mix and match various flavors (excluding fish and camerones) — are just as drool-worthy. Try the lengua taco with beef tongue simmered in onion, garlic, and spice then served on a corn tortilla with diced onions, cilantro, and tomatillo salsa, then wash it all down with a house margarita.
Los Chingones
Address: 2463 Larimer St., Denver, CO 80205
Hours: Sunday, 11:30 a.m. – 9 p.m. | Monday – Thursday, 11:30 a.m. – 10 p.m. | Friday & Saturday, 11:30 a.m. – 11 p.m.
Phone: 303-295-0686
Located in the ever-booming RiNo neighborhood, Los Chingones is no stranger to creating delicious Mexican fare. With three category options in the taco department (signature, featured, and seasonal), there is a little something for everyone. If you’ve never explored the lamb neck possibilities, then the time is now. Order the lamb neck taco with onion, cilantro, and chili pasilla. We recommend adding the optional egg.
Lola
Address: 1575 Boulder St., Denver, CO 80211
Happy Hour: All night Monday | Tuesday – Friday, 4 p.m. – 6 p.m. | Saturday & Sunday, 2:30 p.m. – 5 p.m.
Phone: 720-570-8686
Not only is Lola a go-to for the LoHi brunch crowd, but if you’re looking for a certain tequila, I’m sure you’d have a chance of finding it here in the stock of over 200 different types. Check out Lola during happy hour to enjoy the extensive drink list and many tacos, like the roasted poblano taco with poblano rajas, grilled asparagus, fig macha salsa, and pepitas, or the chile braised chicken with a creamy cabbage slaw and cheese.
Las Margs
Address: 1521 N. Marion St., Denver, CO 80218
Hours: Monday, 3 – midnight | Tuesday – Thursday, 8 a.m. – midnight | Friday & Saturday, 8 – 2 a.m. | Sunday, 8 a.m. – midnight
Phone: 720-361-2137
If you’re looking for a weekday taco night without breaking the bank, head to Las Margs in the City Park West neighborhood. Happy hour specials run daily and the tacos are crave-worthy. Try the tinga taco with shredded chicken perfectly seasoned with onions and chipotle then topped with crema and avocado, or the veggie taco with sautéed seasonal veggies, avocado, and queso fresca served with a side of green roasted salsa.
Comida
Address: 3350 Brighton Blvd., Unit 105, Denver, CO 80216
Hours: Sunday, 10 a.m. – 9 p.m. | Monday – Saturday, 11 a.m. – 10 p.m.
Phone: 303-296-2747
Just inside the Source building off Brighton Boulevard is fan-favorite Comida. If you haven’t tried a griddled taco, this is the place to do so. Try any of the tacos on the griddled menu, such as the bacon and jalapeño taco or the sombra ’shroom taco, or explore the street taco fare, such as the camarones a la diabla with spicy shrimp over jalapeño grits, pico de gallo, avocado, lime, house crema, and cotija cheese. Wash down a full plate of tacos with an ice-cold Mexi Coke.
El Camino
Address: 3628 W. 32nd Ave., Denver, CO 80211
Hours: Sunday, 10 a.m. – 1 a.m. | Monday – Friday, 11 a.m. – 1 a.m. | Saturday, 10 a.m. – 1 a.m.
Phone: 720-889-7946
The Highland restaurant El Camino is known for using seasonal and locally sourced ingredients, which is why the menu is constantly changing and rotating. Try the asada tacos with citrus-garlic marinated steak, onion, cilantro, fried pickled jalapeño, and garlic crema and served with your choice of jicama slaw, rice, black beans, or refritos. And while all the dishes that are served out of this kitchen are delicious, don’t forget to order a margarita or two.
Los Carboncitos
Address: 3757 Pecos St., Denver, CO 80211
Hours: Sunday – Thursday, 9 a.m. – 11 p.m. | Friday & Saturday, 9 a.m. – midnight
Phone: 303-458-0880
Los Carboncitos is a local gem on 38th Street in LoHi. And although they don’t serve alcohol, the extensive menu full of authentic Mexican cuisine more than makes up for that. With tacos starting at $2, families can enjoy an evening out together at affordable prices. Dive into delicious bites such as the chuleta taco (pork chop), the chorizo taco, or the bistec taco.
