This is SERIOUS!! Mexican Food? (Denver, Colorado Springs: lawyer, safe, friendly)

[janetjanetbobanet]

Originally Posted by manitou_chick

By far the best Mexican food I have had is at the following:

La Unica Authentico, W. Colorado Ave. **Unbeatable service and tasty-ass food! Best Chile Rellanos made with POBLANO peppers NOT Anaheim... super yummy..prices are a bit high..but well worth it...

I tried this place yesterday evening and found they had probably the best fajitas I have ever eaten. It appears to be a family operation, and, as you say, the prices are a little higher than some but well worth it to us. We ended up there because the parking lot was full at Amanda's down the street and were glad we got diverted.

[Mike from back east]

Originally Posted by janetjanetbobanet

I tried this place yesterday evening and found they had probably the best fajitas I have ever eaten. It appears to be a family operation, and, as you say, the prices are a little higher than some but well worth it to us. We ended up there because the parking lot was full at Amanda's down the street and were glad we got diverted.

Agree, La Unica Authentico on W. Colorado Ave in Old Colorado City has good food. I believe chile relleno's are available only on weekends, best to call ahead (we went on a Thursday night and they made me a couple since I asked for them). It seems a family place in the old-school manner, with a grade-schooler sitting at a table and doing her homework while Momma waited tables or cooked.

I also happen to think that Amanda's is over-rated, having been there twice and not being at all wow'd by the food. Though it was decent fare it did not strike me as worth going back. I suspect the big draw at Amanda's is being able to sit by the flowing stream to sip margarita's, it's large parking lot and it's proximity to Manitou Springs (where parking is always a nuisance for restaurant goers).

[caliegirl]

i'm surprised no one has mentioned the loop in manitou springs....black orchid is the best

[westernhalf]

We like Pueblo Viejo on North Academy. Not sure, but it looks to be family-owned, and I loved my mole dish when we were there the other night. I've heard good things about the Three Margaritas restaurant at Austin Bluffs and Academy, too. Particularly their fried ice cream.

[jrbd]

Another vote for La Casita. We always joke that any Mexican restaurant has to pass the "La Casita test" to go on our list, meaning they have to have good food at comparable prices. To date none have passed.

[dpitts]

I tried La Unica Authentico this week. The food was very good. The chicken tacos were made with both dark and white meat. If you like only white or dark you can make a special request. I met the older daughter and she was very nice. Enchiladas were great. I am also a big fan of home-made chips. i was disappointed that the chips were not home-made but the salsa was spicy and quite tasty. She told me her dad did not have a large enough fryer to make the chips but all the taco shells and tortillas for the food were all home-made. All in all a great dinner. A little far from me though. I want to know where the home made chips are at. Any suggestions?

[js22]

I eat out a lot in COS and like to hit the Mexican places pretty often. Most of my faves have been mentioned, but here are a couple that haven't been mentioned yet :


Cafe El Paso : North Nevada, near the national headquarters of Western Horseman Magazine (bet you didn't know our city was that important !) I'd call them a slightly yuppie version of authentic El Paso Mexican. (???) Margaritas OK, the red chili is awesome. The beans are actually worth eating.

Another that hasn't been mentioned is El Tesoro, on (search for the pun ) Sierra Madre, sort of behind the Antlers Hotel downtown. The food is creative and well-done, but it's somewhat pricey and probably not typical of anything in Mexico. The margaritas are sweetened with honey.


And I do realize it's not Mexican, but since it's vaguely the same latitude, I'd strongly recommend Cubanacan (Miami Cuban), just south of the Burger King on Platte and Union. Don't be put off by the sketchy parking lot. Great food, live music (Sat. PM, anyways.), good Mojitos. Cool crowd. Makes me wish I liked dancing.


Someone already mentioned La Carretta (at Iowa and Kiowa) but it deserves another plug for a family-friendly, very non-chain neighborhood joint.

[Bill Carson]

We ate at Pueblo Viejo on North Academy Saturday night. It was very good, and I would go back again and again. Note, however, that I would not characterize Pueblo Viejo as TexMex, so if you are coming from Texas you might have to adjust your taste buds accordingly.

[treedonkey]

Whether or not you can get good mexican food near COS depends on what type of mexican food you like:
Sonoran (Baja CA) mexican (maybe)
Mainland (Mexico City) mexican (no)
Yucatan mexican (maybe)
San Diego mexican (no)
LA mexican (yes)
NorCal Mexican (maybe)
Tex-Mex (probably)
New-Mex mex (almost definately)
Chain food mex (YES)
Fast food mex (YES)
Luncheria (Taco Shack) mex (probably, if you don;t mind driving a ways)

My favorite is Sonoran mex which you can get pretty easily in San Diego, but move anyplace north of SD county and you're hard pressed to fins a single burrito that is not stuffed with orange rice as filler. If you don't mind chain mex, Tres Margaritas has a few locations in the COS area and is actually pretty good. I haven't found any real authentic taquerias yet, although I've heard a few rumors. We'll see.

[alphaluce]

I have to agree with a few others: sorry but; Amanda's Fonda is overrated. Whatever regional flavors you search and yearn for, I would recommend (highly) a visit to the tiny establishment on Colorado Ave: El Taco Rey. Family owned; their avocado-pork burrito has garnered national recognition, though my frequent fix is the plain ole, exceptionally tasty, beef and bean burrito. Typically, they get verrry busy at lunch time. I recommend phoning orders in ahead of time, or prepare to stand in a long line. hmmm...on second thought, ignore......