Any good Mexican Restaurants in Douglas County? (Denver, Englewood: living in, prices)

[BTNS_TX]

Had lunch at El Meson this past week and thought it was pretty good. It's your basic Tex-Mex, good salsa, tender fajitas, very thick sopapillas.

It's a little place right next to Shea Stadium off of Santa Fe (US 85) and Town Center, about 15 minutes north from Castle Rock.

[kristenfromdenver]

According the the Baja Fresh there's one in downtown denver = is it really that good - doesn't look to great on the website!

Denver Downtown 18th x Champa
(303) 296-1800



999 18th St.
Denver, CO 80202
map and directions

[ditto]

Baja Fresh doesn't appeal to me. Actually, it is very rare to find a chain that can offer great mexican food.

IMO, the first sign of a bad mexican restaurant is finding ground beef listed anywhere on the menu. Try some of the true gringo places and they'll serve ground unless you request something else. I would be embarrassed to own a place like this.

[tfox]

Originally Posted by jazzlover

Stacked (not rolled) green chile enchiladas with a fried egg on top--a northern New Mexico specialty.

You can actually get stacked green chile enchiladas at "Little Anita's" -- an Albuquerque chain. One of their locations in on Yosemite just south of Arapahoe Road, next door to the Egg and I (not too far away from you Douglas County posters). It's an Albuquerque based chain which is quick-service in nature -- and certainly in Albuquerque Little Anita's falls in the "nothing special" category, but here it's actually quite a decent offering -- well, for fast food anyway. At least it's NM style.

[the3Ds]

At last count, there are 3 Baja Fresh's here in Colorado. Get on their website and they will point them out for you. We live at the one near the Aurora mall.

As far as Mexican goes, we found a place called El Jardin in Commerce City which is great. It was rated #1 Mexican in Denver on one of those "top places in Denver" surveys. It is more New Mexican-style (with green and red salsa (all come in hot, medium and mild)) but the items on the menu are varied and great. Plus, the wait-staff is fantastic too. It's not in Douglas County, but worth the drive. Also, we just tried a restaurant called La Sandia which is in Stapleton but opening up another restaurant near the Park Meadows Mall which was good, but expensive.

[tedmauro]

Originally Posted by jazzlover

Stacked (not rolled) green chile enchiladas with a fried egg on top--a northern New Mexico specialty. You know you're in a restaurant that specializes in these when you order enchiladas and the waitperson asks, "Red or green?" and "Do you want an egg with that?"

I love those. We used to go to "Jorjes" (Pueblo Colorado) at 2 in the morning and order the "Enchilada Tejanas" I always ordered the beef with extra green chili and my egg over easy. (This was like 20 years ago)

I love a good bowl of HOT (Spicy) pork green chili made in Pueblo CO. We make Enchilada Tejanas at home once in a while. Have you ever had roasted and pealed Pueblo Chili Peppers?

[tedmauro]

Replying To the original topic.

You can get a good burrito from the "Loaf N Jug" store in Castle Rock or the Loaf in Centennial. (I think it's Smoky Hills)

These stores usually have them warmed up and ready to go. You will find them in a food warmer and wrapped in aluminum foil.

If you like them a little spicy, try the hot bean and beef (Deluxe). The Fat Boy with cheese is pretty awesome as well. These burritos are made with real food. Real beef, pinto beans, roasted and pealed chili, cheddar cheese and lean diced pork.

You can get some Pueblo style Green Chili with diced pork in these Loaf N Jug's as well. The green chili is frozen and in white quart containers. If you follow the directions and simmer the chili for a few minutes on the stove. Add a little water if it's to thick and this green chili rocks.

You could get a quart of the chili from Loaf, and a plain cheese burger and fries from Carl's Jr or somewhere take it home, simmer the chili and smother the burger and fries. Now you have a dish known in Pueblo Colorado as "Green Chili Slopper".

The store on I-25 and the Berthed exit also carries these burritos and green chili. Most Loaf N Jug stores north of Berthed exit have them. You can find these in select stores throughout Wyoming, Nebraska, Colorado, New Mexico and South Dakota.

I hope this will provide you with some tasty meals and I would enjoy your opinion on these burritos. I think they are Frickin Good.

Ted

[ditto]

Thanks again for all of the great recommendations from everyone.

tedmauro - you wouldn't think a place like Loaf N Jug would have good burritos. Great find - I might give it a try next time I'm in the area.

[tedmauro]

Cool. I hope you get to try them

[Ludachris]

Depends on what you consider "good Mexican" food. My wife was born in Mexico City and we travel there once every couple of years. When we lived in California we could find some pretty decent authentic Mexican food. Out here it is very difficult to find anything close to authentic, especially in Douglas County.

We go up to Denver for the good stuff - you have to look for a hole in the wall type of place. If they don't have "carnitas" and "al pastor" on the menu I don't get too excited. The best places we've found so far aren't pretty but they have some good food. One place is called Tacos Tijuana on Sheridan and 44th and the other is called Los Carboncitos on the corner of Pecos and 38th - both are in Denver in not-so-hot areas. But the food is great.
Yahoo! Maps - Denver, CO 80211, United States
Yahoo! Maps - Denver, CO 80212, United States

For the best of the rest we typically stick to 3 Margaritas - a chain that is better than most. It's the closest you'll probably find to something authentic south of Denver. Anytime you see burgers on the menu or see that everything can be smothered, best of luck. But everyone around here seems pretty used to it.

And by the way, I had never heard of Sopapillas before coming to Colorado. Churros, yes. Pasteles, sure. Flan, definitely. Must be a Tex-Mex thing or something.