El Taco De Mexico

Our next stop on the February "Taco Tour" was at El Taco De Mexico down on Santa Fe in Denver.  A very quaint, small place on the inside, with a really large kitchen/cooking area. Since we were there for tacos, that is the portion of the menu we studied. They have 7 options for your protein (meat) in their tacos.  Cheeksmeat (cabeza), Beef Steak (azada), Tongue (lengua), Fried Pork (carnitas), Suadero (soft meat between the belly and the leg), Pastor (marinated pork) and Buche (pork tripe).  I ordered the cabaza, carnitas and azada.

My three tacos with rice and beans

When our order was ready, they called our order out and picked them up at the counter.  Along with the tacos, came some fantastic refried beans and rice....and unexpected pleasure.  The beans were creamy and just delicious. The tacos were on two soft, warm corn tortillas and had onions, cilantro and a little red sauce.....and they needed nothing else.....just perfect.

Along with a booths, and some outdoor patio tables (great for spring and summer), they have bar stools where you can sit and eat while watching them prepare the food.

As fast paced as the orders were coming in, the kitchen was incredibly clean and well organized, making it very easy for them to move around in.

The kitchen area.

El Taco De Mexico is definitely the real deal when it comes to authentic Mexican style street tacos.

The address is 714 Santa Fe Drive, Denver Colorado, 80204

Phone: 303 623-3926

Hours: 7:00 AM to 11:00 PM

Website: http://eltacodemexicodenver.com



If you are into trying new places, with great food.......give El Taco De Mexico a try, and tell them Colorado's Hidden Treasures sent you.

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Happy eating!!!!

Taco Veloz

So the second place we visited for tacos, was Taco Veloz located by Regis University.  So, from the outside this place does not look like it is going to draw in many customers that are driving by....but that will be their loss.  This place is the "real deal" when is comes to authentic Mexican street tacos.

I must say that I am a fan of crispy, freshly fried tacos, but, these homemade corn, soft tortillas are something everyone should try.  I ordered two steak tacos and a soft drink. While the tacos were being made, I started talking with the guy working there....I would imagine the manager, and asked him if I could take some pictures...he said "sure" and then wanted to know what they were for. I told him that I write a food blog...and February is "Taco" month.

Pastor (marinated pork).

So when my tacos arrived, there were three on the plate....the manager threw in a Pastor (marinated pork) tacos for me to try.

The steak tacos had red onions, cilantro and sauteed yellow onions. The Pastor taco also had red onions, cilantro and came with small pieces of pineapple.

To go along with the tacos, they have a salsa bar that includes six different types of sauces, along with cucumbers, radishes, carrots, jalapenos and a few other types of peppers and some pico de gallo.

The flavor of these tacos....was just like you expect from a street vendor in Mexico......very authentic and delicious.

Salsa bar

The decor inside is that of an older place.....but that really did not matter to me, as I was there for the food.  Along with steak and Pastor, they also offer Chorizo, Barbacoa (barbecue),
Carnitas (pulled pork), Trompa (trunk/snout), Lengua (tongue) and Buche (pork stomach).

Taco Veloz also offers a full menu of Mexican food.....Menudo, Tortas, Chile Rellenos, Burritos...all of the fare you would expect to get in Mexico.


The address is 5145 Federal Blvd, Denver Colorado.

Hours: 9:30 to midnight - Daily
            9:30 to 3:00 AM Friday and Saturday.

Tables and booths

The manager told me that on Friday and Saturday nights....after midnight....there will be a line out the door.....that is just how good the food is.  He also told me how he came to work there.  He grew up in Mexico, and when he came to Denver, he ended up here at Taco Veloz for dinner and had the Menudo.  He said that this was exactly how his mother use to make it at home, and he knew he had to work there.  He has been there ever since.

When you visit Taco Veloz, tell them that Colorado Hidden Treasure's sent you.

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Happy eating!!!!

Burrito Express - Tacos

Okay......so February is "Taco" month......and we started at Burrito Express in Lakewood.

For those of you that are taco aficionados.....you know that a good taco has shredded beef..not ground....has a freshly fried shell....not a preformed shell....and if it is a really good taco.....you will get a freshly fried shell...while the shredded beef is inside.

Burrito Express is a small establishment...and has a drive-thru for ordering...or picking up a phone order. Inside, they have small booths.....with really fascinating art work depicting life in Mexico.

Small booths

Hot from the fryer, the tacos smelled terrific.

They have 2 types of sauce, which you can pick up at the order counter.......green (verde) and red (rojo).  We tried both, and really did not have a favorite.  Both hot sauces complimented the tacos taste.

For drinks, Burrito Express has the normal soft drinks, but they also offer traditional flavored drinks from Mexico....Horchata, Mango, Jamaica and Pina.

While we ordered shredded beef in our tacos, you can also get carne asada, fish, carnitas, spicy chicken, grilled chicken, ground beef, and lengue (beef tongue).

Hot, fresh, shredded beef tacos.

We were there only for the tacos, but they also offer a full menu of delicious Mexican food.......including Tortas..which are actually hard to find.

This is truly a great find for people who love, locally owned, freshly made, great Mexican food.

Burrito Express:

12792 West Alameda Parkway

Lakewood Colorado 80228

www.burritoexpresslakewood.com

Hours:

Sunday - Thursday - 6:30 AM to 11:00 PM

Wall paintings

Friday & Saturday - 6:30 to midnight

Call in orders: 303 984-4682

If you really crave GREAT tacos....or Mexican food made the traditional way, give Burrito Express a try...and tell them Colorado Hidden Treasures sent you.

Happy Crunching!!!

Tony P's Pizza

Tony P's is owned and operated by Tony Pasquini and his mother Judy.  Originally know as Pasquini's....the name has changed due to some family legal issues. Tony P's has 2 locations in Denver.....one at 777 East 17th Ave, and the second located in the Highland area at 2400 West 32nd Ave.  On this occasion, we went to the one downtown on 17th.

Our menu book

Great place.....with a lot of character.  On the tables....for the drink and appetizer menus, they place these in different books on every table.....some are novels...some are children's books...and some are scientific books/journals.

Downstairs was a restaurant and a separate bar for drinks and high top tables.  Upstairs was a bar/banquet room with live music on Friday and Saturday nights.  The decor is an eclectic combination of old doors, scooters and artwork.

For pizza offerings, they have several versions and styles to choose from:

• Vegan cheese
• Gluten free
• Whole wheat crust
• New York style - Thick edge, thin in the middle
• Bianca Style - White pizza with extra virgin olive oil, garlic, mozzarella and basil
• Napolitana - One size, artisan style thin crust

For our pizza, we ordered a Napolitana artisan pepperoni.  The crust was hand stretched, and the pizza baked in a wood fired oven.

Downstairs bar and music director .(red hat)

You can build your own pizza by selecting toppings from a menu of regular toppings, (olives, green peppers, jalapenos, mushrooms etc) or a menu of premium items (artichoke hearts, roasted chicken, portobello mushrooms, sausage links, sun dried tomatoes....). 

Being on 17th avenue in downtown Denver, this place has a night life vibe.  There are a lot of bars and other restaurants all long this section of 17th, and the crowds seem to be local who live in the area.

When we were there, the band for Friday night was just setting up their equipment for that nights show.

Along with great pizza, Tony P's offers a full menu of great Italian dishes, including calzones and dozens of pasta and specialty meals. Several type of ravioli and gluten free pasta dishes are also available.

Try Tony P's for great food and live music....you will not be disappointed.

Some band members getting ready.

Hours:

17th Ave: 

   Sunday - Thursday 11:00 AM to midnight

   Friday & Saturday 11:00 AM to 2;00 AM

32nd Ave:

   Sunday - Thursday 11:00 AM to 11:00 PM

   Friday & Saturday 11:00 AM to midnight

http://www.tonypspizza.com/

When you visit, tell them Colorado's Hidden Treasures sent you.

Bon Appetit!!