El Taco de Mexico is a restaurant in Denver, Colorado. In 2020 it was named one of America's Classics by the James Beard Foundation.[1]

The restaurant in 2023

History

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The restaurant was founded by Maria Luisa Zanabria, who emigrated from Mexico City, then moved from California to Colorado in 1985; she first operated the business from a trailer parked on Denver's Santa Fe Drive in Denver's Art District on Santa Fe.[2][3][4]

The 2020 America's Classics award was a first for a Colorado restaurant.[3]

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A "smothered" Chile Rellenos Burrito

The restaurant serves Mexican staples such as burritos, enchiladas, gorditas, tacos, tortas, tamales, and menudo.[2][3][5] The Beard Foundation in their announcement called the pork burrito "the restaurant’s crowning glory...smothered in green chile humming with earthy spice".[3][2]

Recognition

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In 2020 the restaurant was named one of America's Classics by the James Beard Foundation;[3][2] in their announcement the foundation called it a "lodestar...among Denver's thriving Mexican food culture".[6] Eater Denver called it "the mother of all Mexican food institutions in Denver".[7] Andrew Zimmern called it "Denver's quintessential taqueria".[8] Conde Nast Traveler, naming it one of Denver's 20 Best Restaurants, said the green chili "represents the gold standard of the Southwestern staple".[9] Food & Wine, naming their burrito one of the best in the country, called their smothered chile relleno burrito "the breakfast dish of your dreams."[10]

References

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  1. ^ Sexton, Josie (18 February 2020). "The James Beard Foundation just recognized this Denver burrito staple as an American classic". The Denver Post. Retrieved 14 April 2024.
  2. ^ a b c d "James Beard Foundation Names 6 Restaurants 'American Classics'". Food & Wine. Retrieved 2023-03-01.
  3. ^ a b c d e Sexton, Josie (2020-02-18). "The James Beard Foundation just recognized this Denver burrito staple as an American classic". The Denver Post. Retrieved 2023-03-01.
  4. ^ Dean, Ashley (7 August 2018). "El Taco De Mexico has hardly changed since 1986, and no one is complaining". Denverite. Retrieved 2023-03-01.
  5. ^ "El Taco De Mexico - null". The Infatuation. 2022-08-22. Retrieved 2023-03-01.
  6. ^ "Announcing the 2020 America's Classics Winners". www.jamesbeard.org. Retrieved 2023-03-01.
  7. ^ "Andrew Zimmern on El Taco de Mexico". Eater Denver. 2012-09-11. Retrieved 2023-03-01.
  8. ^ "Mexican Restaurants in Denver". www.denver.org. Retrieved 2023-03-01.
  9. ^ Tobias, Ruth (August 12, 2021). "28 Best Restaurants in Denver". Condé Nast Traveler. Retrieved 2023-03-18.
  10. ^ "Best Burritos in the U.S." Food & Wine. January 26, 2017. Retrieved 2023-03-18.

39°43′39″N 104°59′54″W / 39.72763°N 104.99829°W / 39.72763; -104.99829