This was not the best place to choose last night for dinner for many reasons. Both my boyfriend and I decided to go here last night for dinner since we were technically in the area and I was hungry for mexican. I suggested Brewery Bar and this was the closest one to us. I now wish we would have gone someplace else for mexican. This review is based on both of us getting the combo number 2. Him the chicken and bean burrito, beef taco, and tostada. Me the beef and bean burritor, beef taco, and bean tostada. The bad part- The food: 1) Way too hot for my boyfriend. He could not really taste the mild in the green chili. He ordered the green half hot/hot mild. 2) His beer and my iced tea came after the food was delivered. 3) Both of our tostadas were soggy. Mine at least somewhat crunchy. 4) The beef tacos were swimming in grease, hence the reason why the tostadas were soggy. The atmosphere: 1) Dark, low lightning, and definitely had the bar like feeling. 2) The tables seemed cramped and put too close together. The waitress: 1) She seemed to semi rush us when we first sat down. She took our drink order, never got it until after the food arrived. The good part- Food: 1) Really good. The temperature was perfect. The atmosphere: 1) Casual, not for big groups though. The waitress: 1) Friendly. read more

We love Brewery Bar II and have been going there for years. The restaurant itself is nothing truly special, but it has a really cozy and comfortable atmosphere. It's the perfect place to watch a game. It also doesn't hurt that they have the best Chile Rellenos in Denver. Their margaritas are excellent as well. Highly recommended. read more

The Californication of Colorado forced us to abandon our childhood home some 15 years ago .. but we will always remember the excellence of the food and cuisine of a Green Chili Relleno and ice cold Tiny/Margarita at our #1 area Mexican restaurant, the Brewery Bar II. Adios Amigos,,, thanks for the memories ! read more

Disgusting food and bingo looking hall type restaurant. I think the food here was just gross and the chips and salsa??? If you can call it salsa. It's like opening a can (not jar) of tomato sauce and pouring it in a bowl and serving it with round Tostito's chips. I ordered the enchiladas. One was supposed to have chicken, one beef and it appears the other was just cheese. The beef (ground beef) one was "ok", but I didn't taste any chicken in either of the other two and the melted cheese on top was just disgusting. I had to take that off just to try and eat the enchiladas. Can't remember what my bf ordered, but he really likes mexican food and he had a hard time finishing his because it really wasn't that great. We also ordered two Margaritas, which were equally unsatisfying. The bill at the end for two Margaritas, my enchiladas and whatever he ate came to $40!!! Not worth it coming from this dive! I mean really, the place doesn't even look like it gets cleaned. I wanted to walk out the minute I waslked in, but my bf said the guys at work thought this place was fantastic. Um...to each their own! I'll never return. Yuck! read more

This place is divey, yes. The green chile is fantastic! Some days the hot is HOT, sometimes not...Not their fault as peppers can vary in degrees of heat but maybe they could add jalapeños when they get a batch of mild chilies?? I always get the number 1. On Tuesdays it's $2 off, so take advantage. It comes with a burrito and chile relleno. Your choice of burrito and it is all covered in cheese and delicious green chile. The servers are reminiscent of what you would find in a classic diner, not too attentive, but nice enough. read more

Brewery Bar II - Specials menu - Mexican Near Me - Denver, Colorado

See all

Always good eats, first time eating here on the weekend but same speedy service and same great taste. This was also the first time I tried the house special. Your choice of burrito, Chile rellano topped by your favorite Chile. I would definitely recommend that f you've never been but I've had several dishes off the menu. this place is legit. read more

I went to Brewery Bar II on Santa Fe for lunch a couple of weeks ago after hearing people at work rave about the green chili. The place is pretty small and unassuming - nothing fancy to be sure - but like a lot of small Mexican food places it had the minimum amount of decor to remind you what type of food they're serving. On to the meal. My eyebrows definitely went up when the 'chips and salsa' arrived at the table. No hiding the truth here: these were Tostitos and Pace Pecante Salsa. Huh? I wasn't picking up the tab so I don't know if we actually had to pay for them but that is pretty low rent. Next up I ordered a Mexican hamburger with the hot green chili. The green chili was good, a bit above the norm even and I would think a simple order of chili and tortillas would be fine. But the Mexican Hamburger? Again, huh? This was supposedly a 1/4 pound of meat but when I peeled back the soggy tortilla all I saw were two pre-made hamburger patties that maybe clocked in around 1/8 of a pound combined. Pre-made hamburger patties...you know, like the kind you buy frozen in bulk at Sam's club that may or may not be 80% soy product. They didn't even bother with any type of seasoning. I can only guess that they figured they could smother any sub-par dish with their chili and it would be golden. They would be wrong. To be fair, I wasn't drinking and maybe the whole mess is a lot better after 6 beers or 3 margaritas. Someone also told me that their chili rellenos are what you should order. After this visit I can say is that the chili was good and the meal was fairly cheap. If my liquid courage is up (and it'll have to be) I may have the gumption to return and if I do, I'll update the review for good or ill. Maybe they have great drink specials? I'm lost on the allure... read more

Hole in the wall with tricky parking, but the prices are good and the food is always tasty. Margaritas seem hit/miss - I'm honestly not sure if I just got upsold on one and didn't catch it or what. The smothered burrito with chili is soooo good. We always have to roll back out of there after a meal. read more

Decent mexican style food at good prices. Half priced margaritas on Monday definitely helps. Can't be too terrible, because I'm there every week. Closes at 8ish, so get there early. read more

We went on the suggestion of a dive bar book, my boyfriend picked up. It was a community drinking hole for sure, everyone knew each other. We are new to the neighborhood, so no one knows up yet. A ladies daughter was drinking at the other end of the bar, and she exclaimed "Oh no!". Other poepl at the counter were jibing an old fella eating the chile bowl, "Do you need to use the bathroom." I enjoyed the banter, and the bartender was a cool seasoned professional.We were their before five, so maybe we left before the choice debauchery. We got a happy hour, chips and cheese and salsa app, which was nothing special. Bartender said you should try the green chile. Happy hour does not include micro brews. But you are in luck for cheap domestic draft beers- Coors, Bud etc. Our main crit, is turn the lighting down, ti is way too bright for a dive bar. read more

Brewery Bar will do just fine without a Yelp review, it has paid its dues and made a name for itself long before us e-critics, but it deserves a good review now and then and I'm happy to write one after finally making my way here. I've been in Baker for two years now and only noticed this place while on light rail. Something about its location to a walker like myself, it seems out of the way from the concentrated areas of Santa Fe Arts District and Baker's central vein, Broadway. Now I realize that is an advantage! It allows for it to retain its characteristics within the changing neighborhood, a beacon Denver's hardened culture, an independent state of mind, and taste buds. On our way back from a memorial event downtown we decided to stop in for a little substance, barely making an order in time before the kitchen closed (8:30pm on most weeknights!). It has a great tequila selection that the co-owner Bob decided to share near last call (yes, everyone got a free shot, perhaps that makes my review bias, you've been warned.) Had the special for the day, smothered tamales, and a house margarita. The hot chili is spot on, definitely spicy, without sacrificing flavor. That's what I call Mexican Magic. The atmosphere is blue collar meets neon, almost an 80s feel, not as swanky blue collar as say, Gary Lee's Motorclub, but just as comfortable and more homey. You can tell it is a family ran business, classical friendly service. It's definitely a Denver atmosphere, retaining a sense of community that was this place for as many decades as it has been around. It is also still remarkably affordable (a rarity these days in going out!), and downright delicious. read more

Best green chili I have ever eaten. Margs are solid.

Some of the best rellenos and green chili in Denver! The hot chili is really hot, so if you want medium heat go with the half & half. That said, the last time we were at the Kalamath location, the food was just meh, the green chili seemed watery and the service was horrible. It was after a Bronco game, but they weren't that busy (only a couple of other tables). It took forever to get drinks and water refills were non-existant. From now on, we will probably stick with the Lone Tree location which as consistently great food and excellent service! read more

Think most of the reviews of this place are spot on from 1 star to 5. The place is a dump, the service can suck horribly, ambience = ZERO, Green Chili is AWESOME, the food in general is very good. For me, I'm here to eat so not sweating the other stuff - Food wins! 4 Stars read more

The only reason I rate this place so well is because of its famous green chili. I have been coming here with my father, uncle, co-workers, and friends for over twenty years-I still sometimes refer to it by its original name-ABE's even though it got bought out by a chain. Well, unfortunately, old Abe is gone but he left his famous green chili recipe. Other than that, not much has changed over the years-it seems the servers are still the same, the decor is the same, & the chili is still atomically hot on some days. In fact it can be down right dangerous to a weak system and is a total system purge when the batch comes out super-hot. (this can vary on a daily basis.) Come here for the Denver dive bar ambiance but don't expect fast service-the people who work here are fond of their "this isn't Taco Bell" attitude. In fact it is often best to run to the bar yourself and grab a pitcher of water before the glacially slow waitperson makes it your way. Order a "tiny" glass of beer, get that pitcher of water and order your Relleno with the hot green chili-it will test what your made out of. Though rest of the menu is C+ Denver Tex Mex-it's worth checking out-it's a classic west side hole in the wall. It's much easier to see and breathe now that the smokers have been vanquished to the sidewalk! read more

Value not bad for what you get, fast food mexican. Green chili is very good. Staff is friend, tenure of staff seems to be as long as place has been around. Decor is starting to show the age of the location. I did not have an adult beverage, but the margaritas seem to be popular... read more

The only meal I have ever enjoyed here is the fried chili relleno. Other than that, you get stale chips, bad salsa, and a dumpy atmosphere. The drink specials are definetly not special. The last time I went here, the waitress was too busy talking with her buddies at the bar (she was sitting at the bar) to help us. We almost walked out. read more

I have been going to Brewery Bar II for 30 plus years, more often in the 80s when I actually lived in Denver. Still make it to BB II on most of my visits to Denver. Atmosphere, decor and denizens virtually unchanged through the decades. At this point I always get the same thing -- special chile rilleno smothered in hot green pork chili. As noted by other Yelpers, you either like this dish or you don't, no middle of the road. It's the best food there is as far as I'm concerned. read more

We went with a friend who started coming here in 1985. Hot green chile and great food is what we were told.I love dive bars with great food. When we walked in and sat, it had a stench I cant explain. That's ok...dive bar. The green chili was watery and weak. The only thing good that I had, was the nachos. I love refried beans, and these were loaded with beans and cheese. Maybe we caught them on a bad day. Hit or miss food doesn't cut it. I doubt if we will be back, but you never know. Maybe they deserve a second visit. read more

Food: Eh! Nothing to "write home" about. Service: Was fun, cool & quick! Margaritas (top shelf): Ok, a little on the pricey side. Atmosphere: Eh! Overall, probably won't be going back anytime soon unless the housemate wants/needs to go, it's one of his favorite spots, but other than that VERY uneventful. read more

Good, basic Denver type Mex. The green chile is VERY tasty and the hot IS WAY HOT!! Yum! Great old school atmostphere too! read more

No veggie friendly food really. All the sauces and beans have meat in them. But they do have strong margs and desent gauc. Totally more of a bar than restaurant, which makes the mix of people eclectic and fun. Way better for some bloddy marys on Sunday, rather than a Monday dinner with family. Prices are reasonable and the service was decent too. read more

The main entrance was locked so we almost left before ever getting inside. I wish I had taken that cue and escaped this place all together. Later on we heard employees arguing over who's fault it was they never unlocked the door -- not the best business practice considering they had been open for over an hour before discovering this. We found the side door and upon entering, we were welcomed by an overwhelming stench of vomit. I don't know if this is the norm or if someone had too many tequila shots the night before (or just ate their food). Fortunately I had a cold at the time so the stench was partially muted for me. The food was mostly inedible. I ordered the #1 combo with no lettuce, and of course it came with lettuce. The cheese inside the relleno was cold and solidified. The one positive note was the pork in the green chili was tender. Unfortunately everything else on the plate was several notches below Taco Bell, but twice as expensive. My girlfriend tried but also said her food was so bad she couldn't eat more than two bites. This is all unfortunate as I enjoy dive bars and no-frills Mexican food. But, you could go dumpster-diving and find a better meal. read more

This place is a hidden gem! The food is fantastic and the chile is spicy and authentic. They have the best chile rellanos! The staff are the nicest people you'll ever meet! read more

I always love this place the chili is spicy I love the guacamole salad and the salsa is great I usually get the Mexican hamburger but every once in a while I'll just do a smothered burrito they are really known for their chile rellenos here read more

LOVE this place, food is mouth watering, green Chile (HOT) is phenomenal, excellent customer service, and great prices. EVERYONE needs to try this place. Can't wait to go back. read more

Brewery Bar II - Mexican Near Me - Denver, Colorado

See all

Excellent meal! I love spicy food and the green chile was legit. Will 100% be back.

Used to go here 30 years ago, nothing said will change anyone's mind for this classic old school bar/dive. Food was average, chili was not as good as I remember, food came out in like 3 minutes so I'd say they always have the #1 ready to go and pre cooked. Chili is ready chili stew but tasty. Not interesting enuf to want to go back for another 30 years. I'm sure it'll still be there! Oh, and store chips and salsa isn't worth 2.75$ ripoff at best!!! read more

We have been coming for 20 odd years. It is a Dive bar, The Green Chili is NM Style, that is soupy, at III & IV it is thicker. The green chili has lots of pork chunks and is delicious. the Hot is Hot, But definitely not the Hottest, Santiago's is hotter, without the flavor. El Jardins special -very Hot- You have to ask the waitress for it is also hotter, and again isn't as good.. Service is usually very quick. the Rellanos, and a smothered Burrito are very good. My favorite the Mexican hamburger. read more

I've been going to the brewery bar III for the past 5 years and can't say enough good about that Combo #1 and the hot green chili. I have to eat here at least once a week to get my fix. These guys also do a great job catering for my derby party year after year. Keep up the good work Doug and staff! read more

Updated review Four stars to 2: I've been going to Brewery Bar II for 11 years now but today was the my last visit. The bar has been lowered and I've been lying to myself for the last two years that my favorite Mexican dive was changing for the worse. I'm not too proud to admit pasteurized cheese product is delicious but today it was disgusting. The prize of America's ingenuity was clearly served way past its expiration date, a sickly yellow color and fishy taste. Management's inability to monitor basic quality standards has resulted in bland often funky dishes being served. Two women complained to Chicago behind the bar about their disappointment in the Chili Rellenos being under cooked but he was indifferent. He's the other half of my decision to part ways with this former behemoth of deliciousness. The bartenders have become short and gruff with customers. I'd give them the benefit of the doubt and allow them an off day but their bad attitudes have been a consistently bad part of my experience every time. Unless you are a regular, I'd recommend sitting at a table. Or do yourself a favor and move on. This is no longer the the gem in the rough it once was. read more

I came here to meet some friends before a show last night. When I hear the words "brewery" and "green chili" I'm gonna come a-runnin. The name is somewhat misleading, as it is not a brewery, but that didn't stop me. I was greeted politely by a man who had the air and appearance of a manager, and took note of a sign that said to "please seat yourself". I did so, but as soon as I sat down and ordered a drink, a party of 6 came in. There was an entire empty dining room with plenty of places for them to be seated, but two servers came up to my four top and asked me to move so they could slide my table together with another to accommodate them, when there was clearly 5 other spots that they could have done the same thing without treating one customer who was waiting for other guests to arrive as if he was less important. (Immediate thought in my mind - "half a star".) And the best part is, when I moved, she actually said " Oh, don't be disappointed". You have got to be kidding me! I cannot believe this happened! When my friends arrived she took their drink order, Then she proceeded to ignore us. In the interim 4 more tables came in, and she got them taken care of, orders placed and served, before she finally acknowledged us flagging her - to which she responded "Yeah, I know. I'm coming." Horrible service from the very beginning to the very end. Originally I ordered a house margarita, and that was nothing special. The chips and salsa were mediocre but it did have more heat than I anticipated which I liked. I ordered the Best of Denver plate, a chili relleno and a beef burrito with hot green chili. I did enjoy the chili, medium heat with very tender chunks of pork. The relleno itself wasn't bad at all, but not the best in town, as it boasts. The burrito was nothing special, made better by the green chili. The service from the beginning truly embittered me. I always enjoy Mexican food, but there are many places to go for higher quality and not be treated like something left over on the plate. My friends enjoy this place, so I may end up coming back with them at their request, but I will avoid being served by the same person. read more

Been going there for close to 30 years and the green chili is very good. The salsa has usually been really good too but the last time tasted not the same at all. Almost like pace picante. I sure wish they hadn't closed the one at Arapahoe crossing. The one in Park meadows isn't the same either. The service is very slow and there was only one other table with customers the rest of the people were sitting at the bar playing around with the bartenders. I wanted to walk out but I really wanted a rellano. The best is #2 on Kalamath. I hope Noel never retires. read more

Went last night based on a friend's recommendation. My first reaction is that this Mexican restaurant is run by a German family...interesting As I go to sit down an older waitress says, "EXCUUUUSE ME!, because I was apparently in her way. That's ok, some of my favorite places have rude service. The bartender offers us chips and salsa (which we later realized had to pay for) and took 10-15 minutes to come back to get our order. I'm still not gonna judge this place until I taste the food. The food comes out (2 #3's and their signature #1) aka the Plate o' Slop. Their "famed" chili relleno is a pepper wrapped in American cheese, breaded/deep-fried, and topped with shredded cheddar cheese). My plate was engulfed in the slop that they call green chilli. We see another table enjoying a pitcher of margarita so we asked the bartender for the same. We were given a large pitcher of DELICIOUS margaritas but were very disappointed to get our bill and see that it cost $40!!! A pitcher of margaritas at a dirty dive-bar/Mexican restaurant?! Our bill for three people came to $100+ when we were expecting a cheap quick meal after a long hike. We could have gone downtown and had a lobster dinner instead. When we got home my girlfriend and I both vomited and without too many details, it looked exactly the same as on the plate. If you honestly think that this is good Mexican food, or food in general, may the Lord have mercy on your soul. read more

When we want Mexican food besides homemade. We go to The Brewery Bar II. great green chili!!

I love real Mexican food as I have said in other reviews. I think the Brewery Bar has great green chile. You can actually order it in hot or mild! I also love the size of their combo plates. A certain boy I know and I always get number 10 and split it. Trust me when you can split a combo plate with a guy and both of you are full...you're doing good! They actually have a few locations around town besides the downtown location including a spot by Park Meadows mall and on the corner of Parker and Arapahoe Road. I'm sure the food and service will vary from spot to spot but I have never had a bad experience in any of there locations. I have had graduation and birthday celebrations there with large numbers of people and I have always received the best service. read more

Yuck! The green chili is WAY over-rated. The food is very cheap....not inexpensive but just plain crap. Some poeple really like the green chili though, I don't get it???? So, I am not a snob to a dive bar but if I am going to a dive, there had better be something amazing about it, like the food or some awesome happy hour specials or a good crowd..this place has none of those. Don't waste your money unless maybe you think a $.99 banquet frozen dinner is a decent meal. read more

fine family mexican dining? i don't think so, sorry guys. me and the family went to the bewery bar II a few years ago after getting some good reviews on it - needless to say from the rating, we never returned. we know what good mexican cooking is, trust me, plenty of grandparents and aunts and uncles on my hispanic side of the family have taught me well. this place does not make the cut. the service was slow, and the place wasn't even busy. the chips and salsa were boring. i got a green chile burger and fries. green chile was boring. fries were gross and stale. i can't remember what anyone else got but saying they were unimpressed is an understatement. anytime we drive by or hear about this place someone in my family goes "UGHHH" read more

Good food, great atmosphere, green chili is the hottest in town, a Denver classic.

You want authentic? You want some of the best green chili you have ever had? Then you want Brewery Bar 2, this place is great. Some of the best if not the best green chili I have ever had! Get a Burrito smothered in it and thank me later! read more