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    El Jefe

    4.2 (334 reviews)
    ModerateMexican
    Open 10:00 am - 9:00 pm
    Updated over 3 months ago

    Order El Jefe Takeout or Delivery

    El Jefe Photos

    EL JEFE ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Hipster
    Casual
    Good for groups

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    Recommended Reviews - El Jefe

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    Joy Q.

    High quality ingredients- awesome spot for brunch without wait! Loved the chips, mole, and carnita. Pretty light and healthy too. The service was kind and attentive, and didn't rush us even when the restaurant was getting full. Highly recommend this spot for brunch !!

    Happy hour carnitas taco
    Noah K.

    Tacos were great, the pinto bean carne asada was a combination I didn't know I needed. Service was friendly and the patio is the vibe for a sunny day. Value for Happy hour was okay, $9 house margaritas and $4 tacos, $8 Chips and salsa trio.

    Breakfast Burrito
    Marley U.

    The staff here are so nice! I just didn't love the breakfast burrito unfortunately. For me, the menu was limited and there isn't anything else I would've ordered. But the staff!

    Mahi Mahi
    Michelle G.

    Ambiance was fine. We ended up in a corner booth that was suppose to be nice and cozy, it was freezing. Ordered: Guacamole Chicharrones Brussel sprouts Mole (they were out on a Friday night) subbed with Mahi Fish tacos 3 margaritas Guac was good. Chuxharrones were pork rinds that tasted like mission ones from a bag. Brussel sprouts would have been good but were really salty. Mahi was flavorless but my husband liked the tacos. We're charged extra for salsa Bill was $145 Isn't somewhere I would come back to. Quality not worth the cost.

    Beef Barbacoa Tacos Plate
    Bernadette B.

    This was a solid place to get some dinner! This place threads the needle between authentic and modern fusion, and I think it does it reasonably well. I was ECSTATIC to see fried plantains on the menu since very few Mexican restaurants offer it, and it tasted a little like home. We were disappointed that they were out the Al Pastor, but our waitress explained that their chef only sources high quality ingredients, and if they can't get enough, they're just simply out for the day. That seems like a good a reason as any to explain why you'd run out of a menu item. I ordered the Birria Ramen, and it was... interesting. I won't say that I'd get it again, but it was an interesting experience. It wasn't bad. It just wasn't great and didn't make my heart and stomach sing. I'd be open to trying some of their other offerings in the future though. A great place to go. Friendly serving staff. Fun environment. Solid food.

    Happy hour
    Jewells B.

    Bartender was amazing food was amazing!! Beef barbacoa tacos. Sangria and Bloody Mary!

    Burnt orange
    Charisse Q.

    We went here for my birthday and it was pretty delicious. It was a weekday and was not busy at all so the service was great and quick. I do not have anything bad to say about it! It wasn't the best food but still pretty good. The decor is cute! I believe it's farm to table so we love that!

    3 happy hour tacos (carnitas & chorizo) and Chicken & Plantain Quesadilla
    Court N.

    We love El Jefe. It's a chill vibe and the food is great. We love their happy hour and always also order the plantain chicken quesadilla. The staff was very attentive and constantly checking on us. We got great service. One of our more favorite spots.

    Taco Tuesday! House margrita, salsa trio, and 3 tacos (farmer, chorizo, and beef)
    Emilie G.

    This has been our go-to neighborhood spot for tacos and margaritas. The service is great, we usually sit at the bar since the bartenders/management are really nice. It's a fun atmosphere. We really enjoy the quesabirria tacos, chips and queso (add chorizo!), guacamole, and mole enchiladas. The churros are also a must! Best churros I've had in Denver so far. Highly recommend going for brunch (bottomless mimosas/margs) and taco Tuesday. They serve great food and drinks at a great price!

    QUESABIRRIA Time!!!
    Jeff D.

    Mo and I did a dine in for dinner last night and yes make a reservation in advance as El Jefe isn't super big. Appetizer wise we ordered the Guac w Cojita Cheese ($2 extra) along with the Salsa Trio which was Salsa roja, xni-pec and salsa verde.The chips were def made in house and had the right amount of salt. All salsas were tasty! Then I ordered the QUESABIRRIA which was their Slow cooked marinated beef in 3 folded corn tortillas with melted asadero cheese. Avocado salsa on top. Served with a side of consomé with onions and cilantro (au jus) for dipping. This alone was worth coming here because this was the least greasiest Quesabirria I've ever had! It was so good I ate all 3! On Tuesdays, they have select Tacos @ $2 a piece which is a fair deal. For dessert we did their MEX-KEY LIME PIE which was made with a Graham cracker crust, Mexican key lime custard, caramelized pumpkin seeds + whipped cream. It was great but I would get it next time without the seeds. No need for that. They get one less star because the 2 types of Tequila I asked for they didn't have. So I settled for one that was mediocre and so much that I didn't finish my drink. The service was good and the food came out quickly. It's a nice date or friends night out spot!

    Chilaquiles Brunch Plate
    Stacy M.

    We stumbled across this gem looking for a Sunday brunch and it did not disappoint. We started with bottomless mimosas (sangria and bloody Mary's were an option as well) and the MOST amazing guacamole I've ever had (and I go to Mexico every year). The food was outstanding..spicy but delicious. The serve and atmosphere were wonderful. A must if you are in the area

    Cod tacos with a side of plaintains
    Ruth D.

    Highly recommend for the food! The staff was a little peculiar in their rhythm in attending to the host/ess stand and visiting the table. That's not a complaint. My part of two didn't go wanting and they were good folks. I do recommend peaking around the host/ess stand corner and locking eyes with someone if no one greets you when you walk in. The house margaritas are perfect and the food is filling and flavorful.

    Savanna B.

    I went in for happy hour the other night and boy was it good! My husband and I both had margaritas- just the right amount of salt, no or almost no sweet and sour...good enough that we both had a second even though we'd only intended to have one. I really liked their chips. They're thicker than the normal variety and taste house made. The guacamole was yummy and fresh, but we both really enjoyed the queso dip- seriously, I've been thinking about it all week. We also ordered the chicken fajita tacos- flavorful without being spicy (important when you e got a 2 year old in tow) and the veggie farm tacos, which were a little spicy, but were such a great combination of beans and veggies that I didn't mind the spice since it meant I didn't have to share!! We'll definitely be back for happy hour soon. I'd also really like to make it for brunch sometime as their brunch menu looks delicious!

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    3 years ago

    Great a fast service bottomless mimosas! The brunch plFood is amazing and berry is the best waiter ever !

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    4 years ago

    Jesse and Mike were amazing!!! The food and drinks were bustin. We had a great birthday celebration here for my friend!

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    3 years ago

    The quesotaco is divine! As well as the wet breakfast burrito. Great food. Great service

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    4 years ago

    This place is amazing. The AL Pastor is super delicious. The guacamole is also amazing.

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    4 years ago

    Amazing food, wasn't crowded on a Friday night which is surprising considering the quality.

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    Page 3 of 9

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    Alma Fonda Fina

    Alma Fonda Fina

    4.7
    (275 reviews)
    1.3 mi

    2nd time and still my current #1 restaurant in denver. Food…read moreand service are both just fantastic. Took my parents this time for lunch. We shared 6 plates and we all loved it. The sweet potato still my favorite dish, but I hand to day the queso funfido from the happy hour menu was a close 2nd. If you go 2-5pm, I can't recommend this enough. You have to get it. Same as my 1st time going, I love this restaurant for their great dishes and flavor profiles. I absolutely feel like I'm paying for the food, and not any atmosphere or showsmenship, which for me is an important factor when recommending a restaurant. Only small detail, we got the ceviche as our 4th dish. Given that is sweet due to the coconut milk, I feel this should have been last as a kind-of desert-like dish. Either way, still an absolute gem and must in town

    Alma Fonda Fina has been one of our favorite restaurants for the past few years and it just keeps…read moregetting better. The quality has never slipped and every menu change feels exciting and somehow even better than the last. The standouts are always the scallops and the sweet potato! Not ashamed to say I think about these two dishes all the time... And whatever fish they feature as a main is consistently incredible (it's been halibut recently). The chef's counter is hands-down the best experience. It's intimate and such a fun way to interact with the chefs. Also love that they offer an NA sparkling rosé! This is honestly pretty rare. This place deserves every bit of recognition and praise it gets. One of the most consistently exceptional dining experiences in Denver!!

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    Mexican clay mugs
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    Bar seating where we could enjoy seeing the chefs working hard to make our dishes

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    Adelitas Cocina Y Cantina

    Adelitas Cocina Y Cantina

    4.2
    (1.1k reviews)
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    $$

    A friend recommended this spot, and I'm so glad! We went on…read moretaco Tuesday and had no problem getting bar seating (or there were a few tables available) around 5pm but I noticed after 6pm people were waiting for seating. The food was delicious! We got $2 chips and salsa off the happy hour menu and the queso con soyrizo (not on HH menu) which was served with warm tortillas. Honestly we probably didn't need all that because the tacos were so good I could've just filled up on more of the tacos, but still was a great meal! I ordered the lengua, pastor, and taco special (breaded shrimp). They were all so good. Think taco quality of a good street taco spot but with the ambiance of a cute tex mex bar. The bartender was great and made a solid marg ($8 on happy hour). You get a great deal on taco Tuesday but I'm sure you'd get great service and quality any day of the week!

    Good meal but a lot of work and hassle!…read more Very limited parking. Left side of the building are a few parking spots shared by several businesses. Good luck getting a spot. Then you are driving the neighborhood hoping to find a spot. Finally parked and walked to the restaurant. Host told me it would be 30 minutes but the actual wait was 50 minutes. Spend so much time parking and then waiting, at what point do you give up and leave empty handed? Restaurant is VERY LOUD. Finally got a table and ordered OFF MENU. Server agreed to substitute shrimp for my enchiladas and they were good! Fresh corn tortillas were the highlight. Ordered tres leches cake and enjoyed it too. Was a nice meal but just not worth all the hassle.

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    Inside
    Inside
    Tres Leches Cake
    Tres Leches Cake
    Outside

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    Outside
    Ni Tuyo

    Ni Tuyo

    4.6
    (190 reviews)
    6.0 mi
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    Not your generic Mexican restaurant. Ni tuyo is special. The space, the food, and the staff. Owner…read moreis frequently there, and the passion is so obvious. Inside it feels like community. Ni tuyo means not yours. Experience ni tuyo. Pork belly tacos were insanely good. Also the rib molcajete. Those two items stood out. They feature original cocktails, thoughtfully invented. Some of them blow my mind, some of them I didn't think worked very well for my preference, but all of them were unique. I value this uniqueness. Don't get for about mezcal Wednesdays. A great way to leave your comfort zone and try whatever they are featuring for a reduced price. Their variety of curated mezcal is a great way to start and make progress on your mezcal journey. There is such a variety of mezcal that I believe there is something for almost everyone. Put your trust in their bartenders to guide you on the different styles and flavors. And finally, they are a huge part of the Colorado agave collective. Monthly agave tasting. The best way to learn and appreciate.

    Went here for my birthday and had a good time!…read more The prickly pear margarita was really good! We enjoyed the elote and guacamole. For the price, we didn't get very much guacamole but it was good, as was the elote! The pork belly tacos were very good but the tortillas were too small for the amount of filling. The molcajete was good but I'm not sure we would get it again. Overall, a solid spot for a nice dinner.

    Photos
    Sitting area
    Sitting area
    Pollo mains
    Pollo mains
    Molcajete

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    Molcajete
    Tamayo by Chef Richard Sandoval

    Tamayo by Chef Richard Sandoval

    3.8
    (1.4k reviews)
    2.2 mi
    $$$

    Brunch has been done to death. I agree, and if I have to eat one more mass produced eggs Benedict I…read morewill lose my mind. But, low and behold there is this great brunch in Denver. It's full of mole enchiladas with egg, mahi ceviche and bottomless bloody Maria's... say less. Tamayo is has gone the test of time in Denver for a reason and they do not hold back and jump head first into the brunch pool. There is an al a cart option but I went full send and tasted almost the whole menu with my party. There are some things for the masses (taquitos) which I agree are good and hit the mark for people a little less food experiences, but there are risk that are worth the reward with the jack fruit tacos (pairs great with a margarita, also included with drinks). Jordan our server and Brien the manager were bringing the A game of service to the Sunday morning. Was I out of place in my pre-baseball game day jersey? Not at all. But I also would have fit in had I picked a sport coat instead. Pound for pound the best premium brunch I have had in a long long time. Grab a drink and get your brunch on!!!!

    Wow, what a great spot!…read more My husband and I made a reservation here at the recommendation of a friend. We loved the walkability from the Buell Theater where we were seeing a show later that evening. The ambiance was boho, chic and very cool. We loved the flatware and glassware. Those little touches were so special. Picking up your margarita and really enjoying the glass is peak enjoyment. The food...the salsa flight was unique and tasty. I ended up picking the shrimp and crab enchiladas (they seemed so interesting), which were so delicious. The texture was amazing. We enjoyed every bite!

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    Tamayo by Chef Richard Sandoval
    Tamayo by Chef Richard Sandoval
    Tamayo by Chef Richard Sandoval

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    Perdida - Mexican Kitchen

    Perdida - Mexican Kitchen

    4.0
    (411 reviews)
    6.2 mi

    Four of us went to Perdida Kitchen for an early Father's Day dinner and we were very glad we did!…read moreIt is on the very busy strip near Washington Park which we don't often frequent because it is indeed very busy. But this was Monday evening and we were seated immediately. Our server said that we had 5 minutes left for Happy Hours--thank you!!--so ordered Caliente Margaritas and appetizers. The nachos were delicious--and messy! The Margaritas were as well. I had a nonalcoholic Athletic Brewing Company Cerveza Atletica (Mexican style copper). There were several other NA cocktails and beers available as well. We were all very pleased with our entrees. They were all luscious. Two of us are vegetarian and there were plenty of choices. I had Crispy Avocado Tacos, which came with black beans, and a side of Street Corn--both great choices. My friend had quesadillas and Potato Flautas , which I tasted and almost wish I had ordered as well. Our carnivore gentleman partners were also very happy, with one of them choosing a sampler, "Perdida's 'Best Of' Plate." Perdida is a great new addition to the Wash Park area.

    Stopped in for a quick drink before another event in the neighborhood. Cute decor abounds as you…read moreenter Perdida.We sat at the bar and were immediately greeted by the very nice bartender. We had arrived just in time for Happy Hour- Monday-Friday, 3-5pm . Perdida has a worthwhile Happy Hour as several main menu appetizers as well as cocktails are discounted. I selected the classic marg to sip on. It was a good, standard margarita for $6. We also had to try the mini chile rellenos. These were tasty and the dipping sauce paired well with the chilies and cheese. Perdida was good. I think I'll revisit to try some main dishes. The fajitas smelled amazing!

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    Perdida - Mexican Kitchen
    Perdida - Mexican Kitchen
    Special of the day: Steak tacos - excellent!

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    Special of the day: Steak tacos - excellent!

    El Jefe - mexican - Updated June 2026

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