A seriously special evening. Was in town for work, and wanted to take folks from Australia for Mexican they would never find for themselves. The restaurant itself was lovely, and our reserved table was ready as soon as we arrived. We had a larger group so were tucked into a high top table near the kitchen, which we loved since we had less noise from other diners but got to see the chefs and servers in action; we were even brought out dessert by the pastry chef. Our server was quick and helpful, but didn't hover. He was excellent at describing various dishes and flavor profiles and helped us decide on the right dishes for both meal flow and quantity (we all shared everything). We started with sopes and some gorgeous duck confit tacos, and then worked our way through the menu getting at least one item from each section. The huarache was also especially delicious, as was the cochinita pibil. We finished with a couple of desserts to share. The entire meal knocked my out of town guests' socks off. Even as someone from Arizona who can be jaded about Mexican food, this meal was a delight. read more

See all

Came here because it is listed on both the in kind app and chase sapphire dining, which gives great opportunities to try something upscale. The complimentary tortillas with the jalapeño spread was a nice touch. The spread was creamy and buttery. I got the cochinita pibil, which is a pretty large serving. It was good overall but a bit on the salty side. The cafecito de olla was similar to an espresso martini with tequila. The salt created the perfect balance with the tequila and chocolate flavor. The best was the ceviche. Highly recommended because of the coconut flavor with the fish. Overall the setting was lively and the service was very decent. read more

See all

Was in town for work and this place was a nice 10 min walk from the hotel. It's in a really cute neighborhood with lots of other restaurants and bars. We came in without a reservation but were able to get a table within 5 minutes. Our waiter came with water shortly. He explained the menu and gave some great recommendations. We ended up trying a few things : Ceviche with leche de Tigre- 4 STARS Reminded me of Peruvian ceviche. It was really tasty and fresh Gazpacho Michoacano - basically a cucumber, cotija cheese, onion, jalapeño, cilantro lime salad that paired really well with the ceviche. This was recommended by our waiter and it did not disappoint. I did think it was a bit pricey for what it was. As our main, we tried the sopes de suadero. These were two heavy loaded sopes. After these we did not have room for dessert. Green Salsa that came under the meat was so fresh and the right amount of spice. Sadly, we didnt have enough room in our stomach to try the desserts. They had this very delicious looking pan de elote than I reallyy wanted to try. the service was great, the music they played was great! Overall a great dinner in Denver! read more

We needed a last-minute early dinner and Xiquita obliged with the full menu available at 4pm. We arrived just before 4:30 and the restaurant was pretty quiet with only a few tables occupied. I had not been for awhile, even though my house is only five minutes away. I looked forward to introducing my girlfriend to their elevated food. Alas, we found an inconsistent kitchen instead. We started with the usual complimentary tortillas and jalapeño ash butter which is fun and a tasty introduction to the authentic style of this place. I had a house margarita which was nothing special. My girlfriend enjoyed her Agua de Horchata which she indeed thought was elevated from the usual version. We ordered two tacos from the Happy Hour menu. The Taco de Suadero (beef cheek) was fantastic, deeply flavored and very tender. The Taco de Campechano (chorizo and carne asada) was awful. I didn't detect any beef, just the sausage, which was dry, tasteless, and over spiced. Not good. Next was the Ceviche. This was a really delicious dish, but it has nothing to do with ceviche. It's not quite sushi or sashimi, so I'd probably call it poke: diced raw tuna with an amazing sauce of coconut milk, habanero, onion, and herbs, served with three tostadas. The "ceviche" was really hard to eat, especially trying to share the dish from the middle of the table. No serving implements were provided. The sauce was very thin and it was hard to scoop out of the bowl. And why three tostadas on a dish for two people? Nevertheless, the tuna was superb, the flavors were great and we enjoyed it. We were excited to try the Pescado a la Talla which featured Kanpachi (amberjack), most often found in Japanese cuisine. The adobo glaze was flavorful, but the fish was way overcooked on an unsuitably high heat, turning a sweet, tender, flaky sushi-grade product dry, dense, and mealy. What a disappointment (and for $57!). I should have sent it back, but we had already shredded half of it to go into the tortillas, as the server suggested, and we didn't really appreciate the deficiencies until we had eaten quite a bit, so complaining seemed unreasonable at that point. The tortillas that came with this dish were another disappointment--they arrived cold and wet. How the kitchen could send them out like this, I don't have a clue. And again, three tortillas for two people to share. Huh? Is there a tortilla shortage? We did end on a high note with the Nieve de Xoconostle, prickly pear sorbet with aloe vera gel. I had never eaten aloe vera before. The little balls of gel were very refreshing with the tasty sorbet. Service was mostly very good. We were seated promptly. Multiple servers and managers came by our table, perhaps because I was busy taking photos (other tables did not get that much attention). The food was delivered efficiently, but despite all of the traffic, dirty plates sat on the table rather too long. The seating was incredibly uncomfortable. The metal banquette on one side had an odd shape and was hard as a rock. The few cushions scattered about helped a little. The chair had an odd back that was too far forward and too high. It was equally uncomfortable. Another couple arrived and was seated right next to us in an empty, quiet restaurant. This was also uncomfortable and unnecessary. This meal cost $148 with one well drink and one soft drink. I was expecting near perfection, not a kitchen that doesn't know how to cook a luxury fish. Very, very disappointing. read more

See all

Truly outstanding food in a gorgeous space. The service is top tier. You can even watch the tortillas being made! It's hard to recommend just one dish, but the beef cheek sopes were one that I cannot stop thinking about. So rich and flavorful! Tortillas were fantastic--fresh, warm, and full of flavor served with a charcoal butter that was a unique, but tasty addition. The cochinita pibil was another standout, tender and delicious. Their new mussels dish is absolutely fantastic with perfect amount of heat and acidity. The tuna ceviche was packed with spice, but cut with this amazing coconut milk sauce. So different than your standard ceviche. I'll be dreaming about this one. What a great experience. Thank you! read more

See all

WOW. If I could give this a 6/5 stars I would. This is a gem in Denver. My husband and mother and I were so shocked with just how delicious and flavorful everything was. The charcoal butter was out of this world. Including the handmade tortillas...and just everything was chefs kiss. We didn't make a reservation but we got seated right away on a Wednesday early afternoon. The ambiance is great, calm, with Latin music, and just love the decor. I will be coming here for all my birthdays moving forward! Not cheap, but a MUST to try at least once. read more

See all

I had dinner at the bar on a Friday night. Bartenders, who also took care of the diners at the bar, were friendly and gave great recommendations. Since it was early enough for Happy Hour, I had the Tostada de Atun, or Tuna Ceviche with Pinche Salsa Macha and Crema off their happy hour menu. This was really good, but secretly spicy so be careful! For other food, I had the Ceviche - Tuna, Leche de Coco, Habanero, Onion, Hierbas y Tostadas - and the Tamal Oaxaqueno - Banana Leaf steamed Nixtamal, Mole Madre, Ajonjoli, Crema y Queso Fresco. The tamal was great, not too dry and very flavorful. The mole was smooth and nutty. Really enjoyed this. For dessert, I had the Pan de Elote - Sweet Corn Cake con Canela, Ice Cream de Xoco Blanco Maiz Azul, Caramelo y Lavendar Maiz Powder. This was not too sweet, despite the fact that it came with canela. The ice cream was a nice touch. read more

The ambiance and decor is beautiful. The food was good and the service was ok. They had good margaritas. They have both indoor/outdoor seating. It's definitely higher end. read more

The Denver food scene has seen a lot of changes especially in the last 10 years or so. Diversity in the types of cuisine is not the only thing; creativity coupled with out-of-the-box ideas is the attributing factor for the increased number of restaurants with unique dishes and offerings. Xiquita sure is one of the good examples of that is not an overstatement. "Elevated Mexican food" might not explain everything what they offer at Xiquita; it certainly is more than that. To explain more, this place is not one of those mom and pop's places where they will bring you chips and salsa upon your arrival. In a way, you need to remove that thought from your mind completely and be open-minded about the twists they include in the dishes. Our waiter, Daniel, M was most generous and polite in every aspect of what a waiter should be. He didn't talk fast to get through his routine; rather, he took the time to explain the menu (first of all) and gave us time before he came back us to take our order and answer any questions we might have. His eloquence was manifested in everything he did for us. I bought this dinner as a Christmas gift for my daughter in December in 2025. This dinner was tied to another gift (a jazz concert at a nearby venue. Hence the actual night out day was tonight in late January 2026.) Since it was a special occasion, I let my daughter pick whatever she wanted so If you are considering dining at this restaurant, keep in mind that you will not have a casual Mexican dinner with a tab of $50 between two people. Expect to spend way more here as I said (early), this place is ELEVATED. By the way, they do start your meal by bringing you a complimentary "Seat & Greet Tortillas" with special butter that is ash-colored or squid ink colored. We found this so elegant. The dishes we had tonight were... Pozole Rojo ($17) Cochinita Pibil ($45) Sope ($17) All of them were shareable between two people and the portion sizes were quite generous. We also shared a side tortillas (3 of them; $5) and a 6oz of Syrah ($17). Pretty much everything we had tonight are highly recommended items off the menu (we simply ordered way too much food. At the end of our meal, we walked away with several containers.) Wow, we were quite impressed with this non-traditional Mexican food experience at Xiquita tonight. If you are looking for a one-of-a-kind restaurant for your next special occasion dining, go here and make it "elevated". read more

See all

An exceptional first time experience in our neighborhood! We've watched the excitement of Xiquita grow and have seen how busy the restaurant has been literally since opening in 2025. We have some fun friends that love food and don't get hung up about cost, express an interest in dinner so I booked a table for four at 6pm on a Saturday one month out. Our foursome arrived on time and were seated immediately. The atmosphere was warm and vibrant while also feeling intimate and fun. Our server was prompt and thorough in welcoming and orienting our expectations to the menu. This was very well done. We ordered a mix of items across the menu while we enjoyed some warm house made tortillas and butter. The wine arrived quickly and lubricated the menu choices. We order the pozole to start and wow, this was an excellent first choice out of the gate. I'm not a fan of pozole or rather I wasn't but I am now. This was new to the menu and utter perfection. Flavorful, hearty and shared by all four...this guy is wanting more. Next came the carrot dish which is masterfully displayed and a really interesting mix of earthy and savory on a bed of verde sauce (almost like a pesto but much better) with a hint of chili sauce. Gone in a minute! This was followed by the sope and a roasted potato dish. Of course everything is complimented by house made masa tortillas and amazing flavors with fresh and cooked ingredients that all neatly combine to make your mouth very happy. Last two dishes were the asada steak on a Chipotle red sauce and a beef empanada with a slightly sweet red sauce and a complimenting yogurt which made the empanada another absolute favorite. We cleaned up two bottles of wine. Licked every plate clean and decided on a final shared dessert which was a corn based cake with caramel and house made ice cream that left you speechless. More bowl licking and raving and expressed sadness over waiting a year to enjoy the Mexico City inspired flavors of Xiquita. If you haven't been and are even remotely curious, you should reserve a table and go immediately. Note, there were several fish or seafood dishes that we intentionally passed over despite the recommendations of or server as we just don't eat fish. But I saw many tables enjoying these dishes equally as well and they provide a great complement to the menu. The restaurant was packed. The air was filled with conversation and aside from the woman next to me, using her phone flashlight to read the menu we felt as if we were the only people in the restaurant. People, if you use your flashlight, exercise some discretion. read more

See all

Really excellent, especially the beef sopes, cochinita pibil, and (surprisingly) the pollo asado. The only thing we got that wouldn't be a strong re-order candidate was the steak. read more

See all

Absolutely outstanding experience last night at Xiquita! We started off with the tuna based Ceviche, which was light and smooth from the addition of coconut milk but had just the right amount of kick from the habaneros. Next was the Tamal Oaxaqueño and it had a wonderful blend of textures with the mole and crema with somewhat smoky undertone. The true showstoppers, though, were the Huarache and the Carne Asada. The huarache, with masa, pork belly chorizo con papas, salsa verde and roja, and queso de rancho, had incredible depth of flavor, textures, and perfect spice levels. The Carne Asada was cooked perfectly and came with the salsa arriera which was the perfect spicy addition. It was also topped with the most flavorful jalepeño butter to add an extra element. We finished with the prickly pear sorbet with aloe vera, which was so refreshing, and a perfect ending to the meal. Beyond the food, our server Dylan absolutely elevated the entire experience. He was incredibly knowledgeable and so friendly. We asked for recommendations, and he delivered on every single one. I will definitely be coming back and taking him up on his offer to surprise us by curating the meal for us next time! read more

See all

Wow!!!! Truly authentic Mexico City food that is divine. From the moment you walk in, you know you are going to have an amazing experience. Our waitress was knowledgeable and helpful. She really made our dining experience terrific. Xiquita is an up and coming gem and should not be missed. Here is a quick rundown of what you should definitely try. Start with the ceviche. It is delectable and the best tuna I've had in Denver--which is saying something because I do not like fish! Add in the taco de pato. You will be amazed at how well the duck is cooked. Not a huge fan of duck either usually, but wow! So, so good! While their menu changes with the season, if the Chile Colorado is on the menu, just order it for your entree. It can be split among three. This is authentic chile. The spices, the meat, the beans, and mint salad absolutely cannot be missed. This is how chile is intended to be made and eaten. Finally, order the Pan de Elote. This cornbread with the lavender infused ice cream...oh my god! Make your reservation online for Xiquita now!!!! read more

See all

Went there for early dinner/late lunch and enjoyed it a lot. The place is nicely decorated and with a good flow. Everyone was super welcoming and nice. The food is elevated Mexican dishes. There are some options for vegetarians, and I was told by another server that there are plenty more that are not in the menu. The dishes are meant to be shared. Everything looked fabulous, and the dishes that I tried were good. They also have the Mexican whiskey called Prieto, it has become one of my faves. Overall, great service and food. read more

I loved this place! Food was great and margs were delicious. We had to wait a bit to sit at the bar because we didn't have a reservation but the service was great and the ambiance is nice. read more

Xiquita - Mexican Near Me - Denver, Colorado

Visited yesterday to celebrate two birthdays in our friend group and I gotta say this is one of the best meals I've ever had in the Denver-metro. Coming from Chicago the food scene in Denver was underwhelming to say the least but there were always those few diamonds in the rough that truly showed through. Xiquita is one of those places. We started off the evening with the Pipian Verde which had a perfect variance of textures and the mole was incredible. We also got the Salsas Y Tostadas that came with a trio of sauces reminiscent of good Mexican food but with a special twist that brought more nuance to your normal chips and salsa experience. We ordered the Meijillones à la Veracruzana (mussels) and the Sikil Pak (vegetarian blue corn tostadas) both were absolutely perfect with just the perfect flavor combination in the tostadas and the richness of the mussels were to die for, the freshest I've had out here so far. We also ordered the Ceviche which came with luscious tuna that felt and tasted perfect. There were also these baked carrots in a beautiful verde salsa that changed my perspective on carrots. As for grande plates, we opted for the Asada de Pollo, Cochinita Pibil and Carne Asada. The chicken was ridiculously moist, melt in your more level soft and carried great depths of flavor through the bite when mixed with the rice and pico de tomatillo, this was my favorite thing to be consumed. The carne asada was a NY strip seasoned to perfection and included a beautiful salsa arriera which I wish I could get in a bottle and apply to literally everything I make at home, it had a touch of spice and a complex mix of flavors that evolved through the tasting. The Cochinita Pibil was my least favorite of the three grandes we purchased but still super good with tender shredded pork that incorporated a bit of the fat and included a great spattering of veggies and ensalada de frijol. As it was the birthday of a few friends present we received the Pan de Elote complimentary and that was awesome as well. The incorporation of corn into a dessert with the ice cream on top was truly the cherry on top of a great experience. Our server was super attentive with replacing plates, refilling water and providing explanations for each dish table side. We definitely felt that she exceeded our expectations on service we typically receive. Overall, 10/10 experience and I wish I took photos but I was hungry and plating made me want to eat right away. Will definitely be making this place a staple on my rotation when I'm looking to treat myself or a date to a nice night out. Huge thanks to the crew for putting on a meal that I won't be forgetting any time soon. read more

Great spot for some authentic Mexican food! The place is very nicely decorated and feels very cozy. There's greenery and pillows on the seats, which really give comfort and a great vibe. The service was great! Our host was welcoming and server (Adan) was very welcoming and knowledgeable. He was attentive and kept our table clean. The food was great! There were some high points and some alright-points. - Sopecito: Simple ingredients with great flavor - Carnitas taco: very good! As a spicy lover, I do wish it had the spicy red salsa - Campechano taco: the star of the show! so good and that salsa was incredible!! - Ceviche: absolutely delightful and great presentation - Tortilla with butter: the tortilla was so good! - Tamal Suiza: creative and the presentation was great, flavor was there but it felt like something was missing Drinks: - Spicy Pear Beerita: drink was good, but it wasn't spicy and there wasn't enough pear flavor - Margarita: I wouldn't get it again, very basic - Old Fashioned: presentation was great, good flavor - Cantarito: it was good, flavor was there but I think it needed more chamoy/tajin and like a candy stick Overall a good experience and would come back! There's something great about this place and I can't wait to see where it heads. read more

See all

I was genuinely surprised by how much I like this place. We just walked in on a Saturday night and we're lucky enough to get a seat at the bar which I like a lot because I find the fastest way to get a sense for a place is to talk to the bartender. S at the bar was great and we got a lot of great tips and advice about the menu. We ordered a bunch of plates, so I'm just gonna highlight a few. No contest, my absolute favorite was the Sikil Pak. This was just a truly incredible dish with a perfect balance of flavor. My wife would've said the same about the Tamal Oaxaqueno. I think anybody ordering at this restaurant really has to put the Taco Pato on their order if they can. We didn't order any of the mains, but we are almost certainly gonna have to come back for the Carne Asada or the Pibil Drink menu here, rocks, I'm just gonna draw your attention to the Zazamora y Crema, but I'd recommend saving it for the dessert course. read more

The room is pretty with a lot of plants which I love but the acoustics are not great and it was very loud and difficult to hear my companion. Food was tasty but having eaten at a lot of Denver's top Mexican restaurants lately, the food was not worth the hefty price tag. Our carne asada while flavorful but had a lot of fat for nearly $50. Service was very nice but they were busy and neglected to put out steak knives to eat the steak with. I didn't even have a knife and my Partner had a butter knife. Good but have been to better lately. read more

We went for a Friday happy hour, and it was the perfect atmosphere to grab a few bites and gab. We got almost everything on the happy hour, but the show stopper was the Tostada de Atun. The tuna was so fresh with an extra kick to it. I loved the touch of pineapple in the Taco al Pastor as well. The pork in the Taco de Cochinita Pibil was melt in your mouth. Everything came out super quick, and the tortillas were homemade which is always my favorite. Would def come back here! read more

See all

I loved the food, the vibe, the service. Everything was absolutely perfect. The Sikil Pak was phenomenal and I would order it every time I visit. It had so much flavor and spice. Our waiter had great suggestions on the menu and was also on point with making sure we had drinks and the food was time out perfectly. I don't think you can go wrong with anything on the menu. Will definitely be back. read more

Xiquita - Pan de Elote - Mexican Near Me - Denver, Colorado

I've been to Xiquita twice now, one for a special tasting menu dinner and also for happy hour. Parking was actually pretty easy for Uptown. The inside is super cute with pretty decor. They have a solid happy hour, we enjoyed the tacos with handmade tortillas, I particularly liked the soft ones and tried the mushroom, pork and tuna. All very good. Also has some dishes off the regular menu which were also tasty. I loved the presentation and taste of the beet tostadas. Our server was very knowledgeable and passionate about the food and coursed out our food at a good pace. Really enjoyed and would come back for sure. read more

See all

Went to Xiquita for happy hour and really appreciated their focus on Mexican food with Indigenous roots. We tried several tacos and liked most of them, though the al pastor didn't quite hit for me. The space itself is super cute and inviting. The sope and tostada were the highlights, especially the sope. As someone who's Mexican, the masa genuinely reminded me of my childhood. Everything was flavorful and well done overall, though it's a bit pricey even during happy hour, tacos were $7 each. Still, a great spot if you're looking for thoughtful, elevated Mexican food read more

See all

Checked out Xiquita with my 'supper club' crew mid-August, and while I was hoping to get back more quickly for some happy hour taco samplings as well, it's high time I weigh in on the dinner service at least. We ordered a few cocktails, and one mocktail, to start the evening, all of which were well received. We got some welcome tortillas at the table, which was a thoughtful touch that fueled us while we debated our options. Never a group to shy away from eating, we ordered a full sampling of dishes from the various categories. We started with the Ceviche, which was easily one of my favorite dishes of the evening. We also had the Pipian Verde, which I suspected based upon experiences at sister restaurant Lucina, would be a real hit--sure enough it was fantastic! Next we moved on to the masa-focused dishes and had the Molote. I will say it was a hard item to share, but aside from that, it was an agreed upon miss by the table. The meat filling inside was fairly sparse, and when cut in half, what was inside ran out in a somewhat watery and unappetizing fashion. We definitely liked the Tamal Oaxaqueno more, though I think some of our group felt that without any filling, the masa was perhaps too filling/one note. I must admit, I was reluctant to order the Carne Asada--not being sure how the portion would split amongst our group. That said, I'm very glad we did. Easily a top dish, the flavor of the accompanying sauce was scrumptious, the meat was cooked to perfection. We enjoyed it thoroughly. We also got the Cochinita Pibil--fullness setting in now--this was still a great dish, although by contrast, less memorable. I would note (since I missed this on my read of the menu) that the accompanying pinto beans are more of a cold salad presentation. Finally, we ordered the Pan De Elote for dessert; admittedly, this was by accident. We had intended to order something else and misunderstood the description. The dessert was good, but on the heels of all of that food, the masa was heavier than desired. The decor/vibes inside the restaurant are gorgeous, although I was a little disappointed that we ended up right behind the host stand where my head frequently ran into a trailing plant above me. The service we had that night was fine, but not particularly attentive. We had to wait quite some time for the check, and were not asked if we wanted to order any additional drinks. It's possible some of the kinks have been worked out further since our visit, but I did find that a little surprising given the attentiveness I've received at Lucina. All in all, I would definitely check it out again, (I do want to give the tacos a try), but my first impressions leave some room for improvement. read more

See all

Made a return visit to Xiquita and had another fantastic meal. Their seasonal menu has changed, so I got to try some new dishes. Highlights of the meal were the Taco De Pato and the Chile Colorado. The duck carnitas with the casero mole, divine! The red chile sauce that the pork was marinated in for the Chile Colorado, again, brought me back to my grandmother's kitchen. The tender pieces of pork atop the fava bean refritos melted in my mouth. The fresh onions and salad on top gave it just the right amount of acidity. We got to sit towards the back of the restaurant at the center table next to the colorful mural and saw all the action on a busy Saturday night. Despite the crowd, our server made sure we were well taken care of. read more

See all

Nice restaurant near downtown. Sits within a cluster restaurants and an ice cream shop. We ordered the ceviche, tamale suiza, and the carne asada. Ceviche was excellent. Tamale was okay (didn't love the corn esquite). The carne asada was the star of the show. Nicely cooked, seasoned, and paired with a nice red sauce. Service was nice, but felt a bit disorganized. We had at least four different people check in with us. read more

Xiquita - Waiting for our table. Feels like a jungle with all the plants! - Mexican Near Me - Denver, Colorado

See all

Made a reservation for 9 people for a birthday celebration. I was surprised they allowed me to do it. I felt like VIP. Our server was so nice... we bought 2 whole bottles of tequila and invited her to drink with us. They gave us a great deal... definitely worth it if you have a big group. We probably ordered everything on the menu... I have zero complaints... everything tasted amazing. I definitely recommend Xiquita for a group celebration. The vibe is fun, the service is excellent and most importantly... the food is phenomenal! read more

I had molote and the sopes de suadero. Both delicious and filling, so I didn't need an entree. Our server was Fatima, and she was great. Parking on the street was available. We'll be back. read more

Xiquita - Delicious! - Mexican Near Me - Denver, Colorado

Restaurant Week was upon us and a return visit was in order. We were seated promptly at a booth by an open exterior door. We asked the hostess to close it and she did as we settled into an extremely cold and hard metal bench at our booth. Luckily there were pillows and sitting on them helped warm us up. The Restaurant Week offering was very good. But first, our waiter, Ryan was great. He explained that this was a traditional Mexican restaurant - nearly every dish would be built around Corn, Beans and Squash. All the masa was made in house, fresh, daily. Impressive. He checked on our spice tolerance. We could not have had a better server. For the meal: The Hamachi was melt in your mouth good, with the fresh, dry aged fish, sitting in a subtle citrus juice. The Turkey tamal was savory, hearty and delicious. The duck confit tender and perfectly presented. Dessert of a chocolate covered ice cream cone was a great way to finish. Somewhere in the middle of the meal the restaurant received a shipment ....and the exterior door was again opened for a lengthy period. So ambiance and comfort may depend on where you sit -- I will know better if there is a next time. Be prepared: Xiquita is also extremely loud inside and there were several large parties having a grand time for the 2 hours we were there. It is almost impossible to have any conversation with your dinner companion. Xiquita does have a good wine by the glass selection. Only Street parking. read more

Xiquita - Bar - Mexican Near Me - Denver, Colorado

Excellent experience--our third visit in a week and everything has been consistently spot on!The food is beautifully seasoned with a great balance of heat, the service is attentive and genuinely kind, and the beverage program is strong and well executed. A standout experience across the board, Xiquita! read more

Great food and ambiance! We had the gazpacho, duck tacos, carne asada, smoked whiskey cocktail, and pineapple horchata. Flavors and textures were spot on. read more

Was in town visiting a friend and had the BEST dinner here! Loved everything we ate- shared everything we ate- ate everything we ordered! Would come back in a heartbeat. Great cocktails (that don't have to come with mezcal or tequila if that's not your thing), good service and a gorgeous restaurant vibe. Strongly recommend making a resy! read more

One of the newer restaurants ( opened in August 2024) in Denver. Sister to Lucina in South Park hill. Xiquita is a warm inviting restaurants serving delicious plates of unique Lat Am cuisine. I must forewarn you this is a place that holds quality over quantity. The four of us ordered all kinds of small plates and none of the mains....and I feel that is the way to go. Standouts were the Taco De Pato, Tamales, Tamal De Esquites, Perfect place if you are pescatarian or vegetarian....although they have something for everyone, The flavor of all the dishes we ordered was really really good. Deep rich flavors. Loved the goat cheese usage. Nice Mole. Their masa is awesome with a deep rich corn flavor. I would highly recommend you check out Xiquita for a unique interpretation of beautiful dishes read more

See all

Food is amazing! I love the ceviche and carne asada. Daniel is a great server - very attentive. Great date spot and good vibes overall. read more

From the amazing team behind Lucina comes one of my favorite new restaurants in Denver -- Xiquita (pronounced "Chiquita"). Happy Hour (Hora Loca) Tue-Thu 3-5pm I just love how they introduce the restaurant themselves: "At our table, we celebrate Nixtamal, a cornerstone of culinary history. Our dishes pay homage to ancient traditions, where maize transforms into tortillas, tamales, and so much more. Each bite whispers stories of resilience, culture, and flavor. Nixtamal is not just about food -- it's a bridge to the past, connecting generations through taste and tradition." That said, Xiquita serves up some delicious upscale Mexican cuisine that honors traditional ingredients, but presents them in a more modern, creative way. It's a fantastic addition to Denver as we're seeing more and more Mexican fine dining concepts define the local food scene. From the service, to the cocktails, to the food -- I cannot recommend this place enough! Some of our favorite dishes: - Trio of salsas (these just might be my favorite salsas, especially that black roasted pineapple) - Tuna ceviche (not only is it fresh and beautiful, but that kick of habanero is fantastic) - The beef tongue Sope was my favorite thing all night. I'd come back for this again and again. - The Tamal Oaxaqueno seems like a simple dish, but that mole madre is a true labor of love that's a must try. PRO TIP: ask to add confit duck. - The Castacan -- slow roasted pork belly "Porchetta" -- is absolutely one of the best pork dishes I've had. So if you're a pork lover, do it! - Even if you're completely full, the Sour Prickly Pear Sorbet with Aloe is the coolest, most refreshing dessert! read more

See all

Truly outstanding food in a gorgeous space. The service is top tier. You can even watch the tortillas being made! It's hard to recommend just one dish, but the beef cheek sopes were one that I cannot stop thinking about. So rich and flavorful! Do yourself a favor and go grab dinner here (they also have a killer happy hour). read more

See all

I really wished for a 5 start experience! We had a reservation for 7 pm and upon arrival we were told our table is not ready. We sat at the bar for about 40 mins to get a table - beats the whole point of having a reservation! They were so severely understaffed that Upon being seated, we waited for over 15 mins for someone to even stop by and take our order. Our server apologized multiple times and I know it isn't her fault as she was the tending to majority of the tables - she was very sweet. This was our almost first hour at Xiquita and really had me disappointed. No matter the service , the food here was good. The cocktails seemed nice, I tried the apricot margarita while at the bar. They have a lot of blue corn inspired items which was nice. Everything looks very pretty and the food came out quickly. I really liked taco de pato out of all the things we ordered. Dessert was alright. read more

See all

I visited Xiquita with two friends recently. The experience left a lot to be desired unfortunately. We were promptly seated which was great. It took the waiter a long time to come and take our drink orders and then it took about another twenty minutes to get our drinks out. I really enjoyed the Margarita de Hibisco, but it definitely wasn't a $16 drink worthy experience. When we ordered we wanted to each get our own steak but the waiter insisted that we should share and said we'd only need one because it is so large and order other things and share. After some push back we decided to order the ceviche and he told us we needed to order the Albondigas because they were out of the Castacan, which was a little shocking for an early evening when there are only four main dishes to choose from. The ceviche was beautiful, but it didn't really live up to my expectations. It was kind of bland tasting. The coconut milk was a different flavor profile, but there were not any distinct flavors that stood out to me that sent it over the edge. We also received an extra plate of chips which we did not order and we were charged for. It was only $1 but it felt very disingenuous to have an extra charge added when we didn't even ask for it. We'd been there for an hour by the time our waiter came back and told us that they were now out of the Albondigas that he pushed on us. He brought a menu to see if we wanted to order anything else, but to be honest it had taken so long already and we had yet to see the carne asada do we opted not to gamble on ordering something else especially since they were out of two of items we would've been interested in. We finally got the carne asada it definitely was not as large as it was advertised. The flavor also was not my favorite. I loved the butter it came with, but the salsa was not as flavorful as I would prefer with a steak. The steak itself wasn't super flavorful and it was a little chewy. I don't think I would order it again if I returned to Xiquita. By the end of the meal we were left hungry and unsatisfied with the experience. I was surprised given the number of really outstanding reviews this place has. I will opt to go elsewhere the next time I have a friend in town. read more

See all

My husband and I came with friends tonight and as soon as you walk in, it smells like masa with a definite homey undercurrent. We started with soft corn tortillas, warm with a side of salted jalepeno/ash butter. So good that I could have just eaten a whole stack. Ceviche was our appetizer and was a perfect balance of coconut milk to heat to fish. Seriously good. For my main I got a masa/fava bean dish that I asked to be vegan (dairy avoidance). It was so good that I was almost licking the sauce from the plate. Everyone was so happy with their food whether it was the duck taco, lengua sope or vegetarian tamale. I also got a Nicaraguan beer that was perfect and light. Everyone else went with a hibiscus margarita. For dessert I orders the prickly pear cactus sorbet with aloe jelly. Everyone else tackled the milk chocolate/corn Mexican hot chocolate ice cream. This was a super unique and super delicious dessert. Service was very friendly and very speedy! read more

Xiquita is charming the moment you walk in. We had an exceptional wait person who made great recommendations. Ambiance is warm and cozy, not too noisy but let's get to what is more important, the food! We ordered a number of plates to share and enjoyed all of them. Roasted carrots were a stand out. Ceviche is a must and the potato crochet was good but not special enough to order again. Tacos were exceptional, we tried Duck and fish and both were delicious in different ways. The Pork belly Cochinitia was also tasty and worth ordering. We will definitely come back. read more

See all