Tacos Tequila Whiskey ★ 4.4
Tacos Tequila Whiskey in Denver is the City Park taqueria, a 2014 small-room operation with carnitas, lengua and chorizo tacos and a mezcal-and-bourbon bar.
Try: Street tacos and mezcal
Vendors, food trucks and stalls: the cheapest, fastest, frequently best food in Denver.
Don't-miss vendors
El Taco de Mexico ★ 4.6
El Taco de Mexico in Denver is the Santa Fe Drive Mexican counter since 1986, a James Beard America's Classics winner with cabeza, lengua and tripa tacos and a green chile burrito.
Try: Lengua tacos and chile rellenos
Chubby's ★ 4.4
Chubby's in Denver is the West Highland Mexican counter on 38th Avenue, a 1971 family-owned shop open until 3 am for the smothered burrito night-shift trade.
Try: Smothered green chile burrito
Santiago's ★ 4.2
Santiago's in Denver is the Colorado chain Mexican counter, a Front Range green-chile fixture since 1991 with 30 Front Range locations and a smothered breakfast burrito on every menu.
Try: Green chile breakfast burrito
Biker Jim's Gourmet Dogs ★ 4.3
Biker Jim's Gourmet Dogs in Denver is the Ballpark district hot-dog counter on Larimer, with elk, rattlesnake, reindeer and other wild-game sausages topped with kraut or chile.
Try: Wild-game sausages
Las Delicias ★ 4.3
Las Delicias in Denver is the Uptown Mexican counter and family room since 1974, with carne adovada burritos, chile rellenos and a Westword Best of nod.
Try: Carne adovada burrito
Maria Empanada ★ 4.5
Maria Empanada in Denver is Lorena Cantarovici's South Broadway empanada counter since 2013, an Argentine bakery-cafe with hand-folded beef, chicken and vegetable empanadas.
Try: Argentine empanadas
Civic Center EATS ★ 4.2
Civic Center EATS in Denver is the Tuesday and Thursday food-truck rally on the Civic Center Park lawn, running May through October with 30 trucks rotating each week.
Try: Food truck rally (varies)
Wong Way Veg ★ 4.4
Wong Way Veg in Denver is Holly Wong's vegan Chinese-American food truck, a RiNo and Curtis Park rotating operation with vegan crab rangoon and General Tso's plates.
Try: Vegan Chinese-American food truck
Pinche Tacos ★ 4.2
Pinche Tacos in Denver is the City Park modern-Mexican taqueria, with carnitas, fish, al pastor and lengua tacos and a mezcal-and-bourbon program shared with Tacos Tequila Whiskey.
Try: Modern Mexican tacos
Street Food in Denver, FAQ
When is the best time to eat in Denver?
Peak food season in Denver is year-round.
What time do people eat in Denver?
Local dining hours: lunch around 12:30, dinner from 19:30.
How does tipping work in Denver?
service is typically included; small extra is welcome but not expected.
What is the one dish to try in Denver?
Ask the next local you meet what they would order. Denver rewards trust.