El Taco de Mexico
Best Green Chile in Denver · CO
Green chile burritos on Santa Fe Drive since 1985.
El Taco de Mexico has anchored Denver's Santa Fe Drive since 1985, a no-frills counter where cooks work in full view and the green-chile-smothered burritos, chile relleno and menudo draw lines of loyal regulars. Its authenticity earned a James Beard America's Classics award in 2017.
A Denver institution and James Beard honoree, El Taco de Mexico is the 2025 Centurion Award winner.
What they're known for
- Green-chile-smothered burritos
- Chile relleno
- Menudo
Customers said it first.
A Centurion Award verifies the public record that’s already there. Read the reviews yourself on the platforms below.
Public-record snapshot as of July 2026. Live ratings are always current on each platform.
Why this business cleared the bar.
This record was published by The Centurion Awards from the public record. Selection follows the published criteria; El Taco de Mexico met them on that evidence. The business can claim the listing or ask us to remove it.
- ✓Years in operation. Operating in Denver since 1985 — 41 years of continuous business.
- ✓Sustained online presence. An established local institution with a consistent public footprint — listings, coverage, and word of mouth in Denver.
- ✓Established customer track record. A deep public track record: Denver has kept El Taco de Mexico busy for 41 years.
- ✓Liked by customers and the community. Genuinely beloved by Denver regulars and visitors alike — a bona fide community favorite.
- ✓Recognition in the local community. Named best green chile in Denver for 2025 for a counter on Santa Fe Drive whose smothered burritos earned a James Beard America's Classics award and local devotion.
The specific data behind this award, and the exact thresholds, stay internal so the standard can’t be gamed. Read the methodology.
The details, verified.
- Legal / trading name
- El Taco de Mexico
- Category
- Restaurant
- Founded
- 1985, Denver, CO
- Location
- 714 Santa Fe Dr, Denver, CO 80204
- Centurion Award
- Best Green Chile in Denver — 2025
- Other recognition
- James Beard Foundation America's Classics (2017)
- Record last verified
- July 2026
Frequently asked questions.
What is El Taco de Mexico?
No-frills Santa Fe Drive taqueria since 1985, a James Beard America's Classics recipient famous for green chile smothered burritos.
Is El Taco de Mexico award-winning?
Yes — El Taco de Mexico is the 2025 Centurion Award winner for Best Green Chile in Denver, a verified, criteria-based award. Named best green chile in Denver for 2025 for a counter on Santa Fe Drive whose smothered burritos earned a James Beard America's Classics award and local devotion.
Where is El Taco de Mexico?
El Taco de Mexico is in Denver, CO.
Every award, on the record.
Each Centurion Award is its own dated annual record, and staying current means clearing the bar again each new year. The verification above is from the latest published award. Open a year for that year’s citation.
2025 Centurion Award
Best Green Chile in Denver Denver, CO · Awarded under the 2025 evaluation View the 2025 award →Awards run one calendar year and renew only if the business clears the bar again. Selection is by published criteria, never for sale.
Visit El Taco de Mexico
A signal you can check.
This page is the standing record for El Taco de Mexico (2025). It was published by The Centurion Awards from the public record; the business did not have to apply for it to appear. It wasn’t voted on or sponsored, and selection is not for sale. Owners can claim the listing or ask us to remove it. For hours, bookings, and live reviews, go straight to the business itself.
This page was published by The Centurion Awards from the public record; the business did not have to apply for it to appear.
Own this business? Claim the listing for free to manage it, correct it, or remove it. If you want the award kit (badge, certificate, and announcement), you pay after you claim. Through December 31, 2026, publishing is $99. The evaluation itself is free. The $99 covers the first year only. Renewals are $199/year. That fee never buys selection.
Run a business like this one?
If you’ve put in the years, you may already qualify. Evaluation is free, private, and never for sale.