El Taco de Mexico explained

El Taco de Mexico is a restaurant in Denver, Colorado. In 2020 it was named one of America's Classics by the James Beard Foundation.[1]

History

The restaurant was founded by Maria Luisa Zanabria, who emigrated from Mexico City, then moved from California to Colorado in 1985; she first operated the business from a trailer parked on Denver's Santa Fe Drive in Denver's Art District on Santa Fe.[2]

The 2020 America's Classics award was a first for a Colorado restaurant.

Menu

The restaurant serves Mexican staples such as burritos, enchiladas, gorditas, tacos, tortas, tamales, and menudo.[3] The Beard Foundation in their announcement called the pork burrito "the restaurant’s crowning glory...smothered in green chile humming with earthy spice".[4]

Recognition

In 2020 the restaurant was named one of America's Classics by the James Beard Foundation;[5] in their announcement the foundation called it a "lodestar...among Denver's thriving Mexican food culture".[6] Eater Denver called it "the mother of all Mexican food institutions in Denver".[7] Andrew Zimmern called it "Denver's quintessential taqueria".[8] Conde Nast Traveler, naming it one of Denver's 20 Best Restaurants, said the green chili "represents the gold standard of the Southwestern staple".[9] Food & Wine, naming their burrito one of the best in the country, called their smothered chile relleno burrito "the breakfast dish of your dreams."[10]

References

39.7276°N -104.9983°W

Notes and References

  1. News: Sexton . Josie . The James Beard Foundation just recognized this Denver burrito staple as an American classic . 14 April 2024 . The Denver Post . 18 February 2020.
  2. Web site: Dean . Ashley . 7 August 2018 . El Taco De Mexico has hardly changed since 1986, and no one is complaining . 2023-03-01 . Denverite . en-US.
  3. Web site: 2022-08-22 . El Taco De Mexico - null . 2023-03-01 . . en.
  4. Web site: Sexton . Josie . 2020-02-18 . The James Beard Foundation just recognized this Denver burrito staple as an American classic . 2023-03-01 . The Denver Post . en-US.
  5. Web site: James Beard Foundation Names 6 Restaurants 'American Classics' . 2023-03-01 . Food & Wine . en.
  6. Web site: Announcing the 2020 America's Classics Winners . 2023-03-01 . www.jamesbeard.org . en.
  7. Web site: 2012-09-11 . Andrew Zimmern on El Taco de Mexico . 2023-03-01 . Eater Denver . en.
  8. Web site: Mexican Restaurants in Denver . 2023-03-01 . www.denver.org . en-us.
  9. Web site: Tobias . Ruth . August 12, 2021 . 28 Best Restaurants in Denver . 2023-03-18 . Condé Nast Traveler . en-US.
  10. Web site: January 26, 2017 . Best Burritos in the U.S. . 2023-03-18 . Food & Wine . en.