Blanco Cocina + Cantina

Blanco Cocina + Cantina was a great experience. The food portions were generous and everything was absolutely delicious — definitely a place where you feel like you’re getting great value along with great flavor. I also tried the Don Juan’s Spiced Cider, and it was honestly one of the best I’ve ever had. Perfectly balanced, warm, and incredibly tasty. Overall, this is a fantastic spot for great food, great drinks, and a satisfying meal. I’d happily come back.

Had a blast at the Blanco Cocina + Cantina Christmas bar! We sat on the patio and it was the perfect festive atmosphere for a night out with friends. What we ordered: 🍹The Margarita Tree: A must-try! The Strawberry & Kiwi Smash and Santa’s Actually Skinny were highlights. 🌽Mexican Street Corn: My favorite - don’t skip this. 🐓🥩🍤Mixed Grill Fajitas: The spicy tiger shrimp and carne asada were cooked perfectly. Great Tex-Mex, great drinks, and even better holiday vibes. Highly recommend!

one of my favorite spots in the CO-9 neighborhood! Always room at the bar. Very friendly and knowledgeable staff. I love the Happy Hour menu too - tons of great items. I love the queso! 💕

Okay - this has been the best XMAS pop up of the year so far! Amazing cocktails and late night snacks and the decorations were fabulous. I’m surprised this place wasn’t busier honestly, but it was nice not having to fight for seats. We had the ceviche, nachos and posole and all dishes were incredible. I wouldn’t recommend the Stocking Stuffer cocktail unless you REALLY like Mezcal. It was very cute, but the flavor was overwhelming and would’ve been better with vodka - we ended up taking it back as no one at our table liked it.

My only disappointment was the size of my marg vs the price. $15.50 for a medium size drink. Although very tasty, should have been a large. My machaca burrito was delicious, but could have used more green chili. Was not packed, so easy to talk. Comfortable seating. Great Christmas decorations!

Food and service was great. Loved that the Christmas Tree (pictured) allows you to mix and match margaritas and espresso martinis. Our bartender was fun yet professional and helpful. Definitely will be back.

This was great from the service to the space we were provided for a friend’s birthday. The mocktails are super yummy. Had the taco salad with a bean burrito.

This place has been going downhill for a while. I got the fajitas and what a disappointment. They did not cut them through and that was because the meat was so tough I could not cut it. Not one bite was edible. The vegetables were sparse and those that were there were burnt to a crisp. There was some burnt cheese blob on the platter. The beans were cold. Stale chips and salsa. On the positive side the margarita was good. Won’t be back

I remember when Blanco landed in Denver a few years back. I was blown away by the beautiful build out and their dedication to revitalizing this part of town. Years later, it's grown into one of my favorite chain restaurants because the food, service and cocktails are consistently top notch! Our last visit solidified it being a go-to when in this part of town. 9+Co has plenty of options, albeit many chain-type places. Blanco (and their other concept, Culinary Dropout) have always separated themselves from the rest. *Don't miss the weekday happy hour (3-6pm) and all day on Tuesdays* WARM QUESO ($13) -- Guacamole, Sour Cream, Pico de Gallo. We added Ground Beef ($3) and this elevated the already good queso into G R E A T queso. Chips were salted and perfectly crispy. The queso had the texture we all crave and love, and with the surrounding accoutrements we were devouring it faster than a race car at the Indy 500. TIGER SHRIMP FAJITAS ($23) -- Spicy Garlic Butter, Served with Caramelized Peppers & Onions, Elote, Guacamole, Pico De Gallo & Queso Blanco. Choice of Black or Charro Beans. I can't tell you the last time I ordered fajitas, but I'm really glad I ordered these. The amount of food alone was worth the price of admission. The shrimp were plump and juicy and had a great snap. The tortillas are made in house and you can absolutely taste the difference. Not to mention, my Cadillac Margarita, and even the salsa that came with the chips to begin the meal, were excellent. I literally have zero negatives at Blanco. Service is always spot on, and the vibes (whether indoors or on the patio) are always lively and fun. Impressed with this place since day one. No signs of slowing down. Check 'em out if you want a delicious meal in a trendy setting!

In my never ending quest for satisfying Mexican food here in Denver, while I've found a tiny handful (2, to be exact) of great places in the barrio, unfortunately each time I venture to a civilized, pleasant location to try a Mexican restaurant here, I'm disappointed. Tonight I ordered the machaca bowl. While the ingredients were fresh and acceptable, the meal just lacked any flavor, pungency and cohesiveness. It was truly as though the cook dumped 5 ingredients in a bowl and called it good. I asked for extra cheese. I asked for hotter salsa. Despite this all, it was bland. I guess this is why I find Mexican food so disappointing as it is hopelessly easy to prepare, yet virtually no one takes it seriously.

I've been begging my fam to go here for HH! So when one of my children told me they went there all the time....Argggggghhhhh. So we finally all went and it was an amazing experience. Of course weather in the 70s doesn't hurt. Great service, ambiance, and food! Service is friendly and efficient without being over the top. Great ambiance: Really spacious and open. I personally prefer the patio but inside is very chill too. Food is good: We ordered the nachos, guac, tacos and dessert. It was all delish. Cocktails were great. The best was the Paloma which was perfectly blended...you could easily hammer these down...just saying. Throw in that it is really close to Cherry Creek, Valet parking, and an awesome HH menu.....and It is easy to see why it was so busy. Check them out.

Two words: Overpriced and underwhelming. This spot really isn't that good. The rice is terrible, I've never had white rice tossed in butter with a few nuggets of corn and called it Mexican rice? The shrimp was so rubbery and the amount of picked onions was insane and they were overly sweet? The tortillas did not taste fresh. The portions are so small for the prices. The service was fine but nothing stand out. While the food did come out hot, the flavors fell so short. I know Denver isn't known for tacos and this place reinforced that. $20 for two small terrible tacos? Waste of money.

After having a so so experience next door, we gave Blanco Cocina a chance and ay yi yi, what a great meal! The chips and salsa were on point and for you other spice girls and boys out there, their salsa is spicy!! I got a dewy fave after a few bites, that's what I'm talking about! The have the standard Mexican fare, elevated but not pretentious. I got the fish tacos and they were excellent in flavor and size, a lot higher than I thought they were gonna be which is nice in this day and age with prices going up and portions going down. We ended on the tres leches cake and dare I say, we were too full to finish it. But it was perfection as well! Kudos to Blanco, always nice to have another fabulous Mexican place in Denver!

Americanized Mexican fusion restaurant with very spacious luxury resort vibe. Food.and service were pretty good and very beautiful restaurant.

Stopped in for a quick lunch. It wasn't very busy and the staff were very friendly and accommodating. It's very well decorated and large inside. They had some upbeat music playing. They start you off with some chips and salsa. The chips are warm and the salsa is fresh with a bit of kick. I ordered the cheese crisp with short rib. Which is basically like a Mexican pizza. When it was brought out I thought there was no way I was gonna be able to eat it all.....I ate it all. it was like I was in a Pringles commercial. Once it popped I just couldn't stop. It was soooo good. I definitely want to go back to try some cocktails and other items on the menu. Stop in if you're in the area!

This was our first stop after arriving in town. This restaurant came highly recommend by my friend and we weren't disappointed! We were able to sit ourselves at one of the bar high tops. The service was spectacular. Bella checked on us repeat my while also making drinks at the bar. She didn't even write our order down and it still came out fast and correct. You could tell she's been doing this awhile. The ambiance doesn't feel like Mexican food. It feels more like coffee shop. Tons of plants and wooden dirt jute used. Open to natural light. It's beautiful, but not like the hole in the wall I'm used to in California. For food we got guacamole, queso blanco, a soup, tacos and a pitcher of margaritas. Highly recommend everything

Great ambiance, friendly service, tasty food and awesome Happy Hour specials. Good queso , guac and chips. The Tucson chimichangas are sooo good.

Go for the chips and salsa and the drinks. Can't say their food really impresses me at all. The night we went our waitress forgot our requests and kept chatting it up with friends who sat in her section. Maybe that contributed to the dislike of my food. I don't know. Not sure I would return but at least I gave it a go. It's loud in there with a bunch of TVs everywhere. Not sure if they're suffering from restaurant identity crisis or not. Oh well.

The entrance is magical with all the plants and décor, definitely a fairytale for this fairy, the drinks were just ok and the tacos weren't portioned evenly, the consistency between my tacos and my partners tacos were extremely different and we both got the brisket tacos and his was half the portion of protein then mine. My fish taco was pretty loaded too but his chicken taco was just as light in protein portion as his brisket taco. I was way more impressed with the showcase they put on for the Yelp sock hop event this past week. And to be honest the only reason why we came to try it out. The corn tortillas were better executed at the event as well as the portions being consistent. Our service was great from everybody other than our waitress because I think she was a little preoccupied. So as a team they pulled off great service just not our server by herself. Overall, this was a interesting experience, and I really enjoyed the patio, That was the highlight of the outing. But extremely overpriced, and I would not revisit.

went out with my client to supper and she picked Blanco i was very excited to try a new place in denver!! such a beautiful dining area amazing atmosphere super sweet server was very patient with us well we decided on our meal and even made my client coffee !! food was yum! so many mixed drinks will have to come back when i'm not working!! lol

Nothing like summer evenings in Colorado with the perfect setting of Blanco's patio, hanging out with some friends. The food was perfect along with the setting. Wonderful guacamole and chips, a refreshing Mexican salad that was fresh and tasty... then on to fajitas, delicioso! Top it all off with a yummy flan. It IS all that... and a bag of chips. The underpinning of all this was fantastic service! We look forward to return trips... any time of year!

The decor and ambiance is second to none. Tried their macacha short rib tacos during the Yelp (hop sock) event a few weeks ago. We tried their tacos and I was so happy they made their corn tortillas in house. This made me want to try their food and we got a free guacamole for attending the event. This experience was terrible to say the least. Our server was rude and completely dismissive didn't even bring us silverware after us ordering the guacamole. They had 3 times to bring us silverware and we had to ask for it. Ordered the taco plate - short rib and chicken Al pastor. My partner got the mahi and short rib taco. The portions were incredibly inconsistent. Mine barely had a serving portion while my partner had double the meat. Mind you there was NOBODY in the place on Sunday afternoon. I was incredibly disappointed after having a great experience at the Yelp elite event. I normally never eat at elevated Mexican places because of this very situation. As someone who has family who owns restaurants consistency is always first and foremost. Idk how they go about plating their food but it's incredibly disheartening to know their chef or kitchen doesn't double check their food before it goes out. Truly left a bad taste in my mouth. The beans (charros) aren't really traditional charro beans just beans cooked in the bacon fat. Not soupy or with the additional ingredients. Rice was good. Guacamole was good and their house salsa was pretty good as well. Our server was incredibly lazy and didn't pay us any mind and I was displeased with the entire experience. We even had drinks after because my partner forced me took those we're ok too. Mind you we only came here because of the event and the taste of the food that night. Over priced food doubt I'll ever dine here again.

Such a cool ambience. Our server was attentive and friendly. I enjoyed the street corn and the queso. There was enough chicken and shrimp fajitas for lunch the next day. Can't wait until my next visit.

Blanco is a cool spot to go! It is open concept, high ceilings and airy. They have lots of banquettes that are very cozy and spaced nicely for privacy. Our waitress was super kind and the service was great- they close at 9 during the week so no late nights. On Tuesday's they have all day happy hour food and cocktails which is a great deal! The chips and salsa are awesome. Salsa is chunky and a nice spice level. The queso was also incredible- it's a must try on the menu. They have burritos or you can get them as a bowl for slighter option. I had the braised chicken bowl and the flavors were really nicely out together. My sister had the Tucson chimichanga that looked incredible- it's huge but she really liked it. This place was a really nice experience and very good Mexican food in a chic setting. We will definitely be back here!

You can't beat this Happy Hour $5 frozen drinks that taste amazing and don't leave you thinking "did they make this virgin?"- yes please! And did I mention the free chips and salsa? Or the beautifully decorated interior and patio? Don't sleep on this place, see you there

We keep going back to Blanco Cocina for a great selection of Mexican cuisine, well prepared, and served by a friendly staff. Extra special kudos to Tim (Blanco's manager) for going out of his way to be accommodating to our group. Many thanks!

Well, I've done a review for this place before but after the Yelp event I need to add a few things. First off, after talking to the GM, I can tell you this place REALLY cares about their food and the quality. They work way above avg and it shows. You have got to try the chicken fajitas. They have this grilled flavor in them that's just perfect! Also, their corn tortillas. I normally don't like corn tortillas, but these, hand made every day, have a bit of sweetness to them. You MUST try them! Go to blanco. Just go. Thank me later.

I had the absolute delight of experiencing a meal at Blanco Cocina + Cantina that left me utterly impressed by the exceptional service and delectable flavors. Upon requesting a taco salad sans meat due to my dietary preferences, I was pleasantly surprised by their flexibility in providing a satisfying vegetarian version. The restaurant's menu seemed to cater to all palates, and the staff's attentiveness ensured that our glasses were consistently filled and our needs promptly addressed. Now, let's delve into the culinary delights: Chips & Salsa - The chips were delightfully crisp and accompanied by a salsa boasting an exquisite balance of flavors and just the right level of spiciness. Guacamole - The guacamole was a masterpiece, featuring a flawless blend of flavors including roasted pobalano, anaheim chiles, and caramelized onions, all topped with a generous sprinkle of cotija cheese. The Cheese Enchiladas and Crunchy Taco Salad were a harmonious fusion of flavors, truly a treat for the taste buds. The Fajita bar was taken to new heights by the standout elote, a dish I could have devoured with a spoon and found myself in culinary heaven. The Mexican Chocolate Tiramisu was an indulgent conclusion to the meal, boasting delightful spices and crowned with candied walnuts. For those seeking a serene and picturesque outdoor patio to savor both an enticing cocktail and a remarkable dinner, I wholeheartedly recommend paying a visit to Blanco Cocina + Cantina. And speaking of cocktails, don't miss the opportunity to savor the skinny spicy margarita - it's a must-try that beautifully complements the entire dining experience.

Exceeded my expectations, from the warm friendly greeting by the hostess team and the servers/bartenders the employees were great. The queso was delicious, chips were warm and crisp, the salsa is tasty. Everyone was happy with the Taco Entrees, the fish on the fish tacos was a little over cooked and dry but overall very good. The Cadillac margarita was excellent. Worth a try and we will be back.

Fun Fact: Blanco Cocina + Cantina's dining room can accommodate 133 guests! With a laid back party atmosphere, this spot in 9th + CO delivers on the food and fun. You'll find familiar dishes bursting with classic flavors, as well as flavorful and creative takes on others. * Pork Chile Verde Burrito~charred onion, roasted pasilla, tomatillo, cilantro, cotija. The interesting part of this section of the menu is that you can get the ingredients as a bowl, enchiladas, or burrito. Mexican Chocolate Tiramisu~a great twist on this classic Italian dessert, the Mexican chocolate brings a new depth of flavor. * They also have a great patio area, and the service is warm, friendly, and at just the right pace.

Margarita were really yummy. For such a big restaurant there was little to no wait to be seated. Service can be a but slow though. Decors inside really gave this place the fancy feels. My tacos were good enough portions that didnt put me in a food coma. The rice were a bit on the wet side. It can be a texture thing. But the taste was okay. Tacos how can I say. Average tacos.... I would come back for the drinks and vibe.

Nice spot with lots of options for food and drinks! The portions were pretty large and very filling for decent prices. People in my party got a coconut mojito and a mango stand and said the drinks were decent. The mexican chocolate tiramisu was very yummy and definitely unique.

I have been here several times but decided to come again for RW 2024. Unfortunately this year no margarita included but for a discounted 7$. Chips and salsa tasty as usual but the portions for the guacamole and queso have gone down significantly compared to last years RW. The short rib machaca burrito was delicious and portion was similar to the typical a la cart portion. Desserts were good but portions were scaled down. Overall still a good experience. The food is always still fresh and satisfy my Mexican food craving!

Was not expecting the food to be as good as it was. The atmosphere is open with big windows giving an open air feeling. Service was great both times so far and they are very attentive. The soft drinks were only 2/3 gone and fresh ones were bought to the table. Chips and salsa were fresh hot and homemade. The kitchen is extremely slow and both times it's about 20 mins or more till food arrives. The steak in the burrito has great flavor from whatever they cook it in. Others had it in a salad. Those that had the other burritos (pork, short rib) said there was also really good. They had a full bar, although nobody was drinking, Except for a beer and they did have a basic decent selection. We've been a couple times now and I'm sure we'll be back

Open airy and Fun! Great service super good prices on an awesome menu. The bar tenders are super nice and Bre and Robbie are 5 Star to be sure!

This is a wonderful restaurant in a great location. not just because of the service I receive - the food is absolutely delicious. The vibe is whatever you want it to be as this restaurant is huge. I first came here for a Yelp elite event, and it was full of good vibes and nice drinks, and really attentive staff. Last night I checked out their happy hour. Tuesdays happy hour is all day. The happy hour isn't very lengthy. However, For the quality- the prices are on par. The appetizer nachos a great and we shared those. The salsa is ok a little on the pasty side. McKenna was our server and I remember her from the yelp event. She was extremely sweet and incredibly kind. Knowledgeable of the menu, and perky and prompt. We sat in the outside covered area. It was a little chilly, but they have heaters. There's also a huge inside area, wrap around bar, and those who love tequila - there's hundreds. This restaurant has potential for improvement for sure, but it's solid enough to be a semi regular happy hour spot.

The service was friendly and ambiance wonderful. The food was good but of course not as good as authentic Mexican food. We appreciated the complimentary chips and salsa and had a nice meal. I would recommend this place for a cute date night.

Great tequila & tacos! Excellent selection of tequila. Welcoming staff. Loved the taco salad. Best I've ever had. And leave room for desert!

We won a gift card and decided to give it a shot. The service and ambiance were nice. The food and drinks were awful. I had a jalapeño pineapple margarita and it was extremely spicy and didn't taste good. I ordered the carne asada tocos and they were also very spicy and didn't care for the taste. I didn't finish either one.

Was here the other day with some coworkers, this place was so yummy. Our server Kaylee did an amazing job with food and drink recommendations. She went above and beyond and made sure our drinks were always full! I really loved the shrimp ceviche! I will definitely be back here!

Solid spot. Certainly on the pricey side, but the margaritas are fantastic. Definitely recommend this place for #nationalmargaritaday. Great service! Aces & eights margarita Mango stand margarita Red chile Chicken cheese crisps Braised short rib "machaca" taco Grilled mahi taco Traditional carnitas taco Braised chicken bowl v: @diningcolorado #mexicanfood #denver #diningcolorado #denverfoodies #bestcoloradofood

Great food and drink options! Wonderful gluten free options. The service was friendly and quick. The nighttime vibe was super moody and vibey. Great place for a night out with the girls or a date!

Had a great experience here at a Yelp elite event on the patio. The GM introduced the evening and provided some background on the food, flavors and restaurant. The skinny marg had a unique taste and the regular marg was good as well. All of the food was incredibly flavorful and beautifully displayed. I absolutely loved the guac and the fajitas bar. They have a unique taste on desserts too! I can't wait to come back again.

Solid Mexican place that still gives you complimentary chips and salsa at the start! They have a pretty traditional Texmex menu and everything is solid and you get pretty healthy portions of everything. The staff is also super friendly and efficient. The only downside here is that the drinks are a bit pricey, but they are a bit larger than usual, so I do think you still get what you pay for.

We sat outside on their nicely covered patio. The vibe was very bright and trendy with an open air feel. Our waiter was very friendly and timely. They have a lot of options on their menu and everything we tried was very good! I will definitely be coming back!

We came here on a Sunday for brunch to celebrate a birthday right when they opened at 11am. It never got too crowded here, even when we left. Street parking is ample and easy to find - it's right across the Trader Joe's. Service was great but food was overly salty - everything from the guacamole, to the drinks, to the breakfast enchiladas. A bit disappointed that they did not provide any sort of birthday treat.

The decor is really pretty. It is extremely spacious and attractive. It's busy, but there is plenty of seating. The service is attentive, friendly and fast. The margarita and salsa were absolutely delicious and the shrimp tacos were very good.

Blanco yummo! This is a fantastic place for a date night, girls night out, or a nice lunch or dinner with the family. I love the Al fresco bar area. The food is excellent. They offer complimentary chips and salsa, but don't fill up on these! They have a decent sized menu with a few vegetarian options. My go to is the caramelized sweet potato enchiladas. I wish they'd update the kid's menu though, my son only ever picks at his dishes. They have a fantastic tequila menu too. Blanco Cocina should definitely be on your bucket list of Denver restaurants!

Over priced, food is average. Service was ok. Not going back. There are plenty of other places that serve much better Mexican food.

Cute and delicious Mexican cantina, very close to Cherry Creek and the AMC movie theater! Would be a great dinner pre- or post-show. Valet parking is available, which is great because it gets quite busy on weekend nights. Decor is super cute. As someone from the Midwest (Chicago) who also lived in NYC, surprisingly, good Mexican food has been hard to find in Denver (barring the authentic places on Federal Blvd). Blanco's food was super delicious and fresh. They make their own hot sauce and other ingredients daily, and you can tell the menu is full of freshly made items. Service was friendly and knowledgeable, and cocktails were yummy (margarita mixes were also made in-house! No store-bought mixes here). 10/10 would recommend, especially if you're in the area on a weekend night!

First of all the service is excellent. I ordered the tacos and the server was super friendly about doing mix and match. I want to try the grilled avocado with grilled mahi next time. The rice is excellent and has bits of the street corn in it. The charro beans are also excellent. The short rib is like Mexican roast beef and it's pull apart tender. The restaurant itself has a very upscale feeling while also being completely casual. I was recommended coming here and now I am recommending to you. PS- They have the best salsa I've had in a long time.

Service at the bar is really disappointing. We moved to the 9 & co in July 2023 and have frequented both Culinary Dropout and this place. We do not understand the disconnect between this place and CA given they are owned by the same company. Tonight was the last draw. We understand it's a Friday night but we've had faster service at dive bars in the area on a similarly busy night. We came for tacos but ended up leaving after waiting 10 min for a drink and another 20 for someone to take our food order. We walked over to Bar Car and were promptly served a drink and order for food was taken. For food that is half the cost and twice as tasty. Don't come here.

Tell your kitchen to not put guac on top of charro beans for the chimichanga plate. Don't be cheap, put in different container.

This is a very attractive restaurant. Have you ever heard the term gentrification? If you're looking for an example, this restaurant is located in an area that is getting gentrified. There is what appears to be a boarded up housing development across the street but everything is is new and expensive. Regardless of your opinion on gentrified areas, it's hard to argue that this area looks fancy and new. Inside the restaurant is airy and open and well lit. The menu is somewhat small and prices reflect the area. Two tacos, beans, and rice was around $19. I got the short rib version and it was just ok. At $19 I'd hope for more than ok. The tacos were just ok but the Elote. Oh the Elote. It was delicious. Like superbly delicious. My only complaint is it was cut into slices so it was a little hard to eat. But man was it good. Service was friendly but a little slow. Would I go back? Yes. I'd also order more Elote.

Blanco was one of our favorite spots when we were in Tucson AZ, so when we found that they had one in Denver we knew we had to go. The restaurant is in a great area with a few options nearby and a parking structure just up the block, so getting there was no issue. The ambiance is great for a casual date night or something more formal if you want without feeling out of place. We chose to sit on the patio and it was a great time. Our server was wonderful and attentive as well. Being familiar with the menu we didn't have any questions. (Make sure to have the Elote street corn it is amazing) The food is delicious as well with generous portions you can count on being full. The price is a tad high, (especially on drinks) but acceptable for a nicer date night TL:DR - a wonderful spot for a date night, albeit a tad expensive

Love the vibe. Had incredible service. Loved my pineapple jalepeno Marg! Got the chimichanga but I didn't love it. The shrimp fajitas look so much better. I'll get them next time. We also got the queso (meh), the crisps (yum! My fave version had the amazing pickled onions on it), and for dessert, we got the Mexican chocolate tiramisu (which was okay).

I had been here for an event before and came back in for lunch last week. It wasn't very busy (late lunch) and the service was very fast. Great that they offer free chips and salsa. I love the taco salad, but I don't like beans, so they put rice in instead. The watermelon margarita is also great and they use fresh juice for that. Robby and Peter was very friendly and helpful.

We got takeout from here and it was so delicious. Great, classic Mexican, good portion sizes. Travels well! Would definitely get it again!