El Jefe Denver

Lovely neighborhood Mexican restaurant in Golden/Denver. Had a great time with friends and family. Great food, ambiance, staff. I found guacamole too spicy so they gave me fresh avocado slices. I wasn't able to drink margaritas so they pleasantly provided hot tea. Everyone else loved both the margaritas and guacamole. The salads, entrees were all delicious. Fun spot!

😮‍💨😮‍💨😮‍💨 this place is something special, the food is absolutely phenomenal (the best mole I’ve ever tasted) the ingredients are so fresh and prepared to perfection…. The passion fruit margarita was delicious as well as the house marg, the ambiance is super cool super cool music and decor!!! Can’t wait to come back

Solid brunch spot that can seat large parties at a late notice. Food was actually pretty dang good - with the highlight being the French toast. I think the amount of $$ you pay for the portion is bad though. It’s over $20 per portion including tax. And they sneak a 3.5% service charge in hoping you don’t notice and tip 20%

It was Father's Day when we went so it was a little noisy but that is to be expected. Our server was wonderful and the food was awesome. We will definitely go back!

I love this spot for brunch. It’s so good and I love the tacos, got those papa potatoes and a side of greens. The fish tacos are perfect. Tried a strawberry hortchata which was Also good. Will be back. Came with my girlfriends.

Yum! From the moment we opened the door until we left the staff was amazing. Friendly, knowledgeable and open to help pick items to try. Drinks were delicious. Well crafted, nicely balanced. Food was really good. If we lived in denver this would be on a weekly rotation.

Farm To Table done right. This Mexican cuisine is super fresh and tastes amazing. From the margaritas that have a multitude of fresh flavors. To the Crab Nachos and Beer Battered Fish Tacos that taste like it was caught yesterday. Everything here hits the spot. The tacos are the name of the game. From Vegetarian options like their Mushroom Tacos to their Barbacoa Tacos, all of them hit the spot. Check them out for an amazing taco Tuesday deal to get a cheap taste of the menu! I hear brunch hits the spot too!

Excellent service and excellent food. Really can’t say enough good things about the service. They were super busy but the waiter was so attentive but not overly so. Just the perfect balance. The queso was excellent, and the guacamole was the best we’ve had at a restaurant. The birria ramen was excellent , as was the quesa birria. Slightly on the salty side but not so much that I’d rate it any less than 5 stars. The chicken plantain quesadilla was a great blend of sweet and savory. all around great experience.

Love it here! We were waited on so attentively and got amazing recommendations from our waiter! The food was tasty and I loved the salsa trio!

The staff here are so nice! I just didn't love the breakfast burrito unfortunately. For me, the menu was limited and there isn't anything else I would've ordered. But the staff!

High quality ingredients- awesome spot for brunch without wait! Loved the chips, mole, and carnita. Pretty light and healthy too. The service was kind and attentive, and didn't rush us even when the restaurant was getting full. Highly recommend this spot for brunch !!

Tacos were great, the pinto bean carne asada was a combination I didn't know I needed. Service was friendly and the patio is the vibe for a sunny day. Value for Happy hour was okay, $9 house margaritas and $4 tacos, $8 Chips and salsa trio.

Michael was amazing! great suggestions and so wonderful !! Such great food! We will be back!!'

Michael took amazing care of us and had great suggestions! The food was so fresh and delicious! I suggest it!

Ceviche, birria, and margaritas were great and great portions. We'd say skip the salsa trip, nothing special. Amazing service, they were out of a lot of stuff but I choose to believe that's more of a testament to how fresh things are. We were there during happy hour and they have some great deals.

Came here for a group dinner the other night and was pleasantly surprised with how good everything was. We got our table right away on a Friday night and the service was super fast. We ordered the quesabirria tacos, street corn, plantains and the chicken quesadilla to share. All of it was really good--especially the quesadilla. Spicy margs were also pretty good. Definitely will be back.

Ambiance was fine. We ended up in a corner booth that was suppose to be nice and cozy, it was freezing. Ordered: Guacamole Chicharrones Brussel sprouts Mole (they were out on a Friday night) subbed with Mahi Fish tacos 3 margaritas Guac was good. Chuxharrones were pork rinds that tasted like mission ones from a bag. Brussel sprouts would have been good but were really salty. Mahi was flavorless but my husband liked the tacos. We're charged extra for salsa Bill was $145 Isn't somewhere I would come back to. Quality not worth the cost.

This was a solid place to get some dinner! This place threads the needle between authentic and modern fusion, and I think it does it reasonably well. I was ECSTATIC to see fried plantains on the menu since very few Mexican restaurants offer it, and it tasted a little like home. We were disappointed that they were out the Al Pastor, but our waitress explained that their chef only sources high quality ingredients, and if they can't get enough, they're just simply out for the day. That seems like a good a reason as any to explain why you'd run out of a menu item. I ordered the Birria Ramen, and it was... interesting. I won't say that I'd get it again, but it was an interesting experience. It wasn't bad. It just wasn't great and didn't make my heart and stomach sing. I'd be open to trying some of their other offerings in the future though. A great place to go. Friendly serving staff. Fun environment. Solid food.

This is one of those amazing places that seems to get better every time you go. The food is innovative without deviating too far from traditional dishes (amazing ingredients!). Flavors complement so well you feel like you're having the best version of [insert dish] with each bite. Queso to start, Pescado Tacos for the adults, Farm Quesadilla for the kiddo. Everyone loved everything, the drinks (for adults) were fantastic (stole some of the veggies, put on a plantain fried to perfection, added some homemade salsa verde on top - guess I was inspired to innovate!), and ended with a creative and tasty dessert (mint mousse pie). Highly recommend, doesn't matter what you order, grab whatever looks good and you'll love it.

Bartender was amazing food was amazing!! Beef barbacoa tacos. Sangria and Bloody Mary!

We went here for my birthday and it was pretty delicious. It was a weekday and was not busy at all so the service was great and quick. I do not have anything bad to say about it! It wasn't the best food but still pretty good. The decor is cute! I believe it's farm to table so we love that!

We love El Jefe. It's a chill vibe and the food is great. We love their happy hour and always also order the plantain chicken quesadilla. The staff was very attentive and constantly checking on us. We got great service. One of our more favorite spots.

This has been our go-to neighborhood spot for tacos and margaritas. The service is great, we usually sit at the bar since the bartenders/management are really nice. It's a fun atmosphere. We really enjoy the quesabirria tacos, chips and queso (add chorizo!), guacamole, and mole enchiladas. The churros are also a must! Best churros I've had in Denver so far. Highly recommend going for brunch (bottomless mimosas/margs) and taco Tuesday. They serve great food and drinks at a great price!

We stumbled across this gem looking for a Sunday brunch and it did not disappoint. We started with bottomless mimosas (sangria and bloody Mary's were an option as well) and the MOST amazing guacamole I've ever had (and I go to Mexico every year). The food was outstanding..spicy but delicious. The serve and atmosphere were wonderful. A must if you are in the area

Great spot always looking for authentic Mexican food in Denver and this place did not disappoint. Great margs and fresh food.

Mo and I did a dine in for dinner last night and yes make a reservation in advance as El Jefe isn't super big. Appetizer wise we ordered the Guac w Cojita Cheese ($2 extra) along with the Salsa Trio which was Salsa roja, xni-pec and salsa verde.The chips were def made in house and had the right amount of salt. All salsas were tasty! Then I ordered the QUESABIRRIA which was their Slow cooked marinated beef in 3 folded corn tortillas with melted asadero cheese. Avocado salsa on top. Served with a side of consomé with onions and cilantro (au jus) for dipping. This alone was worth coming here because this was the least greasiest Quesabirria I've ever had! It was so good I ate all 3! On Tuesdays, they have select Tacos @ $2 a piece which is a fair deal. For dessert we did their MEX-KEY LIME PIE which was made with a Graham cracker crust, Mexican key lime custard, caramelized pumpkin seeds + whipped cream. It was great but I would get it next time without the seeds. No need for that. They get one less star because the 2 types of Tequila I asked for they didn't have. So I settled for one that was mediocre and so much that I didn't finish my drink. The service was good and the food came out quickly. It's a nice date or friends night out spot!

Highly recommend for the food! The staff was a little peculiar in their rhythm in attending to the host/ess stand and visiting the table. That's not a complaint. My part of two didn't go wanting and they were good folks. I do recommend peaking around the host/ess stand corner and locking eyes with someone if no one greets you when you walk in. The house margaritas are perfect and the food is filling and flavorful.

I went in for happy hour the other night and boy was it good! My husband and I both had margaritas- just the right amount of salt, no or almost no sweet and sour...good enough that we both had a second even though we'd only intended to have one. I really liked their chips. They're thicker than the normal variety and taste house made. The guacamole was yummy and fresh, but we both really enjoyed the queso dip- seriously, I've been thinking about it all week. We also ordered the chicken fajita tacos- flavorful without being spicy (important when you e got a 2 year old in tow) and the veggie farm tacos, which were a little spicy, but were such a great combination of beans and veggies that I didn't mind the spice since it meant I didn't have to share!! We'll definitely be back for happy hour soon. I'd also really like to make it for brunch sometime as their brunch menu looks delicious!

El Jefe has delicious menu choices with an unique flair to Mexican cuisine. The atmosphere was inviting and service extremely friendly. Our first visit was upon arrival to our first ever trip to Colorado. Even though it was nearing closing time, we were treated to great drinks, tasty dishes, and superb customer service. Our waitress even treated us to a couple desserts to put as on an encouraging mood after an stressful day experience with our car rental agency. For dinner my wife ordered a mushroom taco plate accompanied by mix greens salad and I had chicken and plantains quesadilla. Both plates were extraordinary and the La Casa margaritas soothed our spirits. For dessert, we were treated to the flakiest of churros served with caramel and vanilla bean ice cream. The second dessert plate was a key lime pie on graham cracker crust with toasted pumpkin seeds drizzled with caramel and wiped cream. We made sure to stop again before leaving Denver, but already have cravings. Although San Diego is known for good Mexican cuisine, Denver has shown it is up to the challenge. Great job and kudos to the El Jefe crew.

Came for girls night and I was truly impressed with our experience. Our waiter was Marco M and he couldn't have been any more awesome. Dude def deserves a raise for the service he provided, recommendations on drinks and food, and I told him it was one of the girl's birthdays and he brought us some churros with candles. Super cutie! Drinks and food came out extremely fast, considering it was a Friday night and the place was full. Ambience was lovely- it was giving Miami vibes. Felt like I was right back at home. Prices are adequate for the quality of the food. Everything was fresh and authentic. I didn't get many pictures of our order but I posted a picture of the receipt so you could have an idea. The drinks were STRONG. I ordered 2 sangrias and Marco told me the second one was one him. Amazing. Fat tip coming his way LOL For starters, we got the ceviche (10/10), the guac and chips, and the pulpo. The pulpo was SO good. The other appetizers as well. I got the shrimp patacón as my entree and ate all of it. The shrimps were HUGE. We sure left with our bellies full. If I am not mistaken, they're a farm to table restaurant. The five star review is well deserved, I even told my boyfriend were coming back for one of our date nights. Loved our experience. Loved this spot. Love Marco M hahahaha 100% recommend stopping by! Make reservations before hand if you can :)

We came here for dinner on a Friday night and it was less busy than we expected. Service was a little slow throughout our meal but everyone was very friendly and attentive. My fiancé ordered a spicy marg and I was able to get the hibiscus one without the alcohol. We started out with the salsa trio which was good, but small for $10. For meals my fiancé went with the quesabirria and I ordered the mole enchiladas. The enchiladas were delicious and my fiancé enjoyed his meal, although it wasn't as filling as he was hoping. Overall we had a nice dinner and would recommend this spot to others!

We happened upon this place as our first choice had a super long wait. El Jefe has a nice and open concept and the staff were all very kind. We both ordered the huevos rancheros and we enjoyed it. They have bottomless mimosas and bloodies that can be mixed and switched, which is a great deal! The service was a bit slow, but the waiter was incredibly kind and took care of our beverages, which was a really nice gesture. The food was good- the eggs were cooked perfectly, the tortillas tasted home made and the beans were silky and delicious! We saw the fish tacos someone had ordered that also looked excellent! A nice replace to go, unpretentious and kind service with fresh ingredients!

We've only been for brunch and it's always amazing and fresh! It truly is farm to table and it shows in all the fresh ingredients. I ordered the mole and eggs with carinitas and it was great! I'm a big fan of a good mole and this place does it well. Can't wait to come for dinner!

I've been eyeing this place for awhile and decided to take the drive to check it out. We went on a Saturday night fully expecting to wait to be seated but the timing was perfect and they got us right in. I would suggest a reservation because the host seemed a little annoyed that we didn't have one. She ended up being our waitress and she was on point! Great service overall. We started with the El Jefe margs which were deliciously strong, then moved on to the Mami Casa marg for more heat. Both were good and not over priced $9-10. We ordered the ceviche which looked too pretty to eat. The colors were beautiful but the flavors were perfection. It wasn't the usual finely chopped ceviche so you had to spoon it onto your chips to get all of the flavors in one bite. I highly recommend! The flavors were so fresh. My husband and I have been looking for good mole. Usually it's too sweet or all you taste is chile. We both ordered the Mole Enchiladas. El Jefe's mole was just right. Perfect texture and just the right amount of heat and sweet. It paired perfectly with carnitas. I can't wait to go back! Excited to try more items in the menu.

Taco Tuesday is all day happy hour!! If you're lucky enough to get Victor as a bartender, ask him to make you a special shot. It will keep you there. You won't go wrong. Beautiful ambience authentic tequilla

What an incredible brunch spot. The inside is a very industrial vibe & the food is FRESH. We were kindly seated by the host, he was also our server. The guac and chips are amazing -- you can eat the chips alone they're so fresh and crunchy. My partner and I split the breakfast burrito (no chorizo) and the plantain french toast. both were PHENOMENAL. just mouth-watering delicious. They gave me a habanero hot sauce to accompany the burrito & it tasted so fresh. The plantain stuffed french toast was out of this world. What a brilliant concept. Even their drip coffee was great. You can't go wrong with this place, even their basics are impeccable.

This place might be my new favorite Mexican restaurant in Denver. I've always walk by El Jefe and thought it looked super cute inside. I've been wanting to try it for a while and so glad I did! They have a really good happy hour daily from 4-6pm with an assortment of drink and food options. My friend and I shared tacos, guacamole, and Brussels. Everything we ate was sooooo good. My favorite taco was the chorizo one. We also each got their Margs and they were very refreshing! I will be returning!

Wow. What an establishment! The servers were extremely kind and the food was delicious. I just moved to Denver, and was a part of the farm to table scene where I was before, so was super excited with everything they're doing here. Cant wait to come back for some birria ramen :)

Yummm loved this place. In search of best Mexican in Denver this place popped up. We started off with smoked blackberry margarita which was fabulous. Then the trio salsa and chips was good. I love the avocado salsa. Then we ordered the fish tacos and fajitas. My only gripe is some pics on Yelp show 3 tacos some show 2 so it wasn't clear how many I would get. I only got 2 and I feel for dinner should be 3, brunch maybe 2. The taco was amazing the crunch of slaw and fish with the right touch of crema it all worked amazing and I wish I had a 3rd. The fajitas were good nothing special just some skirt, poblano and onions carmelized. I wish they added some cotija or a melty cheese it would tie all Together. Will try this place again!!

Very delicious very yummy. Very good. Will come here again always the service was mid, but the ambience was good. The food was good.

Slow service, empty room and had to ask for a booth. She had to check reservations. LOL. No one in the restaurant. Food was just blah.

I booked El Jefe as a Saturday night date night for my husband and I. It's not to far from our house and tucked in a little gem of an area of 44th. It was earlier in the evening but we were pleasantly surprised they had a happy hour special. So we had to get margaritas and an app of queso. The margaritas were so delicious we downed them before our meal had arrived so, naturally we ordered another round. We each got a taco plate, him beef and mine was fish as our main meals. Both were super flavorful and filling. I got 2 tacos and my husband opted for 3 but wished he would have only gotten 2 since they were so filling. The fish tacos were battered and fried with a cabbage slaw and chipotle mayo type sauce. Like most places they were short staffed but we didn't notice because multiple servers checked in with us throughout the evening. Our waiter had medicated share tips so, I think that may have been why. We will definitely be back and will recommend this place to friends for a date night.

Went for 2$ taco Tuesdays and really enjoyed the pork tacos. Also tried their churros and they were nice and crunchy

El Jefe has been a staple in the Sunnyside community for many years! The food, atmosphere and service is bar none... If you are looking for farm to table fresh, then this is the spot! Everything is local and they truly understand the meaning of authentic. We love it so much that it is our "go to" every Friday. It is a local "love" in the neighborhood. If you are looking for plaintains that will promise an unbelievable flavor, happy hours tacos that always deliver, and seasonal specials that never fail... then El Jefe is the place!

This was our first visit to El Jefe. What took us so long to get here?! This farm to table restaurant is indeed a great place to enjoy food that's fresh, healthy and delicious. We loved the mushroom tacos, street corn, and salsa trio. (The tomatillo one was my fav!) I'm also a sucker for home-cooked pinto beans and fried plantains. Lots of great allergy friendly options. The only happy hour taco was chicken, so it'd be nice to have had a vegetarian or vegan option too. Friendly servers and nice atmosphere with a cool little bar. We'll definitely be back!

Delicious, delicious, delicious!!!! If you get the queso you have to add the chorizo...yum!! The Al Pastor is the best I've ever had! Perfectly cooked pork belly in a scrumptious pastor marinade. It's served with tasty fried plantains and grilled pineapple . The carnitas bowl was also very yummy! Make sure you order the smoky margarita to top it all off. Next time we go we'll try to save room so we can try on of their desserts. They sound amazing! Our waitress was fabulous! She made great recommendations. We chose to sit outside side in their super cute patio. Can't wait to go back!!!!

Had a great experience here on Sunday for brunch! The food was delicious and fresh - we had the shrimp ceviche and fish tacos and loved it. The service was above and beyond (shoutout to Oscar, he was the best!) when they say "bottomless mimosas" they're not kidding - he literally kept bringing the bottle of champagne over and topping us off! 10/10 would recommend and will be back

I got to experience this gem on National Margarita Day! I had their spicy margarita, which was perfection!! Not too spicy, just how I like it! Their chip and guac is some of my favorite!! I also had their fish tacos, which were yummy! The service was excellent and I can wait to go back because I want to try the ceviche and the chicken tortilla soup! The decor and ambience is super fun too!!

El Jefe is doing it right. I expected the food to be good but the atmosphere really sold it for me. We sat over by the kitchen and when I tell you I love an open kitchen, I LOVE an open kitchen. I consider myself to be a foodie and restaurants are my favorite hobby so watching the chefs chop, cook and prepare the plates made my heart soar. The fridge room even has glass windows so you can see them grabbing new produce. It's like a little sneak peak into their world! Great food, interesting choices, really crisp chips (a necessity for any Mexican restaurant IMHO). Would recommend if you are in the area!

Had an absolutely wonderful dinner here at El Jefe last week. The food was very flavorful with some of the highlights being the Chorizo Nachos, the Al Pastor, and the Fish Tacos. I thought the Al Pastor was a very unique take on the dish with marinated chunks of Pork Belly. Very good. I also loved the creativity in dessert. Specifically the Plantain split, talk about creative and honestly genius. I am honestly surprised more people don't do this! Such a great idea! The drinks were good, and if I had one qualm it would be maybe just a tad too much lime in the margs. Though I am probably just getting sensitive to citrus and acidity in my old age haha Either way I will definitely be coming back, and really want to try their brunch!

Second time here and my food was delicious (pictured)! The only thing that I don't recommend is the chicken quesadilla, someone at my table got it and we had to send it back.

The drinks and appetizers here are the best! It's a cute restaurant in Sunnyside that doesn't get enough credit. This farm to table Mexican food will have you begging for more. You honestly can't go wrong with any of the margaritas. The smokey marg and horchata were two of my favorites. Salsa Trio - Great variety of salsas. Street Corn - It comms on the cobb but shave some off with a knife and add it onto the nachos and tacos for a delicious time! Chorizo Nachos - My favorite of the night! So cheesy and they give you so much food! Al Pastor - This pork belly was melt in your mouth delicious! It went perfectly with the plantains and local greens. Pescado Tacos - Crispy fish perfection! The chipotle lime aioli was a great smokey citrus flavor. Banana Split - A must try dessert! The crispy plantains made the dish even more amazing.

I took a big chance coming here for Mother's Day. It's not a place we've been to and we were a bit skeptical when we walked it. I guess it was just opening but it was pretty empty, it seemed like it wasn't kid friendly, and the menu wasn't extensive. The waitress was really nice, hooked up the girls with milk. We found plantain pancakes for them, which were outstanding by the way. I had the carnitas and eggs, which was stellar. No question I'd do it again. My wife had the market omelette, which was my other choice, and it could have equally been my top choice. The food was really fantastic all the way around. By the time we left, the place had filled up with more than a handful of families coming through the door. I'm happy I took the leap of faith!

Need a legit Mexican spot in the Highlands? El Jefe is flat-out, damn good food. Enchiladas de Mole: 3 tortillas stuffed with slow-braised pork carnitas, smothered with mole poblano, topped with cotija cheese and seasonal veggies Street Corn: Charred corn, coated with chipotle aioli, and topped with cotija cheese and cilantro Salsa trio Ceviche AL PASTOR: Pork belly, grilled pineapple, pickled onion, plantains, and local greens. Served with corn tortillas CHORIZO NACHOS: Local Mexican chorizo, asadero cheese, topped with salsa verde, crema, onions and cilantro PESCADO TACOS PLATE: El Jefe beer-battered cod fish, chipotle-lime aioli + citrus slaw on corn tortillas PLANTAIN CHICKEN QUESADILLA: Grilled chicken, asadero cheese, plantains, crema + salsa roja on the side Mushtoom taco: Sautéed mushrooms topped with salsa maya, fresh mango and cucumber strips, pickled red serrano with corn tortilla Plantain Split: Fried plantains with cinnamon and sugar, vanilla ice cream, whip, dulce de leche. Churros: Fried dough pastry covered in cinnamon and sugar, dulce de leche, and vanilla ice cream P: @diningcolorado

I came here with some friends for brunch and I was very impressed with this place!! The food was amazing and extremely flavorful. My husband got the breakfast burrito and had so many different flavors in each bite! It was a hearty burrito!! I got the breakfast nachos and it was delicious! My friend who is gluten free and dairy free could only find one thing on the menu item that she could eat. She tried to order it and they were unfortunately out. She completely understood and our waiter felt so bad that he had the kitchen wip something up for her free of charge! That was so sweet and so thoughtful of them! I would definitely go back!!!!

Amazing food & margaritas! Service was awesome! It was four of us, and we all ordered differently. Everyone was thoroughly pleased!

We ( party of 4) loved everything about el jefe. Music, atmosphere , waitress , FOOD!, drinks. We will be back, and highly recommend !! The Mexican food here is fantastic (( .. it's not a rice beans and a relleno )) if you want that try diff place.