La Calle Taqueria Y Carnitas

25 Essential Tacos in and Around Denver

"Behind a bright orange façade on Alameda awaits this favorite among aficionados, notable in part for the sheer variety of options it offers, including higado (beef liver) and lamb barbacoa. Here’s the perfect opportunity to try cueritos — pig skin that, unlike the fried version, is mildly sweet and almost creamy in texture — or rich, tangy chivo (goat). Or not: Rest assured it nails all the staples, too." - Eater Staff, Ruth Tobias

"This cheery little stop on West Alameda sits at the top of Denver’s taqueria heap. Numerous taco options include an array of delicious off-cuts like cueritos (pig skin) and cabeza (beef cheek) as well as electrifying salsas — tomatillo, avocado, and habañero among them. On those rare occasions when regulars aren’t in the mood for tacos, they might go for spot-on menudo or birria de chivo, a savory goat stew." - Eater Staff

15 Takeout and Delivery Options in Denver to Rescue You on Lazy No-Cooking Nights - Eater Denver

"Though its menu is broader than the name suggests — including stews like menudo and birria, tortas, and more — La Calle rightly prides itself on its tacos. Some of Denver’s best, they come topped with everything from lamb and goat to beef cheeks and pork stomach to, of course, carnitas — which are also available to go by the pound, along with several other meat cuts. Takeout and delivery 9 a.m. to 9–10 p.m. daily" - Eater Staff

Slaps McKenzie

Google

Got served at 15 to closing, kitchen lights were off they still sold me 4 bistec asada tacos. There was an old man watching soccer in the corner the whole place was just great. The tacos were great af and the red sauce made my sister sad, was the best red sauce ive ever had. the green sauce was great too. Melon fresca was the best ive had anywhere.

Cass B

Google

Hands down the best, most authentic street tacos I’ve had yet. I had the tacos Al Pastor, Barbacoa, and Carnitas and of those, I’d have to say the Al Pastor was my favorite, the pineapple really added the perfect citrus bite I was looking for.

J Holmes

Google

The fried tacos were great. Birria was decent, if a bit thin. Update: seems an article or two in the paper have increased for traffic. I'm happy for them. The hot plates of meat/cheese with tortillas are a great deal.

Richard Estelle

Google

Gotta try “La Gringa” plate with some corn tortillas, and a bottle of coke. It’s the best! I eat here about once a month for the bast year and everything I try is amazing

JC M

Google

Been to this spot three times. Very good, authentic taco spot with proteins that are hard to get elsewhere (Surtida, Buche, Chivo). Best tacos are Chorizo, Al Pastor, and Cochinita Pibil. Pineapple Agua Fresca is excellent, so refreshing. The Al Pastor and Cabeza are my favorites, all the salsas that come with the tacos are excellent. Make sure you order enough because they are small.

Cesar Vazquez Videos

Google

I am from Durango Mexico, and any time I go visit I make my way to CDMX, and anyone who's been there knows how good the food, especially tacos are! The tacos here ARE in the pricey side yes, but they are delish! 🔥 I had liver, intestines, goat, tongue and a mixed one.

Giselle Cid

Google

This place is delicious. A bit on the pricey side for tacos but the food taste good so cannot really complain. I had the quessobirria taco plate and two pastor. Good bit of drink options as well. Would come back!

Suresh Raavi

Google

We were visiting Denver and came to this place with local friends. Nice little place with tasty tacos and yummy fajitas. Quesadilla is okaish. Everything is great except for the musty smell, so if owners can get rid of the smell I'm ready to visit this place multiple times!!

Bennett P.

Yelp

I read an article in the Denver Post earlier this year about this small local Taqueria on West Alameda Ave. The owner is Hugo Santana and this is his original shop. He has since expanded to include Las Tortugas and Santortas. The inside reminded me of hole-in-the wall places I have seen in Juarez and Mexico City. Very large menu posted on a flat screen and 1/2 of the menu is soft tacos for $3.49 each. When I had placed my order and had paid for it, the ticket was pushed on a metal wire (whizzing sound) to the kitchen. My grilled chile peppers on a bed of grilled onions came out hot on a sizzling platter and the meats of my 3 tacos were hot and cooked well. The tacos are served on top of two corn tortillas each. They offer guacamole and several salsas + plus a substantial amount of cilantro. I ordered a Horchata which was freshly made and was served in a 20oz plastic cup with a little bit of ice. The Chiles Toreados is a dish normally not seen at most Mexican restaurants since the Chiles are grilled whole and retain all the seeds and flavor of Chiles. Despite this amount of food, I ordered another 3 soft tacos, a Jarritos Tamarind soda (my mouth was burning from the chiles) & true Mexican Flan. A very egg rich flan with just enough sweetness. I ate a little and took the rest home. They have a larger room in back with multiple tables. Only the front room is handicap accessible.

Liselle B.

Yelp

This spot definitely gives authentic vibes when you walk in, from the patrons you see waiting for their orders to the various Mexican street-style taco offerings posted on the wall. Because I have an adventurous palate, I ordered the Chivo (goat meat), Lengua (beef tongue), and Al Pastor tacos to eat and a Grapefruit Jarritos to drink. My friend ordered a Chorizo Queso and a Chicken Taco. The Chorizo Queso arrived in a skillet and was way bigger than I expected. The chorizo in it was tasty and plentiful, but there was not much cheese as you would think with most queso dips, and the little cheese that was there was surprisingly cold and slightly rubbery. The Lengua taco was delicious! However, the Chivo taco was bland and the Al Pastor taco mainly had fatty pieces of meat and barely any pineapple. It was my first time having a Grapefruit Jarritos and it was good. All in all, I was really looking forward to the food here blowing me away, but it was just OK. I will say the guy at the counter taking orders was very friendly, which was a plus, and he provided great customer service.

Kimberly O.

Yelp

Ugh I love me some good street tacos. The outside feels a little sketchy, but inside feels so welcoming! The staff is very friendly. What I really like about this place is the types of meat they offer. From carne asada to tripe... It was so delicious. And I really loved their salsas!! The spicy salsas were so deliciously spicy. As you can see, we got a variety of meat tacos... But I'd have to say some of my favorites were the lengua (it was tender!!!), crispy tripe (I don't even like tripe... But the crispiness of it was so good), and the pork sirloin (new to their menu). Also get their horchata :) best horchata I've had.

Michael H.

Yelp

Ambiance: somewhere between basic and sketchy. Good thing is there are three rooms and probably a dozen tables that allow for patrons to sit down and eat the food at the restaurant. Service: you order at the counter, and later, pick up your food from the counter. I will say the person taking the orders was very friendly, and even offered us a taste of the lamb. Food: this is a good part. There is an amazing variety of taco choices. We had Cochinita pibil and quesobirria, both great. Drinks included horchata and jamaica. We noticed that the FAVORITOS DE LA CALLE entrees were popular and want to come back to try one of them.

Obed S.

Yelp

This place didn't live up the hype as one of the best in the city. I've had better tacos in Dallas, Vegas, California, Arizona... and these didn't compare. They were decent but nothing amazing. Some of them tasted like they lacked salt.

Rosalie R.

Yelp

Nice restaurants and they served great quality of tacos with excellent flavors. I takeout some of their tacos. I had the Lengua and Cabeza were so good and lots of filling. Meat and veggies were so great and very delicious. The customer service was friendly and attentive.

Madison D.

Yelp

Delicious food from this little gem. Incredibly kind staff. The place is decently big. Perfect for taco night when everyone wants a little something different.

Vincent S.

Yelp

Talk about a great experience! The tacos were amazing and accurate to Mexico City. We had a few varieties of meat and they all hit the spot. The restaurant was clean and neat with music playing in the background at low volume. It really felt welcoming and the vibe was perfect. I loved it. The service was so amazing. They are professional and polite and inform you about any menu questions you may have. Overall, I'm coming back if I'm in the area. This place was amazing and tasty!

Linna L.

Yelp

FINALLY I have found place that has the best authentic tacos. Omg I've tried all the different meats and you cannot go wrong with any of the choices. They are quick and friendly. You order and pick a place to sit. The place has a lot of seating. The sauces are delicious. The meats are flavorful.

Jalisa S.

Yelp

Tacos were absolutely amazing, I had the cabeza and al pastor and they both were so freaking good. I forgot to take a picture because they got annihilated before I could even think about the review.

Andrea S.

Yelp

I was meeting a friend in the area for a massage so we decided to find dinner nearby. I've had La Calle bookmarked for quite some time but never had a reason to pop in. So glad I had the opportunity because their tacos are delicious. I stuck with what I know but loved that they have more authentic and adventurous (for me) options as well! I tried 4 tacos ( Al Pastor Tacos, Carne Asada Tacos, Carnitas Tacos, and Chorizo). All were SO good but I think the carnitas was the star of the show for me; so juicy! I love that you can add what you want to the top with their toppings bar as well. The place isn't fancy which is totally fine by me... good food and helpful staff is all I really need!

Ben M.

Yelp

Good street tacos!!! Excellent flavor and great service. Definitely recommend this Taqueria to any and all when in Denver. A return customer no doubt....

Connie H.

Yelp

I drove right past it before driving my car back around- it's a very nondescript looking place. I came in for an early dinner with a friend during the week and there was only one other table occupied. The woman at the counter was friendly-- I ordered a quesadilla, a couple of tacos (Al pastor and asada), and a coke all for about $17. The food didn't take too long to prepare but it would have been worth waiting for regardless. The toppings were fresh, the salsa was spicy, and everything was delicious. I'm already craving it again!

Josefina F.

Yelp

Sorry, I don't have a picture for the tacos I chose, but I got the adobada tacos, and unfortunately, they didn't taste as good as people say. The tortillas used were the mission brand I know because they have a distinct flavor. I'm not sure if this is the tortillas normally used, but they don't add to flavor at all. It would definitely be a lot better if they used fresh made tortillas, the meat was good, no complaints about that.

Rick B.

Yelp

Best taqueria we've found in Denver! Tasty seasoned meats in traditional street tacos, tortas, and quesadillas. Traditional mexican soft drinks, as well as major US brands (in cans or bottles). Park right in front. Easy to order, fair prices, and the food is GREAT!

Rebecca S.

Yelp

We got our order to go. We will go back to enjoy the meal in person next time. We ordered 5 tacos and queasabirria. This is the first time in 10 years we felt we were eating Texas Mexican food. So happy and cannot wait to go back. Fellow Texans, this is legit. Q

Matt C.

Yelp

It's fairly unanimous across the board that La Calle Taqueria is one of the top taco spots in Denver. I'm not sure what previously housed the business before they took over a decade ago, but the charming element of feeling like you're in someone's house or bungalow is evident. I love that every time I come here I receive the same exact experience. Service is casual, order-at-the-counter and everyone is pretty laid back. When the tacos are this good, what's the point in not enjoying life, right? These are tacos that you'll devour in a matter of seconds. I love that they have more of the authentic Mexican meats like Lengua, Cabeza, etc. Commenting solely on my last visit, I was craving Carnitas. And when a place has carnitas in their name, you know they're going to be legit. Tender, pull apart meat, garnished with a boatload of onions and cilantro, paired with fiery salsa on a corn tortillas. Knock down a Jarritos or two and this is what they call taco nirvana. You don't even have to wait until Tuesday. No frills, no fuss. Traditional cooking preparations and expertise behind the line. What's not to like? La Calle is the real friggin' deal.

Richard J.

Yelp

Just what I wanted since I was craving street tacos. Straight to the point with some bomb salsas, tender, flavorful, and fatty beef. My favorite was the Lengua which was super beefy, tender, and then a little crisp. Usually my favorite is the beef cheek. Lastly the Quesabirra was pretty good, super solid soup touched up with lime, cilantro, and onions. Lamb was really tender and flavorful as well. A must try if you like more gamey types of meats! 4 - 5 tacos is a solid amount a food but realistically I wanted like 10 lol. Will be back to try all of the other tacos and non taco options.

Noah P.

Yelp

These are simply the best tacos in Denver, and some of the best tacos in the country. (Only place I've tried that comes close to Tacos el Gordo in Vegas) Don't let the tough exterior and rough location scare you - once you step inside you will be treated to a welcoming environment that serves tacos filled with LOVE. The lady assembling my tacos did not speak English, but was patient with my pointing. Honestly not sure what all salsas and toppings ended up with, but whatever she put on there she knows better then I do what makes for a taco so I would happily trust her to hook me up 10/10 times.

F. L.

Yelp

These are some Chicago-quality tacos. Just make sure to brush up on your Spanish beforehand, it'd been years for me and mine was very rusty. Barbacoa: super tender. Flavor a bit musty, so not the best I've had, but still hit the spot. Cochinita pibil: absolutely exceptional, a must-order. Think carnitas but even more tender and with twice the flavor. And the pickled onions were wonderfully spicy too. Birria de chivo: this is the real reason I made the 11-minute Uber ride from downtown Denver. The goat was tender, with wonderful depth of flavor, transported me back to when I could eat it more often. The consome was a bit more tomatoey than mole-y for my personal preference, but I think that's just a geographic variation. Salsas were also very tasty! Anyways, this place is absolutely worth the trip from downtown Denver if you're into Mexican food.

Anne K.

Yelp

Delicious street tacos and pork posole!! We've been three times and wish it were closer to home to go weekly. Nice people and quick. Authenticity in every way. Salsas are abundant and excellent.

Joel P.

Yelp

This dive spot has hands down the best tacos in all of Denver. I've been looking for tacos like this for almost 16 years. I'm so glad to have found this spot. No frills, just damn good tacos!! Pinche, Pinche, and take note Carrera's... you can "hipster" a taco all you want, but you cannot fake technique!! Go on an adventure; try this place!! Try the steak, try the Pastor, but make sure to get the guacamole salsa, onions, and cilantro...

Eric G.

Yelp

Hands down, probably one of the best place I've ever had menudo reminds me of Texas. Service is efficient and super quick. It does however fill up on the weekend. And if you love spicy, definitely try the habanero onions . The ambience is small definitely not meant for large parties.

Stephen L.

Yelp

This Mexican food place is home to anyone in California. What I love is that they have cabeza and lengua tacos along with dishes that allow people to make multiple build your own tacos. The service is very rapid and the ambiance between soccer games and music has me feeling like I am at home. I would encourage anyone living here or visiting to experience this authentic hole in the wall at least once!

Matt C.

Yelp

Visiting from Arizona and stopped in for the tacos all pastor, some of the best I've ever had

Phil G.

Yelp

My kind of place. Good selection of basic food groups. Not fancy. Nice family operated business. Authentic food & people.

Melissa B.

Yelp

Best tacos in Denver- hands down. Definitely stop in, if you are ever in the area + need a quick bite. You will not regret it.

Niah L.

Yelp

The food was made fresh & fast. I love this neighborhood spot. My favorite taco was the chicken. Steak tacos were really juicy.

Stacey C.

Yelp

Their tacos are really great but their birria dish is AMAZING. It will be a very tough decision next time I go. I'll probably have to order both and try them again to help my decision making

Anne Marie O.

Yelp

Hole in the wall but aren't all the best places? So damn good! I am Mexican and these are as authentic as they get. I live in Texas and there is no Tex-Mex bs going on here! My American rises kids and hubby LOVED it and say they'd come back to Denver just for these tacos. If I could add only one thing it would be the ability to add avocado to the orders. Avocado is more of a Monterrey (north Mexico) thing and these are Mexico City (central Mexico) flavors.

Gary S.

Yelp

Live nearby and have tried it a few times. Tacos are good, but also small. Order one or two more than you normally would. Service sucks.

Natalia S.

Yelp

I think found my new favorite street taco spot in Denver. My husband and decided to check it out thanks to another foodie's recommendation -- and it did not disappoint! Especially if you're like me and a fan of the more "unique" meats like goat (chivo), beef tongue (lengua), cow cheek (cabeza), tripe (tripa), pig skin (cueritos), pork stomach (buche), etc. My personal favorite? The crispy pig skin! You can, of course, also order the more typical asada steak, al pastor pork, carnitas, chorizo, lamb barbacoa, and chicken. And yes, there are "quesabirria" crispy tacos with goat meat and goat stew. Or just bowls of goat stew (in photos), or lamb stew, or menudo. Needless to say I'll be back!

Kelisha D.

Yelp

As far as I'm concerned, these are the best tacos in Denver! Being from the south I've been looking for good tacos and thanks to TikTok I found them! I'm a regular customer and haven't been disappointed!

Uyen N.

Yelp

Super delicious tacos and menudo. Least favorite are al pastor, higado (cow liver), chivo (goat - we don't think it was chopped well). The only place that serves tepache agua fresca of all the Mexican places that I have been to in the US. Menudo is very well-seasoned and have a lot of organs. Don't really like the bread as it is soft.

Angel R.

Yelp

Food was served quickly. We almost had every different type of taco, and every taco was so delicious. The green salsa was bomb.

John R.

Yelp

In my opinion this is THE taco spot in Denver! I lived in So Cal and Phoenix so my standards are pretty high. I'm always on the hunt for Mexican food and so far La Calle is easily the best Taco spot I've found! They serve a wide variety of meats here so you can get the standards like carnitas or asada but they also have some of the more hard to find options like Lengua, Cabeza and Campechano. Many people may be hesitant but I really recommend stepping out of your comfort zone and trying a bunch of options off of the menu! You won't be disappointed and everything here is delicious! I also really like the options for toppings you can go traditional and get cilantro and diced onions but they also have a bunch of other pickled veggies and peppers you can add on to mix it up. Finally you can't go wrong with any of the salsa options but be prepared some of them can definitely pack the heat!

Katie S.

Yelp

Hands down best tacos is Denver. I grew up on the border of Arizona and Mexico, I always crave good street tacos. This place hits every mark, food is fast and fantastic every time. Whenever we are in the city my husband and I buy 50$ worth and eat them for a few days. Highly recommend these guys.

Alice Z.

Yelp

This place is one of if not the best taqueria I've been. We came around 6 months ago, loved it and I have been craving it since then. The melon Aqua Fresca is huge and it's so refreshing, topped with fresh cantaloupe. We got asada, Barbacoa and pastor tacos. The meat is cooked perfectly- tender with a slight char/crisp, I love the toppings (onion and cilantro) and the avocado salsa. Too bad I live far from here- or I'd come every week

Alexandra D.

Yelp

Great tacos! Come with an appetite cause you'll walk out pretty stuffed It's been a while since we've visited but the prices have gone up quite a bit. $2.50 per taco no matter what meat. With the Covid they had to close the salsa bar to the public so you let them know what you want and they'll get it for you. They are working hard here and cranking the orders out pretty quick. 4tacos are more than plenty to satisfy the hunger no excuses. Come in, walk out stuffed

Byron W.

Yelp

These are by far my favorite tacos in Colorado. The avocado salsa is the best I've ever had. Prices are good and service is consistent. This is a must try.

Lynn H.

Yelp

This is our go to taco spot, hands down. I always order a bunch of asada tacos -- tacos come with limes, cilantro, and diced onions on the side. We live in Capitol Hill area and there aren't any worthy taquerias near where we live... most of the taquerias around are overpriced and not as gratifying.

Justin D.

Yelp

Best tacos I've had in Denver. Love the salsa bar!! Can't wait to go back and try some different tacos!!

Ash H.

Yelp

As a mexicana I had a hard time finding authentic tacos and I love this place ! Not to mention their spicy salsas that never disappoints. AsadaFast and the workers are always super patient and helpful . Horchata and melon water is highly recommend. 10/10 .

Sam M.

Yelp

Tippity top notch Denver taco place. Tacos, not yuppy tacos. If your jam is farm, raised Angus, short rib, tacos with sun-dried tomatoes, squash, blossoms, and pickled dandelion greens, served in one of those metal racks that hold the tacos in shape and listed under a column on the fancy menu labeled street tacos and selling for for six dollars then this place is not for you. If you like down home authentic Mexican tacos, then this place cannot be beat. Great place.

Ming N.

Yelp

My husband and I have traveled to Mexico and had some of the best tacos, and we live in California where some of the best Mexican food is. The food at this place is equivalent or even better. Meat is tender and salsas are flavorful. Tortillas are at the perfect moisture level. Feel like a lot of taco/Mexican restaurants pre-cook the meat, and re-cook again before serving resulting over-cooked meat. Wish we could come back again and try everything else. But our flight is in 2 hours. Until next time!

Jack L.

Yelp

Food was good, tripas were crispy and I loved the lamb (barbacoa). Habanero salsa was quite spicy. Could be cleaner, especially the restroom, I think it is a better place for take-out than dine-in.

Travis C.

Yelp

Great food and quick service! The group I was with ordered the gringas Alan rad and tacos (pollo, asada, Al pastor), which were all fantastic!

Sabi K.

Yelp

Great food. The tacos are very good. Food is served pretty quickly. I go at least once a month. Kind of on the high side for cost tho.

Katie H.

Yelp

These are, by far, some of the best street tacos in all of Denver. When my husband and I are craving tacos, we come here. We feel so lucky to live within walking distance. Highly recommend.

Cho S.

Yelp

The best taqueria I've ever been to! Everything on the menu is fantastic. Goat is tender and succulent. Vikingo is very large portion and I couldnt stop eating. I wanted to try every salsa and garnish they had, but didnt want to seem like a glutton. Spicy pickled onions are very addictive. Cant recommend this place enough!

25 Essential Tacos in and Around Denver

15 Takeout and Delivery Options in Denver to Rescue You on Lazy No-Cooking Nights - Eater Denver