Best Green Chile in Denver · Denver, CO
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 2026 Centurion Award winner.
Each Centurion Award is a dated record tied to one year’s evaluation — earned annually, never carried over. Open a year for the full citation and verification details.
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
This page is the standing record for El Taco de Mexico (2026). It was not bought, voted on, or sponsored — only winners are published, and an award that stops holding up is revoked, not quietly removed.
If you’ve put in the years, you may already clear the bar. Evaluation is free, private, and never for sale.