Las Caras Rocks!
I have been there ten times and it is my favorite place! Â Michelle takes very good care of us every time and I love Regina and Steve! Â Awesome Salsa and Guac...and my wife is love with the Hyde Park. Â Every time I go to or leave Denver I drop by...it is convenient and cool! Â Thanks!
I like this place because it has decent prices, good food, and is very very cozy. I should give it 4 stars if I compare it with Mexican restaurants I've been to in CA, or TX. However, for Denver is as good as it gets.
The food ingredients are always fresh and the portions are more then enough. I usually go there for the less then $4 breakfast burritos (Amazing) and for the Taco Salad. I get the Taco salad, with chicken, and spanish rice instead of the beans + medium salsa. Fantastic!
Drink wise, they are ok considering they don't have a bar. A few mexican beers and some liquors. The Margaritas are "cheap mixed" drinks. I had one once and I never had one since. However, remember they don't have a bar. I go there for the food.
The service is always great. It is a family own business, and I believe everyone who works there (kitchen and wait staff) are related. All of them are very nice people.
Spectacular! Â One simple word for for a simply amazing Mexican food restaurant. Las Caras keeps their quality high by making all of their sauces in-house (I'm partial to the enchilada sauce). All of their beans are vegetarian so the menu is open to just about anyone. They keep the menu simple which is good because the food is consistent and satisfying. This place gets packed on some days during the lunch hour but the wait is not usually not more than 5 minutes. I have been coming here for 6 years and have never been let down! Â Come and enjoy :)
Review Source:Cool little restaurant in the strip mall next to the new Target going up. Â It wasn't very easy to find and I'd never have stumbled across without Yelping it. Â I'm glad I did though.
We sat down around 6:30 and had our food really quickly. Â We both had smoothered burritos. Â I had ground beef in mine smoothered with enchilada sauce. Â My wife had grilled chicken smoothered with green chili. Â We both really enjoyed our meal. Â I never had an empty glass, and we had great service. Â
The price was great, but I would have rather had another couple bucks built into the bill and been provided free chips and salsa. Â I'd rather not have to pay a couple bucks for chips & salsa. Â The food could have used a bit more spice too to be fair, but it was still good.
Las Caras is a small, quaint, family restaurant. Booths line the wall, smaller tables in the middle, small tables towards the kitchen to the bathrooms.
I truly liked the smaller atmosphere, direct view of the kitchen and wait staff. They move in and out, I did not have to wait long for the waitress to take my drink order and order of chips and salsa. Everything came fast, with a smile, and I never felt rushed at any time.
Ordered dinner combo number #6, which has a taco, smothered burrito and a chile relleno. Came with rice, refried beans, tomato, lettuce and sour cream. This plate, stuffed with food, was only $10. Ordered the chips and red onion salsa which was good. The salsa was a little too sweet for me, but had a wonderful flavor. I reached for the cholula sauce, which the waitress picked up on immediately and asked if I would like a hotter salsa. Bonus for being attentive. She brought out the hottest salsa at no extra cost. The hotter salsa was incredible. You can tell the tomatoes and onions were roasted, and it was nice and spicy. The rice was good, went well with the dinner. The beans were creamy and very tasty. I see where other people railed on this in previous reviews, I however found nothing wrong with them, nor were they dry.
The dinner was incredibly tasty, my favorite meal while I was in Denver. The taco was simple with ground beef, cheese and lettuce. The corn tortilla shell was delicious, crunchy and tasty. The chile relleno was different than I have had in that it looked like a larger egg roll with the chile stuffed with cheese inside. The outside was perfectly crispy. The chile itself fit nicely, given the smaller portion, and the cheese was oozing when cut into. This went real well with the green chile sauce from the smoothered burrito and the spicy salsa. The smothered burrito really stole the dinner. I had mine filled with steak. The steak itself were cubed portions of steak which I enjoyed in comparison to sliced steak. The steak was filled throughout the burrito. My recommendation is to top it with the hot salsa and add a few dashes of cholula sauce.
For the cost point, quality and taste, as well as a very diligent and friendly wait staff, Las Caras gets my nod this go 'round in Denver. I will definitely be back on my next visit.
Total bill, including two Tecates came to $20 and change. My drink bill was almost as much as the meal! Â Had I stuck with just water it would have been around $11 plus tax. That is amazing given the flavor and quantity.
We usually stop in and grab takeout from here but being in the area, we stopped in for lunch. Â The staff is always pleasant and more than accommodating. Â The food here is traditional mexican fare, and better than a lot of places out there as well as always consistent. Â The green chile is flavorful and sometimes has a good kick to it which is nice. Â The rellenos are very good as are the enchiladas. Â My gf loves the steak burrito and says it is very well seasoned and flavorful. Â Only thing I'm not a fan of is the salsa that accompanies the chips as I'm not a fan of chunky tomatoes and theirs is pretty chunky. Â It does has good flavor however.
Definitely a place that we like. Â Gets very busy very quickly at lunch time during the week if you're not in the door around 11.
Las Caras is the sort of place where you can get a delicious meal without having to worry about what you are wearing or whether or not you brushed your hair. I mean, I'm not suggesting you stop in there covered in cat hair and wearing pajamas or anything, but I think they'd probably still serve you, with a smile, if you came in looking like that.
I really enjoy their food. Â The food tastes very fresh. Nothing is what I would call spicy, but you can actually taste the ingredients which is what I look for in Mexican. I love their salsa. It's a bit on the sweet side but it's a good consistency (not chunky) and the red onion flavor is tasty. Their guac is really good too. The service is great, everyone is very friendly. And here is where they score huge bonus points with me - their iced tea is fabulous. I was raised by southern folk and we're a tad bit particular about our iced tea so I can't help but judge a place by their tea. The tea here is great. Always fresh, never weak, perfect!
Not so good.
The food was so average, I found myself putting salt, pepper and salsa on everything.
The margarita was just OK.
I always get a relleno. I am a relleno expert I would say, and this wasn't even in the ballpark.
The guacamole had no flavor whatsoever, and so bland I took the lime from my margarita and tried to enhance the flavor.
Just not good.
The staff was super friendly.
Yes! The quest for good Mexican has finally resulted in a success. After trying many of the usual suspects and throwing my hands up in frustration, a friend brought me to his go-to Mexican spot--the easy to miss and relatively non-descript Las Caras.
The food, though, is anything but boring. A couple of thoughts:
1. Ambience: cozy, interesting art on the walls, and casual. As I mentioned, its tucked away in a non-descript mall, so I'm not sure they get many drive by customers; on the positive side, there was no wait!
2. Food: the red onion salsa is fantastic; seriously, fantastic. I ordered a combination platter--10 bucks later and armed with leftovers for another meal, I was in Mexican food heaven (or coma, rather). Awesome, flavorful food with high quality ingredients. And even better--all super veggie friendly. The beans and rice are 100% veggie, without lard/chicken stock.
So get into your car, zip down I-25, and voila! Good Mexican awaits!
I love the faces, the names a little creepy when you translate it though. Â This is really one of the best little spots for Mexican in Denver. Â The guac is excellent. Â They have numbered plates! Â The salsa is good for Denver Mexican food however sometimes it taste to much like cocktail sauce. Â If they start making their own tortillas and chips they will be the best!
Review Source:I visit this place all the time. Â It's like a hidden gem in the Tamarac shopping center.
FOOD: This food is authentic Mexican food...and it is amazing. I had my very first chili relleno at this place and no place else compares. They are cooked to perfection here and they use the BEST cheese inside. Very tasty. The green chili has just the right amount of kick to it to make your smothered burrito taste yummy. I always get the steak burrito because I like the seasoning that is used when they marinate the beef. Breakfast burritos are great too...you have the option to get a handheld or smothered, and they will customize if for you (I hate eggs, so I always ask for one without and they have no problem with that)
SERVICE: Â The service is always fast and always friendly.
VENUE: Â This place is small, and it fills up quickly...so if you are going for dine in, make sure you go early to be the rush. Because it does become so busy they have to turn people away.
OVERALL: Â I am a huge fan, I love this place. In my opinion best Mexican food in Denver that I have found. You've got my business here!
Stopped here today on my quest to find the best breakfast burrito. Â A bit on the pricey side for me at 4 bucks, it was tasty, but I expected more. Â On the positive side, it was well wrapped, which I appreciate while driving (I think Santiagos wants to make a mess in my car). Â Restaurant seemed nice, staff was very friendly.
Review Source:I've been eating at Las Caras forever, mainly because it used to be so close to my office. Now, it's not as close but I'll still go out of my way to meet friends there for yummy, cheese Mexican food. I do like their red onion salsa; it's not spicy typically but the flavor is very fresh. They offer other salsas, including a medium green one that is quite tasty. Their green chili is pretty mild, but it still tastes very good and I usually get it smothered over my chili relleno (the crispy kind) and steak burrito. They have wonderful extra crispy fries (beer battered type), and when you get them smothered in cheese and green chili it is a big piece of heaven! The only thing I really don't like on the menu is their refried beans, but hey no one is perfect. Service is friendly and prompt, but watch out the place is packed over lunch hour.
Review Source:i'll admit i didn't know this place existed until i was taken there by my girlfriend and her sister. they've been going there since they were mini sized apparently and it's their favorite place for mexican. i'm not a huuuge mexican person, but i'll admit i love a good fajita and chips and salsa.
i've been dragged there a handful of times with my girlfriend, have yet to go there on my own, which is a shame because it's pretty darn good.
the first  time we went i just had some of the chips and salsa. pretty good, nothing spectacular but decent. the second time around, i got green chile cheese fries. yummm. the fries were crispy, the green chile was yummy, and the cheese was melted just right. i had a bite of my girlfriend's rice, mmm. a lot like chipotle's.
third time, we split a chicken fajita. very good and flavorful, no complaints.
now the other couple times i didn't get anything, but if i was the type of person who craved mexican, i'd pick this place. the atmosphere is friendly, it's never been too busy in my experience. thumbs up.
I wasn't blown away. The staff is super friendly and I loved the enchiladas. Other than that, it was just eh. Chicken tacos had a great grilled flavor, but hope you don't mind dark meat. The sweet onion salsa tasted a bit more like spaghetti sauce than salsa. Taco shells a tad but stale. I'll probably make the trek to las delicias on Colorado blvd instead next time.
Review Source:This place is fantastic. We live close by and is far an away our favorite Mexican place in Denver. The green chilli is unreal and the crispy chilli rellenos are awesome (and actually crispy). Â All the food is good and I wold highly recommend this place! Â I've seriously tried Mexican food across the West and I've never found a place I like better.
Review Source::/ just went back for a B&B (burrito and beer!) and was sort off...put-off.
they were really busy, which is great and we got seated quickly, but things just seemed different from all the other times i've been.
the chips weren't warm, and when they asked if we wanted more and we said no, and they took away the half a basket of chips we had!! I didn't say "take them away!!" I said "don't bring more!!" i still wanted to pre-game my burrito dinner. their salsa still is good...but not my favorite! I think I like the salsa at La Fogata or Los Dos Potrillos better.
the service was...too efficient!! I HATE it when a waiter rushes by your table as SOON as you finish eating to pick up you plate (by this time there were open booths and no one waiting, and they weren't closing for another hour and a half!) It just feels too rushed.
I had the Chicken Fajita Burrito with Medium salsa (which was p r e t t y spicy...or maybe I'm a baby!) and it was great, except that it doesn't come with beans. I'm really bad at reading fine print on menus.
Well. i will probably go back again since they are close but I was a little disappointed tonight...it just felt less comfortable than normal.
Mediocre Food, Poor Value
I tried this restaurant for lunch and left very unimpressed. Â There is no lunch menu and combos start at $9 for 2 items and the chips cost extra. Â My lunch tab was almost $14 total and I drank water.
Starting with the beef taco; it was generic gringo style with tasteless ground beef, lettuce, cheese and grocery store style shell.
The famous salsa, in my opinion is too mild and has a sweet canned tomato aftertaste.
The chili rellano was a lot of deep fried dough with a filling of a few chili slices and white cheese. Â I'm sure this was 700+ un-needed calories, easy.
The beans were dry and I've had better from a can (I'm sure these are of the canned variety) The rice was well, rice.
Finishing with the smothered chicken burrito, the burrito was ok but the green chili did nothing for me and had too much garlic.
My advice; Â pass on this one.
Some Mexican restaurants are great because they are so 'authentic', whatever that means.
From my admittedly gringo perspective, I don't think Las Caras can claim 'authentic'. Â However, it can easily claim a similarly important attribute: "good".
I love the simpleness of their food, and their smothered chicken burritos in particular. Â It's easy for chicken burritos to be bland and boring, but these rise above.
Their red onion salsa is as good as advertised. Â I've not had a bad meal here (been going for years) and occasionally enjoy the rellanos, enchiladas, etc but the burrito is my favorite.
And it's comforting, of course, to have people of Asian heritage serving you tasty Mexican food in Denver.
I'm always on the hunt for good Mexican food. A few days ago I found pretty darn good Mex that really has that homemade flair.
High points of deliciousness:
1. Their guac, while simple in appearance, is smooth and spicy. I dare you to take just one bite!
2. Their red onion salsa is so good (and famed) that you can get it to go - in pint-size.
3. Try the tacos. I can't remember the last time I had such a crunchy, delicious shell. It comes with mild, medium, or spicy green salsa on the side - I have to attest that the medium has good flavor. And they are not shy with the taco toppings here.
4. This place just feels comfortable. It's in a nondescript little strip mall off Tamarac so it doesn't scream "GET YOUR MEX HERE!" but I kind of like that.
That is all!
Travel much for business and I love finding little local mexican "dives". Â This place was perfect in that regard. Â Simple, no flash, brown table top mexican restaurant. Â No bar, working approach to service, & good prices (triple combo plates for $8.95).
Minus 1 star for the food. Â It was just ok - main issue is it had that mexican food issue where it all tastes the same (heavy, cheesy, red sauce). Â My test plate at a new mexican places is always rellanos and carnitas. Â Rellano was good, but it is mostly about the deep fry (think Rellano Chimichunga), not the flavor of the pepper. Â Carnitas was not on the menu. Â Salsa was decent, though not spicy enough - ask for the spicy salsa. Â Chips were warm, but they cost $1. Â Â
Minus 1 star for the margaritas. Â Powder mix I think. Â Just bad - which maka me sad. Â
If I lived in area I would likely go on a semi-regular basis - esp with my kids as it is a good family location. Â As for just visiting for business, I doubt I will go back, but don't regret trying it.
__________________________________________________Â_
Adding the following "crusade" to all of my reviews: Â
Way too many undeserved 5 star ratings on yelp. Â Ratings should be a bell curve, with at least 50-60% of your ratings a 3. Â 5 should be another world special, not everyday good.
I've been going to Las Caras since I was eleven. Â I've traveled to the west coast, east coast and all over, yet I still believe, without a doubt that Las Caras has the best green chile so far! Â
I always get a smothered burrito with extra green chile and am never disappointed with the quality or quantity you get. Â It's family owned and everyone there is very hospitable. Â It gets pretty insane there sometimes but it's so worth it to stay in or take out. Â
You also have to try their friend banana. Â The cinnamon and the light crispy layer will definitely give you a Homer's drool moment.
I've never cared enough to write a review, but I have moved away from Denver and was searching for recipes that would satisfy the green chili craving. Â I ate at Las Cars 2-3 times a week for lunch. (it is close to the office) I miss it and it is sooooo delicious. I recomend the Nachos or the Quesadilla ....
Review Source:I second the recommendation on the chile rellenos! Â So crispy and delicious...once it hits your mouth...it's so good!
Combination platters for the win. Â My 90 year old Grandma-in-law ate a bowl of the green chile straight up when we went there. Â Even I was impressed!
Great family run business with great service and great food.
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