Nate Baumgart

La Popular far precedes the growth and gentrification of the neighborhood but remains a decent spot to get pre-made tamales to go or supplies to make your own including their masa. Food has been more hit or miss over the last few years, would guess they are feeling the pressure of the increasing cost in the neighborhood and starting to skimp on some ingredients. I'm sure the demographic of their customers has really changed and I'm sure that's challenging. I'll still come by for some cheap and delicious tamales when I'm in the area though.

One of Bon Appetit's 50 best restaurants in the US, this is from Chef Jose Avila, one of the founders of Machete Taco, a great spot in its own right. You get the sense here that Jose is allowed to indulge his deeper tastes and flavors. Pozole is done here with a completeness and authenticity lacking from the Tex-Mex version I've usually experienced in the states. Tacos are also a highlight. You have the option to add a roasted split bone with marrow you can scrape into your taco. You should do this. They also have a good cocktail list and a really interesting regional spirit list of the outer edges of agave driven liquors. No reservations available. A few nights of the week you can visit the pastor taco stand out front and eat cheap tacos from paper plates on plastic chairs, which feels as much like Mexico City to me as anywhere in Denver.