La Fiesta Restaurant

by Justin Beck
(Chicago)

I was in Denver this past summer visiting family and friends. My brother, who is a huge Mexican food fanatic, took us to his favorite Mexican restaurant - which became my favorite Mexican restaurant.

I had a chance to speak with the owner (and had an opportunity to work on my Spanish a little bit.) I was told that La Fiesta has been in business for several decades. Here, the fine and traditional cuisine of Mexico gets an American makeover that puts "Colorado Mexican food" in a class by itself.

The burritos come smothered under a green chile that's a medium-thick, medium-hot mess of roasted chiles, pork and thickening agents that sticks like napalm to anything it touches.

The rellenos are done egg-roll style — wrapped in wonton skins and stuffed with bright-yellow cheese product.

But hands down, the best thing on the menu is the Thursday special (La Fiesta is only open for weekday lunches) of chile caribe — a stone-simple conglomeration of pork, potatoes, red chile and nothing else.

La fiesta is located at 2340 Champa St. Denver, CO. I would recommend this restaurant to anyone who loves good Mexican food. You might just fall in love with it like I did.