Some of the best original Mexican food in the Denver area. Forget street tacos - go back to great family recipes!

Had the carne asada today and it was very tasty! The family that runs this place is so sweet. I really hope business picks up for them. Not sure why the low ratings; their food tastes deliciously home-cooked and comforting. Plenty of seating and bar area. Great place to hang out. read more

La Cueva - Carne Asada - Mexican Near Me - Aurora, Colorado

Ordered the cheese enchiladas. Their red sauce is on point. A little too much onions for me but I'll be sure and tell em no onions next time. My husband had the rib eye in ranchera sauce and it was cooked to perfection. Nothing was over salted. Not a fan of the Spanish style rice or the beans but I'm a spoiled Mexican. This is our 2nd trip here and we will be back.. Service has never been an issue. We're asked what we need when we needed it. Ambiance was a little on the fabuloso side. Meaning I don't like to smell this smell while eating their delicious food. read more

La Cueva - Make sure and let them know if you have an allergy to onions before you order just cheese enchiladas. - Mexican Near Me - Aurora, Colorado

Been coming to la cueva for years. Will not be coming back. The food has definitely declined over the years. The service is horrible. Salsa always half frozen. Had to ask for silverware and napkins. Ownership just not into it anymore. Very overpriced! Sad to say but probably time to just close the doors and go enjoy life. Will not be coming longer be recommending to friends read more

This place hasn't been remodeled and is very outdated. I will never understand what makes these people think we want to see all the crap they put on the walls? They have Moroccan lamps with other types. The server is slow and his uniform was dirty. The food sadly was not good. The salsa was thick, no spice, no seasoning. Looks like they use tomato Paste. Nasty. Chips no salt very boring. Got the Mexican hamburger which was tiny. The hamburger patty was frozen. The chili tasted ok but was very runny. My husband's dish was ok. The rice was over cooked and nasty. Our Micheladas were absolutely awful. I would've ordered a proper beer but god luck getting service. They don't show you the full receipt. Just the total. Their menus are still in Covid state. I feel bad for them, but they need an overhaul. Won't be going back. read more

I've been eating at la cueva since I was a kid and we love celebrating and gathering here. Their red chili is literally the best I have ever eaten. I've tried hundreds of others and nothing quite compares. When you've been eating there for 30 years they know exactly what we want and give us great service. You really can't beat the small family restaurant vibe and it it's well worth the trip to east colfax! read more

Holy crap the food is good here. The salsa is glorious. Normally I want to throw it in a blender because I don't like hunks of veggies in my salsa but I just wolfed this down. The green chile is perfect spicy. Just as hot as you can be without crossing into "prove something" territory. Even the beans, just the bean tostada was delicious. I wasn't even supposed to come here. I turned the wrong way and there are medians everywhere. I just told maps to take me to a Mexican restaurant and it brought me here. Maybe that AI thing is actually working because damn. I will definitely be back. I wonder if they sell the green chile by the quart or something... read more

We've been eating at La Cueva for many many years. The restaurant is a several generations family owned restaurant. It's a great place. Food really good and consistent. Spice and temperature always hot. Yum. Located on E. Colfax 1/2 block from Dayton. I think the current climate on E. Colfax has put a damper on the number of people that are frequenting La Cueva. It's too bad. Please get it a try. Not the yellow cheese, bland Mexican food that is all over Denver. Owner is friendly. Works there. We want them to be able to stay in business. read more

La Cueva - La Cueva burrito - Mexican Near Me - Aurora, Colorado

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Nicely surprised by this. My friends liked the margaritas and said they were strong and not a horrible mix. I really enjoyed the tacos Al carbon and my friends had the carne asada and said it was good. The rellanos were subpar but where in Denver are they good? Would like to try them for breakfast read more

Been going there for 40 years - extremely disappointed will NEVER go back !! Service was awful we were treated like it was an imposition to serve us -- burritos were the size of a small taquito - prices outrageous!! Bill was over 50 for 2 burritos and a combo plate - the whole experience was so bad that I'm writing my 1st review ever = ( until now DONT waste your money read more

What a fantastic place I will go to for good Mexican food Their Molé is to die for and they are so nice that they will put it on cheese enchiladas if you are vegetarian Oh, and the owners are sweethearts read more

This restaurant is amazing! The recipes have never changed and that's because it' has been the same family running it all my life. I've been going in there since I was 4 and I'm 53 now. I moved from Colorado 3 years ago, but still go back a couple of times a year. There isn't a time that I visit Colorado, where I don't stop, have lunch, and then pack a cooler full of food to go. Everything is homemade from the beans to the tortillas. I thoroughly believe anybody that has a negative review, has never really eaten good Mexican food and I would challenge anybody to name a better place! read more

I LOVE this place - it's been a staple since childhood and is food I can always rely on (home made tortillas make everything better). Service is always great, I tend to get there shortly after open so I never have any issue or delay on anything. The inside hasn't changed a lot since I've been eating at La Cueva (for 25 years) - so it feels like home. Colorful, and historic. It's ALWAYS my first stop when I fly home. read more

La Cueva - #4 tostado, enchilada, bean burrito smothered in green or red chile- with additional burrito. - Mexican Near Me - Aurora, Colorado

Our family has been eating here for over 30 years The food is consistently fantastic. The service is family and wonderful and the margaritas are terrific. The place is immaculate. The table are comfortable and not too close together and the bar is charming. But more could you want? This is our go to. read more

best Mexican food in town. Known the staff my whole life they are the nicest and sweetest.

Fuimos a comer, y nos cobraron extra por tortillas que se supone que iban incluidas con el plato, intentamos de hablar con la manager, que se llama patty, y fue muy grosera y sangrona. No no quiso ayudar y no respecta ni el precio de la comida ni a sus clientes. NO COMAN AQUÍ. came to eat here and the manager wanted to charge us extra for tortillas that were included with the plate. Tried to talk the manager patty and she was very rude. DONT EAT HERE VERY UNPROFFESSINAL!!!! read more

Have adored this place for years. Family recipes, kind service, excellent food, red chile plate is our favorite.

My wife Kim and I have been going to La Cueva for years now! The absolute best Mexican food in town, It is wonderful and worth the drive! See Alfonzo or Patty tell them Kim and Randy sent you! Try the #2 or#3 read more

We were enjoying our meal. The waitress came over and asked how was our meal was. We said it was good. She then stood there with the payment machine expecting us to pay in the middle of our meal - how rude. Put the check down and we will pay when we are done. Not sure if we will be back. read more

Sadly what was once a favorite of mine, La Cueva has now lost its way. Entirely overpriced with a staff the simply don't care. Just order, eat and leave. They actually dropped this "basket" of chips in front of me...literally 10 chips. Seriously? I'm glad I was eating alone. A basket of a la carte chips cost $3.95 or based on this sampling, .39 a chip, 4.95 if I ordered a small saucer of salsa. Ridiculous. Saturday night and the place was dead. So many other options for Mexican food in this town. Too bad, this was once a great restaurant. read more

La Cueva - Mexican Near Me - Aurora, Colorado

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If you're thinking of eating here, my suggestion is look elsewhere. It was the single worst restaurant meal I have had in years--and it was expensive! The margarita was bad, the tortillas were hard and tasteless, the beans and rice were hard and blah, the chile rellenos were substandard, and my husband's combination meal was equally disappointing. read more

I have been coming to LaCueva for over 20 years. I have brought out of town guests and have always had dinner there when going to shows at the two theaters nearby. The last few times I have noticed a rudeness in a waitress, as had my friend, who has also been a patron for many years. We asked for a paper menu & were told they 1) weren't available or 2) had different prices. What??? On our way out we noticed a pile of paper menus. We gave our order & noticed that everyone was being served but us. 45 minutes had gone by. The manager, waitress, kitchen staff discussed it. The manager came over to blame the lost order on technology . The waitress said nothing & at last the food arrived bit by bit. Both manager & waitress seemed angry with US. We were trying to make a show on time. I said to the manager "I'm always here" & he rudely replied "You're NOT always here." VERY rudely. I don't go out to dine every week, but over 20+ years I am there often enough for them to know my name. I have tried to support a local/family run business, but enough. I will sadly NEVER walk thtough the doors again. read more

Very nice staff, good food, and great vibe! I had the shredded beef tacos, which were excellent!

Delicious food, plenty of parking in back of building. Clean and friendly atmosphere.

If you are on Colfax and want classic histories Mexican then this is your jam. Eat heat and enjoy the decor and very well executed Mexican cuisine. Great drinks too. read more

Enchillada had very little meat. Not good at all! Took forever just to get some water. read more

La Cueva - Mexican Near Me - Aurora, Colorado

Love this place! Whenever we are in Denver, this is a must for us. We can usually find street parking without a problem. Service is friendly. They even leave carafes for easy refills at your table. The chips and salsa are so flavorful. One of the best salsas ever! We usually start with guacamole. The menu has something for everyone.I love the shrimp in ranchero sauce. The mole is also quite yummy. I love reading the articles on the walls, this place has local history and is well established! read more

It was a lil pricey for what you got BUT if you're into real Mexican food, not Tex mex... it was delicious!

I've been enjoying La Cueva for 20+ years! Family owned, authentic Mexican food. So happy they made it through covid.

I've been a La Cueva fan for more than 20 years. Alfonso and his staff are great, and the green chile sauce continues to amaze! I just wish they would open another place closer to my new home! read more

i do not recommend this place at all. avoid at all cost. small portions and very over priced compared tp others in the area. paying for all the "decorations" inside. not recommended at all. plus, the food is not that good !!!!!!!!!!! read more

I've been coming to La Cueva for around 25 years and believe this is still the best Mexican food in all of Denver. There have been many fancy Mexican restaurants opening up around Denver over the last ten years but none of them hold a candle to La Cueva. To start, their salsa is simply the best. The perfect amount of heat and flavor that I can't even describe. The margaritas are top notch and the food is the absolute real deal. Enchiladas with mole sauce and the chile relleno with green chile are a couple of my favorites. This is a classic gem that you can't miss if you truly enjoy real Mexican food. read more

La Cueva left me in a state of confusion. I want to like it for a few reasons but can't for too many. It certaily has street appeal which is why we drove the distance to give it a try. Upon entering it is warm and welcoming with a colorful palate lit with dancing candle light and individual lights above each table. At this point I was really excited and in the mood for some flavorful Mexican food that was different from the norm of cheesy, greasey mounds of meat with a side of salsa. Ok, here comes the hostess. Uh oh. She is clearly not excited to be seating another table and is is only 7 p.m. I will wait to judge based on the actual table side service. Can you say indifferent? Our waitress really did not seem to care at all that we were in her section and ready to spend some money. Beer (bottled), margarita (good, worth two) and salsa (fresh, mild and packed with onions)...let the food review begin. Wait, stop....what the hell is wrong with this menu? All four or five combos consist of a beef taco, refrito tostado, refrito burrito and an onion and cheese enchilada (all priced at $8.75 not including beans and rice). Yes, it clearly states that other combos can be made from the a la carte menu, buy why? Oh, I see. All the plates you really want to order cost $15.95. Wow. The Carne Asada - Chile and garlic marinated thin slices of tender beef, grilled and served with grilled onion, roasted jalapeño, pico, guacamole, and two flour or four corn tortillas sounds lovely as does the Haga Su Taco - Beef barbacoa (Mexican barbeque) marinated in black chiles, slow baked and grilled with onions, tomato, jalapeño, served with pico, guacamole, two flour or four corn tortillas BUT NOT for $15.95. None of the specialties are represented on the a la carte menu or the combos plates. A real downfall. So we ordered the chile rellenos and a chicken burrito a la carte and beans a la carte. The green chile is quite lovely with its smokey sense of straight forward heat. No pork here, just a wonderous array of fresh ingredients that dazzle with color and texture. Will it be enough? Sadly, no. The service and the food options will not draw us back down Colfax even though it is my favorite road in the state. Maybe we will try Rico Pollo 2 a few blocks to the west. Bummer. read more

La Cueva - Chicken Burrito a la carte and Chile Rellenos - Mexican Near Me - Aurora, Colorado

Authentic Mexican fare with a long tequila list and pleasant service. The green chili gets hotter as the week goes on. Huevas Rancheros are solid as is the Mexican hamburger and a host of other dishes. Homemade Guacamole and salsa round out the dinner. And don't forget the Prima marg- it's worth the price. Bonus: truly nice people own the place. Owner is an ex-firefighter read more

Came here for dinner with friends. I asked the waitress if she could bring us some spicy salsa. She told us "I wish" but that they didn't have anything spicier. We had the Queso La Cueva, which wasn't even queso. It was a bunch of ground meat with some melted cheese on top. We also had the guacamole, which needed more flavor. Then we had the Haga Su Taco and the Fajitas de Camarones. They were very bland and tasteless. We were really disappointed and won't be coming back here. There are much better Mexican restaurants in Denver. read more

This is our go to place and I generally get the same 2-3 options...the Lomo de Cerdo is to. die. for! But trying to expand my horizons, I recently tried the chili rellenos with a half/half red and green sauce upon Patricia's suggestion. It was epic...the comfort food you never knew you needed. Patricia, the manager, treats you like family and suggests all the yummiest dishes. Tonight we tried the special, crab enchiladas-such a delicious way to change it up! Can't recommend this place enough!!! read more

I've been to La Cueva a few times with groups, always before seeing a show at the Aurora Fox. So far, the service has been pretty inconsistent... no one had been outright rude, but we've had pretty long breaks between visits from waitstaff. Drinks and items from orders have been forgotten, but have been brought quickly upon the second request. Keep in mind, though, that the restaurant is probably busier before a show at the Fox than usual, and I never did see waitstaff just standing around doing nothing. The manager and owner were also quick to jump in when they could see a problem. Overall, the food has been pretty mediocre. As others have noted, many dishes don't come with rice and beans, and to order them as sides ends up pushing the tab above comparable restaurants in the area. Others have noted that the quality of the food seems to have taken a turn for the worse over time, and I suspect that this may be the case. There aren't a ton of dinner options in the area, so there may not be much incentive to want to get better. Others have complained about the salsa being heavy on onions - this is true, but is actually a positive for me. I love chunky salsa, and that at La Cueva has always seemed extremely fresh. Drinks in the bar area, margaritas especially, were pretty darned expensive for the quality - I haven't ordered one since my first time there. read more

I've been coming here since I was in diapers, they treat you like family and the food tastes like your mom made it. The salsa is the best in the state by far, I can't ever have enough and have to order more to go home with. The enchiladas are amazing, I love everything on the menu and will be coming here with my children as well! read more

We love La Cueva! We drive there from Castle Pines frequently (which is quite a drive) because the food is authentic and GOOD. Best green chili around if you like spicy. We've become close to the owner and his staff and consider them friends. We La Cueva read more

Before moving to Denver, I had no idea green chili was "a thing." Like, I knew it existed, but didn't realize how much people lose their minds for it out here. I see it everywhere--on tacos, burritos, mixed into guac, served by the bowlful. Fact is, these chili lovers aren't wrong--they're actually very, very right. I've learned to love this special green sauce and while I wouldn't call myself a connoisseur, La Cueva makes some dang good chili. I checked out La Cueva with some long time Coloradans who absolutely love this restaurant. I already had the warm fuzzies hearing about how they started dining here 20 years ago, and having that semi-personal connection made my experience all the better. I honestly love the outside of this restaurant so much--the sea foamy turquoise is so pretty to me. Inside, the restaurant is divided into two rooms, each with a bar. The front room has a cactus that I had some serious plant lust over, and the whole restaurant is divey/cute. We were here for a later lunch on a Saturday and it was pretty quiet. We were able to grab a table immediately and our server brought out waters and chips and salsa. Their salsa was tasty and extra spicy, just the way I like it. They were still serving breakfast well into the afternoon, so I ordered the huevos rancheros with green chili. I gotta say, all day breakfast is WHERE IT'S AT in my book. Our food came out really quickly and the portions were generous. The green chili was so good and seriously spicy--probably the best I've had outside of Taos. Honestly my only complaint about the experience was that they gave me flour instead of corn tortillas like I asked, which is no bigs at all. I love these sort of old school spots! I'd definitely come back here, especially on a day when I'm in the mood to pair a cocktail wit my meal. Their menu has a ton of options, although I feel like I've found the right thing to order and might just stick with that. read more