8 Colorado Green Chili Cafes That Pack A Flavor Punch
Green chili isn’t just food in Colorado, it’s practically a religion. The state’s unique take on this spicy, smoky stew has locals lining up at all hours for their fix.
I’ve spent years hunting down the most mouthwatering versions, from hole-in-the-wall joints to beloved institutions. Ready your taste buds for a fiery adventure through Colorado’s most exceptional green chili destinations.
1. Brewery Bar II: Where Legends And Locals Break Bread
This joint serves liquid gold disguised as green chili. Tucked into a no-nonsense building that’s been slinging the good stuff since 1954, Brewery Bar II has mastered the art of controlled burn.
Their chili strikes that magical balance between heat and flavor, enough kick to make you notice, not enough to make you suffer. Regulars swear by the smothered Mexican Hamburger, a gut-busting creation that’s practically required eating for Denver natives.
The decor hasn’t changed in decades, and thank goodness for that. Why fix what isn’t broken?
2. El Taco de Mexico: The Tiny Taqueria That Could
Though unassuming from the outside, this Santa Fe Drive institution packs more authentic flavor into its modest space than restaurants triple its size. El Taco de Mexico’s green chili arrives looking deceptively simple, a clear, spicy broth studded with tender pork chunks.
First-timers might wonder what the fuss is about until that first spoonful hits. The depth of flavor borders on sorcery.
Women in yellow aprons move efficiently behind the counter, crafting the same recipes that have kept this place packed for decades. Cash only, no exceptions, no regrets.
3. Chaka’s: The Hidden Treasure That Locals Keep Secret
Are you ready for a religious experience disguised as lunch? Chaka’s modest exterior conceals green chili that’s practically transcendent.
The first spoonful might bring involuntary noises from your throat that you didn’t know you could make. Owner Tony Chakas perfected his recipe over decades, balancing New Mexican chiles with Colorado sensibilities.
The result straddles the line between stew and sauce, perfect for smothering everything from breakfast burritos to their infamous crispy chile rellenos. Parking’s a nightmare, but you’d battle worse for flavor this good.
4. Cherry Cricket: Burgers Meet Their Spicy Soulmate
Did you know a burger joint would make this list? Neither did I until that first bite of their green chili. Cherry Cricket might be famous for their patties, but their surprisingly complex green chili deserves its own fan club.
Unlike traditional versions, theirs incorporates unexpected ingredients that somehow work brilliantly together. The Cricket Burger, smothered in this magical concoction, should be required eating for Denver visitors.
Surviving both a devastating fire and Cherry Creek’s transformation into upscale shopping central proves this place has staying power for good reason.
5. The Original Chubby’s: Midnight Mecca For Chili Worshippers
When midnight cravings hit, true Denverites make a pilgrimage to this fluorescent-lit temple of spice. The Original Chubby’s has been serving their liquid fire green chili at all hours since 1967, and the line at 2 AM tells you everything you need to know.
Their chili’s aggressive heat level has humbled many an overconfident first-timer. Stella Cordova’s original recipe remains unchanged, thick enough to coat a spoon but liquid enough to seep into every crevice of your smothered burrito. Cash only, no seating, no apologies.
6. D’Corazon: Downtown’s Chile Champion
Where business suits and construction workers sit elbow-to-elbow, united by their love for liquid green gold. D’Corazon’s downtown location makes it an unlikely spot for chili this authentic, yet they’ve been converting corporate types into chili heads for decades.
Their verde comes in two heat levels, hot and native hot. Unless you’ve built up serious spice tolerance, stick with the former.
The latter has reduced grown men to tears. Margaritas here are dangerously good companions to their chili, creating the perfect one-two punch of pleasure and pain.
7. La Loma: Grandma’s Secret Recipe Goes Upscale
How they managed to transplant this restaurant from its original Jefferson Park bungalow to downtown without losing its soul remains a culinary miracle. La Loma’s green chili comes from Grandma Mendoza’s original recipe, guarded more carefully than state secrets.
The velvety texture hits first, followed by layers of flavor that unfold like a well-told story. Their tortillas arrive fresh and hot, made in-house throughout the day by dedicated tortilla ladies visible through a kitchen window.
Worth noting, even after moving to fancier digs, they haven’t watered down the heat one bit.
8. El Tejado: Breakfast Burritos Bathed In Green Glory
However early you arrive, locals have beaten you here. El Tejado opens at dawn, serving breakfast burritos smothered in green chili that could wake the dead, or at least severely hungover college students.
Their chili skews toward New Mexican influence, with pronounced roasted flavors and chunks of pork that practically melt on contact. Weekend mornings bring multi-generational families sharing massive platters, all doused in the signature green.
Pro tip, their chili freezes beautifully, so order extra to stash for emergency cravings.
