El Taco de Mexico grows by a patio

Lori Midson

El Taco de Mexico, the iconic taqueria at 714 Santa Fe Drive, just quadrupled in size, thanks to a new patio -- so new, in fact, that when I stopped by yesterday evening for my requisite smothered al pastor burrito, the price tags were still dangling from the tables. And the six, seven, eight, twelve women who run the joint with such no-nonsense precision were doing what they always do when they're not whacking meats with their cleavers -- which is cleaning. That's why the minute space always shimmers and shines like new money.

The patio shines, too, with sun-kissed, clown-colored umbrellas shading the tiled tables that are fenced in by a wall muraled with sheets of plastic depicting Mexican culture. It's a festive  patio that's a welcome  -- and much needed -- addition to Denver's most loved taco stop. A liquor license would be great addition, too, but if you suggest that to the stoic ladies with the cleavers, you'll get the same answer every time: NO!