Tacos El Fogon adds another taqueria to Federal Boulevard

Lori Midson

There's no such thing as too many taquerias, which is exactly what Mario and Gricelda Valles thought when they opened Tacos El Fogon last month at 1145 South Federal Boulevard, along a strip of asphalt that already lays claim to more taquerias than you can fling a tortilla at. "My uncle owns a carnicería in Longmont, and my parents really like cooking, especially my mom, so my uncle told them that they should open a taqueria, and that this was the best place to do it," says Carlos Gricelda, the son of Mario and Gricelda.

The space, paintbrushed lime green, hustles tamales, tortas, flautas, menudo and tacos in all guises, including carnitas, buche, barbacoa, asada and pastor, the last of which are carved from a spit haloed with rings of pineapple, and properly charred before they're slid into the corn tortillas and topped with onions and cilantro. "So far," says Carlos, "we've had a lot of people coming in who really like our food, and the pastor is definitely a draw."

So, too, are the salsas, a half dozen fiery buzzes, including a chile salsa spiked with peanuts, and a New Mexican chile guajillo that packs a major punch. "All the salsas are my mom's recipes, and so is everything else that we're doing here," says Carlos.

Tacos El Fogon is open Monday through Thursday, from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m., and Friday through Sunday, from 8 a.m. to midnight. For more info, call 303-955-6427.