New Happy Hour Spot In Denver Perfect For Summer Adventures

Photos courtesy of Kevin Austin

Hello my fellow foodies and welcome back. Happy hours in the Summer are one of my favorite things to do. There is a buzz about a new happy hour in Denver at Xiquita with ten items that are not on their main menu, and at a really good value. I couldn’t wait to check it out, so I grabbed my husband and a friend and off we popped for our happy hour adventure. 

To be honest, I thought we were just going to go get some tacos, a margarita, and call it a night. What transpired at Xiquita was a history lesson told through food, with chef/owner Erasmo Casiano who defines the word passion. This is no ordinary Mexican food restaurant, Xiquita (pronounced chi-kee-ta) is a journey back into the ancestral beginnings of Mexican food culture, and Chef Erasmo (Ras) is the best teacher there is. 

Xiquita opened in 2024 with Chef Ras partnering with Chef Rene Gonzalez Mendez. The restaurant celebrates the ancient traditions of the history of masa, which changed history for Mexico and its people. Xiquita makes masa the old school way, and it even has its own section on the main menu. The beautiful mural on the wall is a nod to the three sisters of Mexican agriculture: corn, squash, and beans. The masa is the center of Xiquitas menu and whether you are a vegetarian or a meat lover, it’s hard not to fall in love with it.

Happy hour brings masa to light with The Xiquita Taqueria. Tacos, Tostadas, and Sopecitos are the stars with nothing more than $15 on the menu. The Sopecitos and the Taco De Lengua were standouts. I could eat ten of the Sopecitos, no fork or knife required. The creamy mix of queso fresco and refried beans on top of crispy masa is something I could eat every day. Of course, there are cocktail specials as well for happy hour. This is by far one of the best happy hours I have been to, and they fill up quickly for good reason.

There were items on the main menu which caught my eye as well, so we decided to give them a try and (deep breath) WOW! Out of this world delicious and so different.  The Pipian Verde and the Taco De Mercado were my favorites.  I learned that Mole can be made many ways. The Pipian Verde (a green nut-based Mole) was topped with pepitas, charred carrots, and queso de cabra. It was so good I would have licked the bowl if it wasn’t inappropriate. The Taco De Mercado is great for meat lovers. The ribeye is cured in duck fat, and topped with fries, cilantro, onions and salsa verde. The whole bite was an explosion of flavor like I have never experienced. Everything I had at Xiquita was off the charts amazing. I encourage you to step out of your foodie comfort zone, try new things, and explore the history of Mexico through the food at Xiquita.

Like I have said so many times, when a lot of love goes into your food, it pours out tenfold onto the plate. Upon telling Chef Ras just how good his food was, he choked up a bit, and so did we. He truly is one of the most dedicated, humble and friendly chefs I have met. He wants you to leave Xiquita with a little more understanding of where the food of Mexico comes from, and not just a full belly. The dishes come from a place of survival, sustainability in hard times, and most of all a lot of hard work. I absolutely did not expect that coming to Xiquita and enjoying their happy hour offerings with a few other dishes would change the way I look at Mexican food forever. I hugged chef Ras when I left and felt like I had truly experienced something extraordinary. I promise you will as well. Until next time my fellow foodies, eat well, drink well, and be well.

Happy hour is Tuesday – Friday 4-6 pm