How to Support Latino-Owned Businesses in Denver Right Now

Being a transplant city, Denver is lucky to host residents from across the globe. Its diverse population of restaurants, small businesses, and services includes an ever-vibrant Latino community, with the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce reporting that Hispanics make up a whopping 22% of the metro area’s population. And, now that most businesses have safely reopened (bring a mask, just in case), it’s a perfect time to support our Latino neighbors. This list doesn’t capture everyone, but it’s a good start for the Denverite looking to explore what the Mile High City’s Latino community has to offer and celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month.

Golden Triangle
Cuba Cuba has been “Cubanizing” Denver for over 20 years, and it’s easy to see why. A menu that includes slow-roasted pork shoulder, “mojo” marinated flank steak, and a ton of tapas sounds amazing as-is, but just wait until you taste it. Add some fan-favorite flavored mojitos to the mix and it’s a meal to remember (and that’s an understatement). Plus, relishing in savory meats and flavor-packed Cuban food while supporting a family-owned and Cubana-operated business is always a win-win.
How to support: Open for dine-in, takeout, and delivery.

North Side
Founded by husband and wife Carlo Hernandez and Jazmine Mendoza and their longtime friend Leslie Amaya, North Side Market aims to highlight small businesses—especially those with Latin roots. The focus is multifold, from creating and supporting communities to celebrating the history of the North Side neighborhood, to giving small business owners a leg-up in building their brands.
How to support: Follow on Instagram for upcoming market dates and vendor information.
 

Northglenn
About five years ago, owners David and Jessica Alires set out to strike the perfect balance between the flavors of traditional Mexican food and not-so-traditional meatless ingredients. The result is a striking menu full of vegetarian-friendly options that don’t sacrifice taste, featuring items like jalapeño stuffed tacos, hibiscus birria tacos, fuego elote, and pozole, to name a few.
How to support: Follow on Instagram for upcoming pop-up locations.

Various locations
For beautiful-looking, wonderful-tasting, and extremely refreshing aguas frescas, you can look to Aguas Colorado. Made and served by Nester Amaya, Maria Salinas, Jose Amaya, and Diana Paredes, the tasty beverage makes appearances at festivals, farmers markets, and wherever a fruit-forward drink is appreciated. Nester Amaya pays homage to the water stands he grew up drinking from in Mexico by posting up at various locations in Denver and serving the drinks with fresh fruit toppings and a sprinkling of chamoy.
How to support: Follow Aguas Colorado on Instagram to find pop-up locations.

RiNo
Jose Vilchez Avila is no stranger to epic foods produced by a dedication to simplicity and tradition. Avila, who runs the X’Tabai Yucateco food truck and is also the heart and soul behind El Borrego Negro, the whole-animal barbacoas slow-cooked in an underground fire pit, recently opened La Diabla as part of Avila’s mission to bring the flavors and cooking methods of Mexico City and Hidalgo to Denver. The menu includes, of course, a variety of pozole, shareables, and tacos, as well as a lengthy mezcal and tequila list, with the option for a flight if you’re having trouble deciding what to sip.
How to support: Open for dine-in, takeout, and delivery.

Arvada
For your next special occasion, pick up a custom cake from La La’s and know you’re supporting a Latina-owned business (and also getting some really, really good cake). Order cakes, cupcakes, and cheesecakes that are perfectly decadent and vibrant, with fresh fruit adorning nearly every one. Once in the Larimer Square Market space, La La’s has continued to grow despite Covid-19 challenges, and we hope to see some cakes lining shop windows soon enough.
How to support: Pre-order custom cakes online and pickup in person.

Lakewood
Chocolate that makes you feel so, so good, for a few reasons. It tastes incredible, it comes from a Latina-owned company, and it’s setting the bar high for sustainable, accessible, and high-quality chocolate. Owner Damaris Ronkanen grew up visiting family in Mexico and enjoying her abuela’s signature champurrado (chocolate atole) and mole sauce, and her experiences shaped her journey through culinary school and opening Cultura.
How to support: Visit the shop in person Thursday - Sunday from 8 am - 2 pm, or order online.

This is your chance at authentic, small-batch coffee that tastes unlike any cup you’ve had before. Roasted by the owners’ families in Coatepec Veracruz, Mexico, Café Cruzano is beyond carefully roasted coffee whose beans grow in high elevation and rich, volcanic soil, bringing a quality and flavor that goes unmatched in our coffee-loving Colorado.
How to support: Buy a bag of beans (or three) online or follow on Instagram for pop-up locations.

Platt Park & Aurora
Originally from Buenos Aires, Argentina, owner Lorena Cantarovici built her empanada empire in Denver from scratch. Named for her mother, this spot serves up empanadas of all varieties from generations-old recipes. Stuffed with everything from chorizo and eggs to a caprese-style with tomato, basil, and mozzarella, you’ll want to order at least a dozen at a time.
How to support: Visit in person, order online for pickup, or order delivery via DoorDash

East Colfax
This small family-owned spot is easy to miss. But if you skip it you’ll be missing out on traditional Salvadoran specialities made right, including pupusas stuffed with queso and chicharron and yuca frita for just a few bucks.
How to support: Open for dine-in, takeout, or delivery via Postmates

Montclair
This Colfax favorite for Colombian food recently went back to its traditional roots after being purchased by the husband-and-wife team of Andrés Chaparro and Martina Will. Chaparro, who is also a partner in Zeppelin Station’s La Rola, is focused on authenticity for the future of Los Parceros, so stop by for specialties like plátano maduro con queso (ripe plantain with cheese), arepas, and bandeja paisa, the national dish of Colombia.
How to support: Open for dine-in, takeout, or delivery via Doordash

Overland
Owner Jorge Aguirre had Denver craving his Columbian specialties served from his original food truck for years before adding a brick and mortar location in 2017. The food truck still operates in the summer (order the lomito sandwich loaded with pork shoulder and smoked ham) but you can score empanadas, arepas, arroz con pollo, and more at the Broadway location anytime. 
How to support: Open for dine-in with a new outdoor patio. You can also order for pickup or delivery online and via Postmates and Grubhub

Aurora
Craving a taste of Miami-style Cuban? You’re in luck. Orlando Colombe, the owner of this spot, used to operate three Cuba bakeries in Miami before bringing those flavors to Denver. With the recent closing of Cuban favorites Buchi Cafe Cubano and Frijoles Colorado Cuban, this is also one of the rare places to score Cuban sandwiches, pastries, and savory specialties like ropa vieja and lechon asado.
How to support: Open for dine-in and takeout

Athmar Park
Federal Boulevard is a destination for a ton of Latin cuisine but this is definitely one of the standouts. The spot from chef/owner Noe Bermudez (who also runs Kahlo’s in Westwood) specializes in Michoacán dishes, including a must-order seven chile mole along with favorites like enchiladas, burritos, and sonoran-style bacon-wrapped hot dogs.
How to support: Open for dine-in or takeout.

Multiple locations
What started as a wholesale empanada business in 2016 from co-owners Francois and Christian Saber and Luis Gomez soon expanded and now has five locations (with more on the way) where you can get their expertly crafted savory pastries made with dough imported from Argentina.
How to support: Open for dine-in, takeout, and delivery.

RiNo
In partnership with the nonprofit Focus Points, this heritage food incubator is a place where immigrant women, many from Mexico and El Salvador along with several Middle Eastern countries, can come to train for careers in the culinary world. The menu changes often and features traditional foods from the women’s home countries like tamales, flautas, and gorditas.
How to support: Open for dine-in, takeout, and delivery.

Food Truck
In May of 2016, Denver got its first food truck specializing in Puerto Rican cuisine and it’s still rolling around town today. Though you’ll have to plan ahead since they pop up at various places around town, it’s totally worth the effort for mofongo, jibaritos (plantain sandwiches), tostones, and more.
How to support: Follow them on Facebook to see where they’ll be posting up

Five Points
This spot that specializes in making a “square meal” way more special than that sounds is co-owned by chef Dana Rodriguez who also owns nearby sister restaurant Super Mega Bien. Rodriguez grew up in Chihuahua, Mexico, eventually training under James Beard Award-winning Denver chef Jennifer Jasinski for a decade before opening this popular spot with co-owner Tony Maciag.
How to support: Open for dine-in or takeout.

Platt Park
This brewery co-founded by beer industry vet Judd Belstock and fermentation expert Sam Alcaine (who is the son of El Salvadoran and Cuban immigrants) specializes in chicha and pulque, two styles of beer brewed from corn instead of barley. These unique brews are the only ones of their kind in Denver, so if you want to change up your all IPAs all day routine, this is the spot.
How to support: Visit the taproom in person or order beer to-go online

Aurora
This brewery located in the Stanley Marketplace is co-owned by the husband and wife team of Javier and Jennifer Perez and was inspired by the spirit of Oaxaca, Mexico, where Javier’s grandparents were from. Their “chelas” (slang for beer) include year round favorites like Lowrider Mexican Lager and Coco-xoco Porter along with seasonal specialties.
How to support: Visit in person or order online for pickup

Dairy Block, Tennyson Berkeley
This is a Mile High go-to for unique jewelry and engagement right. Owner Sarah Ortega grew up around the jewelry business. Her mother, Mary Vigil, is the owner of Ooh! Aah! In Albuquerque, New Mexico. After moving to Denver, Ortega opened her own Ooh! Ahh! which led to an expanded line of bridal and other high end jewelry and became Sarah O.
How to support: The showroom is open by appointment only. You can also shop online or book a virtual consultation.
 

Multiple locations
This locally owned chain for Latin cooking staples has five locations in the Denver metro area. If you’re looking for horchata by the jug, sheet cakes, overflowing bins of brightly colored produce, and cuts of meat that are hard to find at a typical grocery store, look no further.
How to support: All locations are open 7 am - 9 pm daily

Various locations
Leslie Amaya (co-founder of North Side Market) offers a blend of rich color and texture with artisanal quality to deliver raw, real, and stunning fashion to Denver. Find her shop full of brilliantly colored “sombreros cordobés (flat-top hats), all hand-stitched and intricately decorated with beads (“chaquira”) by Mexican artisan Juan Gerardo.
How to support: Shop online or follow on Instagram to find pop-up locations.

Online
A harmony of color, texture, and tradition radiates through each delicate piece of jewelry from Ana Marina Studio. Ana herself is an immigrant from Mexico, using her talent and craft to celebrate her cultural heritage and the beauty of Latin American art.
How to support: Shop online or inquire about custom orders.

Lincoln Park
This Latin American art museum on Santa Fe Drive has been a pillar in the community for 28 years. Their exhibits feature everything from ancient to modern works, showcasing the creativity of artists from the diverse cultures of the Americas.
How to support: Visit in person. The museum is open Tuesday-Friday, 12pm-6pm and Saturdays, 12pm-5pm.

Baker
This cooperative art gallery in the Santa Fe Arts District has over 200 active members and works to promote Denver’s professional Hispanic artists. Typically, the exhibits change monthly with most works for sale, and the events calendar is back up and full of exhibit presentations, artist talks, and more.
How to support: Gallery is open Wednesday - Friday 11 am - 3 pm.

Various locations
The LCAC’s mission is to provide a space and resources that showcase and elevate Latino artists, intellectuals, and other creatives. The center is currently working on a Cultural Campus whose home will be in Sun Valley and La Alma Park as well as an “intergenerational and interdisciplinary community arts program called ‘Las Bodegas.’”
How to support: View the center’s Abarca Family Collection or browse the shop online (by appointment only).

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