Stunning skies, crazy winds, festive music, and the smell of grilling meat punctuated Top Taco in Denver last night, and not a person left hungry. Over 40 vendors gathered on the great lawn of Westminster Central Park, pouring tequila cocktails, providing sips of agave spirits, ladling salsas onto tacos, and showcasing special bites for the festival.
It was too much and just enough of everything, but only a few took home the top prizes for best traditional tacos, creative tacos, the VIP barbecue showdown, cocktails, and vegetarian tacos. Here’s a list of the winners, and more motivation to go out and explore what the restaurants have to offer, and to start planning for next year.
Vegetarian Taco
Judges Choice 1st Place: Chile Con Quesadilla
That bright pink, family-run food truck at the festival is the whole Chile Con Quesadilla restaurant, and it got top marks for the mac and cheese vegetarian taco. The meat version included wagyu brisket, and both must have been great since it was one of the stands to run out first.
Judges Choice 2nd Place: Mojo Mexican Fusion Grill
Judges Choice 3rd Place: Hashtag Denver
Peoples Choice 1st Place: Mojo Taqueria
Peoples Choice 2nd Place: Hashtag
Peoples Choice 3rd Place: La Machaca de mi Amá
Traditional Taco
Judges Choice 1st Place: Ta-Co Mucho Bueno
As the name suggests, the traditional taco coming out of the McGregor Square stall is very good. For Top Taco the team made a Chile Pasilla Wagyu Taco, complete with fresh guacamole, grilled queso fresco, slow-roasted wagyu, chile pasilla, and cilantro.
Judges Choice 2nd Place: La Mariposa Mexican Restaurant
Judges Choice 3rd Place: Cabrón Carbón Taqueria
Peoples Choice 1st Place: La Mariposa Mexican Restaurant
Peoples Choice 2nd Place: My Neighbor Felix
Peoples Choice 3rd Place: Cencalli Taqueria
Creative Taco
Judges Choice 1st Place: Sarahi’s Kitchen
Both the creative and traditional tacos at Sarahi’s Kitchen ran out fast. But luckily the judges had a chance to try the Denver restaurant’s Wild Taco, a combination of beef, chorizo, onions, cilantro, peppers, and a cactus salad on top. They liked it so much, it was crowned the winner.
Judges Choice 2nd Place: Harry’s at Magnolia Hotel
Judges Choice 3rd Place: My Neighbor Felix (read more about the restaurant’s past wins here)
Peoples Choice 1st Place: Wild Taco Denver
Peoples Choice 2nd Place: My Neighbor Felix
Peoples Choice 3rd Place: Harry’s at Magnolia Hotel
VIP BBQ Show Down
Judges Choice 1st Place: Mister Oso
Chef Blake Edmunds churned out a simple street taco elevated with Snake River Kurobuta , a heritage breed of pig. He had the cap, or shoulder meat, and could be seen grilling it on site. On top he added a red jalapeno salsa, onion, and a light slaw.
Judges Choice 2nd Place: Rolling Smoke BBQ
Judges Choice 3rd Place: Seasoned Swine BBQ
Peoples Choice 1st Place: G-Que BBQ
Peoples Choice 2nd Place: Mister Oso
Peoples Choice 3rd Place: Seasoned Swine BBQ
Cocktail
Judges Choice 1st Place: Los Chingones with Milagro Tequila
The Chips & Guac Marg might sound like a strange thing to drink, but the time and effort put into the cocktail won in the end. No, there was neither chips or guac in the beverage, but the team did break down all the ingredients found in a bowl of guacamole to make it. The Milagro got infused with roasted peppers to help give it a light bite, rounding out the vegetal quality and lending a touch of agave sweetness to the mix.
Judges Choice 2nd Place: Cencalli Taqueria with Tequila Trujillo
Judges Choice 3rd Place: Torchy’s Tacos with Arta Tequila
Peoples Choice 1st Place: Cencalli Taqueria with Tequila Trujillo
Peoples Choice 2nd Place: My Neighbor Felix with YaVe Tequila
Peoples Choice 3rd Place: Après Govnr’s Park
Sponsored by Buckhead Pride
