Where to get the best green chili in Denver?

Question

I just put up a web site all about green chile (peppers) and green chili (the dish) at http://denvergreenchili.com and I'm trying to build a good page on the best restaurants for green chili. I've started with recommendations from the Denver Post and Westword, but I'd like to hear some direct recommendations. 

Then I'm planning on a tasting party followed by writing reviews. Anyone interested?

The page I'm working on is http://denvergreenchili.com/eatingout.aspx

Answer

My fave will always be Jack N Grill.

Answer

I agree. Jack N Grill. And I'm not usually a green chili fan.

Answer

Jack N Grill is good, but the green chile there is second best. Efrains on 63rd and Arapahoe in Boulder has the best verde in the Denver metro. Fresh, great Anaheim and jalapeno heat with perfect chunks of pork. The verde burrito is my favorite way to have it, they have a bowl option.
Jack N Grill chile is best over the calabasitas burrito. The tastes really shine when combined.

Your page mentions Brewery Bar...skip it. It's a greasy version. You can get some chile verde out of a can and add some Dave's Insanity, it'd be the same thing.

If/when you organize a tasting tour, let me know. I'd be in.

TNC

Answer

Jack-n-Grill had decent food, but on our first and only visit, we saw an owner/manager park, blocking both handicapped spaces. The company didn't even respond to a letter (they have no email that we could find).

We were at Jack-n-Grill's second location (on E. 40th), and saw some truly obnoxious behavior by an owner or manager.

We saw a guy in a big white Yukon zip right up between the two empty handicapped parking spaces, and park directly on the striped area between them. It seemed that this guy was actually somebody in charge of the restaurant, either an owner or an off-duty manager, as he spent about 30 minutes chatting with the staff, going behind the bar, etc.
For some reason, he left for a few minutes, came back with a couple of passengers, and parked exactly as before. Total time blocking the handicapped spaces: probably 30 minutes.

The striped area is used for unloading wheelchairs, etc. Parking like that, between the two marked handicapped spaces, effectively prevented their use. Furthermore, I didn't notice, but no doubt the Yukon was also blocking the ramp area in the sidewalk. So even if someone in a wheelchair managed to park and unload somewhere else, they would have had to find another ramp, just to get to the door.

We were disgusted by this behavior of a manager/owner who was too lazy to park 5, 10, 20 spaces away, and who didn't care about any handicapped patrons who might show up.

robvbrowning at yahoo dot com

Answer

Don't forget the original Efrain's in downtown Lafayette. 

As for chile roasters, edgerdemain, when you get past Federal, there's always one at the Boulder County Farmers Market too. Prices are, not surprisingly, higher than the Denver roasters, where you can be a big paper bag full of still-hot roasted chiles for a song. I love the way the car smells on the way home. But the farmers' market is within walking distance, and I go there to buy other produce too. The dad and his hard-working teenage son run the Boulder operation, not unlike those on Federal. 

Went to your site and will return. Also will link to it on my http://culinary-colorado.blogspot.com.

Answer

Without a doubt the best chilis are in Pueblo, it is well worth the drive south. Pueblo chilis are only grown on the mesa in Pueblo and are the best!!! All the farms here grow them as well as Anehiem, pablano, big jim, puya, ancho, Fresno, and cherry. Make no doiubt Pueblo, Co has the best selection of chilis

Answer

My favorite green chili was from Chubby's in Denver. The smothered bean burrito with chicharones, in my opinion, has no rivals. Since relocating to Wisconsin I have Chubby's green chili sent frozen to me regularly. Good luck with the page.

Answer

One place. Santiago's. Don't listen to these other posters. Santiago's has the best.

FACT
END OF STORY

Answer

This is very interesting...on the home cooking front, do you have as a theory as to why so many of the award-winning recipes take shortcuts (e.g. canned enchilada sauce, canned broth, garlic powder)? I'd be interested in tasting from-scratch recipes side by side with these. 
As for green chile recs, I'm just learning my way around here but my SO would insist on El Taco de Mexico. And though I'm new I'm already a little shocked to see Campus Lounge and CityGrille on the Post/Westword lists...do others support these claims or are they typical bones being thrown to print-media advertisers?

Answer

i live in LA now but my 3 favorite places in Denver for Green Chili were La Fiesta on 23rd and Champa, La Loma (dont know the address) and the Original Chubby's 84th and Huron. Jack and Jills was very good, but for my taste and what i grew up on i would have to stick with my choices. All 3 places have been around for many many many years and the test of time usuall tells all. If you care to try the first on my list the smoothered tacos at La Fiesta are legendary. La Lomas smoothered Stuffed Sopapilla is amazing and Chubbies double chili cheese burgers rule!

After reading all the comments on this page i have come to the conclusion that there is no one here that knows anything about green chili. 

I miss really green chili since ive moved to LA. Ive tried many restaurants out here that claim they have green chili but nothing comes close to what the 3 restarurants have that i have listed above.

Answer

The foggy replies here are incredulous. Go to the Cherry Cricket on 2nd Ave and order "a bowl of green". It will arrive with two hottened flour tortillas; it is the gold standard for green. Chilies, pork, etc = heat which will induce sweat such that your face will look like a glazed doughnut and your eyes are tearing and you can't drive for 20 minutes. But you will be back to do it again, soon.

Answer

Kermitt's at 6th and I70 has the best green chilli!

Answer

I agree with the poster about Santiagos. Try their breakfast burrito for $2 and I guarantee you'll be back. I'm also a fan of the green chile at El Jardin in Commerce City plus they've got a nice patio. Not a great part of town.

Answer

Denver green chili is really good in a lot of places around the Denver area. I lived in Lafayette before I moved to Pueblo and I really like Efrains and Santiagos. Since I came to Pueblo I have found that Santiagos is in the frozen section at some grocery stores, but what I have discovered even more convenient and just as good or better for pork green chili is the Mauro's Farms Pork Green Chili in the frozen section at Loaf n Jug convenient stores. Plus Maruo's Farms have fresh daily burritos and breakfast burritos with green chili. With the quart size frozen green chili, I just heat it up in a pan on the stove. It's delicious! Really! Try some, its made here in Southern Colorado and found in almost any Loaf n Jug Store.

Answer

I love how eveyone's tastes are so different. Taste really is subjective. My personal favorite green chili is in Wyoming, so that doesn't help, but if you ever organize a tasting party or something similar, count me in too.

Answer

I've found the best green chili to be at Annie's Cafe. It used to be located at 8th/Colorado however they just moved their location to the Congress Park neighborhood where the old Goodfriends Restaurant used to be. I also really like the green chili at Brewery Bar. They have 3 locations in the metro area--the original being on Kalamath (at around 4th, I believe). I was able to get the recipe for Annie's a few years ago. I'd LOVE to be able to find this recipe from Brewry Bar. Good stuff!

Answer

We've lived in the Phoenix area for nearly seven years and still haven't found green chili to suit our tastes. In Denver a couple of our favorite places were La Casa De Manuel (we call it Dirty Manny's) on Larimer at about 30th St . Soupy with huge chunks of pork, great beans too. La Cueva on east Colfax at about Dayton. Very hot but full of flavor, they make it vegeterian or with pork. Also soupy style.
Both are small family owned places.

Answer

I've lived in Denver for 53 years and have been to a lot of great Mexican restaurants. The best green chili I've had is at La Casa Del Rey in commerce city. This next one may surprise you also. It's the War Horse Inn on maine st in Parker. I was telling the chef there that he made an excellent green chili. He said his secret was in the roux that he made starting with lard.

Answer

I live in Northern CO... can't find good green chili up here so I make it myself. Santiago's is ok. They taste a little generic to me. The old school Chubby's off of 38th & Lipan has better chili than Santiago's. The best I've ever had was the "Volcano Chili" at Dos Hombres in Colorado Springs. After the first bite, your eyebrows were dripping. :) They closed years ago. Of the places that are open still, the best one is Jus Burritos. It is a very small place. They have 3 round tables outside & nowhere to sit inside. It's about a 40 minute drive for me but I go there every Saturday. Jus Burritos is in Broomfield off of 120th. Try there chicken & potato burrito (no eggs) with cheese & hot green chili. The chili has a little kick but its just right. I've been going there for a few years & everyone that I have try the place loves it.

Answer

the best is to drive to Pueblo or to make it yourself. 
unfortunately. 
lots of great places here in P-town!

Answer

Little Anitas from Albuquerque tops my list of green chili places. The stuff sopapillas are to die for. Get something else and a small basket appears with honey. I lived in NM for many years and it is like going home

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Little Anita's
5545 Wadsworth Byp, Arvada, CO 80002

Answer

Csas Del Rey in Commerce City has some of the tastiest around. I brought a friend for lunch who said he wasn't hungary and he could not stop eating.

Answer

I think I have to agree with some of the posters before...my current fav for green chili is Santiago's. It could be more of a thicker, meatier stew consistency but as far as FLAVOR...IT HAS A LOT! I think if you want to make your own---definitely consider picking your own chilis in Pueblo. Many of the farmers will give you a bushel to pick your own.

Answer

I like the website very much! Your list of local restaurants is fairly complete as well and the reciples are great too. Would like to see more infomraiton aboutwhere to buy fresh roasted chilis in the Denver area. Great work !!

Answer

Did you ever conduct your tasting party? I would be interested to know more or get some feedback on that if you have already done it.

Answer

Does anyone remember the restaurant at Evans and Santa Fe in Denver, CO? Can not remember name of it....left Denver 35 years ago! HELP!

Answer

I know this sounds weird, but Bull and Bush has awesome green chili. City Grille touted that it had great green chili - it's horrible. Tastes like sweet BBQ sauce.

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City Grille
321 E Colfax Ave, Denver, CO 80203

Answer

I make my own green chilli and like it best,however,Old Mexico City Cafe at 21st and Larimer has the next best thing.!!Try it you'll like it I promise.

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Mexico City Restaurant
2115 Larimer St, Denver, CO 80205

Answer

In my opinion, El Taco de Mexico has the best green chili in Denver.

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El Taco
2300 Harrison Ave, Butte, MT 59701

Answer

I just make a big batch of pork green chile and it freezes really well so I can get my green chile fix on demand. Not really that complicated to make. When the Hatch chiles come in the fall, my family buys a couple of bushels, roasts and peels them while watching the Bronco game. Then we all have chiles to get through the long winter. It is invariably better than any restaurant stuff as it is custom-made the way I like it and I like the Hatch Hot chiles. Restaurants seem to tone it down a bit to feed a mass market (I like it hot and I like a lot of chile in my recipe because I like the flavor as well).

Answer

I like the green chili with pork in Tacos Rapidos. They have two branches but for some reason I prefer the one along Evans near Federal than the one along Alameda. 
I also like their burrito cause the tortilla they use is delicious plus the burrito doesn't contain rice and beans. It is pure meat splattered with guacamole with some tomato and onion enough to flavor the meat but doesn't overwhelm it. Not a fan of the shrimp burrito but I like their carnitas, carne asada..and the best is their lengua.

Answer

My vote is Santiago's hands down. If you haven't had their green chili do yourself a favor and get a burrito with green chili. I go every single Saturday :)

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