If you caught the Chef Takeover Erasmo Casiano of Xiquita did last month, then you may have seen him making sopes and other regional Mexican delights. For happy hour he does a smaller version of the dish called sopecito, and it’s just one of the many bites on the special Xiquita Taqueria menu. Not only that, but it’s one of the best deals in town.
“With Xiquita Taqueria, we’re meeting diners where they are, whether it’s enjoying a taco or two at the bar on their way home from work or getting together with a large group of friends on a casual weeknight,” said Casiano. “We’re offering incredible value without sacrificing quality.”
While one can definitely fill up on Xiquita Taqueria, on a recent visit we found ourselves well beyond the 6 p.m. happy hour deadline. Lucky for us, that meant we could go straight to the dinner menu and continue the good times.
The Food
While chefs Erasmo Casiano and Rene Gonzalez Mendez offer a tantalizing spread of high-end, ancestral Mexican food on the normal menu, the happy hour list speaks to the ease of Mexico City street food. Namely, tacos. We’re talking tacos topped with al pastor ($6), carnitas ($6), creamy mushroom and cheese ($5), beef tongue barbacoa ($6), and carne asada with chorizo ($6).
While the dinner menu has three tacos listed, the happy hour ones aren’t available on it. The tacos prove smaller too, though not the tiny street taco size you can have in two bites. These beauties have a lot more heft, eliciting multiple mouthfuls.
All the corn used for the masa gets nixtamalized in house, a process that makes the grain easier to digest and work with in the kitchen. You can taste the freshness too, and the tortilla is a big part of each dish rather than solely the vessel to eat with.
The menu also features Tostada de Tinga ($6), with stewed chipotle-laced chicken; and Tostada de Atun ($11), which comes with a hearty serving of thick tuna ceviche with chef Gonzalez Mendez’s Pinche Salsa Macha. Also order the aforementioned Sopecito ($7), the chefs’ smaller version of the sope and filled with refried beans, salsa verde, crema, and queso fresco.
Absolutely don’t miss the Coctel Campechano ($15). With perfectly made shrimp, oysters, and fish swimming in a bright tomato huichol cocktail sauce, it’s a lighter dish packing a lot of craveable flavors. Crowning the dish, find lime-zested avocado. The happy hour special also comes with saltines on the side.
The Drinks
The bulk of the cocktail menu at Xiquita features agave spirits, and happy hour is no different. However, the prices are. If looking to save on a drink before dinner, head to the bar and order the Mezcalita ($9), a bright beverage made with mezcal, orange liqueur, citrus, chamoy, and Tajin. The Margarita de la Casa ($9) proves just as nice, substituting tequila for the main booze, adding lime and salt, and skipping the chamoy and Tajin.
For something lighter, the Michelada ($9) is classically made with a Mexican beer, housemate clamato juice, lime, and chile. Five-dollar cervezas include Modelo Negro, Modelito Especial, Victoria, Carta Blanca, and Estrella. Or, get a glass of wine at one-third the menu price. Whether drinking alcohol or not, the housemade, ever-changing agua fresca is a $6 dream you don’t want to miss.
The Details
Xiquita Taqueria is available Tuesday through Friday, from 4 to 6 p.m. Xiquita is located in the Uptown neighborhood at 500 E. 19th Ave. in Denver.
