Living in a house with a male roommate poses a problem when looking to spend some quality time with your boyfriend. Because my boyfriends roommate is always home, we decided to have a little date night & fill our tummy's with some authentic mexican food. Despite it's location, Ajuua is actually kind of a cool place. Here's why: -The walls are brightly painted in pink, yellow and orange hues, creating a fun & loud atmosphere, along with the mexican tunes blasting overhead. -Being that mexican is my favorite style of food, i had a difficult time deciding on my meal, due to the variety of choices. the bf and i finally chose to split a meal and order an appetizer. Queso=delish! Burrito [which you can build your own!]=outstanding! the best part? MARGS! Ajuua serves up the largest margarita i've ever seen. a whopping 32oz! i, of course, HAD to sample it...and wow! so good [even though i had trouble finishing all of it!] -The staff is very friendly, attentive and unique. they provide pretty good service for a place of this size and popularity. although we had to ask a few times for more chips, it was no big deal :) -Price point : super cheap. Burrito=$8.50. App=$3 and massive margs=$10. After all was said and done, i would return to this little gem, found deep in the ghetto.
(3)
Charles S.
Went here for a bizness lunch and it was pretty damn solid! The chips and salsa are always a good indicator of how good a Mexi-joint is going to be. The salsa here was kickass!! It had great flavor and lots of heat. I was excited! I ordered the combo with chile colorado and chile verde. Both were absolutely delicious and perfectly prepared. Everyone in our group was happy with their meals. There was plenty of spice, but no so much that it was overwhelming. Perfect! Our service was prompt and attentive. I'm already looking forward to my next visit to Ajuua. Maybe for dinner next time so I can get some cervezas!
(4)
James M.
Waiter just told me they couldn't serve any more people. There are only 10 people here. I just drove 10 miles to try this place out. I also waited 10 minutes before anyone told me that they couldn't serve me.Never in my life have I been told I couldn't be served. He told this to me and a lady that wanted a to go order.
(1)
Jenn B.
They have a decent happy hour, but don't expect anything fancy. They don't have fresh mint, so you can't ask for something like a mojito.
(3)
Ryan H.
A little short staffed but the Ajuuas burrito is delish, and their Margaritas are top notch. Authentic Mexican for sure. The atmosphere is great, and they serve big groups.
(4)
Esther V.
Contemplating filing a complaint with the board of health. Used to be one of my favorite mexican places. It seems like it's gone downhill. There is a huge hole in the ceiling above the bar with insulation hanging out. Our appetizer platter tasted like everything was frozen. And then finally our dinner.... My husband's first bite contained a huge METAL SHAVING! They said that happens with the type of strainer they use that has a crank on it. OMG I am never going there again, he could have really gotten sick if he had swallowed that.
(1)
Eric H.
almost one star began going to this restaurant in April of 2014 when a friend wanted to go there for happy hour (4-6pm) which includes drink specials and half off appetizers. Happy hour is at the BAR ONLY, no exceptions, which was fine until a staff member gives you a dirty look for wanting to switch seats where we could sit and enjoy the happy hour specials. We also bought a couple groupons for this restaurant because of their location and ok food. Each time we've visited the staff didn't seen very friendly and seemed confused over the use of the groupon. Ultimately we decided against buying additional groupons because their happy hour prices were so reasonable and the groupons do not apply to happy hour prices. We've always liked their salsa.. seriously, we needed two bowls of salsa for one basket of chips.. and even then it wasn't enough. It was really that good. Beyond the happy hour prices and great salsa the service has always been mediocre at best. It all came to a head on our last visit when we arrived at 520 for happy hour and nobody even approached us (for anything) until 550. and the place wasn't even that busy -- maybe five other people in the bar area and two or three tables in the main eating area. maybe a shortage of staff? Not sure. We finally ordered our happy hour specials: a shared appetizer and two margaritas. Drinks and food came out relatively quickly. Then the bill comes and we notice our margaritas were discounted but the appetizer was not. When I approached the server about this he seemed like he was going to correct the issue but instead came back saying he couldn't fix it because of some reason I still don't understand (language barrier). exhausted by happy hour and simply finding someone to help us i thought fine, I had enough ajuna and just wanted out saying to myself ajuna can keep the extra I paid as our parting gift. I can understand a bad night, but seriously each time we've been here it seems like the staff automatically assumes we are eating cheap (hello, don't offer a happy hour if you don't want people to use it) and avoids giving us good service--definitely not a feeling I want to have while out. Beyond that the food is really just ok, there are certainly better Mexican restaurants in Denver.. Heck, even in this area of Denver -- if you're looking for excellent service and great family Mexican food my recommendation would be La Casa Del Rey, just north of ajuna's peoria location. They don't have much of a happy hour (if one at all) but their food is much better and their salsa is amazing. Needless to say we will not be returning to ajuna anytime soon, armadillo has our groupon business and casa del Rey has our "quality" Mexican food business. Will miss the happy hour Mexican but I'm sure I can find that somewhere else too.
(2)
Tammy S.
We found this restaurant last night by accident when we were looking for a good place for dinner Mexican sounded good so we turned around and thought we'd give it a try ! Wow so glad we stopped it was amazing , delicious, hot and fresh and great friendly staff as well the house margaritas are strong and delicious the salsa is perfect and just the right level of hot, definitely worth it and the prices are very reasonable !
(5)
Jaime N.
I go to Ajuua for my lunch hour and it's a great, clean and friendly place to grab a bite. Be sure to check the back of the menu for the lunch specials and save a few bucks. They have Thirsty Thursdays if you're looking for a place to grab a beer as well. Chips are good and you can tell the salsa is homemade because it has a different heat each time I eat there.
(3)
Mikaela W.
The food was a little disappointing and none of my party that paid with cash got our change back without asking for it.
(3)
good e.
Food is basically pretty good. I like the chips and salsa and guacamole. The food quality seems to have gone downhill lately (at this location). The service has always been pretty bad here. Recently, we tried to Illiaf location. We like that one a lot better.
(3)
Mr K.
First time to this location. The food is ok, service is ok. Nothing special to mention. This is the first review that really fits yelp's A-OK 3 star.
(3)
Heather D.
I have driven past this place so many times, and finally stopped when a friend invited me there for dinner. I am not a margarita expert, but my prickly pear margarita was delicious. Had their spinach enchiladas for dinner....huge portion, very tasty.
(4)
Jose V.
Really nice servers and good is good. Try the piña colada margaritas. I normally hate margaritas but this one is great (and a big cup too).
(5)
Josh B.
Chile Verde Burrito, with Rice and Beans. ITS HUGE!!! I please a large portion of my ranking on 3 things, Rice, Beans, and Salsa. All three are done really well. The Chile Verde is very good. When they smoother the burrito in cheese, it creates a buttery flavor that will make you want to slap tu mama! I have been there 5-6 times in the last year, and the service is typically good. However, I have had some timely food delivery issues on occasion. With that said, it is still a good please to visit.
(4)
Rob L.
Very tasty burrito and chicken fajitas! Very clean with prompt service. Will go back.
(4)
Scott T.
Terrible! Went to this place at the beginning of my vacation and got food poisoning! Do not go here if you value your digestive system. I ordered the Tres Amigos and boy did I regret it.
(1)
Erika Y.
The staff where I work often come to Ajuua for happy hour. It's got a kicka** happy hour - $3.50 for a huge, strong margarita and complementary chips and salsa! I really like the blended flavored margaritas that are a little less strong, but either way it's a great deal. Can't say the same about the food though. We looked at the menu and the prices are really quite high. The only food of theirs I've had is a jalapeño popper from when a coworker ordered them. It was the spiciest jalapeño popper I've ever had, and that was why he was passing them around even though he paid high price for them. Really. I started crying. I was in a bit of pain. And I only ate half of one. Service at Ajuua can vary. We've had decent service (prompt refills of chip baskets, bringing out an extra bowl of salsa when more people joined our party), and we've had less than decent service (ignoring empty chip bowls, not checking on us). Still, based on the happy hour alone, it gets 4 stars from me.
(4)
Chas F.
Great friendly service. Salsa had a great flavor just wish it would've been thicker. We had the tacos de carnitas(pork) and tacos de carbon(grilled steak) they were SO good! Makes my mouth water just thinking about them. Went at 5 and was happy to find out it was happy hour until 6! Had a tropical pearl and loved it. Hubby had an amigo it was great also! We will come back here when in Denver and I'll recommend it to anyone that travels here!
(5)
JT A.
Good Mexican food, excellent service, reasonable prices. Try the crispy California chili rellano.
(4)
Jaclyn B.
I enjoy trying different Mexican restaurants all are unique in flavors. I had the cheese enchilada and sopito with rice and black beans. The cheese enchilada was so scrumptious had just the right amount of cheese and enchilada sauce. Sopito was a different it was a sopapilla topped with refried beans,shredded chicken with little cheese garnished with shredded lettuce and diced tomatoes great flavor combination. Definitely want to explore the menu at this restaurant. I would highly recommend.
(5)
Layla W.
Good food good service...at least to me! I can hardly eat Mexican because all the chill has pork (I don't eat pork) I love this place because its so good & its vegetarian chili YAAAAY!! it sucks to have a dry burrito :(
(5)
Craig M.
First time here. Quick friendly service, drinks were never empty, the wait staff was very attentive, awesome food!! I could see this becoming one of my favorites. Had the ground beef burrito, smothered in green chili w/beans and rice. My girl had the same. Can't wait to return and try more items. Hats off for the recommend SJ. :) Always looking for good Mex in Denver. Recommend you try this place.
(4)
Craig H.
We found a Groupon for this place and decided to check it out. It was awesome. The food was fantastic, the service was excellent, and the atmosphere was nice. They even had a guy singing and playing guitar. Try the fried ice cream it is delicious! I will definitely be coming back!
(5)
Jeff P.
Casual family owned. Good fresh food that is a value as well. Had the Discada. Spicy and sizzling hot. Friendly servers. Just a nice local place for a quick and casual meal. Gourmet - no. Simple and good - yes.
(4)
Aydee R.
Ordered the Carne asada and was fairly disappointed, the steak was really greasy and a poor expectation of what I wanted. The food was good just disappointing.
(3)
Mandy P.
Stopped in to kill some time, and the wait staff, drinks, and menu was just fantastic!! Highly recommend this place :-)
(5)
Yonic M.
The food is decent but extremely over priced. But the Margaritas are huge and worth the price. Seems like this place is short staff for a Saturday. I would rather eat at Chipotle and then drink here.
(2)
Amanda S.
If you crave mexican food, the food will satisfy but dont expect to be stunned. Also, the service is lacking. Not very attentive at all. Nobody ever spoke a full sentence to me the whole time i was there, but i suspect it was a language barrier. I was done with my meal for 20 minutes before I finally saw somebody I could flag down and ask for my bill. I could have walked out without paying and nobody would have noticed. They didnt come by to refill my drink at all during my meal or ask if I needed anything. It wasn't busy either. I was one of two tables eating and the staff was all hidden in back. Guess they had better things to do than service their patrons.
(3)
C. Dawn M.
Some of the best Mexi take out I've had in awhile. And I live just outside Austin, TX so that's saying something. Also, they were exceptionally kind & accommodating with some of our special requests. Definitely recommend if you're in the area & needing a Mexi-fix! (Can't speak to the table service or anything related to the interior as we were staying at the Holiday Inn next door and ordered delivery. Street tacos, shrimp diablo, nachos, and quesadilla with chicken & shrimp were all very well received)
(4)
Ellen L.
The service is slow on Friday happy hour with all these groups of teachers that need their drinks, but they do their best. The waiter was busy and running from table to table, but he refilled our chips and salsa and got me extra salt for my margarita. This was one of the strongest margaritas I've had. I can usually finish a cup at any other place, but I only finished a quarter before I had to quit or get a dui.
(4)
Tim K.
Thought we would try out the Tuesday Taco special, all you can eat for $7.99. Not the best tacos I have ever had. Choice of chicken, beef or pork. Had the chicken and beef. Chicken ones had a lot of water, almost had to squeeze them out. Beef were some strange kind of beef. They were served with choice of beans. Tacos were small and kind of fell apart. What I did like were the chips and salsa, great thin, fresh chips and a tangy salsa. The salsa did add something to the tacos that was lacking. Service was just OK, sometime a reorder was brought right away, another time we waited. Good to try if you just want to wolf down a bunch of tacos, but if you are looking for a nice dinner, maybe try something else on the menu. As I say, I can ONLY attest to the tacos, nothing else and that is all this review is about.
(2)
Andrew C.
Saw the reviews. I thought the reviews didn't sound to convincing for anyone wanting to eat there. Since I was staying at the LA Quinta next door. I was told it was good. So I figured I'll giver a shot. When I arrived there very few people there. 4 cars in the lot. I sat in the lobby for over 8 min Noone came to seat me. Nor did I see anyone. So I left. I give it one star for the lack of customer service
(1)
Frank P.
Good food and guacamole. Half price margaritas on Thursdays are good too. Service can be slow. Had chicken fajitas. The vegetables were charred perfectly! Definitely ordering that again! Really like there walking tacos as well. This is my fifth time here. Coming back often.
(4)
Mark G.
Discada was interesting to try and pretty tasty. I don't see this on many Mexican menus. Not really my thing though so I would try something else next time. House margarita was nothing special. Salsa wasn't bad but needed more kick. I asked for something spicier. The waiter said they didn't have any spicier salsa but would bring some sauce that's spicier. He never returned. Service could have been better but they were really busy for happy hour. Asking for the check in Spanish definitely helped. Not a bad Mexican place overall but there's far better out there too.
(3)
Christian B.
Im not a real big fan of Mexican food, but this place had food on the menu that Ive never seen on any other Mexican restaurant that Ive ever been to before. I extremely liked the Discada which is a mixed meat dish popular in the northern Mexican state of Baja California, The basic meats for a traditional discada include beef, bacon, ham, sausage, and chorizo. The meats are seasoned and marinated according to the cook's preference and usually include salt, pepper, lime juice, and garlic. Aromatics including white or purple onions, bell peppers, Jalapeno or Serrano peppers, and tomatoes are also used to add flavor and color to the dish. It is usually served with tortillas on a separate plate. The meet was seasoned just right, not too hot, and too bland. The pinto beans were fresh and cooked right also, not to hard and not to mushy. everything else was fresh and tasted like it was homemade by some loving old Mexican grandma or "abuela". I can see why the Denver post awarded this place with "Best Mexican Restaurant".
(4)
Brandon T.
Told to leave. They weren't taking any more people. Told after 10 minuets of waiting to be seated. Never had this happen. Will never go here again. They weren't even that busy, not even half full.
(1)
Mike G.
I've had Mexican food from many places, and this was one of the best! I had the chicken and steak fajitas and it had a wonderful taste and presentation. My server was attentive and service time was fast. I'm going to make this place one of my favorites while here in Denver.
(5)
Brad n.
Great atmosphere once you enter along with a friendly welcome. Came in for lunch in which they offer under $10 specials, and food was fast. Latterly ordered, and felt like 5 minutes past before or food was on the table. Food was hot, good, and filling for the price. Best part is the food was not grease which will have me return. Thank you.
(4)
Eric G.
Food was pretty good. My son had fish tacos that were great. I had an enchilada and relleno and both were better than average. Atmosphere is comfortable but nothing special. Service was attentive but no overbearing. I will go back again.
(3)
Lisa A.
Consistently great food and service! But last night a new server, Anna , made me take the time to yelp!what a delightful lovely helpful server! she made great, exceptional !!!
(5)
Gar S.
The food was okay. The people I was with had the fajitas for 2 and they were disappointed. There was barely enough for one person. The biggest problem was the service. From what I could tell, there were only 2 waitstaff for the whole restaurant. Getting a table was slow, and getting our waiter to get our order took a while because he had so many tables. They need to have more people working in this place.
(3)
Mo C.
Sol in a bottle and fantastic food. I dropped in on a Thursday evening with a Groupon-type deal and sat at the bar. I was delighted that they had Sol here (for some reason a lot of Mexican restaurants in CO don't carry it). The bacon-wrapped shrimp with peppers and onions was fantastic. And, the bowl of chile verde was the best I have had in a long time. Heads up for the lactose intolerant, the guac has sour cream in it. It was really nice that the server mentioned that, since I had ordered no cheese on the shrimp.
(4)
LISA S.
final stop before heading home to california. our food and waitress were both amazing. carne asada, crab and shrimp burrito, guacamole all delish
(5)
Carolyn S.
Cute decor, gigantic yummy margaritas, delicious food! Hubby had crab enchiladas, I had the combo plate with a chicken taco and enchilada. The enchilada sauce was on point!! Even the beans and rice were great! We will be back!
(4)
John F.
Good solid Mexican. Friendly staff, fast service. Fresh flavors and ample portions. The restaurant was clean but dated and well worn. The marguerites were strong. The chimichanga was a little soggy but tasty. Not sure I would go out of my way to go back, but not a bad experience.
(3)
Sammy S.
The food itself is what you would expect from a family style, mexican, resteraunt. Nothing extraordinary. The fast service, and reasonable price however, is what earns this resteraunt 4 stars instead of a mere 3.
Very slow service. The house salsa is way, way too hot (and they have no other option, our server said). The fajitas don't come on a sizzling skillet and they are sweet like candy (wierd).
(2)
Miguel M.
The food is good in this restaurant! The servers are pretty courteous but I believe they need more staff! Using group on for the first time is great if you have never been there! Most of the time there is no one on the door so you have to sit yourself.
(4)
Rachel K.
I wish there was an option for zero stars. I used to go to the one off Hampden and LOVED It. The staff were always very friendly and the food was great. I got a groupon for this location and didn't even stay to eat and ended up refunding my groupon. We got there and there was no one at the front to greet us. It said wait to be seated so we stood there. Employees kept walking by us, clearly seeing us, but we were never greeted. Finally, I asked to be seated and I was told to wait a second. Seconds turned into minutes b/c the bartender/server, was also playing hostess. She proceeded to deliver the drink she was making while she told us to wait, then walked past us again, ignoring us, walked to a table and picked up a few plates as if busing the table in an almost empty place was more important that seating us, and disappeared into the back. The bartender who continually ignored us was incredibly rude when she finally approached and pointed to the sign saying it says wait to be seated. We ended up leaving b/c the staff was so rude. Not a location I'll ever return to. Hopefully the rest of the locations have nicer, better trained staff.
(1)
Scott G.
Good chips, good salsa, big house margaritas. Diabla Spicy Prawns was a great choice Right in the parking lot of a reasonably priced La Quinta. Will def stay there again and eat here when i come back for business
(5)
Jeff C.
The chile con queso is pretty good. There is not a lot of heat to it but it has a good creamy, melty texture. I got the carne asada meal. The skirt steak had a nice grilled taste to it but no seasoning what-so-ever. I had to salt it and I rarely salt things. However, sliced up in my fixed up tortilla, it tasted good. One review said this place is dirty----I think it is one of the cleanest restaurants I have been to. While I was there, one of the employees was washing down all the table tops with a sponge and soapy water. Not just a wipe down with a wet towel, but warm soapy water and she was scrubbing with some elbow grease.
(3)
Kristin V.
Second time coming here. The first time the food and drinks were okay, but the service was terrible. Tonight was not better. We waited twenty five minutes for margaritas when we were one out of seven tables on a Friday night. Our food was greasy, cold and used canned mushrooms. We had to get our own silverware and napkins. This is the last time we will be here.
(2)
Shanah Z.
I've been eating at Ajuua for a few years now. They first opened by my work in Southlands. I would frequent that location during my lunch breaks almost every day. I eventually got a new job and not long ago they opened this location off of Peoria. Which made me rather happy. Now they've opened one off of Iliff by where I live. Ajuua, are you following me? I sure hope so. I love their food. It is by far my favorite Mexican restaurant. I've tried other Mexican restaurants and they never come close. I've tried all sorts of things from their menu and haven't found anything I don't like. On my recent trip my friend and I shared a strawberry margarita. During happy hour their 18oz house margarita is $3.50ish. What a steal. I've had their margaritas before and never noticed they use plastic beverage containers. While it's not a big deal I found it rather odd and amusing. As always their chips and salsa are fabulous. I ordered the medium build your own combination meal with a tamale and a chile relleno. It was delicious as always. I love their black beans and the fact that you get to choose between three kinds of beans. Sometimes I don't want re-fried beans. This also makes me happy. Although on this trip the waiter didn't even ask what kind I wanted. I've frequented Ajuua for many years and they always ask. So I had to tell him which kind I wanted. While I love Ajuua, consistently across the board, most of the servers are sub-par. There are a couple of servers that do a wonderful job. But there are some that are forgetful, aren't consistent, take forever and so on. If it wasn't for my love for their food I probably wouldn't come back. But alas their food is too delicious for me to pass up. The service is hit or miss. I over look the poor service so I can enjoy the delicious food. Ajuua would have received 5 stars, but I just can't over look the issues with service.
(4)
Angela A.
I met a few friends here for a bite to eat and margs. My immediate impression was dirty, I did not like the feel of this place at all. It took forever to get service after being seated. The margarita was not good. I had a guac taco, rice and beans. I was not impressed. I sampled other bites from my friends plates and felt the same about their choices. I'm reading other reviews and am left baffled, wondering what happened the night I was here. Maybe a bad night? I don't know. But I felt creeped out and still hungry when I left!
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Dinner Parking : Private Lot Bike Parking : Yes Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Casual Noise Level : Average Alcohol : Full Bar Outdoor Seating : No Wi-Fi : No Has TV : Yes Waiter Service : Yes
If you enjoy Taco Tuesday, then you have officially fallen in love with the Mexican Food. The main grain of Mexican cuisine is maize. Also known as corn, maize is grown for the past 9000 years after the crop was discovered by the people in Mayan civilization. Mexican empire flourished when they started growing beans, tomatoes, chili pepper, sweet potato and cactus. Till this date these ingredients are used in cooking authentic Mexican dishes and drinks.
Great use of spices, fresh chili pepper dishes like fajitas, tortilla chips, corn chips, salsa, chimichangas, burritos, nachos and quesadillas are invented in America. But when you are looking for authentic Mexican food then you must find a restaurant in the city that serves Rajas con Queso, Garbanzo in a Guajillo Chile Sauce, Pork Filled Chiles Rellenos, Chiles en Nogada, Molcajete Salsa, Pico de Gallo and Frijoles de la Olla. An eye-opening fact – Mexican don't like their food hot. They use fresh chili and other spices to create a flavor that lingers in your mouth.
Mexican food is great for those who are Gluten Intolerant as they use Corn instead of wheat in most of their dishes. Also, you can easily find many beans based Mexican dishes. Another dish which didn't get similar glory as tacos or nachos is the Mexican hot chocolate. If you love something hot on a chilly day, then go for Mexican Hot Chocolate. On merry days, you can enjoy the authentic Mexican Drinks like Tequila, Mezcal, Tecuí, Sotol, Bacanora, Charanda, Posh O Pox, Puebla and Pulque. Mexican Cuisine is for people who enjoy strong drinks and hearty meals.
Katie R.
Living in a house with a male roommate poses a problem when looking to spend some quality time with your boyfriend. Because my boyfriends roommate is always home, we decided to have a little date night & fill our tummy's with some authentic mexican food. Despite it's location, Ajuua is actually kind of a cool place. Here's why: -The walls are brightly painted in pink, yellow and orange hues, creating a fun & loud atmosphere, along with the mexican tunes blasting overhead. -Being that mexican is my favorite style of food, i had a difficult time deciding on my meal, due to the variety of choices. the bf and i finally chose to split a meal and order an appetizer. Queso=delish! Burrito [which you can build your own!]=outstanding! the best part? MARGS! Ajuua serves up the largest margarita i've ever seen. a whopping 32oz! i, of course, HAD to sample it...and wow! so good [even though i had trouble finishing all of it!] -The staff is very friendly, attentive and unique. they provide pretty good service for a place of this size and popularity. although we had to ask a few times for more chips, it was no big deal :) -Price point : super cheap. Burrito=$8.50. App=$3 and massive margs=$10. After all was said and done, i would return to this little gem, found deep in the ghetto.
(3)Charles S.
Went here for a bizness lunch and it was pretty damn solid! The chips and salsa are always a good indicator of how good a Mexi-joint is going to be. The salsa here was kickass!! It had great flavor and lots of heat. I was excited! I ordered the combo with chile colorado and chile verde. Both were absolutely delicious and perfectly prepared. Everyone in our group was happy with their meals. There was plenty of spice, but no so much that it was overwhelming. Perfect! Our service was prompt and attentive. I'm already looking forward to my next visit to Ajuua. Maybe for dinner next time so I can get some cervezas!
(4)James M.
Waiter just told me they couldn't serve any more people. There are only 10 people here. I just drove 10 miles to try this place out. I also waited 10 minutes before anyone told me that they couldn't serve me.Never in my life have I been told I couldn't be served. He told this to me and a lady that wanted a to go order.
(1)Jenn B.
They have a decent happy hour, but don't expect anything fancy. They don't have fresh mint, so you can't ask for something like a mojito.
(3)Ryan H.
A little short staffed but the Ajuuas burrito is delish, and their Margaritas are top notch. Authentic Mexican for sure. The atmosphere is great, and they serve big groups.
(4)Esther V.
Contemplating filing a complaint with the board of health. Used to be one of my favorite mexican places. It seems like it's gone downhill. There is a huge hole in the ceiling above the bar with insulation hanging out. Our appetizer platter tasted like everything was frozen. And then finally our dinner.... My husband's first bite contained a huge METAL SHAVING! They said that happens with the type of strainer they use that has a crank on it. OMG I am never going there again, he could have really gotten sick if he had swallowed that.
(1)Eric H.
almost one star began going to this restaurant in April of 2014 when a friend wanted to go there for happy hour (4-6pm) which includes drink specials and half off appetizers. Happy hour is at the BAR ONLY, no exceptions, which was fine until a staff member gives you a dirty look for wanting to switch seats where we could sit and enjoy the happy hour specials. We also bought a couple groupons for this restaurant because of their location and ok food. Each time we've visited the staff didn't seen very friendly and seemed confused over the use of the groupon. Ultimately we decided against buying additional groupons because their happy hour prices were so reasonable and the groupons do not apply to happy hour prices. We've always liked their salsa.. seriously, we needed two bowls of salsa for one basket of chips.. and even then it wasn't enough. It was really that good. Beyond the happy hour prices and great salsa the service has always been mediocre at best. It all came to a head on our last visit when we arrived at 520 for happy hour and nobody even approached us (for anything) until 550. and the place wasn't even that busy -- maybe five other people in the bar area and two or three tables in the main eating area. maybe a shortage of staff? Not sure. We finally ordered our happy hour specials: a shared appetizer and two margaritas. Drinks and food came out relatively quickly. Then the bill comes and we notice our margaritas were discounted but the appetizer was not. When I approached the server about this he seemed like he was going to correct the issue but instead came back saying he couldn't fix it because of some reason I still don't understand (language barrier). exhausted by happy hour and simply finding someone to help us i thought fine, I had enough ajuna and just wanted out saying to myself ajuna can keep the extra I paid as our parting gift. I can understand a bad night, but seriously each time we've been here it seems like the staff automatically assumes we are eating cheap (hello, don't offer a happy hour if you don't want people to use it) and avoids giving us good service--definitely not a feeling I want to have while out. Beyond that the food is really just ok, there are certainly better Mexican restaurants in Denver.. Heck, even in this area of Denver -- if you're looking for excellent service and great family Mexican food my recommendation would be La Casa Del Rey, just north of ajuna's peoria location. They don't have much of a happy hour (if one at all) but their food is much better and their salsa is amazing. Needless to say we will not be returning to ajuna anytime soon, armadillo has our groupon business and casa del Rey has our "quality" Mexican food business. Will miss the happy hour Mexican but I'm sure I can find that somewhere else too.
(2)Tammy S.
We found this restaurant last night by accident when we were looking for a good place for dinner Mexican sounded good so we turned around and thought we'd give it a try ! Wow so glad we stopped it was amazing , delicious, hot and fresh and great friendly staff as well the house margaritas are strong and delicious the salsa is perfect and just the right level of hot, definitely worth it and the prices are very reasonable !
(5)Jaime N.
I go to Ajuua for my lunch hour and it's a great, clean and friendly place to grab a bite. Be sure to check the back of the menu for the lunch specials and save a few bucks. They have Thirsty Thursdays if you're looking for a place to grab a beer as well. Chips are good and you can tell the salsa is homemade because it has a different heat each time I eat there.
(3)Mikaela W.
The food was a little disappointing and none of my party that paid with cash got our change back without asking for it.
(3)good e.
Food is basically pretty good. I like the chips and salsa and guacamole. The food quality seems to have gone downhill lately (at this location). The service has always been pretty bad here. Recently, we tried to Illiaf location. We like that one a lot better.
(3)Mr K.
First time to this location. The food is ok, service is ok. Nothing special to mention. This is the first review that really fits yelp's A-OK 3 star.
(3)Heather D.
I have driven past this place so many times, and finally stopped when a friend invited me there for dinner. I am not a margarita expert, but my prickly pear margarita was delicious. Had their spinach enchiladas for dinner....huge portion, very tasty.
(4)Jose V.
Really nice servers and good is good. Try the piña colada margaritas. I normally hate margaritas but this one is great (and a big cup too).
(5)Josh B.
Chile Verde Burrito, with Rice and Beans. ITS HUGE!!! I please a large portion of my ranking on 3 things, Rice, Beans, and Salsa. All three are done really well. The Chile Verde is very good. When they smoother the burrito in cheese, it creates a buttery flavor that will make you want to slap tu mama! I have been there 5-6 times in the last year, and the service is typically good. However, I have had some timely food delivery issues on occasion. With that said, it is still a good please to visit.
(4)Rob L.
Very tasty burrito and chicken fajitas! Very clean with prompt service. Will go back.
(4)Scott T.
Terrible! Went to this place at the beginning of my vacation and got food poisoning! Do not go here if you value your digestive system. I ordered the Tres Amigos and boy did I regret it.
(1)Erika Y.
The staff where I work often come to Ajuua for happy hour. It's got a kicka** happy hour - $3.50 for a huge, strong margarita and complementary chips and salsa! I really like the blended flavored margaritas that are a little less strong, but either way it's a great deal. Can't say the same about the food though. We looked at the menu and the prices are really quite high. The only food of theirs I've had is a jalapeño popper from when a coworker ordered them. It was the spiciest jalapeño popper I've ever had, and that was why he was passing them around even though he paid high price for them. Really. I started crying. I was in a bit of pain. And I only ate half of one. Service at Ajuua can vary. We've had decent service (prompt refills of chip baskets, bringing out an extra bowl of salsa when more people joined our party), and we've had less than decent service (ignoring empty chip bowls, not checking on us). Still, based on the happy hour alone, it gets 4 stars from me.
(4)Chas F.
Great friendly service. Salsa had a great flavor just wish it would've been thicker. We had the tacos de carnitas(pork) and tacos de carbon(grilled steak) they were SO good! Makes my mouth water just thinking about them. Went at 5 and was happy to find out it was happy hour until 6! Had a tropical pearl and loved it. Hubby had an amigo it was great also! We will come back here when in Denver and I'll recommend it to anyone that travels here!
(5)JT A.
Good Mexican food, excellent service, reasonable prices. Try the crispy California chili rellano.
(4)Jaclyn B.
I enjoy trying different Mexican restaurants all are unique in flavors. I had the cheese enchilada and sopito with rice and black beans. The cheese enchilada was so scrumptious had just the right amount of cheese and enchilada sauce. Sopito was a different it was a sopapilla topped with refried beans,shredded chicken with little cheese garnished with shredded lettuce and diced tomatoes great flavor combination. Definitely want to explore the menu at this restaurant. I would highly recommend.
(5)Layla W.
Good food good service...at least to me! I can hardly eat Mexican because all the chill has pork (I don't eat pork) I love this place because its so good & its vegetarian chili YAAAAY!! it sucks to have a dry burrito :(
(5)Craig M.
First time here. Quick friendly service, drinks were never empty, the wait staff was very attentive, awesome food!! I could see this becoming one of my favorites. Had the ground beef burrito, smothered in green chili w/beans and rice. My girl had the same. Can't wait to return and try more items. Hats off for the recommend SJ. :) Always looking for good Mex in Denver. Recommend you try this place.
(4)Craig H.
We found a Groupon for this place and decided to check it out. It was awesome. The food was fantastic, the service was excellent, and the atmosphere was nice. They even had a guy singing and playing guitar. Try the fried ice cream it is delicious! I will definitely be coming back!
(5)Jeff P.
Casual family owned. Good fresh food that is a value as well. Had the Discada. Spicy and sizzling hot. Friendly servers. Just a nice local place for a quick and casual meal. Gourmet - no. Simple and good - yes.
(4)Aydee R.
Ordered the Carne asada and was fairly disappointed, the steak was really greasy and a poor expectation of what I wanted. The food was good just disappointing.
(3)Mandy P.
Stopped in to kill some time, and the wait staff, drinks, and menu was just fantastic!! Highly recommend this place :-)
(5)Yonic M.
The food is decent but extremely over priced. But the Margaritas are huge and worth the price. Seems like this place is short staff for a Saturday. I would rather eat at Chipotle and then drink here.
(2)Amanda S.
If you crave mexican food, the food will satisfy but dont expect to be stunned. Also, the service is lacking. Not very attentive at all. Nobody ever spoke a full sentence to me the whole time i was there, but i suspect it was a language barrier. I was done with my meal for 20 minutes before I finally saw somebody I could flag down and ask for my bill. I could have walked out without paying and nobody would have noticed. They didnt come by to refill my drink at all during my meal or ask if I needed anything. It wasn't busy either. I was one of two tables eating and the staff was all hidden in back. Guess they had better things to do than service their patrons.
(3)C. Dawn M.
Some of the best Mexi take out I've had in awhile. And I live just outside Austin, TX so that's saying something. Also, they were exceptionally kind & accommodating with some of our special requests. Definitely recommend if you're in the area & needing a Mexi-fix! (Can't speak to the table service or anything related to the interior as we were staying at the Holiday Inn next door and ordered delivery. Street tacos, shrimp diablo, nachos, and quesadilla with chicken & shrimp were all very well received)
(4)Ellen L.
The service is slow on Friday happy hour with all these groups of teachers that need their drinks, but they do their best. The waiter was busy and running from table to table, but he refilled our chips and salsa and got me extra salt for my margarita. This was one of the strongest margaritas I've had. I can usually finish a cup at any other place, but I only finished a quarter before I had to quit or get a dui.
(4)Tim K.
Thought we would try out the Tuesday Taco special, all you can eat for $7.99. Not the best tacos I have ever had. Choice of chicken, beef or pork. Had the chicken and beef. Chicken ones had a lot of water, almost had to squeeze them out. Beef were some strange kind of beef. They were served with choice of beans. Tacos were small and kind of fell apart. What I did like were the chips and salsa, great thin, fresh chips and a tangy salsa. The salsa did add something to the tacos that was lacking. Service was just OK, sometime a reorder was brought right away, another time we waited. Good to try if you just want to wolf down a bunch of tacos, but if you are looking for a nice dinner, maybe try something else on the menu. As I say, I can ONLY attest to the tacos, nothing else and that is all this review is about.
(2)Andrew C.
Saw the reviews. I thought the reviews didn't sound to convincing for anyone wanting to eat there. Since I was staying at the LA Quinta next door. I was told it was good. So I figured I'll giver a shot. When I arrived there very few people there. 4 cars in the lot. I sat in the lobby for over 8 min Noone came to seat me. Nor did I see anyone. So I left. I give it one star for the lack of customer service
(1)Frank P.
Good food and guacamole. Half price margaritas on Thursdays are good too. Service can be slow. Had chicken fajitas. The vegetables were charred perfectly! Definitely ordering that again! Really like there walking tacos as well. This is my fifth time here. Coming back often.
(4)Mark G.
Discada was interesting to try and pretty tasty. I don't see this on many Mexican menus. Not really my thing though so I would try something else next time. House margarita was nothing special. Salsa wasn't bad but needed more kick. I asked for something spicier. The waiter said they didn't have any spicier salsa but would bring some sauce that's spicier. He never returned. Service could have been better but they were really busy for happy hour. Asking for the check in Spanish definitely helped. Not a bad Mexican place overall but there's far better out there too.
(3)Christian B.
Im not a real big fan of Mexican food, but this place had food on the menu that Ive never seen on any other Mexican restaurant that Ive ever been to before. I extremely liked the Discada which is a mixed meat dish popular in the northern Mexican state of Baja California, The basic meats for a traditional discada include beef, bacon, ham, sausage, and chorizo. The meats are seasoned and marinated according to the cook's preference and usually include salt, pepper, lime juice, and garlic. Aromatics including white or purple onions, bell peppers, Jalapeno or Serrano peppers, and tomatoes are also used to add flavor and color to the dish. It is usually served with tortillas on a separate plate. The meet was seasoned just right, not too hot, and too bland. The pinto beans were fresh and cooked right also, not to hard and not to mushy. everything else was fresh and tasted like it was homemade by some loving old Mexican grandma or "abuela". I can see why the Denver post awarded this place with "Best Mexican Restaurant".
(4)Brandon T.
Told to leave. They weren't taking any more people. Told after 10 minuets of waiting to be seated. Never had this happen. Will never go here again. They weren't even that busy, not even half full.
(1)Mike G.
I've had Mexican food from many places, and this was one of the best! I had the chicken and steak fajitas and it had a wonderful taste and presentation. My server was attentive and service time was fast. I'm going to make this place one of my favorites while here in Denver.
(5)Brad n.
Great atmosphere once you enter along with a friendly welcome. Came in for lunch in which they offer under $10 specials, and food was fast. Latterly ordered, and felt like 5 minutes past before or food was on the table. Food was hot, good, and filling for the price. Best part is the food was not grease which will have me return. Thank you.
(4)Eric G.
Food was pretty good. My son had fish tacos that were great. I had an enchilada and relleno and both were better than average. Atmosphere is comfortable but nothing special. Service was attentive but no overbearing. I will go back again.
(3)Lisa A.
Consistently great food and service! But last night a new server, Anna , made me take the time to yelp!what a delightful lovely helpful server! she made great, exceptional !!!
(5)Gar S.
The food was okay. The people I was with had the fajitas for 2 and they were disappointed. There was barely enough for one person. The biggest problem was the service. From what I could tell, there were only 2 waitstaff for the whole restaurant. Getting a table was slow, and getting our waiter to get our order took a while because he had so many tables. They need to have more people working in this place.
(3)Mo C.
Sol in a bottle and fantastic food. I dropped in on a Thursday evening with a Groupon-type deal and sat at the bar. I was delighted that they had Sol here (for some reason a lot of Mexican restaurants in CO don't carry it). The bacon-wrapped shrimp with peppers and onions was fantastic. And, the bowl of chile verde was the best I have had in a long time. Heads up for the lactose intolerant, the guac has sour cream in it. It was really nice that the server mentioned that, since I had ordered no cheese on the shrimp.
(4)LISA S.
final stop before heading home to california. our food and waitress were both amazing. carne asada, crab and shrimp burrito, guacamole all delish
(5)Carolyn S.
Cute decor, gigantic yummy margaritas, delicious food! Hubby had crab enchiladas, I had the combo plate with a chicken taco and enchilada. The enchilada sauce was on point!! Even the beans and rice were great! We will be back!
(4)John F.
Good solid Mexican. Friendly staff, fast service. Fresh flavors and ample portions. The restaurant was clean but dated and well worn. The marguerites were strong. The chimichanga was a little soggy but tasty. Not sure I would go out of my way to go back, but not a bad experience.
(3)Sammy S.
The food itself is what you would expect from a family style, mexican, resteraunt. Nothing extraordinary. The fast service, and reasonable price however, is what earns this resteraunt 4 stars instead of a mere 3.
(4)Riza H. C.
Man, I think I am indeed in BIG trouble, coz Hubs seems to like Ajuua at this location more and more... Anyways and anyhoos, Thursday October 13th 2011, we returned to Ajuua for another round of Dinner. Time was : 18:25hrs. We came, was seated promptly and as usual the service was indeed efficient. This time around, we opt for the same appetizer JALAPEÑO POPPERS. ($7.50). From their website, it mentioned that this dish is served with ranch or spicy raspberry jelly. As usual we got the spicy raspberry jelly. This time around, I feel that they might "over-FRIED" this Jalapeno Poppers. This made me a little sad. As for our main entrees, Hubs ordered the SUPER CHIMI ($11.00) of Sauteed Steak. This dish came with a large Chimi stuffed with Sautéed Steak, Onions, Bell Peppers, Beans, Cheese topped with Green Chile. It is also being garnished with sour cream and guacamole. Hubs like his order alot. You can choose either Steak or Chicken for this dish. Hmm.. I kept wondering, how come usually what Hubs order, his dish taste WAY better than mine... *Still wondering*.... I opt for ARROZ CON CAMARONES ($13.00). This dish comes with Large Prawns sautéed with mushrooms, onions, served over a bed of rice with melted cheese and smothered with their special sauce. I request specifically for this dish to be EXTRA Spicy. YES it was EXTRA Spicy. But I was NOT WOW with this dish at all. *SIGH* Oh well, once again, if Hubs is happy, I am happy and thankful to have a decent dinner. 3 STARS from me and 3.75 STARs from Hubs.
(4)Ryan M.
Very slow service. The house salsa is way, way too hot (and they have no other option, our server said). The fajitas don't come on a sizzling skillet and they are sweet like candy (wierd).
(2)Miguel M.
The food is good in this restaurant! The servers are pretty courteous but I believe they need more staff! Using group on for the first time is great if you have never been there! Most of the time there is no one on the door so you have to sit yourself.
(4)Rachel K.
I wish there was an option for zero stars. I used to go to the one off Hampden and LOVED It. The staff were always very friendly and the food was great. I got a groupon for this location and didn't even stay to eat and ended up refunding my groupon. We got there and there was no one at the front to greet us. It said wait to be seated so we stood there. Employees kept walking by us, clearly seeing us, but we were never greeted. Finally, I asked to be seated and I was told to wait a second. Seconds turned into minutes b/c the bartender/server, was also playing hostess. She proceeded to deliver the drink she was making while she told us to wait, then walked past us again, ignoring us, walked to a table and picked up a few plates as if busing the table in an almost empty place was more important that seating us, and disappeared into the back. The bartender who continually ignored us was incredibly rude when she finally approached and pointed to the sign saying it says wait to be seated. We ended up leaving b/c the staff was so rude. Not a location I'll ever return to. Hopefully the rest of the locations have nicer, better trained staff.
(1)Scott G.
Good chips, good salsa, big house margaritas. Diabla Spicy Prawns was a great choice Right in the parking lot of a reasonably priced La Quinta. Will def stay there again and eat here when i come back for business
(5)Jeff C.
The chile con queso is pretty good. There is not a lot of heat to it but it has a good creamy, melty texture. I got the carne asada meal. The skirt steak had a nice grilled taste to it but no seasoning what-so-ever. I had to salt it and I rarely salt things. However, sliced up in my fixed up tortilla, it tasted good. One review said this place is dirty----I think it is one of the cleanest restaurants I have been to. While I was there, one of the employees was washing down all the table tops with a sponge and soapy water. Not just a wipe down with a wet towel, but warm soapy water and she was scrubbing with some elbow grease.
(3)Kristin V.
Second time coming here. The first time the food and drinks were okay, but the service was terrible. Tonight was not better. We waited twenty five minutes for margaritas when we were one out of seven tables on a Friday night. Our food was greasy, cold and used canned mushrooms. We had to get our own silverware and napkins. This is the last time we will be here.
(2)Shanah Z.
I've been eating at Ajuua for a few years now. They first opened by my work in Southlands. I would frequent that location during my lunch breaks almost every day. I eventually got a new job and not long ago they opened this location off of Peoria. Which made me rather happy. Now they've opened one off of Iliff by where I live. Ajuua, are you following me? I sure hope so. I love their food. It is by far my favorite Mexican restaurant. I've tried other Mexican restaurants and they never come close. I've tried all sorts of things from their menu and haven't found anything I don't like. On my recent trip my friend and I shared a strawberry margarita. During happy hour their 18oz house margarita is $3.50ish. What a steal. I've had their margaritas before and never noticed they use plastic beverage containers. While it's not a big deal I found it rather odd and amusing. As always their chips and salsa are fabulous. I ordered the medium build your own combination meal with a tamale and a chile relleno. It was delicious as always. I love their black beans and the fact that you get to choose between three kinds of beans. Sometimes I don't want re-fried beans. This also makes me happy. Although on this trip the waiter didn't even ask what kind I wanted. I've frequented Ajuua for many years and they always ask. So I had to tell him which kind I wanted. While I love Ajuua, consistently across the board, most of the servers are sub-par. There are a couple of servers that do a wonderful job. But there are some that are forgetful, aren't consistent, take forever and so on. If it wasn't for my love for their food I probably wouldn't come back. But alas their food is too delicious for me to pass up. The service is hit or miss. I over look the poor service so I can enjoy the delicious food. Ajuua would have received 5 stars, but I just can't over look the issues with service.
(4)Angela A.
I met a few friends here for a bite to eat and margs. My immediate impression was dirty, I did not like the feel of this place at all. It took forever to get service after being seated. The margarita was not good. I had a guac taco, rice and beans. I was not impressed. I sampled other bites from my friends plates and felt the same about their choices. I'm reading other reviews and am left baffled, wondering what happened the night I was here. Maybe a bad night? I don't know. But I felt creeped out and still hungry when I left!
(2)