Margaritas strong, which is a good thing. A little pricey but zoned in for Cherry Creek. Amazing tacos, well thought out preparation, with nice braise on the meat. Nothing tough and earthy salsa pairing. Solid lunch choice!
(4)
Jarrod P.
I just ate here yesterday for the first time and thoroughly enjoyed it. I ordered the Pollo Rostizada (chicken tacos) and they were excellent. I haven't had a chance to try their margaritas as yesterday was a lunch meeting, but will be back soon to do so. The service was fast and friendly. Really cool decorations too!
(5)
Meagan N.
Great service and unique margaritas, that are sure make you pucker! They definitely don't skimp on the tequila. The salsas are exceptional as well, but indeed spicy.
(5)
Hannah M.
Good food but crappy service. Make sure if your party of 8 has a reservation that you reconfirm a few times. We had a really bad experience and snotty hostesses.
(2)
SnowChik B.
This place is great! I thought they only had the 3rd ave location... Glad we found this one! Tacos were great! Service was awesome, even on a busy Saturday night!
(4)
Marc W.
Superb tacos. Pinche Taqueria gets all the love, but this place is better. More interesting ambiance, friendlier service, and tastier food.
(5)
Jonathan C.
Amazingly delicious tacos and margaritas. The guacamole was fresh and good as well. They serve 4 salsas, all with unique tastes and consistency. We will return for sure.
(5)
Shannon M.
I would comment on the food but I didn't have an opportunity to experience it. I came in last Friday night with a few people that live in my building. We live just blocks away and thought this would be a good place to have a drink and appetizer. We sat at the bar and their was a female bartender who acknowledge the two gentlemen with me but not myself. She began to strike up flirt with one of the guys with us and ease drop on my conversation with my neighbor. She began to insult me to our friend. I was shocked and we left the facility. I am a frequent visitor of many restaurants in this area and have never been so appalled and insulted in my life. I will never return to this establishment. What a detriment to business.
(1)
Bridgette M.
Delish spicy jalapeño margs & friendly tenders. Good place to watch a game!! Thirsty Lion across the street's poor customer service & lack of enthusiasm for local sports filled Machete up for the second half!
(4)
Kathy K.
They have JICAMA tacos! It is nice and refreshing and GLUTEN FREE! I do not have a gluten intolerance, but carbs free! My boyfriend gets the pollo rostizado and yesterday I ordered the camarones colima... LOVE IT! I thought it was going to be a small appetizer, but it was as the description stated, 5 L A R G E jumbo shrimp! It comes with A LOT of guac! An assortment of salsas and chips are included!
(5)
Suzanne N.
Tacos were excellent--had the shrimp one, beef tongue one. Hubby had the steak taco, halibut one and loved them too. The margaritas are good, but be prepared they are strong! I also tried the Paloma drink, which I enjoyed. We were with a large group of people and had great service.
(4)
Funero L.
Was in from out of town on business and stumbled upon this great find. AMAZING food and a very fun atmosphere.
(5)
Wayne S.
I started in cherry creek and loved them. Just moved downtown and tried this one. Loves me some Tyrone! He is so good to us.
(5)
Madeleine P.
This place surprised me. The margaritas are incredible, especially the raspberry one. The food is really authentic too. It's a little overpriced but for a good margarita I'll pay!
(5)
Amy H.
GREAT FOOD, friendly staff and some killer margaritas that are definitely not short on tequila. Highly recommended
(5)
Eli R.
Highly recommended. I usually stick to the chicken tacos, but have heard really good things about the others - especially the halibut. I'm not a huge tequila fan, but their selection is great. Great atmosphere, and I've been treated well by the staff every time I go there.
(5)
Robert R.
I went here with my family last weekend and we had a great experience. The food was reasonably priced and everyone really liked that you could order by the taco. This allowed you to mix and match, and they had a very wide variety, anything from mako shark to flank steak tacos. This was also good for people in our party who weren't very hungry, so they could just get 1 or 2 tacos. They had everything you'd expect on a mexican menu as well. A ridiculously long list of different tequilas, and the margaritas were awesome. I would definitely go back here any time!
(5)
Aaron V.
Great food and service! Have a shot of tequila and taco plate! Highly recommend to all for a great meal and service.
(5)
Jessie A.
Great salsa sampler, yummy homemade-tasting tortillas and infused-tequila margs, and probably the most delicious chicken salad I've had in ages! Will definitely be a regular new spot for lunch or HH!
(4)
David S.
Love the atmosphere of this place. Mexico meets day of the dead feel. Thought the prices were a little high but after trying the quality of the food and drinks, it's worth it. Loved the shark tacos and chips with 4 different salsas. I will be a repeat visitor for sure.
(4)
Kathryn T.
We went to Machete tonight and absolutely loved it. All of the servers were great and weren't bothered in the least by answering my boyfriend and my questions about food and tequila. The corn tortillas were amazing. I recommend the Flor de Jamaica quesadilla, the Cost I'll a Ahumada taco (which my boyfriend thinks tastes like pork and apple pie) and the Pollo Rostizado taco. I got the Kona margarita (tequila infused with pineapple and coconut), which was light and refreshing. Kind of a shame that most of their drinks are made with Cuervo, especially since they offer such a good selection of tequilas. All in all, we really enjoyed our meal. Thanks, Machete! You guys are awesome!
(4)
Brian M.
Solid tacos in a great location! Margaritas are ordinary, a bit stronger than usual.
(4)
Christian W.
I live in San Fracisco Bay Area , the home of the taco truck and these are THE BEST street tacos I've had!! The mole is to die for, ambience is great and fun and the service was good. Good stuff!
(5)
Jamie T.
Food was great! It was fun to pick your tacos a la carte. Husband loved the halibut taco, my favorite was the flank steak. Had a nice selection of tequila. The bartender turned us on to the 1921 cream tequila we loved it much we bought a bottle. Will go back next time we are downtown.
(5)
Bruce F.
Loud, energetic atmosphere on a Saturday night. Tons of tequilas, margs and tacos to choose from. Excellent margaritas and truly supreme tacos. My personal favorite was halibut in a rojo sauce with pineapple butter on a black squid ink tortilla. I can't wait to have that taco again and try some more new ones. Outstanding light chips. Well done Machete!
(4)
Michelle G.
My friend thought they were just overpriced street tacos, but I really enjoyed them, as well as the margs. Loved the variety and a la carte style.
(4)
Jim S.
Excellent margaritas and fantastic service. The tacos we tried were all good. The only small complaint abut the food was the chips and salsa...the chips were so salty almost to the point of being inedible. Our waitress was very friendly and helpful and kept our drinks full. We would certainly come back again
(4)
Jennifer M.
This place is pretty pricey, drinks are all in the $10 range and the tacos are all around $4-5/each, no free chips and salsa. We sat at the bar and the service was very hot/cold. Sometimes she was nice other times she was rude. I didn't really enjoy the experience all that much and probably would not return. The food was decent though.
(3)
Chris H.
Avoid this bar. The drinks are terrible and way over priced. Not sure if it was just the night we were there but the crowd was pretty lame as well. The atmosphere was a bit over done. Overall it was another trendy bar that was trying way too hard and fails to be unique and quality in any way. The one plus was that the staff and service was good.
(1)
Ryan A.
This place is AWESOME! Great food, tequila, and employees! I plan on going to this place every time i visit denver!
(5)
BryAnna V.
Yum! In Denver with my girlfriends and this was a lovely experience. Our server, Ty was awesome. Very knowledgeable and happy to share his favorites with us. The crab guacamole was de-lish! I loved the assortment of salsas, but my favorite was the verde. The fresno salsa was a close second. It had fantastic layers of flavor. We ended up getting the 12 tacos special and there were 4 of us, so we had 3 tacos each. I am glad that I got to taste 3 of these amazing tacos (halibut, chili relleno, and the chef's choice veggies) but for street tacos they are pretty stinkin' huge. So between the scrumptious cucumber marg, the chips, salsas, guacamole and tacos I was about to pop...but in a good way. One of my favorite parts was the spice that came across in the flavors. They are not afraid to heat up the food and in the best way. The ambiance of the place matches the food. Lots of textures, great stuff to look at. The service was fabulous! Just all around fab
(5)
Brian J.
food was petite but delicious. tons of unique taco choices. our server jesska was hands down the most attentive I've had anywhere for quite some time. all of their cocktails are doubles, so come prepared!
(5)
Christopher B.
I met a friend here one evening and it's a good spot for drinks and small bites. We had guac and chips, which was good, and later tacos, which were also good. They have a good beer selection which focuses primarily on Mexican and Coloradan. It's a good spot to hang out before moving on elsewhere. I think it's on par with Pinche in most aspects.
(4)
Dustin H.
Stopped in before a Rockies game. The environment was great, so many different tequilas. It was good, but not blown away. Multiple salsas only one of which was good. I really loved the selection of tacos, I had the lamb(ok), and steak w/ chorizo(Good). Drinks good but over priced. I'd go again but not my first choice if I feel like a taco.
(3)
Katie W.
This places was delicious! We got the chicharron guac, which comes with four salsas. It was a great combination but a little much for two people. The smoked salsa was spicy but really good, and was by far our favorite. We got four tacos and all of them were excellent. The halibut and campechano were the best. The filling was generous and flavorful. And of course, the margaritas were strong and delicious. Surprisingly, we preferred the machete to the Cadillac. Also the Paloma was weird and overly sweet and melon flavored. As far as service and atmosphere go, our server was attentive and helpful. The place has a more bar like casual environment compared to many similar quality downtown restaurants. Overall, enjoyed the trip and will definitely be back.
(5)
Robert K.
Wow, based upon the average 4 star review I was looking forward to a nice Mexican meal and a great margarita. When we arrived we had a reasonable 15 minute wait for our table,cso we proceeded to the bar for a Margarita. I'm a big fan of Don Julio Anejo Tequila, so I ordered a margarita consisting of this tequila. The price tag was $20, which is by far, one of the most expensive margaritas I've ever ordered. I was expecting something spectacular. Instead I received a small cocktail type glass which consisted of at best 1 1/2 shots of tequila. The margarita's ingredients were subpar except for the Don Julio Anejo and I was extremely disappointed. Next we order chips and salsa which were just o.k. Flavor of the typical tomato based salsa was bland and watery. In addition, we ordered guacamole which had way to much lime added. We then ordered a number of tacos and there to were just o.k., somewhat bland and flavorless. The overall experience here was mediocre In comparison to other good Mexican restaurants that I have dined at throughout the U.S. and Mexico. In all I happen to agree with all other poor reviews of this establishment. This restaurant needs to step up it's game. Possibly they should visit some of Rick Bayless's Mexican restaurants in Chicago to experience Mexican food and drinks at there finest!
(1)
Colleen B.
It's pretty dang dark in here. I have to say, I wasn't impressed with two important things that are very important at any Mexican spot (in my eyes): The Guac and Margaritas. The guac was very creamy but no flavor. I went for the Strawberry Margarita and it was just overwhelming with alcohol and just not enjoyable to sip on. I didn't even finish it. For the tacos I chose: - Al Pastor | Duroc roasted pig, guajillo chile marinated pork, pineapple, onions and cilantro - Arrachera | Hanger steak, avocado salsa, onions and cilantro - Chicharron de queso | Crispy panela cheese, salsa chile cascabel, grilled onions Skip the chicharron de queso - zero taste. Def go with the Al Pastor - delicious! My highlight of the entire experience here. Another random note, the menu is overwhelming with the way it is designed.
(2)
Andrea K.
We love Machete! They've recently changed up their happy hour (M-F 2-7) and now all margs (excluding the upgrades on tequilas, of course) are $7. I'm a big fan of the mojorita and the spicy margarita. The tacos on HH are now $3 but I love all the different options. Hubs fave is the Campechano with steak and chorizo and a delicious green salsa on top. I also love it and I really enjoy their veggie tacos too. It comes on the hibiscus tortilla which I like for its different flavor profile- adding something unique to the taco. We will keep returning!
(4)
Michael C.
I really love this place. In a town with mediocre Mexican food, Machete's is an amazing Southern Mexican quinine. Honestly, this is more of a chic gourmet Mexican. It is really worth the trip. My favorite is Chicken Tinga Quesadillas. It so original and amazing, you have to try it. Honestly, I love everything here, but I love it so much, I always end up ordering it because it is so original and amazing. Also try the Calma Borrachos, it is a real winner too!
(5)
Nicole D.
Machete's is that go to place when you are craving some street tacos and want a little tequila to wash it down with. I've been several times (girls night, bachelorette party, date night) and each time I have: 1) Wanted to try everything on the menu 2) Ordered two tacos and wished I had ordered three 3) Envied someone else's drink or taco 4) Wished I could read Spanish so I could understand the comics in the bathroom I will say that, while I wouldn't have necessarily picked the Mako Shark taco ever, I'm glad I heeded the advice of that hipster bartender at Mercantile and made my husband get it. Wow, talk about ample goodness! It's a larger portion than most of the other selections and it really is scrumptious. I'm not a shark meat fan, but have now opened that door so watch out sharks! The Al Pastor is my now second favorite (Mako now taking #1 spot), Tinga is good and the Acapulco is yummy yet a bit on the smaller serving side, I'd like it to be a little fatter if you know what I mean. Love the Skinny Marg and Mojito Rita. I have also tried the Kona but wasn't crazy about it. Ambiance is definitely party, fun, group favorable. There is a room off of the main dining section that you can ask for as well. It has a large screen TV and is great if you have a group (I think it's for 8-10) and want a little more privacy. Of course the location is great and while I haven't been to their Cherry Creek spot, I'd like to check it out as that one is closer to me.
(4)
William Z.
Wasn't a huge fan of the drink I had. It was a definite heavy pour. But with all that aside... THE FOOD IS 5 STARS. I will come back and I will eat seven more tacos... We literally couldn't stop eating them. Decor was awesome and artistic but it was a little loud. With that being said, you need to visit this joint. PERIOD!!!!
(4)
Clay W.
I wanted to give a my girlfriend a good experience and I hopped on Yelp to find a place for dinner before a show at the arts center. Holy Crap! I'm a Taco guy, I live for Tacos, I love Tacos! This place is amazing. Tacos were great (the lobster tail ones blew my mind) and the tequila list was impressive. Service from the bar was a little slow, our waitress seemed to chat up the bartender a little more then I liked, but I love this place and I'll be back.
(4)
Natasha P.
These tacos are legit! I loved the chicken & crispy potato one (I forget the name). The lobster one was pretty good and the lamb was a big hit. Definitely will be back for happy hour. Well drink prices at the bar were really reasonable. I'm not much of a tequila person, but if you are there are plenty of options here.
(5)
James D.
Tacos are amazing. The cheese taco to die for. Sounds weird... A fried cheese taco. But it so deliciously bomb. Give it a try. The 4 salsas are equally good. Great atmosphere. Good vibes
(5)
justin d.
stopped in wanting to compare it to Bennys as they were on the same list for top 10 Mexican joints in Denver. In all honesty they are two different types of food but they are both amazing! So now to go on about Machete, first thing you notice is the atmosphere as you walk in and through the locker isles of tequila when you come in and look over to see a picture of the most interesting man in the world. After that we were sat and browsed the margaritas, decent list but I went with the house just to get a feeling and fml it was strong! I could have ordered two but I had stuff to do after we ate. We ordered the arrachera, campechano, tripa, lengua, cochinita pibil and the costilla ahumada tacos. The pickled onions on the pilbil tacos were a delicious and the probably one of my favorite tacos right up there with the lengua ones as well. The apples on the costilla ahumada tacos were some of the best cooked apples I've ever had but reminded of an off dessert. Over all I would recommend this to place to anyone!
(4)
Cyndi J.
Opening day for the Rockies - which means that every amateur is out and about, taking up my seat in my favorite places! We happened upon this place because we needed to eat and wanted to watch the Rockies game. The service started strong, but as it got busier was a little slower. But the food - OH the food! I had a cucumber margarita with chili-lime salt. It was refreshing and unique. My husband and I sampled several tacos - my favorites were the conchita pibil and al pastor. My husband had the shark, and it was actually quite tasty. The music in here was loud, and while the Rockies game was on TV, both the bartenders we asked said they couldn't turn down the music and turn up the Rockies game. This was off-putting for us, so we left to find a place that would. A small blemish that I can overlook, given the high quality and taste of the food here.
(5)
Holly E.
We hit it right before noon and the place was empty, however when we left it was packed. Our waitress was very nice and attentive. Tacos were decent but didn't live up to the hype. I had the robalito al pastor and. lengua. Guacamole was fresh but lacking flavor. We did love two of the salsas especially the creamy red pepper. Probably won't go back unless I have a hankerin' for happy hour margs.
(3)
Kristine N.
This place is always busy and there's always a wait. Cool atmosphere with loud music and dimmed lighting. Tacos are $4-$5 each so they add up quickly. Favorites were the hangar steak, mole, and halibut. The other chicken taco is quite dry. The guacamole is good but not for $9! Goodness. They do have an awesome location. We put in our order and about 25 minutes later the server came by and told us our ticket never printed to the kitchen. Asked to take our order again. After realizing our frustration, he stated, at least I caught it before an hour went by right? This place cheaped out on the system, not my fault. Sure dude, sure.
(3)
Apple W.
Lamb taco is unparallelled.
(5)
Josh d.
Disclaimer: Much of this is copy/pasted from my review of Machete's Cherry Creek Location - There will be stuff added and deleted to make it more relevant to this location though... I like this place. I like this location more than their other location, because I hate fucking cherry creek. It's a nightmare to get around the area, so... Them opening up in my neighborhood makes it for much more happy taco times. Cool taco choices, reasonably priced. Friendly staff, HUGE tequila selection. Everything seems fresh. The place seems dirty, but not in a bad way... It just feels like the southwest... I think they're going for that ambiance of and imagery of when I think about the kinds of places Speedy Gonzalez would be hanging out now, that he's out of his prime... The men's room has what looks like old spanish comics, which gives it it's own vibe. Add to the fact that the name is, intentional or unintentional, the same as my favorite Danny Trejo character/movie/whatever makes this all the more awesome.
(4)
Heather W.
I gave Machete 3 stars because our waitress was totally awesome and the guacamole and chips appetizer was tasty. It was kind of downhill from there. To be fair, I should have stuck with the tacos, after all it's what they are known for. However, the Chili Relleno was not that special, I might even go as far as the second worst I had ever had. It was smothers in a tomato sauce and the pepper was tough. The margarita had a lot of tequila in it. The restaurant was so loud it was difficult to hold a conversation.
(3)
Cece A.
I'm so happy that I happened to walk by this place and decided to give it a try! My boyfriend and I decided to come here on a Saturday night to celebrate his birthday which was the night before and I'm so happy we did. I loved the decor in this place it was definitely unique and stood out from your usual taco eateries. It was pretty busy but we were seated right away and had water brought to our table. We ended up getting a Lengua (cow tounge) taco, Pescado (fish) quesadilla and a Campechano (grilled flank steak) taco which was a m a z i n g! The food was excellent I sincerely enjoyed everything. The service was fast and friendly even on a busy Saturday night. It is a little loud so if you wanted to have a deep conversation with someone I wouldn't recommend going here. It's a little noisy but fun... just sit close to the other person. Also, the drinks are a littleeee expensive I ended up having two drinks for $30 but they got the job done ;) We loved this place! If you want something unique give this place a try! We enjoyed this place so much, we were thinking of going back the next day. Maybe we will stop by this weekend. We also ended up having 5 more people join us at our table with plenty of room and no problems at all. :)
(5)
Russell G.
Wow....this place blew me away! Decoration is upscale but a little creepy. Overall, a good vibe throughout the place. Staff is pretty good about keeping up with you. The tacos here are superb and if you haven't tried them yet, you failed. The price on the menu is per taco. Pricey but so worth it! You must try: Al Pastor Lengua (if you are an adventurous eater) Mole Mazunte Also, try the various versions of the Guacamole app! Get in here!!!!
(5)
Leanna C.
If you want a margarita that's strong this is the place to come. The margarita prices are pretty steep but well worth it in terms of alcohol content. I've had several different variations of their margs and I can't really tell much of a difference in taste. The tacos here are kind of pricey regularly but are a great deal during happy hour. They have really different combinations but all are good. Try the mahi taco and the chicken taco, easily my two favorites. If you aren't feeling tacos the chile relleno is really good, the portion is somewhat small but is really tasty.
(4)
Kate D.
I went here the other night on a date as my guy wanted to check this place out since he'd never been. I had been to HH at the Cherry Creek location and had been impressed with their variation of salsas and their skinny margarita. The place is definitely vibrant and walls covered with all kinds of masks and art work. Service started out great, but seemed to wane as the night went on. We got our drink orders right away, but when it came to ordering food, it seemed like our server almost forgot about us. When he finally came to take our order, my date ordered before me, as I wasn't sure at the time what I wanted to order since I hadn't really looked at the menu yet. By the time I finally did order, my date had ordered another drink. Oddly enough, both my food and my drink came out before his. We even mentioned this to the person delivering the food as we thought it was odd. I saw our server look over and notice and he disappeared towards the back, but never came back with my date's food. At that point, my date encouraged me to go ahead and start eating since my food was getting cold. We joked about how they were probably spitting in his food and drink from the comment he made to the waiter about the chips not being super fresh and later learning that they don't make them in house. Long story short, he did finally get his food and drink. Our tacos were ok. I think my date got the Al Pastor and Arrachera. I got the Pollo Rostizado, which the chicken had very little flavor, the Mole, basic mole flavor, and the Arrachera, which ended up being both of our favorites. Not terrible tacos by any means, but definitely don't think I'll be back again due to the service and overall lack of flavor of some of the tacos. The drinks are definitely a little better. I feel like they make a better Skinny over at the CC location. The Spicy Rico Rita however was awesome. If I did have to go back, I'd probably order that again along with chips and salsa.
(3)
Latti L.
Margarita are not made with the sweet and sour mix but with lime juice and agave nectar. "The lucky one" is awesome with just a splash of both. Tacos come a la carte but are pretty incredible. Tried the Mazunte with mako shark and the Robalito al Pastor is a close second with pineapple butter and halibut. Great bar atmosphere with day of the dead deco everywhere and decent music.
(5)
Nica Z.
Their food is pretty delicious. I really enjoyed the queso, it is a little different. However I did a to go order with them and ordered a quesadilla, chips, queso and guacamole. The total was 25 dollars before tip. I would say that's a little over priced. If I ordered drinks I would understand that but just for a simple to go order a little much for not that high of quality food.
(3)
R M.
Great tasting authentic Mexican food and so many delicious salsas to choose from. Hands down...going back for more good eats!
(4)
Jeremy C.
Tacos are great come out fast, with a wide variety. Damn good margaritas and happy hour prices. Real chill atmosphere, everyone including the chef checks on you
(5)
Justine S.
Wow. The margaritas were amazing. Queso was on point. And the tacos .... Yes please! My new favorite spot for street tacos! So glad I found this spot.
(5)
Cyn C.
Having been to both the LoDo and Cherry Creek locations, I can say I'm a big fan of Machete. I don't typically drink tequila anymore (unless I'm asking for trouble) but Machete makes it awful hard to say no. Last time, I had the pineapple and coconut infused margarita. Wow. That went down WAY too easily. The only reason i didn't get another was because I knew I had to drive home. Food is also spectacular here. Great selection of "American New" tacos. Salsas and guac are simply delicious (I love that you get a variety of salsas). Deciding between locations? LoDo is... well. in LoDo. Close to Union Station and all that LoDo has to offer. The interior of the LoDo location is dim and intimate. There's one area that's a bunch of couches in a square that's great for a group of 10 or so. Cherry Creek actually has a great set up outside. Comfy patio furniture with coffee tables. Easy to mingle and add on to your group. If you know you're gonna stay in one spot, I'd recommend the Cherry Creek location over the LoDo one.
(4)
Sadie P.
I was not as much of a fan as I thought I was going to be. I really like street tacos, but I am a stickler for authentic flavors. I tried two different ones, the pork and the steak. Both were very good for $3 each. But I would not call them authentic. They were very tasty and i could see how you could eat 10 if you have been drinking lol. Good spot for a quick bite and a nice chat, ( as the bartenders are very nice)
(3)
Carolyn M.
Holy moly, this is one expensive street taco joint! Don't get me wrong, the food and margs are great, but they BETTER be at $10 and $4 respectively! A weekday lunch can get a little bit pricey, but service is speedy and the ambiance is great. There can never really be too many taco bars in downtown Denver.
(4)
Taylor K.
Let's call this a less than pleasing experience. 20 minutes to beer #1...it's busy...not a big deal. Server was busting her ass but 8 tables on a Sat night warrants delays. After an hour for our food, we asked to speak to the manager. Melissa was a treat! Unapologetic and totally confrontational. I've been out of the service industry for a decade but I'm pretty sure she took the exact opposite approach you'd expect from anyone looking to manage a successful restaurant in a city that understands good service. Might return when the entire staff turns over (and it will).
(2)
Brian B.
They were able to make vegan tacos and the guacamole was delicious. The fresh chips were a nice touch with the different kinds of salsa. The noise level was a little loud but if you talk loud you could hear.
(4)
Jay G.
I literally stumbled onto this place after doing some bar hopping / pub crawling down the 16th St Mall while on vacation from California this past weekend. It was a Sunday afternoon/evening so getting in and out of places was quite easy and service was great. Anyhow, my wife and I saw the sign as we were looking to get a selfie at Union Station and I said, "eff it" let's try this place. We were buzzed and upon entering the atmosphere was like woah. Very cool/creepy yet authentic vibe in this place. The crowd was pretty anglo so that might make you question how truly authentic it is... but let me tell you... the small amount of things we tried were great. We didn't get anything too big since we were only stopping and getting appetizers and like 1 or 2 drinks per spot we hit. My wife got roasted cactus (nopal asado)... I got esquite (or charred corn). She's from Zacatecas and a big old nopalera... me not so much... but we both loved the nopal asado. She doesn't like mayo so she didnt enjoy my esquite, but I thought it was great and spicy. The chips & salsa thing we got was good. All salsa were spicy and had their own unique taste. Not cool that it's charged for, but whatever. I got a simple Victoria beer and my wife got a bloody mary (not sure what it was called on the menu)... it was a bit too strong to enjoy... but at least it wasn't as nasty as the bloddy mary we tried in Estes Park @ the Stanley Hotel (it was horseraddish in it, yuck). Anyways... the typical stuff ppl would get here is probably tacos (hence the name)... but I figured I'd try more specialty stuff that anglos aren't probably used to (nopales and esquite) and they didn't dissapoint. For this reason and the overall style I gave it 4 stars. The strong drink took it a star down. Cool spot tho.
(4)
Jennifer C.
Dropped in here on a whim after hearing about the margarita specials on Sunday ($7 margaritas). My friend and I ordered Salsas and Chips, Guacamole, Machete Margarita, Chicharron Taco, Robalito Al Pastor Taco, Lengua Taco, and Pollo Rotizerado Quesadilla. Salsas and chips - super salty chips, small quantities of dipping salsas Guacamole - Super tasty but maybe not worth the $7 special Machete Margarita - Tasty, but very, very strong Chicharron Taco - Small but tasty, oily. Robalito Al Pastor - Lots of flavor. Spicy. Delicious. Lengua Taco - Simple, well cooked, and tasty (but one giant piece that deserved to be cut) Pollo Quesadilla - Ok. Nothing to brag about though. Comes with peppers on the side. Overall it was mediocre. Wasn't bad but it didn't live up to what we were told about it. I probably wouldn't go back.
(3)
Mary B.
3.5 would be my rating. The food was spectacular. The service was horrible. Be careful with the margarita...it's 2.5 shots of tequila per drink. Tried the 12 tacos with our group of 4...and all were great! Waitress had a real attitude and we were seated at a tiny table for 4 adults.
(3)
Samantha E.
I only got to go to Machete Tacos a couple of times, but it quickly became one of my favorite spots! Ou first visit was for a tequila-tasting event, so it was a little hard to review, but boasted excellent tacos, service, and drinks (all provided by Arte Tequila). Our second visit was a more normal one with a few friends, but was equally delicious. Every margarita I've tasted there has been superb. I doubt you can go wrong-- everything I've tasted from the skinny to the spicy (with jalapeno) were great, and my husband and a friend liked the "hot mess" (with habanero and serrano infusion!). You also really can't pick a bad taco, as far as I can tell. The most impressive was the Mazunte with beer-battered shark in a hibiscus tortilla. Everything has been great, though-- I remember liking the mole, the flank steak, and the pork with pineapple as well. The jicama tortillas are interesting with some tacos if that interests you. If you have a group, the "Taquiza" of 12 tacos for $38 is a pretty good deal, even with the upcharge for some specialty tacos. I don't know anything about the rest of the menu, because I've always just committed to tacos, but I'm sure it's good as well. Definitely a good (relatively new) addition to the neighborhood.
(5)
Cindy F.
Stopped in here to grab a drink but turned to leave feeling anti-tequila, until this sweet waitress hooked us with her obsession for the shark tacos. We had literally just come from a pizza restaurant absolutely stuffed but the love in her tone for the tacos and margaritas sucked us right in! Thank goodness we listened! The margaritas were amazing, the atmosphere was super cool with plenty to look at (literrally EVERYWHERE), and the tacos were awesome! We split the taco arra, lengua, mazunte, and robalito and were elated to have taken her advice. This trip wouldn't have been the same without a stop in Machete. The music was loud & good, the people were friendly, the place was busy, and well- we ate... again. I plan on being back ASAP!
(5)
Dan T.
Love this place but they are struggling this summer and taking some short cuts. New menu lacks some of the fun and variety they had. Also this location lacks A/C and loads up the Margaritas with ice. I have rejected 3 margaritas the last two visits as they are all ice. And I love the food and staff, but it's an issue that will keep me away.
(3)
Ben R.
I am a die hard Pinche Tacos fan, I eat there way more often than I should. Sometimes, however my loyalties stray and I find myself at Machete. Their tacos are different than Pinche, they're a bit more 'high-end', but they're SO good. The scallop and shrimp on jicama instead of a tortilla is amazing! And if you're up for some spice, the habanero-jalapeno margarita is one of the best I've had. I love this place.
(5)
Ken I.
II would love to add a review of the food, but unfortunately we didn't get to try any since we sat there for 10 minutes without service. We even asked the bartender if we needed to order from the bar and he said he wold send a server over...that didn't happen and he didn't even ask if he could get us a drink while we wait.
(1)
Rachel S.
I was pretty excited about this place as I do enjoy my tequila perhaps too much at times. So we will start there the decor is pretty awesome as you walk in there are iron shelves with all the cool brands of tequila you see in nice liquor stores and more that probably came as an add on to a drug deal in the heart of Mexico. Then of course the traditional type Mexican restaurant type of thing with skeletons and skulls and stuff every where. One cool feature was that there were little hooks on the bottom of all the tables for the ladies to hang their nice purses on. All four of the peeps in my party got margaritas. They start around 10 dollars, which seems a little steep. Especially since one or two of them had some form of Jose Cuervo as the tequila. They were good margaritas though. For food my party each picked three tacos. Some sounded a little interesting as the ingredients may not have been good together. But every taco I tried was fantastic, yet again I thought a tad bit pricey. The shark taco seems to be the famous menu item here. And I had all good things to say about that. I'd try that because where else are you going to eat shark meat? Maybe Iceland? yeah so take advantage of that here. I guess besides the prices I thought this place couldn't decide if they wanted to be a bar or more of a restaurant. So the bar wasn't filled everyone sat at the tables getting food but the music was at the " I have to yell to be heard, which is good because I have nothing really to say to you I just want to get laid level." Which was annoying because I was at dinner caching up with friends. The table was also huge so across the table conversions were a challenge. I did enjoy my time, food and drink here. I might go back if I lived in Denver. This would be a great start to a bar hopping night.
(3)
Jon S.
We were here a few months back and had a horrible experience. My wife and I ordered their chicken tacos and both orders came out extremely under cooked. When we notified the server, I told him that it looked like our orders were mixed up because we didn't order the fish tacos. I honestly thought the fish tacos would have been a stretch, but I couldn't fathom that they'd serve such obviously under cooked chicken. They were transparent and rubbery... The server said, "no, these were correct, they're the chicken tacos". After just standing there not offering to do anything I asked him if he could take these back to the kitchen and have them finish cooking the chicken so we don't get sick. This is when the MOD came over and told us that they use "special spices" that make the chicken look red. I said, "the chicken was transparent and rubbery, it's obvious". And said, "no, your dishes aren't under cooked". And then walked away. I couldn't believe that a manager would argue with a guest. Especially when they were so obviously under cooked. When we got the bill, we were charged for the terrible chicken tacos. Wow... Won't be going back. Will stick with Margs... it's MUCH BETTER.
(1)
Tricia W.
Went for happy hour which goes until 7pm (God bless them). The margs are pretty pricey but top notch, huge and strongggg. Tacos are a great deal on happy hour too and delicious, the legua isn't as good as Pinche but still worth a try and the shrimp is bomb. Our waiter was awesome and able to accommodate a group of 12 of us which is pretty incredible when you're reservation is for 6... Definitely recommend, probably a good place for a date too!
(5)
Nick M.
The guacamole is wonderful and the salsa flight that you get is really good too and they come with really good chips. The tacos are typically pretty good, some are MUCH better than others (don't get the Chicharron de queso, get the Langosta). Drinks are pretty strong, taste good, but are pretty pricy. Cool atmosphere in a great location.
(4)
Brandon E.
Great food, delicious margaritas, and a really nice staff... We came in late and they were still on point. Go try it!!!
(5)
John C.
Some of the best street tacos I've had... Between the 5 of us we had several different variations and all felt the same way. Delicious!
(5)
Paul P.
Don't expect the mixologists to pour a frozen concoction with Gold tequila from a slurpee machine. Do expect to see them dicing habanero and jalapeno peppers to add to an amazing drink menu!!!! The ladies behind the bar are professional bartenders who are helpful with selections whether it be food or drink. My wife and I went yesterday and luckily we got to be there for the new menu roll-out. This may be the freshest ingredients you can get in a restaurant. We are very impressed and totally hooked on Machete's!!!!
(5)
Bethany W.
Really, really exceptional handcrafted tacos. Get the 12 pack to share and you have plenty to taste. (Take the leftovers home because as soon as you have room ... you will want another) Don't skip the margarita. Sit at the bar if you want to learn about tequilas. Over 100 to taste and learn about and the bartender loves to tell you about them.
(5)
julie n.
Tapa style (street tacos)...1 taco per order at $4-$5 each, gets pretty pricey. Many taco bars in the area to compete with. My favorite was the shrimp and Husbands favorite was the Pastor.
(3)
Doug B.
I had a few friends in town and we decided to escape the rain and grab some tacos. There was a wide variety of tacos and are well priced. The tacos are so flavorful and I will definitely be going back! Their margarita wasn't that good though
(4)
George F.
Wow! I really love this place. I went with some friends while doing a beer tour of Denver. I had the Costilla Ahumada taco (smoked pork rib meat with chile puya rub sauteed green apples and green onions) and the Robalito al Pastor taco (grilled halibut marinated in recado rojo pineapple butter with onion and cilantro in a squid ink tortilla). They were outstanding! We started with some Tecates and then enjoyed a Casa Amigos Tequila at the bar based on the recommendation of the bartender. I'm not a big tequila fan (or any kind of spirits for that matter) but it was so smooth and tasty. I'd definitely go back to this place!
(5)
Rachelle H.
Went here for the first time after we went to opening day for the Rockies!! It was packed full but we got a table very fast. The atmosphere is great! The menu will push you out of your comfort zone and for good reason. The tacos were delish! Everyone's drinks were great but the Cadillac Margarita I ordered was disappointing. As busy as they were, the staff was great and on top of everything. I will defiantly be going back, trying some new types of tacos and giving the margaritas another shot.
(4)
Catherine P.
Stopped in for a late dinner on Sunday night, unfortunately the kitchen closes at 9:00 and we arrived at 8:54 (restaurant closes at 10 on Sunday). No time to peruse the menu as we were being rushed to order. Hubby had the Calma Borrachos, which we did not realize was slathered with their HOT salsas. The waitress was great! She had the kitchen refire it and he loved it. I tasted it and it was yummy. I would have it with the hot salsas. I had the chili relleno and it was good, but I liked my husband's dish better. The chips and 4 salsas was really good! Emilia was our server and she did a wonderful job of taking care of us! All in all, I would say a 4 for the food and a 5 for service.
(4)
David K.
Another Denver Fail. Stopped in at 8:30 p.m. on a Sunday evening. The place was not that busy and I saw two bartenders. I sat at the bar for about 15 minutes and was never acknowledged. Noticed the other patrons at the bar were not asked if they needed anything either. I walked out without a word ever being exchanged. Strange, but sadly par for the course for Denver. Too bad because I'm a big Tequila fan and a generous tipper.
(1)
Allyson H.
The margaritas here are seriously delicious, go down way too easy, and will probably knock you on your behind if you enjoy one too many. But boy are they good! This is a fun spot to go for drinks after work. They have tacos on special during happy hour, which are decent but aren't my favorite. I wish they had greater variety on their menu. Their guacamole is tasty, as are the three other salsas they serve you when you order it.
(4)
R K.
What a fun place to have a large group of people! The staff was so helpful and nice - from the hostess (Laura) to the manager (riann) and our amazing server (Amelia). This place not only impressed with service, but the tacos are so good!! There's a huge selection of tequila (pineapple infused!) too with great price points. We look forward to coming back soon!
(5)
Sam F.
Hit this place up for two happy hours on two separate occasions - a selection of their tacos are featured and you get a knock off their margaritas. A cool small space, well laid out - can get busy and loud. The tacos are solid with a few standouts - the smoked pork rib meat chief among them. Beers are a bit spendy. Service was solid. A good option for this hood if you are in a relative hurry and have less than 5 in your party.
(4)
Jzs N.
Delicious margs. Delicious food. Thanks guys.
(5)
Jackie T.
Came here one night with my brother when he was in town. I ordered the arrachera taco, campechano taco, and the pollo rostizado taco. They were all good, but the campechano was amazing. Coming from San Diego, I'm a snob when it comes to street tacos. Machete's did this one right! Flank steak, red chorizo, oaxaca cheese, cilantro, onion, and salsa verde--- bomb! I'd go back and just order like 5 of these babies! I also had a machete margarita which was good but way too strong for me (say what you want). I got the mojito rita after that and it was really delicious- the mojito-ness cut down the taste of the tequila. I'll definitely be back!
(5)
Kate N.
I like machete but only go there for special occasions because it is so pricy! The food tastes great but the portions are pretty small. The drinks are also really expensive. We haven't had great service at this location but it is pretty small so nothing takes too long at least!
(3)
Terry S.
Ok. They try awfully hard but pull up a little short. Absolutely grotesque decor -- friendly enough
(3)
Justin K.
The tacos are all unique and delicious. Great food. However, the service was a bit spotty. The waitress seemed annoyed, we were given our food before our silverware, and it took a while for anyone to take our order. Great tacos, hopefully the service will be better if you check it out.
(3)
Brittany B.
I'm ashamed to say I hadn't even heard of this place (or maybe I had but didn't really take note) until my man and I decided to grab some grub before a Nuggets' game. Boy, am I glad we did! The ambiance is a little interesting, but matches well with the establishment. The taco list is varied and everything we tasted was delicious (five different tacos, including the shark which I was pleasantly surprised with, and four margaritas). Let me just plug the pina colada-like margarita. It's wonderful! But scary-smooth, so beware. And if you order a "Spicy Kenny" (strawberry with jalapeno), you won't be dissapointed. We both finished two and were feeling pretty easy-going, if you know what I mean, so they don't skimp on their pours. We also enjoyed the salsa and guac. All of them were delicious. I have not one issue/compaint, but I can't give five stars on a one-time visit... can I?... ...to be continued...
(4)
Ryan M.
Finally a Mexican restaurant that does not offer a single margarita with sweet and sour in it. I can't stand it when even the expensive margaritas use S&S. It should be illegal. Machete margarita is great and a big glass as well (small glasses should also be outlawed). Also tried the Mojito margarita and one with chile powder on the rim. Both fantastic and a am a margarita fiend! Tacos are great too. Friendly service. Good decor. Really pleased!!!
(5)
Mary T.
Every time we have come here not only is the food great but each staff person is excellent! You won't be disappointed.
(5)
Meg J.
Love this place!! THe Street tacos are amazing and perfectly portioned. Their skinny marg is is one of my favs!!!
(4)
Amy O.
Honestly, I find these tacos very similar to Pinche Tacos, BOTH of which I really love. So, that's no disrespect to Machete! However, I do recall an extremely creative cricket taco that Machete offered at the Top Taco event. Anyway, back to the restaurant. Excellent drinks and atmosphere. Great service, too! I'd come in first for a Yelp event, and then returned a second time when I had a friend in town. If I bring an out of town friend to your establishment, you are the cream of the crop in my opinion!
(4)
Kristin M.
Would come here again for the service, food, and prices. Good value! Went here with some family on a Friday evening and being from Chicago, was surprised but delighted to see happy hour food/drink specials that ran all night. As well, a couple people in our party weren't there right away at the reservation time since I accidentally sent them to the other location in Denver (woops), but the staff was super nice about it and said it's happened before. Unlike a lot of places in Chicago, we were seated w/o our whole party being there, and the server was up front about asking us how we wanted our checks split--(again, such a breath of fresh air!!) Had an enjoyable time trying the different tacos, eating way too many chips and guac, and sampling the various margaritas (no blended ones there, which I prefer). Definitely try this place!
(4)
Deginald W.
Nice environment, great staff and cool people, could be a lot better but met my expectations.. Had a better experience there during day hours than at night but great food and drinks!
(4)
Joe Y.
Located across the street from Union Station is Machete's second location. Their Cherry Creek location will have easier parking. They have the most Tequila list in Denver with a vibe of a Mexico City cantina. Happy Hour Mon-Fri 2-7pm.
(4)
Bhavesh P.
Delicious, absolutely some of the best tacos I've had. The Robalito Al Pastor (Grilled Halibit) tacos were my favorite, incredibly flavorful and very light. Charissa is a great bartender (I hope I spelled her name right). Try it!
(5)
Amanda H.
This place is amazing! A HUGE tequila selection. Amazing margaritas (be warned, their Machete Marg is delicious and mysteriously strong), tacos to die for and salsas for everyone. Order the chips and four salsas to start, dive into the jalapeño salsa and prepare to be burned so good. I'm a sucker for heat and that one was perfect. Service is outstanding. These people know their tequilas and their menu. 2 tacos= a snack, 3 tacos = a small meal. The atmosphere is perfect for this place. Also, the color changing skull lamps on the bar are so perfect!! This place is definitely worth your time.
(5)
Matt W.
Great tacos. Great happy hour. Great margs. Sweet dia de Los muertos vibe. Recommended.
(5)
Jessica L.
We came here on Sunday at about 2 pm. It was pretty dead. My friends were already here waiting and they had ordered guac. The chips also came with 5 different salsas which were all pretty good. I had the kona margarita, which was pineapple/coconut infused tequila, because they were out of Bloody Mary mix for the Bloody Maria. Kind of annoying. We ordered tacos which were $2.75 each except for the starred ones. And everyone except me wanted to order the shark taco (for shark week) but they were also out of that. Really annoying. Who does that? I said to the server "are you out of everything?" Maybe that's why they're not that busy. I ordered the shrimp taco and the pork rib meat taco. They were pretty good sizes and two filled me up along with the chips. I really liked the shrimp one but the meat on other one was kind of hard to chew. We all really liked the tacos overall though. I need to go to Pinche Tacos again to see which is better. Another thing that kinda bothered me was that their online Sunday happy hour menu is not valid at this location, only at the Cherry Creek one. That should be specified. Next time I'll prob go to that location since they have happy hour food all day Sundays. I think the tacos are a tad bit pricey without happy hour. $4.50 for one taco would really rack up a bill. The server was great though. He refilled our drinks all the time and the chips too.
(3)
Christie K.
Yum! This place was SO good! We had 8 people on a busy Friday night and they were able to accommodate us without a reservation! They actually put us in this room in the back with couches it was so cool. They have lots of different tasty margaritas! I got a jalapeño one that was spicy! Yum! The food was awesome. The chips and salsa come with 4 different salsas that were all tasty! They have lots of different tacos. I am avoiding dairy and gluten right now and the waitress had no problem helping me out! The service was good, our waitress was very nice. All in all a great experience!
(5)
Jordan D.
their margs can be a little pricey but they have a good happy hour, but do yourself a favor and try the steak/shrimp quesidilla!
(4)
Marilyn S.
Cool atmosphere, great location, great vibe. Rustic cabin meets taqueria. Street tacos menu, the favorite being the crispy pork. Really liked the chips with four assorted salsas. Good service at bar by German girl. Food runner with curly dark hair very knowledgeable and friendly. Will return!
(4)
Rebecca M.
Drinks were good, food was just okay. I could see what they were going for but it fell a bit short. Hoping it was just an off night.
(3)
Lisa D.
My friends and I celebrated my birthday at Machete Tequila & Tacos last night, and I felt like a VIP in this place!! I'd never been here before, but I will absolutely be back! We had a large group and were uncertain of the total number of people that would show up...so the hostess brought us to a special room in the back that could seat around 10 or so with comfy leather couches and a big screen tv! I was pretty stoked at that point, knowing that my friends would be comfortable and we'd have room to spread out, and the privacy to talk about whatever we wanted! Our server, Amelia, was very friendly, attentive, knowledgeable, she even recommended a place to go dancing after dinner and hooked me up with a complimentary birthday shot of this delicious pineapple infused tequila! The tacos in this place are PHENOMENAL!! I had shrimp, rotisserie chicken and steak tacos...and OMG they were to die for!! I am very pleased with my experience here and I'll be returning for more in the near future!! Thank you, Machete, for making my birthday special and giving us such great service and food!!!
(5)
Jessie A.
Great salsa sampler, yummy homemade-tasting tortillas and infused-tequila margs, and probably the most delicious chicken salad I've had in ages! Will definitely be a regular new spot for lunch or HH!
(4)
David S.
Love the atmosphere of this place. Mexico meets day of the dead feel. Thought the prices were a little high but after trying the quality of the food and drinks, it's worth it. Loved the shark tacos and chips with 4 different salsas. I will be a repeat visitor for sure.
(4)
Kathryn T.
We went to Machete tonight and absolutely loved it. All of the servers were great and weren't bothered in the least by answering my boyfriend and my questions about food and tequila. The corn tortillas were amazing. I recommend the Flor de Jamaica quesadilla, the Cost I'll a Ahumada taco (which my boyfriend thinks tastes like pork and apple pie) and the Pollo Rostizado taco. I got the Kona margarita (tequila infused with pineapple and coconut), which was light and refreshing. Kind of a shame that most of their drinks are made with Cuervo, especially since they offer such a good selection of tequilas. All in all, we really enjoyed our meal. Thanks, Machete! You guys are awesome!
(4)
Brian M.
Solid tacos in a great location! Margaritas are ordinary, a bit stronger than usual.
(4)
Christian W.
I live in San Fracisco Bay Area , the home of the taco truck and these are THE BEST street tacos I've had!! The mole is to die for, ambience is great and fun and the service was good. Good stuff!
(5)
Jamie T.
Food was great! It was fun to pick your tacos a la carte. Husband loved the halibut taco, my favorite was the flank steak. Had a nice selection of tequila. The bartender turned us on to the 1921 cream tequila we loved it much we bought a bottle. Will go back next time we are downtown.
(5)
Bruce F.
Loud, energetic atmosphere on a Saturday night. Tons of tequilas, margs and tacos to choose from. Excellent margaritas and truly supreme tacos. My personal favorite was halibut in a rojo sauce with pineapple butter on a black squid ink tortilla. I can't wait to have that taco again and try some more new ones. Outstanding light chips. Well done Machete!
(4)
Michelle G.
My friend thought they were just overpriced street tacos, but I really enjoyed them, as well as the margs. Loved the variety and a la carte style.
(4)
Jim S.
Excellent margaritas and fantastic service. The tacos we tried were all good. The only small complaint abut the food was the chips and salsa...the chips were so salty almost to the point of being inedible. Our waitress was very friendly and helpful and kept our drinks full. We would certainly come back again
(4)
Jennifer M.
This place is pretty pricey, drinks are all in the $10 range and the tacos are all around $4-5/each, no free chips and salsa. We sat at the bar and the service was very hot/cold. Sometimes she was nice other times she was rude. I didn't really enjoy the experience all that much and probably would not return. The food was decent though.
(3)
Chris H.
Avoid this bar. The drinks are terrible and way over priced. Not sure if it was just the night we were there but the crowd was pretty lame as well. The atmosphere was a bit over done. Overall it was another trendy bar that was trying way too hard and fails to be unique and quality in any way. The one plus was that the staff and service was good.
(1)
Ryan A.
This place is AWESOME! Great food, tequila, and employees! I plan on going to this place every time i visit denver!
(5)
BryAnna V.
Yum! In Denver with my girlfriends and this was a lovely experience. Our server, Ty was awesome. Very knowledgeable and happy to share his favorites with us. The crab guacamole was de-lish! I loved the assortment of salsas, but my favorite was the verde. The fresno salsa was a close second. It had fantastic layers of flavor. We ended up getting the 12 tacos special and there were 4 of us, so we had 3 tacos each. I am glad that I got to taste 3 of these amazing tacos (halibut, chili relleno, and the chef's choice veggies) but for street tacos they are pretty stinkin' huge. So between the scrumptious cucumber marg, the chips, salsas, guacamole and tacos I was about to pop...but in a good way. One of my favorite parts was the spice that came across in the flavors. They are not afraid to heat up the food and in the best way. The ambiance of the place matches the food. Lots of textures, great stuff to look at. The service was fabulous! Just all around fab
(5)
Brian J.
food was petite but delicious. tons of unique taco choices. our server jesska was hands down the most attentive I've had anywhere for quite some time. all of their cocktails are doubles, so come prepared!
(5)
Katie W.
This places was delicious! We got the chicharron guac, which comes with four salsas. It was a great combination but a little much for two people. The smoked salsa was spicy but really good, and was by far our favorite. We got four tacos and all of them were excellent. The halibut and campechano were the best. The filling was generous and flavorful. And of course, the margaritas were strong and delicious. Surprisingly, we preferred the machete to the Cadillac. Also the Paloma was weird and overly sweet and melon flavored. As far as service and atmosphere go, our server was attentive and helpful. The place has a more bar like casual environment compared to many similar quality downtown restaurants. Overall, enjoyed the trip and will definitely be back.
(5)
Michael C.
I really love this place. In a town with mediocre Mexican food, Machete's is an amazing Southern Mexican quinine. Honestly, this is more of a chic gourmet Mexican. It is really worth the trip. My favorite is Chicken Tinga Quesadillas. It so original and amazing, you have to try it. Honestly, I love everything here, but I love it so much, I always end up ordering it because it is so original and amazing. Also try the Calma Borrachos, it is a real winner too!
(5)
Robert K.
Wow, based upon the average 4 star review I was looking forward to a nice Mexican meal and a great margarita. When we arrived we had a reasonable 15 minute wait for our table,cso we proceeded to the bar for a Margarita. I'm a big fan of Don Julio Anejo Tequila, so I ordered a margarita consisting of this tequila. The price tag was $20, which is by far, one of the most expensive margaritas I've ever ordered. I was expecting something spectacular. Instead I received a small cocktail type glass which consisted of at best 1 1/2 shots of tequila. The margarita's ingredients were subpar except for the Don Julio Anejo and I was extremely disappointed. Next we order chips and salsa which were just o.k. Flavor of the typical tomato based salsa was bland and watery. In addition, we ordered guacamole which had way to much lime added. We then ordered a number of tacos and there to were just o.k., somewhat bland and flavorless. The overall experience here was mediocre In comparison to other good Mexican restaurants that I have dined at throughout the U.S. and Mexico. In all I happen to agree with all other poor reviews of this establishment. This restaurant needs to step up it's game. Possibly they should visit some of Rick Bayless's Mexican restaurants in Chicago to experience Mexican food and drinks at there finest!
(1)
Colleen B.
It's pretty dang dark in here. I have to say, I wasn't impressed with two important things that are very important at any Mexican spot (in my eyes): The Guac and Margaritas. The guac was very creamy but no flavor. I went for the Strawberry Margarita and it was just overwhelming with alcohol and just not enjoyable to sip on. I didn't even finish it. For the tacos I chose: - Al Pastor | Duroc roasted pig, guajillo chile marinated pork, pineapple, onions and cilantro - Arrachera | Hanger steak, avocado salsa, onions and cilantro - Chicharron de queso | Crispy panela cheese, salsa chile cascabel, grilled onions Skip the chicharron de queso - zero taste. Def go with the Al Pastor - delicious! My highlight of the entire experience here. Another random note, the menu is overwhelming with the way it is designed.
(2)
Andrea K.
We love Machete! They've recently changed up their happy hour (M-F 2-7) and now all margs (excluding the upgrades on tequilas, of course) are $7. I'm a big fan of the mojorita and the spicy margarita. The tacos on HH are now $3 but I love all the different options. Hubs fave is the Campechano with steak and chorizo and a delicious green salsa on top. I also love it and I really enjoy their veggie tacos too. It comes on the hibiscus tortilla which I like for its different flavor profile- adding something unique to the taco. We will keep returning!
(4)
Christopher B.
I met a friend here one evening and it's a good spot for drinks and small bites. We had guac and chips, which was good, and later tacos, which were also good. They have a good beer selection which focuses primarily on Mexican and Coloradan. It's a good spot to hang out before moving on elsewhere. I think it's on par with Pinche in most aspects.
(4)
Dustin H.
Stopped in before a Rockies game. The environment was great, so many different tequilas. It was good, but not blown away. Multiple salsas only one of which was good. I really loved the selection of tacos, I had the lamb(ok), and steak w/ chorizo(Good). Drinks good but over priced. I'd go again but not my first choice if I feel like a taco.
(3)
Nicole D.
Machete's is that go to place when you are craving some street tacos and want a little tequila to wash it down with. I've been several times (girls night, bachelorette party, date night) and each time I have: 1) Wanted to try everything on the menu 2) Ordered two tacos and wished I had ordered three 3) Envied someone else's drink or taco 4) Wished I could read Spanish so I could understand the comics in the bathroom I will say that, while I wouldn't have necessarily picked the Mako Shark taco ever, I'm glad I heeded the advice of that hipster bartender at Mercantile and made my husband get it. Wow, talk about ample goodness! It's a larger portion than most of the other selections and it really is scrumptious. I'm not a shark meat fan, but have now opened that door so watch out sharks! The Al Pastor is my now second favorite (Mako now taking #1 spot), Tinga is good and the Acapulco is yummy yet a bit on the smaller serving side, I'd like it to be a little fatter if you know what I mean. Love the Skinny Marg and Mojito Rita. I have also tried the Kona but wasn't crazy about it. Ambiance is definitely party, fun, group favorable. There is a room off of the main dining section that you can ask for as well. It has a large screen TV and is great if you have a group (I think it's for 8-10) and want a little more privacy. Of course the location is great and while I haven't been to their Cherry Creek spot, I'd like to check it out as that one is closer to me.
(4)
William Z.
Wasn't a huge fan of the drink I had. It was a definite heavy pour. But with all that aside... THE FOOD IS 5 STARS. I will come back and I will eat seven more tacos... We literally couldn't stop eating them. Decor was awesome and artistic but it was a little loud. With that being said, you need to visit this joint. PERIOD!!!!
(4)
Clay W.
I wanted to give a my girlfriend a good experience and I hopped on Yelp to find a place for dinner before a show at the arts center. Holy Crap! I'm a Taco guy, I live for Tacos, I love Tacos! This place is amazing. Tacos were great (the lobster tail ones blew my mind) and the tequila list was impressive. Service from the bar was a little slow, our waitress seemed to chat up the bartender a little more then I liked, but I love this place and I'll be back.
(4)
Natasha P.
These tacos are legit! I loved the chicken & crispy potato one (I forget the name). The lobster one was pretty good and the lamb was a big hit. Definitely will be back for happy hour. Well drink prices at the bar were really reasonable. I'm not much of a tequila person, but if you are there are plenty of options here.
(5)
James D.
Tacos are amazing. The cheese taco to die for. Sounds weird... A fried cheese taco. But it so deliciously bomb. Give it a try. The 4 salsas are equally good. Great atmosphere. Good vibes
(5)
justin d.
stopped in wanting to compare it to Bennys as they were on the same list for top 10 Mexican joints in Denver. In all honesty they are two different types of food but they are both amazing! So now to go on about Machete, first thing you notice is the atmosphere as you walk in and through the locker isles of tequila when you come in and look over to see a picture of the most interesting man in the world. After that we were sat and browsed the margaritas, decent list but I went with the house just to get a feeling and fml it was strong! I could have ordered two but I had stuff to do after we ate. We ordered the arrachera, campechano, tripa, lengua, cochinita pibil and the costilla ahumada tacos. The pickled onions on the pilbil tacos were a delicious and the probably one of my favorite tacos right up there with the lengua ones as well. The apples on the costilla ahumada tacos were some of the best cooked apples I've ever had but reminded of an off dessert. Over all I would recommend this to place to anyone!
(4)
Cyndi J.
Opening day for the Rockies - which means that every amateur is out and about, taking up my seat in my favorite places! We happened upon this place because we needed to eat and wanted to watch the Rockies game. The service started strong, but as it got busier was a little slower. But the food - OH the food! I had a cucumber margarita with chili-lime salt. It was refreshing and unique. My husband and I sampled several tacos - my favorites were the conchita pibil and al pastor. My husband had the shark, and it was actually quite tasty. The music in here was loud, and while the Rockies game was on TV, both the bartenders we asked said they couldn't turn down the music and turn up the Rockies game. This was off-putting for us, so we left to find a place that would. A small blemish that I can overlook, given the high quality and taste of the food here.
(5)
Holly E.
We hit it right before noon and the place was empty, however when we left it was packed. Our waitress was very nice and attentive. Tacos were decent but didn't live up to the hype. I had the robalito al pastor and. lengua. Guacamole was fresh but lacking flavor. We did love two of the salsas especially the creamy red pepper. Probably won't go back unless I have a hankerin' for happy hour margs.
(3)
Kristine N.
This place is always busy and there's always a wait. Cool atmosphere with loud music and dimmed lighting. Tacos are $4-$5 each so they add up quickly. Favorites were the hangar steak, mole, and halibut. The other chicken taco is quite dry. The guacamole is good but not for $9! Goodness. They do have an awesome location. We put in our order and about 25 minutes later the server came by and told us our ticket never printed to the kitchen. Asked to take our order again. After realizing our frustration, he stated, at least I caught it before an hour went by right? This place cheaped out on the system, not my fault. Sure dude, sure.
(3)
Apple W.
Lamb taco is unparallelled.
(5)
Josh d.
Disclaimer: Much of this is copy/pasted from my review of Machete's Cherry Creek Location - There will be stuff added and deleted to make it more relevant to this location though... I like this place. I like this location more than their other location, because I hate fucking cherry creek. It's a nightmare to get around the area, so... Them opening up in my neighborhood makes it for much more happy taco times. Cool taco choices, reasonably priced. Friendly staff, HUGE tequila selection. Everything seems fresh. The place seems dirty, but not in a bad way... It just feels like the southwest... I think they're going for that ambiance of and imagery of when I think about the kinds of places Speedy Gonzalez would be hanging out now, that he's out of his prime... The men's room has what looks like old spanish comics, which gives it it's own vibe. Add to the fact that the name is, intentional or unintentional, the same as my favorite Danny Trejo character/movie/whatever makes this all the more awesome.
(4)
Heather W.
I gave Machete 3 stars because our waitress was totally awesome and the guacamole and chips appetizer was tasty. It was kind of downhill from there. To be fair, I should have stuck with the tacos, after all it's what they are known for. However, the Chili Relleno was not that special, I might even go as far as the second worst I had ever had. It was smothers in a tomato sauce and the pepper was tough. The margarita had a lot of tequila in it. The restaurant was so loud it was difficult to hold a conversation.
(3)
Cece A.
I'm so happy that I happened to walk by this place and decided to give it a try! My boyfriend and I decided to come here on a Saturday night to celebrate his birthday which was the night before and I'm so happy we did. I loved the decor in this place it was definitely unique and stood out from your usual taco eateries. It was pretty busy but we were seated right away and had water brought to our table. We ended up getting a Lengua (cow tounge) taco, Pescado (fish) quesadilla and a Campechano (grilled flank steak) taco which was a m a z i n g! The food was excellent I sincerely enjoyed everything. The service was fast and friendly even on a busy Saturday night. It is a little loud so if you wanted to have a deep conversation with someone I wouldn't recommend going here. It's a little noisy but fun... just sit close to the other person. Also, the drinks are a littleeee expensive I ended up having two drinks for $30 but they got the job done ;) We loved this place! If you want something unique give this place a try! We enjoyed this place so much, we were thinking of going back the next day. Maybe we will stop by this weekend. We also ended up having 5 more people join us at our table with plenty of room and no problems at all. :)
(5)
Russell G.
Wow....this place blew me away! Decoration is upscale but a little creepy. Overall, a good vibe throughout the place. Staff is pretty good about keeping up with you. The tacos here are superb and if you haven't tried them yet, you failed. The price on the menu is per taco. Pricey but so worth it! You must try: Al Pastor Lengua (if you are an adventurous eater) Mole Mazunte Also, try the various versions of the Guacamole app! Get in here!!!!
(5)
Leanna C.
If you want a margarita that's strong this is the place to come. The margarita prices are pretty steep but well worth it in terms of alcohol content. I've had several different variations of their margs and I can't really tell much of a difference in taste. The tacos here are kind of pricey regularly but are a great deal during happy hour. They have really different combinations but all are good. Try the mahi taco and the chicken taco, easily my two favorites. If you aren't feeling tacos the chile relleno is really good, the portion is somewhat small but is really tasty.
(4)
Kate D.
I went here the other night on a date as my guy wanted to check this place out since he'd never been. I had been to HH at the Cherry Creek location and had been impressed with their variation of salsas and their skinny margarita. The place is definitely vibrant and walls covered with all kinds of masks and art work. Service started out great, but seemed to wane as the night went on. We got our drink orders right away, but when it came to ordering food, it seemed like our server almost forgot about us. When he finally came to take our order, my date ordered before me, as I wasn't sure at the time what I wanted to order since I hadn't really looked at the menu yet. By the time I finally did order, my date had ordered another drink. Oddly enough, both my food and my drink came out before his. We even mentioned this to the person delivering the food as we thought it was odd. I saw our server look over and notice and he disappeared towards the back, but never came back with my date's food. At that point, my date encouraged me to go ahead and start eating since my food was getting cold. We joked about how they were probably spitting in his food and drink from the comment he made to the waiter about the chips not being super fresh and later learning that they don't make them in house. Long story short, he did finally get his food and drink. Our tacos were ok. I think my date got the Al Pastor and Arrachera. I got the Pollo Rostizado, which the chicken had very little flavor, the Mole, basic mole flavor, and the Arrachera, which ended up being both of our favorites. Not terrible tacos by any means, but definitely don't think I'll be back again due to the service and overall lack of flavor of some of the tacos. The drinks are definitely a little better. I feel like they make a better Skinny over at the CC location. The Spicy Rico Rita however was awesome. If I did have to go back, I'd probably order that again along with chips and salsa.
(3)
Latti L.
Margarita are not made with the sweet and sour mix but with lime juice and agave nectar. "The lucky one" is awesome with just a splash of both. Tacos come a la carte but are pretty incredible. Tried the Mazunte with mako shark and the Robalito al Pastor is a close second with pineapple butter and halibut. Great bar atmosphere with day of the dead deco everywhere and decent music.
(5)
Nica Z.
Their food is pretty delicious. I really enjoyed the queso, it is a little different. However I did a to go order with them and ordered a quesadilla, chips, queso and guacamole. The total was 25 dollars before tip. I would say that's a little over priced. If I ordered drinks I would understand that but just for a simple to go order a little much for not that high of quality food.
(3)
R M.
Great tasting authentic Mexican food and so many delicious salsas to choose from. Hands down...going back for more good eats!
(4)
Jeremy C.
Tacos are great come out fast, with a wide variety. Damn good margaritas and happy hour prices. Real chill atmosphere, everyone including the chef checks on you
(5)
Justine S.
Wow. The margaritas were amazing. Queso was on point. And the tacos .... Yes please! My new favorite spot for street tacos! So glad I found this spot.
(5)
Cyn C.
Having been to both the LoDo and Cherry Creek locations, I can say I'm a big fan of Machete. I don't typically drink tequila anymore (unless I'm asking for trouble) but Machete makes it awful hard to say no. Last time, I had the pineapple and coconut infused margarita. Wow. That went down WAY too easily. The only reason i didn't get another was because I knew I had to drive home. Food is also spectacular here. Great selection of "American New" tacos. Salsas and guac are simply delicious (I love that you get a variety of salsas). Deciding between locations? LoDo is... well. in LoDo. Close to Union Station and all that LoDo has to offer. The interior of the LoDo location is dim and intimate. There's one area that's a bunch of couches in a square that's great for a group of 10 or so. Cherry Creek actually has a great set up outside. Comfy patio furniture with coffee tables. Easy to mingle and add on to your group. If you know you're gonna stay in one spot, I'd recommend the Cherry Creek location over the LoDo one.
(4)
Sadie P.
I was not as much of a fan as I thought I was going to be. I really like street tacos, but I am a stickler for authentic flavors. I tried two different ones, the pork and the steak. Both were very good for $3 each. But I would not call them authentic. They were very tasty and i could see how you could eat 10 if you have been drinking lol. Good spot for a quick bite and a nice chat, ( as the bartenders are very nice)
(3)
Carolyn M.
Holy moly, this is one expensive street taco joint! Don't get me wrong, the food and margs are great, but they BETTER be at $10 and $4 respectively! A weekday lunch can get a little bit pricey, but service is speedy and the ambiance is great. There can never really be too many taco bars in downtown Denver.
(4)
Taylor K.
Let's call this a less than pleasing experience. 20 minutes to beer #1...it's busy...not a big deal. Server was busting her ass but 8 tables on a Sat night warrants delays. After an hour for our food, we asked to speak to the manager. Melissa was a treat! Unapologetic and totally confrontational. I've been out of the service industry for a decade but I'm pretty sure she took the exact opposite approach you'd expect from anyone looking to manage a successful restaurant in a city that understands good service. Might return when the entire staff turns over (and it will).
(2)
Brian B.
They were able to make vegan tacos and the guacamole was delicious. The fresh chips were a nice touch with the different kinds of salsa. The noise level was a little loud but if you talk loud you could hear.
(4)
Jay G.
I literally stumbled onto this place after doing some bar hopping / pub crawling down the 16th St Mall while on vacation from California this past weekend. It was a Sunday afternoon/evening so getting in and out of places was quite easy and service was great. Anyhow, my wife and I saw the sign as we were looking to get a selfie at Union Station and I said, "eff it" let's try this place. We were buzzed and upon entering the atmosphere was like woah. Very cool/creepy yet authentic vibe in this place. The crowd was pretty anglo so that might make you question how truly authentic it is... but let me tell you... the small amount of things we tried were great. We didn't get anything too big since we were only stopping and getting appetizers and like 1 or 2 drinks per spot we hit. My wife got roasted cactus (nopal asado)... I got esquite (or charred corn). She's from Zacatecas and a big old nopalera... me not so much... but we both loved the nopal asado. She doesn't like mayo so she didnt enjoy my esquite, but I thought it was great and spicy. The chips & salsa thing we got was good. All salsa were spicy and had their own unique taste. Not cool that it's charged for, but whatever. I got a simple Victoria beer and my wife got a bloody mary (not sure what it was called on the menu)... it was a bit too strong to enjoy... but at least it wasn't as nasty as the bloddy mary we tried in Estes Park @ the Stanley Hotel (it was horseraddish in it, yuck). Anyways... the typical stuff ppl would get here is probably tacos (hence the name)... but I figured I'd try more specialty stuff that anglos aren't probably used to (nopales and esquite) and they didn't dissapoint. For this reason and the overall style I gave it 4 stars. The strong drink took it a star down. Cool spot tho.
(4)
Jennifer C.
Dropped in here on a whim after hearing about the margarita specials on Sunday ($7 margaritas). My friend and I ordered Salsas and Chips, Guacamole, Machete Margarita, Chicharron Taco, Robalito Al Pastor Taco, Lengua Taco, and Pollo Rotizerado Quesadilla. Salsas and chips - super salty chips, small quantities of dipping salsas Guacamole - Super tasty but maybe not worth the $7 special Machete Margarita - Tasty, but very, very strong Chicharron Taco - Small but tasty, oily. Robalito Al Pastor - Lots of flavor. Spicy. Delicious. Lengua Taco - Simple, well cooked, and tasty (but one giant piece that deserved to be cut) Pollo Quesadilla - Ok. Nothing to brag about though. Comes with peppers on the side. Overall it was mediocre. Wasn't bad but it didn't live up to what we were told about it. I probably wouldn't go back.
(3)
Mary B.
3.5 would be my rating. The food was spectacular. The service was horrible. Be careful with the margarita...it's 2.5 shots of tequila per drink. Tried the 12 tacos with our group of 4...and all were great! Waitress had a real attitude and we were seated at a tiny table for 4 adults.
(3)
Samantha E.
I only got to go to Machete Tacos a couple of times, but it quickly became one of my favorite spots! Ou first visit was for a tequila-tasting event, so it was a little hard to review, but boasted excellent tacos, service, and drinks (all provided by Arte Tequila). Our second visit was a more normal one with a few friends, but was equally delicious. Every margarita I've tasted there has been superb. I doubt you can go wrong-- everything I've tasted from the skinny to the spicy (with jalapeno) were great, and my husband and a friend liked the "hot mess" (with habanero and serrano infusion!). You also really can't pick a bad taco, as far as I can tell. The most impressive was the Mazunte with beer-battered shark in a hibiscus tortilla. Everything has been great, though-- I remember liking the mole, the flank steak, and the pork with pineapple as well. The jicama tortillas are interesting with some tacos if that interests you. If you have a group, the "Taquiza" of 12 tacos for $38 is a pretty good deal, even with the upcharge for some specialty tacos. I don't know anything about the rest of the menu, because I've always just committed to tacos, but I'm sure it's good as well. Definitely a good (relatively new) addition to the neighborhood.
(5)
Cindy F.
Stopped in here to grab a drink but turned to leave feeling anti-tequila, until this sweet waitress hooked us with her obsession for the shark tacos. We had literally just come from a pizza restaurant absolutely stuffed but the love in her tone for the tacos and margaritas sucked us right in! Thank goodness we listened! The margaritas were amazing, the atmosphere was super cool with plenty to look at (literrally EVERYWHERE), and the tacos were awesome! We split the taco arra, lengua, mazunte, and robalito and were elated to have taken her advice. This trip wouldn't have been the same without a stop in Machete. The music was loud & good, the people were friendly, the place was busy, and well- we ate... again. I plan on being back ASAP!
(5)
Dan T.
Love this place but they are struggling this summer and taking some short cuts. New menu lacks some of the fun and variety they had. Also this location lacks A/C and loads up the Margaritas with ice. I have rejected 3 margaritas the last two visits as they are all ice. And I love the food and staff, but it's an issue that will keep me away.
(3)
Ben R.
I am a die hard Pinche Tacos fan, I eat there way more often than I should. Sometimes, however my loyalties stray and I find myself at Machete. Their tacos are different than Pinche, they're a bit more 'high-end', but they're SO good. The scallop and shrimp on jicama instead of a tortilla is amazing! And if you're up for some spice, the habanero-jalapeno margarita is one of the best I've had. I love this place.
(5)
Ken I.
II would love to add a review of the food, but unfortunately we didn't get to try any since we sat there for 10 minutes without service. We even asked the bartender if we needed to order from the bar and he said he wold send a server over...that didn't happen and he didn't even ask if he could get us a drink while we wait.
(1)
Rachel S.
I was pretty excited about this place as I do enjoy my tequila perhaps too much at times. So we will start there the decor is pretty awesome as you walk in there are iron shelves with all the cool brands of tequila you see in nice liquor stores and more that probably came as an add on to a drug deal in the heart of Mexico. Then of course the traditional type Mexican restaurant type of thing with skeletons and skulls and stuff every where. One cool feature was that there were little hooks on the bottom of all the tables for the ladies to hang their nice purses on. All four of the peeps in my party got margaritas. They start around 10 dollars, which seems a little steep. Especially since one or two of them had some form of Jose Cuervo as the tequila. They were good margaritas though. For food my party each picked three tacos. Some sounded a little interesting as the ingredients may not have been good together. But every taco I tried was fantastic, yet again I thought a tad bit pricey. The shark taco seems to be the famous menu item here. And I had all good things to say about that. I'd try that because where else are you going to eat shark meat? Maybe Iceland? yeah so take advantage of that here. I guess besides the prices I thought this place couldn't decide if they wanted to be a bar or more of a restaurant. So the bar wasn't filled everyone sat at the tables getting food but the music was at the " I have to yell to be heard, which is good because I have nothing really to say to you I just want to get laid level." Which was annoying because I was at dinner caching up with friends. The table was also huge so across the table conversions were a challenge. I did enjoy my time, food and drink here. I might go back if I lived in Denver. This would be a great start to a bar hopping night.
(3)
Jon S.
We were here a few months back and had a horrible experience. My wife and I ordered their chicken tacos and both orders came out extremely under cooked. When we notified the server, I told him that it looked like our orders were mixed up because we didn't order the fish tacos. I honestly thought the fish tacos would have been a stretch, but I couldn't fathom that they'd serve such obviously under cooked chicken. They were transparent and rubbery... The server said, "no, these were correct, they're the chicken tacos". After just standing there not offering to do anything I asked him if he could take these back to the kitchen and have them finish cooking the chicken so we don't get sick. This is when the MOD came over and told us that they use "special spices" that make the chicken look red. I said, "the chicken was transparent and rubbery, it's obvious". And said, "no, your dishes aren't under cooked". And then walked away. I couldn't believe that a manager would argue with a guest. Especially when they were so obviously under cooked. When we got the bill, we were charged for the terrible chicken tacos. Wow... Won't be going back. Will stick with Margs... it's MUCH BETTER.
(1)
Tricia W.
Went for happy hour which goes until 7pm (God bless them). The margs are pretty pricey but top notch, huge and strongggg. Tacos are a great deal on happy hour too and delicious, the legua isn't as good as Pinche but still worth a try and the shrimp is bomb. Our waiter was awesome and able to accommodate a group of 12 of us which is pretty incredible when you're reservation is for 6... Definitely recommend, probably a good place for a date too!
(5)
Nick M.
The guacamole is wonderful and the salsa flight that you get is really good too and they come with really good chips. The tacos are typically pretty good, some are MUCH better than others (don't get the Chicharron de queso, get the Langosta). Drinks are pretty strong, taste good, but are pretty pricy. Cool atmosphere in a great location.
(4)
Brandon E.
Great food, delicious margaritas, and a really nice staff... We came in late and they were still on point. Go try it!!!
(5)
John C.
Some of the best street tacos I've had... Between the 5 of us we had several different variations and all felt the same way. Delicious!
(5)
Paul P.
Don't expect the mixologists to pour a frozen concoction with Gold tequila from a slurpee machine. Do expect to see them dicing habanero and jalapeno peppers to add to an amazing drink menu!!!! The ladies behind the bar are professional bartenders who are helpful with selections whether it be food or drink. My wife and I went yesterday and luckily we got to be there for the new menu roll-out. This may be the freshest ingredients you can get in a restaurant. We are very impressed and totally hooked on Machete's!!!!
(5)
Bethany W.
Really, really exceptional handcrafted tacos. Get the 12 pack to share and you have plenty to taste. (Take the leftovers home because as soon as you have room ... you will want another) Don't skip the margarita. Sit at the bar if you want to learn about tequilas. Over 100 to taste and learn about and the bartender loves to tell you about them.
(5)
julie n.
Tapa style (street tacos)...1 taco per order at $4-$5 each, gets pretty pricey. Many taco bars in the area to compete with. My favorite was the shrimp and Husbands favorite was the Pastor.
(3)
Doug B.
I had a few friends in town and we decided to escape the rain and grab some tacos. There was a wide variety of tacos and are well priced. The tacos are so flavorful and I will definitely be going back! Their margarita wasn't that good though
(4)
George F.
Wow! I really love this place. I went with some friends while doing a beer tour of Denver. I had the Costilla Ahumada taco (smoked pork rib meat with chile puya rub sauteed green apples and green onions) and the Robalito al Pastor taco (grilled halibut marinated in recado rojo pineapple butter with onion and cilantro in a squid ink tortilla). They were outstanding! We started with some Tecates and then enjoyed a Casa Amigos Tequila at the bar based on the recommendation of the bartender. I'm not a big tequila fan (or any kind of spirits for that matter) but it was so smooth and tasty. I'd definitely go back to this place!
(5)
Rachelle H.
Went here for the first time after we went to opening day for the Rockies!! It was packed full but we got a table very fast. The atmosphere is great! The menu will push you out of your comfort zone and for good reason. The tacos were delish! Everyone's drinks were great but the Cadillac Margarita I ordered was disappointing. As busy as they were, the staff was great and on top of everything. I will defiantly be going back, trying some new types of tacos and giving the margaritas another shot.
(4)
Catherine P.
Stopped in for a late dinner on Sunday night, unfortunately the kitchen closes at 9:00 and we arrived at 8:54 (restaurant closes at 10 on Sunday). No time to peruse the menu as we were being rushed to order. Hubby had the Calma Borrachos, which we did not realize was slathered with their HOT salsas. The waitress was great! She had the kitchen refire it and he loved it. I tasted it and it was yummy. I would have it with the hot salsas. I had the chili relleno and it was good, but I liked my husband's dish better. The chips and 4 salsas was really good! Emilia was our server and she did a wonderful job of taking care of us! All in all, I would say a 4 for the food and a 5 for service.
(4)
David K.
Another Denver Fail. Stopped in at 8:30 p.m. on a Sunday evening. The place was not that busy and I saw two bartenders. I sat at the bar for about 15 minutes and was never acknowledged. Noticed the other patrons at the bar were not asked if they needed anything either. I walked out without a word ever being exchanged. Strange, but sadly par for the course for Denver. Too bad because I'm a big Tequila fan and a generous tipper.
(1)
Allyson H.
The margaritas here are seriously delicious, go down way too easy, and will probably knock you on your behind if you enjoy one too many. But boy are they good! This is a fun spot to go for drinks after work. They have tacos on special during happy hour, which are decent but aren't my favorite. I wish they had greater variety on their menu. Their guacamole is tasty, as are the three other salsas they serve you when you order it.
(4)
R K.
What a fun place to have a large group of people! The staff was so helpful and nice - from the hostess (Laura) to the manager (riann) and our amazing server (Amelia). This place not only impressed with service, but the tacos are so good!! There's a huge selection of tequila (pineapple infused!) too with great price points. We look forward to coming back soon!
(5)
Sam F.
Hit this place up for two happy hours on two separate occasions - a selection of their tacos are featured and you get a knock off their margaritas. A cool small space, well laid out - can get busy and loud. The tacos are solid with a few standouts - the smoked pork rib meat chief among them. Beers are a bit spendy. Service was solid. A good option for this hood if you are in a relative hurry and have less than 5 in your party.
(4)
Jzs N.
Delicious margs. Delicious food. Thanks guys.
(5)
Jackie T.
Came here one night with my brother when he was in town. I ordered the arrachera taco, campechano taco, and the pollo rostizado taco. They were all good, but the campechano was amazing. Coming from San Diego, I'm a snob when it comes to street tacos. Machete's did this one right! Flank steak, red chorizo, oaxaca cheese, cilantro, onion, and salsa verde--- bomb! I'd go back and just order like 5 of these babies! I also had a machete margarita which was good but way too strong for me (say what you want). I got the mojito rita after that and it was really delicious- the mojito-ness cut down the taste of the tequila. I'll definitely be back!
(5)
Kate N.
I like machete but only go there for special occasions because it is so pricy! The food tastes great but the portions are pretty small. The drinks are also really expensive. We haven't had great service at this location but it is pretty small so nothing takes too long at least!
(3)
Terry S.
Ok. They try awfully hard but pull up a little short. Absolutely grotesque decor -- friendly enough
(3)
Justin K.
The tacos are all unique and delicious. Great food. However, the service was a bit spotty. The waitress seemed annoyed, we were given our food before our silverware, and it took a while for anyone to take our order. Great tacos, hopefully the service will be better if you check it out.
(3)
Brittany B.
I'm ashamed to say I hadn't even heard of this place (or maybe I had but didn't really take note) until my man and I decided to grab some grub before a Nuggets' game. Boy, am I glad we did! The ambiance is a little interesting, but matches well with the establishment. The taco list is varied and everything we tasted was delicious (five different tacos, including the shark which I was pleasantly surprised with, and four margaritas). Let me just plug the pina colada-like margarita. It's wonderful! But scary-smooth, so beware. And if you order a "Spicy Kenny" (strawberry with jalapeno), you won't be dissapointed. We both finished two and were feeling pretty easy-going, if you know what I mean, so they don't skimp on their pours. We also enjoyed the salsa and guac. All of them were delicious. I have not one issue/compaint, but I can't give five stars on a one-time visit... can I?... ...to be continued...
(4)
Ryan M.
Finally a Mexican restaurant that does not offer a single margarita with sweet and sour in it. I can't stand it when even the expensive margaritas use S&S. It should be illegal. Machete margarita is great and a big glass as well (small glasses should also be outlawed). Also tried the Mojito margarita and one with chile powder on the rim. Both fantastic and a am a margarita fiend! Tacos are great too. Friendly service. Good decor. Really pleased!!!
(5)
Mary T.
Every time we have come here not only is the food great but each staff person is excellent! You won't be disappointed.
(5)
Meg J.
Love this place!! THe Street tacos are amazing and perfectly portioned. Their skinny marg is is one of my favs!!!
(4)
Amy O.
Honestly, I find these tacos very similar to Pinche Tacos, BOTH of which I really love. So, that's no disrespect to Machete! However, I do recall an extremely creative cricket taco that Machete offered at the Top Taco event. Anyway, back to the restaurant. Excellent drinks and atmosphere. Great service, too! I'd come in first for a Yelp event, and then returned a second time when I had a friend in town. If I bring an out of town friend to your establishment, you are the cream of the crop in my opinion!
(4)
Kristin M.
Would come here again for the service, food, and prices. Good value! Went here with some family on a Friday evening and being from Chicago, was surprised but delighted to see happy hour food/drink specials that ran all night. As well, a couple people in our party weren't there right away at the reservation time since I accidentally sent them to the other location in Denver (woops), but the staff was super nice about it and said it's happened before. Unlike a lot of places in Chicago, we were seated w/o our whole party being there, and the server was up front about asking us how we wanted our checks split--(again, such a breath of fresh air!!) Had an enjoyable time trying the different tacos, eating way too many chips and guac, and sampling the various margaritas (no blended ones there, which I prefer). Definitely try this place!
(4)
Deginald W.
Nice environment, great staff and cool people, could be a lot better but met my expectations.. Had a better experience there during day hours than at night but great food and drinks!
(4)
Joe Y.
Located across the street from Union Station is Machete's second location. Their Cherry Creek location will have easier parking. They have the most Tequila list in Denver with a vibe of a Mexico City cantina. Happy Hour Mon-Fri 2-7pm.
(4)
Bhavesh P.
Delicious, absolutely some of the best tacos I've had. The Robalito Al Pastor (Grilled Halibit) tacos were my favorite, incredibly flavorful and very light. Charissa is a great bartender (I hope I spelled her name right). Try it!
(5)
Amanda H.
This place is amazing! A HUGE tequila selection. Amazing margaritas (be warned, their Machete Marg is delicious and mysteriously strong), tacos to die for and salsas for everyone. Order the chips and four salsas to start, dive into the jalapeño salsa and prepare to be burned so good. I'm a sucker for heat and that one was perfect. Service is outstanding. These people know their tequilas and their menu. 2 tacos= a snack, 3 tacos = a small meal. The atmosphere is perfect for this place. Also, the color changing skull lamps on the bar are so perfect!! This place is definitely worth your time.
(5)
Matt W.
Great tacos. Great happy hour. Great margs. Sweet dia de Los muertos vibe. Recommended.
(5)
Jessica L.
We came here on Sunday at about 2 pm. It was pretty dead. My friends were already here waiting and they had ordered guac. The chips also came with 5 different salsas which were all pretty good. I had the kona margarita, which was pineapple/coconut infused tequila, because they were out of Bloody Mary mix for the Bloody Maria. Kind of annoying. We ordered tacos which were $2.75 each except for the starred ones. And everyone except me wanted to order the shark taco (for shark week) but they were also out of that. Really annoying. Who does that? I said to the server "are you out of everything?" Maybe that's why they're not that busy. I ordered the shrimp taco and the pork rib meat taco. They were pretty good sizes and two filled me up along with the chips. I really liked the shrimp one but the meat on other one was kind of hard to chew. We all really liked the tacos overall though. I need to go to Pinche Tacos again to see which is better. Another thing that kinda bothered me was that their online Sunday happy hour menu is not valid at this location, only at the Cherry Creek one. That should be specified. Next time I'll prob go to that location since they have happy hour food all day Sundays. I think the tacos are a tad bit pricey without happy hour. $4.50 for one taco would really rack up a bill. The server was great though. He refilled our drinks all the time and the chips too.
(3)
Christie K.
Yum! This place was SO good! We had 8 people on a busy Friday night and they were able to accommodate us without a reservation! They actually put us in this room in the back with couches it was so cool. They have lots of different tasty margaritas! I got a jalapeño one that was spicy! Yum! The food was awesome. The chips and salsa come with 4 different salsas that were all tasty! They have lots of different tacos. I am avoiding dairy and gluten right now and the waitress had no problem helping me out! The service was good, our waitress was very nice. All in all a great experience!
(5)
Jordan D.
their margs can be a little pricey but they have a good happy hour, but do yourself a favor and try the steak/shrimp quesidilla!
(4)
Marilyn S.
Cool atmosphere, great location, great vibe. Rustic cabin meets taqueria. Street tacos menu, the favorite being the crispy pork. Really liked the chips with four assorted salsas. Good service at bar by German girl. Food runner with curly dark hair very knowledgeable and friendly. Will return!
(4)
Rebecca M.
Drinks were good, food was just okay. I could see what they were going for but it fell a bit short. Hoping it was just an off night.
(3)
Robert R.
I went here with my family last weekend and we had a great experience. The food was reasonably priced and everyone really liked that you could order by the taco. This allowed you to mix and match, and they had a very wide variety, anything from mako shark to flank steak tacos. This was also good for people in our party who weren't very hungry, so they could just get 1 or 2 tacos. They had everything you'd expect on a mexican menu as well. A ridiculously long list of different tequilas, and the margaritas were awesome. I would definitely go back here any time!
(5)
Lisa D.
My friends and I celebrated my birthday at Machete Tequila & Tacos last night, and I felt like a VIP in this place!! I'd never been here before, but I will absolutely be back! We had a large group and were uncertain of the total number of people that would show up...so the hostess brought us to a special room in the back that could seat around 10 or so with comfy leather couches and a big screen tv! I was pretty stoked at that point, knowing that my friends would be comfortable and we'd have room to spread out, and the privacy to talk about whatever we wanted! Our server, Amelia, was very friendly, attentive, knowledgeable, she even recommended a place to go dancing after dinner and hooked me up with a complimentary birthday shot of this delicious pineapple infused tequila! The tacos in this place are PHENOMENAL!! I had shrimp, rotisserie chicken and steak tacos...and OMG they were to die for!! I am very pleased with my experience here and I'll be returning for more in the near future!! Thank you, Machete, for making my birthday special and giving us such great service and food!!!
(5)
Michaela M.
Margaritas strong, which is a good thing. A little pricey but zoned in for Cherry Creek. Amazing tacos, well thought out preparation, with nice braise on the meat. Nothing tough and earthy salsa pairing. Solid lunch choice!
(4)
Jarrod P.
I just ate here yesterday for the first time and thoroughly enjoyed it. I ordered the Pollo Rostizada (chicken tacos) and they were excellent. I haven't had a chance to try their margaritas as yesterday was a lunch meeting, but will be back soon to do so. The service was fast and friendly. Really cool decorations too!
(5)
Meagan N.
Great service and unique margaritas, that are sure make you pucker! They definitely don't skimp on the tequila. The salsas are exceptional as well, but indeed spicy.
(5)
Hannah M.
Good food but crappy service. Make sure if your party of 8 has a reservation that you reconfirm a few times. We had a really bad experience and snotty hostesses.
(2)
SnowChik B.
This place is great! I thought they only had the 3rd ave location... Glad we found this one! Tacos were great! Service was awesome, even on a busy Saturday night!
(4)
Marc W.
Superb tacos. Pinche Taqueria gets all the love, but this place is better. More interesting ambiance, friendlier service, and tastier food.
(5)
Jonathan C.
Amazingly delicious tacos and margaritas. The guacamole was fresh and good as well. They serve 4 salsas, all with unique tastes and consistency. We will return for sure.
(5)
Shannon M.
I would comment on the food but I didn't have an opportunity to experience it. I came in last Friday night with a few people that live in my building. We live just blocks away and thought this would be a good place to have a drink and appetizer. We sat at the bar and their was a female bartender who acknowledge the two gentlemen with me but not myself. She began to strike up flirt with one of the guys with us and ease drop on my conversation with my neighbor. She began to insult me to our friend. I was shocked and we left the facility. I am a frequent visitor of many restaurants in this area and have never been so appalled and insulted in my life. I will never return to this establishment. What a detriment to business.
(1)
Bridgette M.
Delish spicy jalapeño margs & friendly tenders. Good place to watch a game!! Thirsty Lion across the street's poor customer service & lack of enthusiasm for local sports filled Machete up for the second half!
(4)
Kathy K.
They have JICAMA tacos! It is nice and refreshing and GLUTEN FREE! I do not have a gluten intolerance, but carbs free! My boyfriend gets the pollo rostizado and yesterday I ordered the camarones colima... LOVE IT! I thought it was going to be a small appetizer, but it was as the description stated, 5 L A R G E jumbo shrimp! It comes with A LOT of guac! An assortment of salsas and chips are included!
(5)
Suzanne N.
Tacos were excellent--had the shrimp one, beef tongue one. Hubby had the steak taco, halibut one and loved them too. The margaritas are good, but be prepared they are strong! I also tried the Paloma drink, which I enjoyed. We were with a large group of people and had great service.
(4)
Funero L.
Was in from out of town on business and stumbled upon this great find. AMAZING food and a very fun atmosphere.
(5)
Wayne S.
I started in cherry creek and loved them. Just moved downtown and tried this one. Loves me some Tyrone! He is so good to us.
(5)
Madeleine P.
This place surprised me. The margaritas are incredible, especially the raspberry one. The food is really authentic too. It's a little overpriced but for a good margarita I'll pay!
(5)
Amy H.
GREAT FOOD, friendly staff and some killer margaritas that are definitely not short on tequila. Highly recommended
(5)
Eli R.
Highly recommended. I usually stick to the chicken tacos, but have heard really good things about the others - especially the halibut. I'm not a huge tequila fan, but their selection is great. Great atmosphere, and I've been treated well by the staff every time I go there.
(5)
Aaron V.
Great food and service! Have a shot of tequila and taco plate! Highly recommend to all for a great meal and service.
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Lunch Parking : Street Bike Parking : Yes Good for Kids : No Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Divey Noise Level : Loud Good For Dancing : No Alcohol : Full Bar Happy Hour : Yes Best Nights : Fri, Sat Coat Check : No Smoking : No 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.
Michaela M.
Margaritas strong, which is a good thing. A little pricey but zoned in for Cherry Creek. Amazing tacos, well thought out preparation, with nice braise on the meat. Nothing tough and earthy salsa pairing. Solid lunch choice!
(4)Jarrod P.
I just ate here yesterday for the first time and thoroughly enjoyed it. I ordered the Pollo Rostizada (chicken tacos) and they were excellent. I haven't had a chance to try their margaritas as yesterday was a lunch meeting, but will be back soon to do so. The service was fast and friendly. Really cool decorations too!
(5)Meagan N.
Great service and unique margaritas, that are sure make you pucker! They definitely don't skimp on the tequila. The salsas are exceptional as well, but indeed spicy.
(5)Hannah M.
Good food but crappy service. Make sure if your party of 8 has a reservation that you reconfirm a few times. We had a really bad experience and snotty hostesses.
(2)SnowChik B.
This place is great! I thought they only had the 3rd ave location... Glad we found this one! Tacos were great! Service was awesome, even on a busy Saturday night!
(4)Marc W.
Superb tacos. Pinche Taqueria gets all the love, but this place is better. More interesting ambiance, friendlier service, and tastier food.
(5)Jonathan C.
Amazingly delicious tacos and margaritas. The guacamole was fresh and good as well. They serve 4 salsas, all with unique tastes and consistency. We will return for sure.
(5)Shannon M.
I would comment on the food but I didn't have an opportunity to experience it. I came in last Friday night with a few people that live in my building. We live just blocks away and thought this would be a good place to have a drink and appetizer. We sat at the bar and their was a female bartender who acknowledge the two gentlemen with me but not myself. She began to strike up flirt with one of the guys with us and ease drop on my conversation with my neighbor. She began to insult me to our friend. I was shocked and we left the facility. I am a frequent visitor of many restaurants in this area and have never been so appalled and insulted in my life. I will never return to this establishment. What a detriment to business.
(1)Bridgette M.
Delish spicy jalapeño margs & friendly tenders. Good place to watch a game!! Thirsty Lion across the street's poor customer service & lack of enthusiasm for local sports filled Machete up for the second half!
(4)Kathy K.
They have JICAMA tacos! It is nice and refreshing and GLUTEN FREE! I do not have a gluten intolerance, but carbs free! My boyfriend gets the pollo rostizado and yesterday I ordered the camarones colima... LOVE IT! I thought it was going to be a small appetizer, but it was as the description stated, 5 L A R G E jumbo shrimp! It comes with A LOT of guac! An assortment of salsas and chips are included!
(5)Suzanne N.
Tacos were excellent--had the shrimp one, beef tongue one. Hubby had the steak taco, halibut one and loved them too. The margaritas are good, but be prepared they are strong! I also tried the Paloma drink, which I enjoyed. We were with a large group of people and had great service.
(4)Funero L.
Was in from out of town on business and stumbled upon this great find. AMAZING food and a very fun atmosphere.
(5)Wayne S.
I started in cherry creek and loved them. Just moved downtown and tried this one. Loves me some Tyrone! He is so good to us.
(5)Madeleine P.
This place surprised me. The margaritas are incredible, especially the raspberry one. The food is really authentic too. It's a little overpriced but for a good margarita I'll pay!
(5)Amy H.
GREAT FOOD, friendly staff and some killer margaritas that are definitely not short on tequila. Highly recommended
(5)Eli R.
Highly recommended. I usually stick to the chicken tacos, but have heard really good things about the others - especially the halibut. I'm not a huge tequila fan, but their selection is great. Great atmosphere, and I've been treated well by the staff every time I go there.
(5)Robert R.
I went here with my family last weekend and we had a great experience. The food was reasonably priced and everyone really liked that you could order by the taco. This allowed you to mix and match, and they had a very wide variety, anything from mako shark to flank steak tacos. This was also good for people in our party who weren't very hungry, so they could just get 1 or 2 tacos. They had everything you'd expect on a mexican menu as well. A ridiculously long list of different tequilas, and the margaritas were awesome. I would definitely go back here any time!
(5)Aaron V.
Great food and service! Have a shot of tequila and taco plate! Highly recommend to all for a great meal and service.
(5)Jessie A.
Great salsa sampler, yummy homemade-tasting tortillas and infused-tequila margs, and probably the most delicious chicken salad I've had in ages! Will definitely be a regular new spot for lunch or HH!
(4)David S.
Love the atmosphere of this place. Mexico meets day of the dead feel. Thought the prices were a little high but after trying the quality of the food and drinks, it's worth it. Loved the shark tacos and chips with 4 different salsas. I will be a repeat visitor for sure.
(4)Kathryn T.
We went to Machete tonight and absolutely loved it. All of the servers were great and weren't bothered in the least by answering my boyfriend and my questions about food and tequila. The corn tortillas were amazing. I recommend the Flor de Jamaica quesadilla, the Cost I'll a Ahumada taco (which my boyfriend thinks tastes like pork and apple pie) and the Pollo Rostizado taco. I got the Kona margarita (tequila infused with pineapple and coconut), which was light and refreshing. Kind of a shame that most of their drinks are made with Cuervo, especially since they offer such a good selection of tequilas. All in all, we really enjoyed our meal. Thanks, Machete! You guys are awesome!
(4)Brian M.
Solid tacos in a great location! Margaritas are ordinary, a bit stronger than usual.
(4)Christian W.
I live in San Fracisco Bay Area , the home of the taco truck and these are THE BEST street tacos I've had!! The mole is to die for, ambience is great and fun and the service was good. Good stuff!
(5)Jamie T.
Food was great! It was fun to pick your tacos a la carte. Husband loved the halibut taco, my favorite was the flank steak. Had a nice selection of tequila. The bartender turned us on to the 1921 cream tequila we loved it much we bought a bottle. Will go back next time we are downtown.
(5)Bruce F.
Loud, energetic atmosphere on a Saturday night. Tons of tequilas, margs and tacos to choose from. Excellent margaritas and truly supreme tacos. My personal favorite was halibut in a rojo sauce with pineapple butter on a black squid ink tortilla. I can't wait to have that taco again and try some more new ones. Outstanding light chips. Well done Machete!
(4)Michelle G.
My friend thought they were just overpriced street tacos, but I really enjoyed them, as well as the margs. Loved the variety and a la carte style.
(4)Jim S.
Excellent margaritas and fantastic service. The tacos we tried were all good. The only small complaint abut the food was the chips and salsa...the chips were so salty almost to the point of being inedible. Our waitress was very friendly and helpful and kept our drinks full. We would certainly come back again
(4)Jennifer M.
This place is pretty pricey, drinks are all in the $10 range and the tacos are all around $4-5/each, no free chips and salsa. We sat at the bar and the service was very hot/cold. Sometimes she was nice other times she was rude. I didn't really enjoy the experience all that much and probably would not return. The food was decent though.
(3)Chris H.
Avoid this bar. The drinks are terrible and way over priced. Not sure if it was just the night we were there but the crowd was pretty lame as well. The atmosphere was a bit over done. Overall it was another trendy bar that was trying way too hard and fails to be unique and quality in any way. The one plus was that the staff and service was good.
(1)Ryan A.
This place is AWESOME! Great food, tequila, and employees! I plan on going to this place every time i visit denver!
(5)BryAnna V.
Yum! In Denver with my girlfriends and this was a lovely experience. Our server, Ty was awesome. Very knowledgeable and happy to share his favorites with us. The crab guacamole was de-lish! I loved the assortment of salsas, but my favorite was the verde. The fresno salsa was a close second. It had fantastic layers of flavor. We ended up getting the 12 tacos special and there were 4 of us, so we had 3 tacos each. I am glad that I got to taste 3 of these amazing tacos (halibut, chili relleno, and the chef's choice veggies) but for street tacos they are pretty stinkin' huge. So between the scrumptious cucumber marg, the chips, salsas, guacamole and tacos I was about to pop...but in a good way. One of my favorite parts was the spice that came across in the flavors. They are not afraid to heat up the food and in the best way. The ambiance of the place matches the food. Lots of textures, great stuff to look at. The service was fabulous! Just all around fab
(5)Brian J.
food was petite but delicious. tons of unique taco choices. our server jesska was hands down the most attentive I've had anywhere for quite some time. all of their cocktails are doubles, so come prepared!
(5)Christopher B.
I met a friend here one evening and it's a good spot for drinks and small bites. We had guac and chips, which was good, and later tacos, which were also good. They have a good beer selection which focuses primarily on Mexican and Coloradan. It's a good spot to hang out before moving on elsewhere. I think it's on par with Pinche in most aspects.
(4)Dustin H.
Stopped in before a Rockies game. The environment was great, so many different tequilas. It was good, but not blown away. Multiple salsas only one of which was good. I really loved the selection of tacos, I had the lamb(ok), and steak w/ chorizo(Good). Drinks good but over priced. I'd go again but not my first choice if I feel like a taco.
(3)Katie W.
This places was delicious! We got the chicharron guac, which comes with four salsas. It was a great combination but a little much for two people. The smoked salsa was spicy but really good, and was by far our favorite. We got four tacos and all of them were excellent. The halibut and campechano were the best. The filling was generous and flavorful. And of course, the margaritas were strong and delicious. Surprisingly, we preferred the machete to the Cadillac. Also the Paloma was weird and overly sweet and melon flavored. As far as service and atmosphere go, our server was attentive and helpful. The place has a more bar like casual environment compared to many similar quality downtown restaurants. Overall, enjoyed the trip and will definitely be back.
(5)Robert K.
Wow, based upon the average 4 star review I was looking forward to a nice Mexican meal and a great margarita. When we arrived we had a reasonable 15 minute wait for our table,cso we proceeded to the bar for a Margarita. I'm a big fan of Don Julio Anejo Tequila, so I ordered a margarita consisting of this tequila. The price tag was $20, which is by far, one of the most expensive margaritas I've ever ordered. I was expecting something spectacular. Instead I received a small cocktail type glass which consisted of at best 1 1/2 shots of tequila. The margarita's ingredients were subpar except for the Don Julio Anejo and I was extremely disappointed. Next we order chips and salsa which were just o.k. Flavor of the typical tomato based salsa was bland and watery. In addition, we ordered guacamole which had way to much lime added. We then ordered a number of tacos and there to were just o.k., somewhat bland and flavorless. The overall experience here was mediocre In comparison to other good Mexican restaurants that I have dined at throughout the U.S. and Mexico. In all I happen to agree with all other poor reviews of this establishment. This restaurant needs to step up it's game. Possibly they should visit some of Rick Bayless's Mexican restaurants in Chicago to experience Mexican food and drinks at there finest!
(1)Colleen B.
It's pretty dang dark in here. I have to say, I wasn't impressed with two important things that are very important at any Mexican spot (in my eyes): The Guac and Margaritas. The guac was very creamy but no flavor. I went for the Strawberry Margarita and it was just overwhelming with alcohol and just not enjoyable to sip on. I didn't even finish it. For the tacos I chose: - Al Pastor | Duroc roasted pig, guajillo chile marinated pork, pineapple, onions and cilantro - Arrachera | Hanger steak, avocado salsa, onions and cilantro - Chicharron de queso | Crispy panela cheese, salsa chile cascabel, grilled onions Skip the chicharron de queso - zero taste. Def go with the Al Pastor - delicious! My highlight of the entire experience here. Another random note, the menu is overwhelming with the way it is designed.
(2)Andrea K.
We love Machete! They've recently changed up their happy hour (M-F 2-7) and now all margs (excluding the upgrades on tequilas, of course) are $7. I'm a big fan of the mojorita and the spicy margarita. The tacos on HH are now $3 but I love all the different options. Hubs fave is the Campechano with steak and chorizo and a delicious green salsa on top. I also love it and I really enjoy their veggie tacos too. It comes on the hibiscus tortilla which I like for its different flavor profile- adding something unique to the taco. We will keep returning!
(4)Michael C.
I really love this place. In a town with mediocre Mexican food, Machete's is an amazing Southern Mexican quinine. Honestly, this is more of a chic gourmet Mexican. It is really worth the trip. My favorite is Chicken Tinga Quesadillas. It so original and amazing, you have to try it. Honestly, I love everything here, but I love it so much, I always end up ordering it because it is so original and amazing. Also try the Calma Borrachos, it is a real winner too!
(5)Nicole D.
Machete's is that go to place when you are craving some street tacos and want a little tequila to wash it down with. I've been several times (girls night, bachelorette party, date night) and each time I have: 1) Wanted to try everything on the menu 2) Ordered two tacos and wished I had ordered three 3) Envied someone else's drink or taco 4) Wished I could read Spanish so I could understand the comics in the bathroom I will say that, while I wouldn't have necessarily picked the Mako Shark taco ever, I'm glad I heeded the advice of that hipster bartender at Mercantile and made my husband get it. Wow, talk about ample goodness! It's a larger portion than most of the other selections and it really is scrumptious. I'm not a shark meat fan, but have now opened that door so watch out sharks! The Al Pastor is my now second favorite (Mako now taking #1 spot), Tinga is good and the Acapulco is yummy yet a bit on the smaller serving side, I'd like it to be a little fatter if you know what I mean. Love the Skinny Marg and Mojito Rita. I have also tried the Kona but wasn't crazy about it. Ambiance is definitely party, fun, group favorable. There is a room off of the main dining section that you can ask for as well. It has a large screen TV and is great if you have a group (I think it's for 8-10) and want a little more privacy. Of course the location is great and while I haven't been to their Cherry Creek spot, I'd like to check it out as that one is closer to me.
(4)William Z.
Wasn't a huge fan of the drink I had. It was a definite heavy pour. But with all that aside... THE FOOD IS 5 STARS. I will come back and I will eat seven more tacos... We literally couldn't stop eating them. Decor was awesome and artistic but it was a little loud. With that being said, you need to visit this joint. PERIOD!!!!
(4)Clay W.
I wanted to give a my girlfriend a good experience and I hopped on Yelp to find a place for dinner before a show at the arts center. Holy Crap! I'm a Taco guy, I live for Tacos, I love Tacos! This place is amazing. Tacos were great (the lobster tail ones blew my mind) and the tequila list was impressive. Service from the bar was a little slow, our waitress seemed to chat up the bartender a little more then I liked, but I love this place and I'll be back.
(4)Natasha P.
These tacos are legit! I loved the chicken & crispy potato one (I forget the name). The lobster one was pretty good and the lamb was a big hit. Definitely will be back for happy hour. Well drink prices at the bar were really reasonable. I'm not much of a tequila person, but if you are there are plenty of options here.
(5)James D.
Tacos are amazing. The cheese taco to die for. Sounds weird... A fried cheese taco. But it so deliciously bomb. Give it a try. The 4 salsas are equally good. Great atmosphere. Good vibes
(5)justin d.
stopped in wanting to compare it to Bennys as they were on the same list for top 10 Mexican joints in Denver. In all honesty they are two different types of food but they are both amazing! So now to go on about Machete, first thing you notice is the atmosphere as you walk in and through the locker isles of tequila when you come in and look over to see a picture of the most interesting man in the world. After that we were sat and browsed the margaritas, decent list but I went with the house just to get a feeling and fml it was strong! I could have ordered two but I had stuff to do after we ate. We ordered the arrachera, campechano, tripa, lengua, cochinita pibil and the costilla ahumada tacos. The pickled onions on the pilbil tacos were a delicious and the probably one of my favorite tacos right up there with the lengua ones as well. The apples on the costilla ahumada tacos were some of the best cooked apples I've ever had but reminded of an off dessert. Over all I would recommend this to place to anyone!
(4)Cyndi J.
Opening day for the Rockies - which means that every amateur is out and about, taking up my seat in my favorite places! We happened upon this place because we needed to eat and wanted to watch the Rockies game. The service started strong, but as it got busier was a little slower. But the food - OH the food! I had a cucumber margarita with chili-lime salt. It was refreshing and unique. My husband and I sampled several tacos - my favorites were the conchita pibil and al pastor. My husband had the shark, and it was actually quite tasty. The music in here was loud, and while the Rockies game was on TV, both the bartenders we asked said they couldn't turn down the music and turn up the Rockies game. This was off-putting for us, so we left to find a place that would. A small blemish that I can overlook, given the high quality and taste of the food here.
(5)Holly E.
We hit it right before noon and the place was empty, however when we left it was packed. Our waitress was very nice and attentive. Tacos were decent but didn't live up to the hype. I had the robalito al pastor and. lengua. Guacamole was fresh but lacking flavor. We did love two of the salsas especially the creamy red pepper. Probably won't go back unless I have a hankerin' for happy hour margs.
(3)Kristine N.
This place is always busy and there's always a wait. Cool atmosphere with loud music and dimmed lighting. Tacos are $4-$5 each so they add up quickly. Favorites were the hangar steak, mole, and halibut. The other chicken taco is quite dry. The guacamole is good but not for $9! Goodness. They do have an awesome location. We put in our order and about 25 minutes later the server came by and told us our ticket never printed to the kitchen. Asked to take our order again. After realizing our frustration, he stated, at least I caught it before an hour went by right? This place cheaped out on the system, not my fault. Sure dude, sure.
(3)Apple W.
Lamb taco is unparallelled.
(5)Josh d.
Disclaimer: Much of this is copy/pasted from my review of Machete's Cherry Creek Location - There will be stuff added and deleted to make it more relevant to this location though... I like this place. I like this location more than their other location, because I hate fucking cherry creek. It's a nightmare to get around the area, so... Them opening up in my neighborhood makes it for much more happy taco times. Cool taco choices, reasonably priced. Friendly staff, HUGE tequila selection. Everything seems fresh. The place seems dirty, but not in a bad way... It just feels like the southwest... I think they're going for that ambiance of and imagery of when I think about the kinds of places Speedy Gonzalez would be hanging out now, that he's out of his prime... The men's room has what looks like old spanish comics, which gives it it's own vibe. Add to the fact that the name is, intentional or unintentional, the same as my favorite Danny Trejo character/movie/whatever makes this all the more awesome.
(4)Heather W.
I gave Machete 3 stars because our waitress was totally awesome and the guacamole and chips appetizer was tasty. It was kind of downhill from there. To be fair, I should have stuck with the tacos, after all it's what they are known for. However, the Chili Relleno was not that special, I might even go as far as the second worst I had ever had. It was smothers in a tomato sauce and the pepper was tough. The margarita had a lot of tequila in it. The restaurant was so loud it was difficult to hold a conversation.
(3)Cece A.
I'm so happy that I happened to walk by this place and decided to give it a try! My boyfriend and I decided to come here on a Saturday night to celebrate his birthday which was the night before and I'm so happy we did. I loved the decor in this place it was definitely unique and stood out from your usual taco eateries. It was pretty busy but we were seated right away and had water brought to our table. We ended up getting a Lengua (cow tounge) taco, Pescado (fish) quesadilla and a Campechano (grilled flank steak) taco which was a m a z i n g! The food was excellent I sincerely enjoyed everything. The service was fast and friendly even on a busy Saturday night. It is a little loud so if you wanted to have a deep conversation with someone I wouldn't recommend going here. It's a little noisy but fun... just sit close to the other person. Also, the drinks are a littleeee expensive I ended up having two drinks for $30 but they got the job done ;) We loved this place! If you want something unique give this place a try! We enjoyed this place so much, we were thinking of going back the next day. Maybe we will stop by this weekend. We also ended up having 5 more people join us at our table with plenty of room and no problems at all. :)
(5)Russell G.
Wow....this place blew me away! Decoration is upscale but a little creepy. Overall, a good vibe throughout the place. Staff is pretty good about keeping up with you. The tacos here are superb and if you haven't tried them yet, you failed. The price on the menu is per taco. Pricey but so worth it! You must try: Al Pastor Lengua (if you are an adventurous eater) Mole Mazunte Also, try the various versions of the Guacamole app! Get in here!!!!
(5)Leanna C.
If you want a margarita that's strong this is the place to come. The margarita prices are pretty steep but well worth it in terms of alcohol content. I've had several different variations of their margs and I can't really tell much of a difference in taste. The tacos here are kind of pricey regularly but are a great deal during happy hour. They have really different combinations but all are good. Try the mahi taco and the chicken taco, easily my two favorites. If you aren't feeling tacos the chile relleno is really good, the portion is somewhat small but is really tasty.
(4)Kate D.
I went here the other night on a date as my guy wanted to check this place out since he'd never been. I had been to HH at the Cherry Creek location and had been impressed with their variation of salsas and their skinny margarita. The place is definitely vibrant and walls covered with all kinds of masks and art work. Service started out great, but seemed to wane as the night went on. We got our drink orders right away, but when it came to ordering food, it seemed like our server almost forgot about us. When he finally came to take our order, my date ordered before me, as I wasn't sure at the time what I wanted to order since I hadn't really looked at the menu yet. By the time I finally did order, my date had ordered another drink. Oddly enough, both my food and my drink came out before his. We even mentioned this to the person delivering the food as we thought it was odd. I saw our server look over and notice and he disappeared towards the back, but never came back with my date's food. At that point, my date encouraged me to go ahead and start eating since my food was getting cold. We joked about how they were probably spitting in his food and drink from the comment he made to the waiter about the chips not being super fresh and later learning that they don't make them in house. Long story short, he did finally get his food and drink. Our tacos were ok. I think my date got the Al Pastor and Arrachera. I got the Pollo Rostizado, which the chicken had very little flavor, the Mole, basic mole flavor, and the Arrachera, which ended up being both of our favorites. Not terrible tacos by any means, but definitely don't think I'll be back again due to the service and overall lack of flavor of some of the tacos. The drinks are definitely a little better. I feel like they make a better Skinny over at the CC location. The Spicy Rico Rita however was awesome. If I did have to go back, I'd probably order that again along with chips and salsa.
(3)Latti L.
Margarita are not made with the sweet and sour mix but with lime juice and agave nectar. "The lucky one" is awesome with just a splash of both. Tacos come a la carte but are pretty incredible. Tried the Mazunte with mako shark and the Robalito al Pastor is a close second with pineapple butter and halibut. Great bar atmosphere with day of the dead deco everywhere and decent music.
(5)Nica Z.
Their food is pretty delicious. I really enjoyed the queso, it is a little different. However I did a to go order with them and ordered a quesadilla, chips, queso and guacamole. The total was 25 dollars before tip. I would say that's a little over priced. If I ordered drinks I would understand that but just for a simple to go order a little much for not that high of quality food.
(3)R M.
Great tasting authentic Mexican food and so many delicious salsas to choose from. Hands down...going back for more good eats!
(4)Jeremy C.
Tacos are great come out fast, with a wide variety. Damn good margaritas and happy hour prices. Real chill atmosphere, everyone including the chef checks on you
(5)Justine S.
Wow. The margaritas were amazing. Queso was on point. And the tacos .... Yes please! My new favorite spot for street tacos! So glad I found this spot.
(5)Cyn C.
Having been to both the LoDo and Cherry Creek locations, I can say I'm a big fan of Machete. I don't typically drink tequila anymore (unless I'm asking for trouble) but Machete makes it awful hard to say no. Last time, I had the pineapple and coconut infused margarita. Wow. That went down WAY too easily. The only reason i didn't get another was because I knew I had to drive home. Food is also spectacular here. Great selection of "American New" tacos. Salsas and guac are simply delicious (I love that you get a variety of salsas). Deciding between locations? LoDo is... well. in LoDo. Close to Union Station and all that LoDo has to offer. The interior of the LoDo location is dim and intimate. There's one area that's a bunch of couches in a square that's great for a group of 10 or so. Cherry Creek actually has a great set up outside. Comfy patio furniture with coffee tables. Easy to mingle and add on to your group. If you know you're gonna stay in one spot, I'd recommend the Cherry Creek location over the LoDo one.
(4)Sadie P.
I was not as much of a fan as I thought I was going to be. I really like street tacos, but I am a stickler for authentic flavors. I tried two different ones, the pork and the steak. Both were very good for $3 each. But I would not call them authentic. They were very tasty and i could see how you could eat 10 if you have been drinking lol. Good spot for a quick bite and a nice chat, ( as the bartenders are very nice)
(3)Carolyn M.
Holy moly, this is one expensive street taco joint! Don't get me wrong, the food and margs are great, but they BETTER be at $10 and $4 respectively! A weekday lunch can get a little bit pricey, but service is speedy and the ambiance is great. There can never really be too many taco bars in downtown Denver.
(4)Taylor K.
Let's call this a less than pleasing experience. 20 minutes to beer #1...it's busy...not a big deal. Server was busting her ass but 8 tables on a Sat night warrants delays. After an hour for our food, we asked to speak to the manager. Melissa was a treat! Unapologetic and totally confrontational. I've been out of the service industry for a decade but I'm pretty sure she took the exact opposite approach you'd expect from anyone looking to manage a successful restaurant in a city that understands good service. Might return when the entire staff turns over (and it will).
(2)Brian B.
They were able to make vegan tacos and the guacamole was delicious. The fresh chips were a nice touch with the different kinds of salsa. The noise level was a little loud but if you talk loud you could hear.
(4)Jay G.
I literally stumbled onto this place after doing some bar hopping / pub crawling down the 16th St Mall while on vacation from California this past weekend. It was a Sunday afternoon/evening so getting in and out of places was quite easy and service was great. Anyhow, my wife and I saw the sign as we were looking to get a selfie at Union Station and I said, "eff it" let's try this place. We were buzzed and upon entering the atmosphere was like woah. Very cool/creepy yet authentic vibe in this place. The crowd was pretty anglo so that might make you question how truly authentic it is... but let me tell you... the small amount of things we tried were great. We didn't get anything too big since we were only stopping and getting appetizers and like 1 or 2 drinks per spot we hit. My wife got roasted cactus (nopal asado)... I got esquite (or charred corn). She's from Zacatecas and a big old nopalera... me not so much... but we both loved the nopal asado. She doesn't like mayo so she didnt enjoy my esquite, but I thought it was great and spicy. The chips & salsa thing we got was good. All salsa were spicy and had their own unique taste. Not cool that it's charged for, but whatever. I got a simple Victoria beer and my wife got a bloody mary (not sure what it was called on the menu)... it was a bit too strong to enjoy... but at least it wasn't as nasty as the bloddy mary we tried in Estes Park @ the Stanley Hotel (it was horseraddish in it, yuck). Anyways... the typical stuff ppl would get here is probably tacos (hence the name)... but I figured I'd try more specialty stuff that anglos aren't probably used to (nopales and esquite) and they didn't dissapoint. For this reason and the overall style I gave it 4 stars. The strong drink took it a star down. Cool spot tho.
(4)Jennifer C.
Dropped in here on a whim after hearing about the margarita specials on Sunday ($7 margaritas). My friend and I ordered Salsas and Chips, Guacamole, Machete Margarita, Chicharron Taco, Robalito Al Pastor Taco, Lengua Taco, and Pollo Rotizerado Quesadilla. Salsas and chips - super salty chips, small quantities of dipping salsas Guacamole - Super tasty but maybe not worth the $7 special Machete Margarita - Tasty, but very, very strong Chicharron Taco - Small but tasty, oily. Robalito Al Pastor - Lots of flavor. Spicy. Delicious. Lengua Taco - Simple, well cooked, and tasty (but one giant piece that deserved to be cut) Pollo Quesadilla - Ok. Nothing to brag about though. Comes with peppers on the side. Overall it was mediocre. Wasn't bad but it didn't live up to what we were told about it. I probably wouldn't go back.
(3)Mary B.
3.5 would be my rating. The food was spectacular. The service was horrible. Be careful with the margarita...it's 2.5 shots of tequila per drink. Tried the 12 tacos with our group of 4...and all were great! Waitress had a real attitude and we were seated at a tiny table for 4 adults.
(3)Samantha E.
I only got to go to Machete Tacos a couple of times, but it quickly became one of my favorite spots! Ou first visit was for a tequila-tasting event, so it was a little hard to review, but boasted excellent tacos, service, and drinks (all provided by Arte Tequila). Our second visit was a more normal one with a few friends, but was equally delicious. Every margarita I've tasted there has been superb. I doubt you can go wrong-- everything I've tasted from the skinny to the spicy (with jalapeno) were great, and my husband and a friend liked the "hot mess" (with habanero and serrano infusion!). You also really can't pick a bad taco, as far as I can tell. The most impressive was the Mazunte with beer-battered shark in a hibiscus tortilla. Everything has been great, though-- I remember liking the mole, the flank steak, and the pork with pineapple as well. The jicama tortillas are interesting with some tacos if that interests you. If you have a group, the "Taquiza" of 12 tacos for $38 is a pretty good deal, even with the upcharge for some specialty tacos. I don't know anything about the rest of the menu, because I've always just committed to tacos, but I'm sure it's good as well. Definitely a good (relatively new) addition to the neighborhood.
(5)Cindy F.
Stopped in here to grab a drink but turned to leave feeling anti-tequila, until this sweet waitress hooked us with her obsession for the shark tacos. We had literally just come from a pizza restaurant absolutely stuffed but the love in her tone for the tacos and margaritas sucked us right in! Thank goodness we listened! The margaritas were amazing, the atmosphere was super cool with plenty to look at (literrally EVERYWHERE), and the tacos were awesome! We split the taco arra, lengua, mazunte, and robalito and were elated to have taken her advice. This trip wouldn't have been the same without a stop in Machete. The music was loud & good, the people were friendly, the place was busy, and well- we ate... again. I plan on being back ASAP!
(5)Dan T.
Love this place but they are struggling this summer and taking some short cuts. New menu lacks some of the fun and variety they had. Also this location lacks A/C and loads up the Margaritas with ice. I have rejected 3 margaritas the last two visits as they are all ice. And I love the food and staff, but it's an issue that will keep me away.
(3)Ben R.
I am a die hard Pinche Tacos fan, I eat there way more often than I should. Sometimes, however my loyalties stray and I find myself at Machete. Their tacos are different than Pinche, they're a bit more 'high-end', but they're SO good. The scallop and shrimp on jicama instead of a tortilla is amazing! And if you're up for some spice, the habanero-jalapeno margarita is one of the best I've had. I love this place.
(5)Ken I.
II would love to add a review of the food, but unfortunately we didn't get to try any since we sat there for 10 minutes without service. We even asked the bartender if we needed to order from the bar and he said he wold send a server over...that didn't happen and he didn't even ask if he could get us a drink while we wait.
(1)Rachel S.
I was pretty excited about this place as I do enjoy my tequila perhaps too much at times. So we will start there the decor is pretty awesome as you walk in there are iron shelves with all the cool brands of tequila you see in nice liquor stores and more that probably came as an add on to a drug deal in the heart of Mexico. Then of course the traditional type Mexican restaurant type of thing with skeletons and skulls and stuff every where. One cool feature was that there were little hooks on the bottom of all the tables for the ladies to hang their nice purses on. All four of the peeps in my party got margaritas. They start around 10 dollars, which seems a little steep. Especially since one or two of them had some form of Jose Cuervo as the tequila. They were good margaritas though. For food my party each picked three tacos. Some sounded a little interesting as the ingredients may not have been good together. But every taco I tried was fantastic, yet again I thought a tad bit pricey. The shark taco seems to be the famous menu item here. And I had all good things to say about that. I'd try that because where else are you going to eat shark meat? Maybe Iceland? yeah so take advantage of that here. I guess besides the prices I thought this place couldn't decide if they wanted to be a bar or more of a restaurant. So the bar wasn't filled everyone sat at the tables getting food but the music was at the " I have to yell to be heard, which is good because I have nothing really to say to you I just want to get laid level." Which was annoying because I was at dinner caching up with friends. The table was also huge so across the table conversions were a challenge. I did enjoy my time, food and drink here. I might go back if I lived in Denver. This would be a great start to a bar hopping night.
(3)Jon S.
We were here a few months back and had a horrible experience. My wife and I ordered their chicken tacos and both orders came out extremely under cooked. When we notified the server, I told him that it looked like our orders were mixed up because we didn't order the fish tacos. I honestly thought the fish tacos would have been a stretch, but I couldn't fathom that they'd serve such obviously under cooked chicken. They were transparent and rubbery... The server said, "no, these were correct, they're the chicken tacos". After just standing there not offering to do anything I asked him if he could take these back to the kitchen and have them finish cooking the chicken so we don't get sick. This is when the MOD came over and told us that they use "special spices" that make the chicken look red. I said, "the chicken was transparent and rubbery, it's obvious". And said, "no, your dishes aren't under cooked". And then walked away. I couldn't believe that a manager would argue with a guest. Especially when they were so obviously under cooked. When we got the bill, we were charged for the terrible chicken tacos. Wow... Won't be going back. Will stick with Margs... it's MUCH BETTER.
(1)Tricia W.
Went for happy hour which goes until 7pm (God bless them). The margs are pretty pricey but top notch, huge and strongggg. Tacos are a great deal on happy hour too and delicious, the legua isn't as good as Pinche but still worth a try and the shrimp is bomb. Our waiter was awesome and able to accommodate a group of 12 of us which is pretty incredible when you're reservation is for 6... Definitely recommend, probably a good place for a date too!
(5)Nick M.
The guacamole is wonderful and the salsa flight that you get is really good too and they come with really good chips. The tacos are typically pretty good, some are MUCH better than others (don't get the Chicharron de queso, get the Langosta). Drinks are pretty strong, taste good, but are pretty pricy. Cool atmosphere in a great location.
(4)Brandon E.
Great food, delicious margaritas, and a really nice staff... We came in late and they were still on point. Go try it!!!
(5)John C.
Some of the best street tacos I've had... Between the 5 of us we had several different variations and all felt the same way. Delicious!
(5)Paul P.
Don't expect the mixologists to pour a frozen concoction with Gold tequila from a slurpee machine. Do expect to see them dicing habanero and jalapeno peppers to add to an amazing drink menu!!!! The ladies behind the bar are professional bartenders who are helpful with selections whether it be food or drink. My wife and I went yesterday and luckily we got to be there for the new menu roll-out. This may be the freshest ingredients you can get in a restaurant. We are very impressed and totally hooked on Machete's!!!!
(5)Bethany W.
Really, really exceptional handcrafted tacos. Get the 12 pack to share and you have plenty to taste. (Take the leftovers home because as soon as you have room ... you will want another) Don't skip the margarita. Sit at the bar if you want to learn about tequilas. Over 100 to taste and learn about and the bartender loves to tell you about them.
(5)julie n.
Tapa style (street tacos)...1 taco per order at $4-$5 each, gets pretty pricey. Many taco bars in the area to compete with. My favorite was the shrimp and Husbands favorite was the Pastor.
(3)Doug B.
I had a few friends in town and we decided to escape the rain and grab some tacos. There was a wide variety of tacos and are well priced. The tacos are so flavorful and I will definitely be going back! Their margarita wasn't that good though
(4)George F.
Wow! I really love this place. I went with some friends while doing a beer tour of Denver. I had the Costilla Ahumada taco (smoked pork rib meat with chile puya rub sauteed green apples and green onions) and the Robalito al Pastor taco (grilled halibut marinated in recado rojo pineapple butter with onion and cilantro in a squid ink tortilla). They were outstanding! We started with some Tecates and then enjoyed a Casa Amigos Tequila at the bar based on the recommendation of the bartender. I'm not a big tequila fan (or any kind of spirits for that matter) but it was so smooth and tasty. I'd definitely go back to this place!
(5)Rachelle H.
Went here for the first time after we went to opening day for the Rockies!! It was packed full but we got a table very fast. The atmosphere is great! The menu will push you out of your comfort zone and for good reason. The tacos were delish! Everyone's drinks were great but the Cadillac Margarita I ordered was disappointing. As busy as they were, the staff was great and on top of everything. I will defiantly be going back, trying some new types of tacos and giving the margaritas another shot.
(4)Catherine P.
Stopped in for a late dinner on Sunday night, unfortunately the kitchen closes at 9:00 and we arrived at 8:54 (restaurant closes at 10 on Sunday). No time to peruse the menu as we were being rushed to order. Hubby had the Calma Borrachos, which we did not realize was slathered with their HOT salsas. The waitress was great! She had the kitchen refire it and he loved it. I tasted it and it was yummy. I would have it with the hot salsas. I had the chili relleno and it was good, but I liked my husband's dish better. The chips and 4 salsas was really good! Emilia was our server and she did a wonderful job of taking care of us! All in all, I would say a 4 for the food and a 5 for service.
(4)David K.
Another Denver Fail. Stopped in at 8:30 p.m. on a Sunday evening. The place was not that busy and I saw two bartenders. I sat at the bar for about 15 minutes and was never acknowledged. Noticed the other patrons at the bar were not asked if they needed anything either. I walked out without a word ever being exchanged. Strange, but sadly par for the course for Denver. Too bad because I'm a big Tequila fan and a generous tipper.
(1)Allyson H.
The margaritas here are seriously delicious, go down way too easy, and will probably knock you on your behind if you enjoy one too many. But boy are they good! This is a fun spot to go for drinks after work. They have tacos on special during happy hour, which are decent but aren't my favorite. I wish they had greater variety on their menu. Their guacamole is tasty, as are the three other salsas they serve you when you order it.
(4)R K.
What a fun place to have a large group of people! The staff was so helpful and nice - from the hostess (Laura) to the manager (riann) and our amazing server (Amelia). This place not only impressed with service, but the tacos are so good!! There's a huge selection of tequila (pineapple infused!) too with great price points. We look forward to coming back soon!
(5)Sam F.
Hit this place up for two happy hours on two separate occasions - a selection of their tacos are featured and you get a knock off their margaritas. A cool small space, well laid out - can get busy and loud. The tacos are solid with a few standouts - the smoked pork rib meat chief among them. Beers are a bit spendy. Service was solid. A good option for this hood if you are in a relative hurry and have less than 5 in your party.
(4)Jzs N.
Delicious margs. Delicious food. Thanks guys.
(5)Jackie T.
Came here one night with my brother when he was in town. I ordered the arrachera taco, campechano taco, and the pollo rostizado taco. They were all good, but the campechano was amazing. Coming from San Diego, I'm a snob when it comes to street tacos. Machete's did this one right! Flank steak, red chorizo, oaxaca cheese, cilantro, onion, and salsa verde--- bomb! I'd go back and just order like 5 of these babies! I also had a machete margarita which was good but way too strong for me (say what you want). I got the mojito rita after that and it was really delicious- the mojito-ness cut down the taste of the tequila. I'll definitely be back!
(5)Kate N.
I like machete but only go there for special occasions because it is so pricy! The food tastes great but the portions are pretty small. The drinks are also really expensive. We haven't had great service at this location but it is pretty small so nothing takes too long at least!
(3)Terry S.
Ok. They try awfully hard but pull up a little short. Absolutely grotesque decor -- friendly enough
(3)Justin K.
The tacos are all unique and delicious. Great food. However, the service was a bit spotty. The waitress seemed annoyed, we were given our food before our silverware, and it took a while for anyone to take our order. Great tacos, hopefully the service will be better if you check it out.
(3)Brittany B.
I'm ashamed to say I hadn't even heard of this place (or maybe I had but didn't really take note) until my man and I decided to grab some grub before a Nuggets' game. Boy, am I glad we did! The ambiance is a little interesting, but matches well with the establishment. The taco list is varied and everything we tasted was delicious (five different tacos, including the shark which I was pleasantly surprised with, and four margaritas). Let me just plug the pina colada-like margarita. It's wonderful! But scary-smooth, so beware. And if you order a "Spicy Kenny" (strawberry with jalapeno), you won't be dissapointed. We both finished two and were feeling pretty easy-going, if you know what I mean, so they don't skimp on their pours. We also enjoyed the salsa and guac. All of them were delicious. I have not one issue/compaint, but I can't give five stars on a one-time visit... can I?... ...to be continued...
(4)Ryan M.
Finally a Mexican restaurant that does not offer a single margarita with sweet and sour in it. I can't stand it when even the expensive margaritas use S&S. It should be illegal. Machete margarita is great and a big glass as well (small glasses should also be outlawed). Also tried the Mojito margarita and one with chile powder on the rim. Both fantastic and a am a margarita fiend! Tacos are great too. Friendly service. Good decor. Really pleased!!!
(5)Mary T.
Every time we have come here not only is the food great but each staff person is excellent! You won't be disappointed.
(5)Meg J.
Love this place!! THe Street tacos are amazing and perfectly portioned. Their skinny marg is is one of my favs!!!
(4)Amy O.
Honestly, I find these tacos very similar to Pinche Tacos, BOTH of which I really love. So, that's no disrespect to Machete! However, I do recall an extremely creative cricket taco that Machete offered at the Top Taco event. Anyway, back to the restaurant. Excellent drinks and atmosphere. Great service, too! I'd come in first for a Yelp event, and then returned a second time when I had a friend in town. If I bring an out of town friend to your establishment, you are the cream of the crop in my opinion!
(4)Kristin M.
Would come here again for the service, food, and prices. Good value! Went here with some family on a Friday evening and being from Chicago, was surprised but delighted to see happy hour food/drink specials that ran all night. As well, a couple people in our party weren't there right away at the reservation time since I accidentally sent them to the other location in Denver (woops), but the staff was super nice about it and said it's happened before. Unlike a lot of places in Chicago, we were seated w/o our whole party being there, and the server was up front about asking us how we wanted our checks split--(again, such a breath of fresh air!!) Had an enjoyable time trying the different tacos, eating way too many chips and guac, and sampling the various margaritas (no blended ones there, which I prefer). Definitely try this place!
(4)Deginald W.
Nice environment, great staff and cool people, could be a lot better but met my expectations.. Had a better experience there during day hours than at night but great food and drinks!
(4)Joe Y.
Located across the street from Union Station is Machete's second location. Their Cherry Creek location will have easier parking. They have the most Tequila list in Denver with a vibe of a Mexico City cantina. Happy Hour Mon-Fri 2-7pm.
(4)Bhavesh P.
Delicious, absolutely some of the best tacos I've had. The Robalito Al Pastor (Grilled Halibit) tacos were my favorite, incredibly flavorful and very light. Charissa is a great bartender (I hope I spelled her name right). Try it!
(5)Amanda H.
This place is amazing! A HUGE tequila selection. Amazing margaritas (be warned, their Machete Marg is delicious and mysteriously strong), tacos to die for and salsas for everyone. Order the chips and four salsas to start, dive into the jalapeño salsa and prepare to be burned so good. I'm a sucker for heat and that one was perfect. Service is outstanding. These people know their tequilas and their menu. 2 tacos= a snack, 3 tacos = a small meal. The atmosphere is perfect for this place. Also, the color changing skull lamps on the bar are so perfect!! This place is definitely worth your time.
(5)Matt W.
Great tacos. Great happy hour. Great margs. Sweet dia de Los muertos vibe. Recommended.
(5)Jessica L.
We came here on Sunday at about 2 pm. It was pretty dead. My friends were already here waiting and they had ordered guac. The chips also came with 5 different salsas which were all pretty good. I had the kona margarita, which was pineapple/coconut infused tequila, because they were out of Bloody Mary mix for the Bloody Maria. Kind of annoying. We ordered tacos which were $2.75 each except for the starred ones. And everyone except me wanted to order the shark taco (for shark week) but they were also out of that. Really annoying. Who does that? I said to the server "are you out of everything?" Maybe that's why they're not that busy. I ordered the shrimp taco and the pork rib meat taco. They were pretty good sizes and two filled me up along with the chips. I really liked the shrimp one but the meat on other one was kind of hard to chew. We all really liked the tacos overall though. I need to go to Pinche Tacos again to see which is better. Another thing that kinda bothered me was that their online Sunday happy hour menu is not valid at this location, only at the Cherry Creek one. That should be specified. Next time I'll prob go to that location since they have happy hour food all day Sundays. I think the tacos are a tad bit pricey without happy hour. $4.50 for one taco would really rack up a bill. The server was great though. He refilled our drinks all the time and the chips too.
(3)Christie K.
Yum! This place was SO good! We had 8 people on a busy Friday night and they were able to accommodate us without a reservation! They actually put us in this room in the back with couches it was so cool. They have lots of different tasty margaritas! I got a jalapeño one that was spicy! Yum! The food was awesome. The chips and salsa come with 4 different salsas that were all tasty! They have lots of different tacos. I am avoiding dairy and gluten right now and the waitress had no problem helping me out! The service was good, our waitress was very nice. All in all a great experience!
(5)Jordan D.
their margs can be a little pricey but they have a good happy hour, but do yourself a favor and try the steak/shrimp quesidilla!
(4)Marilyn S.
Cool atmosphere, great location, great vibe. Rustic cabin meets taqueria. Street tacos menu, the favorite being the crispy pork. Really liked the chips with four assorted salsas. Good service at bar by German girl. Food runner with curly dark hair very knowledgeable and friendly. Will return!
(4)Rebecca M.
Drinks were good, food was just okay. I could see what they were going for but it fell a bit short. Hoping it was just an off night.
(3)Lisa D.
My friends and I celebrated my birthday at Machete Tequila & Tacos last night, and I felt like a VIP in this place!! I'd never been here before, but I will absolutely be back! We had a large group and were uncertain of the total number of people that would show up...so the hostess brought us to a special room in the back that could seat around 10 or so with comfy leather couches and a big screen tv! I was pretty stoked at that point, knowing that my friends would be comfortable and we'd have room to spread out, and the privacy to talk about whatever we wanted! Our server, Amelia, was very friendly, attentive, knowledgeable, she even recommended a place to go dancing after dinner and hooked me up with a complimentary birthday shot of this delicious pineapple infused tequila! The tacos in this place are PHENOMENAL!! I had shrimp, rotisserie chicken and steak tacos...and OMG they were to die for!! I am very pleased with my experience here and I'll be returning for more in the near future!! Thank you, Machete, for making my birthday special and giving us such great service and food!!!
(5)Jessie A.
Great salsa sampler, yummy homemade-tasting tortillas and infused-tequila margs, and probably the most delicious chicken salad I've had in ages! Will definitely be a regular new spot for lunch or HH!
(4)David S.
Love the atmosphere of this place. Mexico meets day of the dead feel. Thought the prices were a little high but after trying the quality of the food and drinks, it's worth it. Loved the shark tacos and chips with 4 different salsas. I will be a repeat visitor for sure.
(4)Kathryn T.
We went to Machete tonight and absolutely loved it. All of the servers were great and weren't bothered in the least by answering my boyfriend and my questions about food and tequila. The corn tortillas were amazing. I recommend the Flor de Jamaica quesadilla, the Cost I'll a Ahumada taco (which my boyfriend thinks tastes like pork and apple pie) and the Pollo Rostizado taco. I got the Kona margarita (tequila infused with pineapple and coconut), which was light and refreshing. Kind of a shame that most of their drinks are made with Cuervo, especially since they offer such a good selection of tequilas. All in all, we really enjoyed our meal. Thanks, Machete! You guys are awesome!
(4)Brian M.
Solid tacos in a great location! Margaritas are ordinary, a bit stronger than usual.
(4)Christian W.
I live in San Fracisco Bay Area , the home of the taco truck and these are THE BEST street tacos I've had!! The mole is to die for, ambience is great and fun and the service was good. Good stuff!
(5)Jamie T.
Food was great! It was fun to pick your tacos a la carte. Husband loved the halibut taco, my favorite was the flank steak. Had a nice selection of tequila. The bartender turned us on to the 1921 cream tequila we loved it much we bought a bottle. Will go back next time we are downtown.
(5)Bruce F.
Loud, energetic atmosphere on a Saturday night. Tons of tequilas, margs and tacos to choose from. Excellent margaritas and truly supreme tacos. My personal favorite was halibut in a rojo sauce with pineapple butter on a black squid ink tortilla. I can't wait to have that taco again and try some more new ones. Outstanding light chips. Well done Machete!
(4)Michelle G.
My friend thought they were just overpriced street tacos, but I really enjoyed them, as well as the margs. Loved the variety and a la carte style.
(4)Jim S.
Excellent margaritas and fantastic service. The tacos we tried were all good. The only small complaint abut the food was the chips and salsa...the chips were so salty almost to the point of being inedible. Our waitress was very friendly and helpful and kept our drinks full. We would certainly come back again
(4)Jennifer M.
This place is pretty pricey, drinks are all in the $10 range and the tacos are all around $4-5/each, no free chips and salsa. We sat at the bar and the service was very hot/cold. Sometimes she was nice other times she was rude. I didn't really enjoy the experience all that much and probably would not return. The food was decent though.
(3)Chris H.
Avoid this bar. The drinks are terrible and way over priced. Not sure if it was just the night we were there but the crowd was pretty lame as well. The atmosphere was a bit over done. Overall it was another trendy bar that was trying way too hard and fails to be unique and quality in any way. The one plus was that the staff and service was good.
(1)Ryan A.
This place is AWESOME! Great food, tequila, and employees! I plan on going to this place every time i visit denver!
(5)BryAnna V.
Yum! In Denver with my girlfriends and this was a lovely experience. Our server, Ty was awesome. Very knowledgeable and happy to share his favorites with us. The crab guacamole was de-lish! I loved the assortment of salsas, but my favorite was the verde. The fresno salsa was a close second. It had fantastic layers of flavor. We ended up getting the 12 tacos special and there were 4 of us, so we had 3 tacos each. I am glad that I got to taste 3 of these amazing tacos (halibut, chili relleno, and the chef's choice veggies) but for street tacos they are pretty stinkin' huge. So between the scrumptious cucumber marg, the chips, salsas, guacamole and tacos I was about to pop...but in a good way. One of my favorite parts was the spice that came across in the flavors. They are not afraid to heat up the food and in the best way. The ambiance of the place matches the food. Lots of textures, great stuff to look at. The service was fabulous! Just all around fab
(5)Brian J.
food was petite but delicious. tons of unique taco choices. our server jesska was hands down the most attentive I've had anywhere for quite some time. all of their cocktails are doubles, so come prepared!
(5)Katie W.
This places was delicious! We got the chicharron guac, which comes with four salsas. It was a great combination but a little much for two people. The smoked salsa was spicy but really good, and was by far our favorite. We got four tacos and all of them were excellent. The halibut and campechano were the best. The filling was generous and flavorful. And of course, the margaritas were strong and delicious. Surprisingly, we preferred the machete to the Cadillac. Also the Paloma was weird and overly sweet and melon flavored. As far as service and atmosphere go, our server was attentive and helpful. The place has a more bar like casual environment compared to many similar quality downtown restaurants. Overall, enjoyed the trip and will definitely be back.
(5)Michael C.
I really love this place. In a town with mediocre Mexican food, Machete's is an amazing Southern Mexican quinine. Honestly, this is more of a chic gourmet Mexican. It is really worth the trip. My favorite is Chicken Tinga Quesadillas. It so original and amazing, you have to try it. Honestly, I love everything here, but I love it so much, I always end up ordering it because it is so original and amazing. Also try the Calma Borrachos, it is a real winner too!
(5)Robert K.
Wow, based upon the average 4 star review I was looking forward to a nice Mexican meal and a great margarita. When we arrived we had a reasonable 15 minute wait for our table,cso we proceeded to the bar for a Margarita. I'm a big fan of Don Julio Anejo Tequila, so I ordered a margarita consisting of this tequila. The price tag was $20, which is by far, one of the most expensive margaritas I've ever ordered. I was expecting something spectacular. Instead I received a small cocktail type glass which consisted of at best 1 1/2 shots of tequila. The margarita's ingredients were subpar except for the Don Julio Anejo and I was extremely disappointed. Next we order chips and salsa which were just o.k. Flavor of the typical tomato based salsa was bland and watery. In addition, we ordered guacamole which had way to much lime added. We then ordered a number of tacos and there to were just o.k., somewhat bland and flavorless. The overall experience here was mediocre In comparison to other good Mexican restaurants that I have dined at throughout the U.S. and Mexico. In all I happen to agree with all other poor reviews of this establishment. This restaurant needs to step up it's game. Possibly they should visit some of Rick Bayless's Mexican restaurants in Chicago to experience Mexican food and drinks at there finest!
(1)Colleen B.
It's pretty dang dark in here. I have to say, I wasn't impressed with two important things that are very important at any Mexican spot (in my eyes): The Guac and Margaritas. The guac was very creamy but no flavor. I went for the Strawberry Margarita and it was just overwhelming with alcohol and just not enjoyable to sip on. I didn't even finish it. For the tacos I chose: - Al Pastor | Duroc roasted pig, guajillo chile marinated pork, pineapple, onions and cilantro - Arrachera | Hanger steak, avocado salsa, onions and cilantro - Chicharron de queso | Crispy panela cheese, salsa chile cascabel, grilled onions Skip the chicharron de queso - zero taste. Def go with the Al Pastor - delicious! My highlight of the entire experience here. Another random note, the menu is overwhelming with the way it is designed.
(2)Andrea K.
We love Machete! They've recently changed up their happy hour (M-F 2-7) and now all margs (excluding the upgrades on tequilas, of course) are $7. I'm a big fan of the mojorita and the spicy margarita. The tacos on HH are now $3 but I love all the different options. Hubs fave is the Campechano with steak and chorizo and a delicious green salsa on top. I also love it and I really enjoy their veggie tacos too. It comes on the hibiscus tortilla which I like for its different flavor profile- adding something unique to the taco. We will keep returning!
(4)Christopher B.
I met a friend here one evening and it's a good spot for drinks and small bites. We had guac and chips, which was good, and later tacos, which were also good. They have a good beer selection which focuses primarily on Mexican and Coloradan. It's a good spot to hang out before moving on elsewhere. I think it's on par with Pinche in most aspects.
(4)Dustin H.
Stopped in before a Rockies game. The environment was great, so many different tequilas. It was good, but not blown away. Multiple salsas only one of which was good. I really loved the selection of tacos, I had the lamb(ok), and steak w/ chorizo(Good). Drinks good but over priced. I'd go again but not my first choice if I feel like a taco.
(3)Nicole D.
Machete's is that go to place when you are craving some street tacos and want a little tequila to wash it down with. I've been several times (girls night, bachelorette party, date night) and each time I have: 1) Wanted to try everything on the menu 2) Ordered two tacos and wished I had ordered three 3) Envied someone else's drink or taco 4) Wished I could read Spanish so I could understand the comics in the bathroom I will say that, while I wouldn't have necessarily picked the Mako Shark taco ever, I'm glad I heeded the advice of that hipster bartender at Mercantile and made my husband get it. Wow, talk about ample goodness! It's a larger portion than most of the other selections and it really is scrumptious. I'm not a shark meat fan, but have now opened that door so watch out sharks! The Al Pastor is my now second favorite (Mako now taking #1 spot), Tinga is good and the Acapulco is yummy yet a bit on the smaller serving side, I'd like it to be a little fatter if you know what I mean. Love the Skinny Marg and Mojito Rita. I have also tried the Kona but wasn't crazy about it. Ambiance is definitely party, fun, group favorable. There is a room off of the main dining section that you can ask for as well. It has a large screen TV and is great if you have a group (I think it's for 8-10) and want a little more privacy. Of course the location is great and while I haven't been to their Cherry Creek spot, I'd like to check it out as that one is closer to me.
(4)William Z.
Wasn't a huge fan of the drink I had. It was a definite heavy pour. But with all that aside... THE FOOD IS 5 STARS. I will come back and I will eat seven more tacos... We literally couldn't stop eating them. Decor was awesome and artistic but it was a little loud. With that being said, you need to visit this joint. PERIOD!!!!
(4)Clay W.
I wanted to give a my girlfriend a good experience and I hopped on Yelp to find a place for dinner before a show at the arts center. Holy Crap! I'm a Taco guy, I live for Tacos, I love Tacos! This place is amazing. Tacos were great (the lobster tail ones blew my mind) and the tequila list was impressive. Service from the bar was a little slow, our waitress seemed to chat up the bartender a little more then I liked, but I love this place and I'll be back.
(4)Natasha P.
These tacos are legit! I loved the chicken & crispy potato one (I forget the name). The lobster one was pretty good and the lamb was a big hit. Definitely will be back for happy hour. Well drink prices at the bar were really reasonable. I'm not much of a tequila person, but if you are there are plenty of options here.
(5)James D.
Tacos are amazing. The cheese taco to die for. Sounds weird... A fried cheese taco. But it so deliciously bomb. Give it a try. The 4 salsas are equally good. Great atmosphere. Good vibes
(5)justin d.
stopped in wanting to compare it to Bennys as they were on the same list for top 10 Mexican joints in Denver. In all honesty they are two different types of food but they are both amazing! So now to go on about Machete, first thing you notice is the atmosphere as you walk in and through the locker isles of tequila when you come in and look over to see a picture of the most interesting man in the world. After that we were sat and browsed the margaritas, decent list but I went with the house just to get a feeling and fml it was strong! I could have ordered two but I had stuff to do after we ate. We ordered the arrachera, campechano, tripa, lengua, cochinita pibil and the costilla ahumada tacos. The pickled onions on the pilbil tacos were a delicious and the probably one of my favorite tacos right up there with the lengua ones as well. The apples on the costilla ahumada tacos were some of the best cooked apples I've ever had but reminded of an off dessert. Over all I would recommend this to place to anyone!
(4)Cyndi J.
Opening day for the Rockies - which means that every amateur is out and about, taking up my seat in my favorite places! We happened upon this place because we needed to eat and wanted to watch the Rockies game. The service started strong, but as it got busier was a little slower. But the food - OH the food! I had a cucumber margarita with chili-lime salt. It was refreshing and unique. My husband and I sampled several tacos - my favorites were the conchita pibil and al pastor. My husband had the shark, and it was actually quite tasty. The music in here was loud, and while the Rockies game was on TV, both the bartenders we asked said they couldn't turn down the music and turn up the Rockies game. This was off-putting for us, so we left to find a place that would. A small blemish that I can overlook, given the high quality and taste of the food here.
(5)Holly E.
We hit it right before noon and the place was empty, however when we left it was packed. Our waitress was very nice and attentive. Tacos were decent but didn't live up to the hype. I had the robalito al pastor and. lengua. Guacamole was fresh but lacking flavor. We did love two of the salsas especially the creamy red pepper. Probably won't go back unless I have a hankerin' for happy hour margs.
(3)Kristine N.
This place is always busy and there's always a wait. Cool atmosphere with loud music and dimmed lighting. Tacos are $4-$5 each so they add up quickly. Favorites were the hangar steak, mole, and halibut. The other chicken taco is quite dry. The guacamole is good but not for $9! Goodness. They do have an awesome location. We put in our order and about 25 minutes later the server came by and told us our ticket never printed to the kitchen. Asked to take our order again. After realizing our frustration, he stated, at least I caught it before an hour went by right? This place cheaped out on the system, not my fault. Sure dude, sure.
(3)Apple W.
Lamb taco is unparallelled.
(5)Josh d.
Disclaimer: Much of this is copy/pasted from my review of Machete's Cherry Creek Location - There will be stuff added and deleted to make it more relevant to this location though... I like this place. I like this location more than their other location, because I hate fucking cherry creek. It's a nightmare to get around the area, so... Them opening up in my neighborhood makes it for much more happy taco times. Cool taco choices, reasonably priced. Friendly staff, HUGE tequila selection. Everything seems fresh. The place seems dirty, but not in a bad way... It just feels like the southwest... I think they're going for that ambiance of and imagery of when I think about the kinds of places Speedy Gonzalez would be hanging out now, that he's out of his prime... The men's room has what looks like old spanish comics, which gives it it's own vibe. Add to the fact that the name is, intentional or unintentional, the same as my favorite Danny Trejo character/movie/whatever makes this all the more awesome.
(4)Heather W.
I gave Machete 3 stars because our waitress was totally awesome and the guacamole and chips appetizer was tasty. It was kind of downhill from there. To be fair, I should have stuck with the tacos, after all it's what they are known for. However, the Chili Relleno was not that special, I might even go as far as the second worst I had ever had. It was smothers in a tomato sauce and the pepper was tough. The margarita had a lot of tequila in it. The restaurant was so loud it was difficult to hold a conversation.
(3)Cece A.
I'm so happy that I happened to walk by this place and decided to give it a try! My boyfriend and I decided to come here on a Saturday night to celebrate his birthday which was the night before and I'm so happy we did. I loved the decor in this place it was definitely unique and stood out from your usual taco eateries. It was pretty busy but we were seated right away and had water brought to our table. We ended up getting a Lengua (cow tounge) taco, Pescado (fish) quesadilla and a Campechano (grilled flank steak) taco which was a m a z i n g! The food was excellent I sincerely enjoyed everything. The service was fast and friendly even on a busy Saturday night. It is a little loud so if you wanted to have a deep conversation with someone I wouldn't recommend going here. It's a little noisy but fun... just sit close to the other person. Also, the drinks are a littleeee expensive I ended up having two drinks for $30 but they got the job done ;) We loved this place! If you want something unique give this place a try! We enjoyed this place so much, we were thinking of going back the next day. Maybe we will stop by this weekend. We also ended up having 5 more people join us at our table with plenty of room and no problems at all. :)
(5)Russell G.
Wow....this place blew me away! Decoration is upscale but a little creepy. Overall, a good vibe throughout the place. Staff is pretty good about keeping up with you. The tacos here are superb and if you haven't tried them yet, you failed. The price on the menu is per taco. Pricey but so worth it! You must try: Al Pastor Lengua (if you are an adventurous eater) Mole Mazunte Also, try the various versions of the Guacamole app! Get in here!!!!
(5)Leanna C.
If you want a margarita that's strong this is the place to come. The margarita prices are pretty steep but well worth it in terms of alcohol content. I've had several different variations of their margs and I can't really tell much of a difference in taste. The tacos here are kind of pricey regularly but are a great deal during happy hour. They have really different combinations but all are good. Try the mahi taco and the chicken taco, easily my two favorites. If you aren't feeling tacos the chile relleno is really good, the portion is somewhat small but is really tasty.
(4)Kate D.
I went here the other night on a date as my guy wanted to check this place out since he'd never been. I had been to HH at the Cherry Creek location and had been impressed with their variation of salsas and their skinny margarita. The place is definitely vibrant and walls covered with all kinds of masks and art work. Service started out great, but seemed to wane as the night went on. We got our drink orders right away, but when it came to ordering food, it seemed like our server almost forgot about us. When he finally came to take our order, my date ordered before me, as I wasn't sure at the time what I wanted to order since I hadn't really looked at the menu yet. By the time I finally did order, my date had ordered another drink. Oddly enough, both my food and my drink came out before his. We even mentioned this to the person delivering the food as we thought it was odd. I saw our server look over and notice and he disappeared towards the back, but never came back with my date's food. At that point, my date encouraged me to go ahead and start eating since my food was getting cold. We joked about how they were probably spitting in his food and drink from the comment he made to the waiter about the chips not being super fresh and later learning that they don't make them in house. Long story short, he did finally get his food and drink. Our tacos were ok. I think my date got the Al Pastor and Arrachera. I got the Pollo Rostizado, which the chicken had very little flavor, the Mole, basic mole flavor, and the Arrachera, which ended up being both of our favorites. Not terrible tacos by any means, but definitely don't think I'll be back again due to the service and overall lack of flavor of some of the tacos. The drinks are definitely a little better. I feel like they make a better Skinny over at the CC location. The Spicy Rico Rita however was awesome. If I did have to go back, I'd probably order that again along with chips and salsa.
(3)Latti L.
Margarita are not made with the sweet and sour mix but with lime juice and agave nectar. "The lucky one" is awesome with just a splash of both. Tacos come a la carte but are pretty incredible. Tried the Mazunte with mako shark and the Robalito al Pastor is a close second with pineapple butter and halibut. Great bar atmosphere with day of the dead deco everywhere and decent music.
(5)Nica Z.
Their food is pretty delicious. I really enjoyed the queso, it is a little different. However I did a to go order with them and ordered a quesadilla, chips, queso and guacamole. The total was 25 dollars before tip. I would say that's a little over priced. If I ordered drinks I would understand that but just for a simple to go order a little much for not that high of quality food.
(3)R M.
Great tasting authentic Mexican food and so many delicious salsas to choose from. Hands down...going back for more good eats!
(4)Jeremy C.
Tacos are great come out fast, with a wide variety. Damn good margaritas and happy hour prices. Real chill atmosphere, everyone including the chef checks on you
(5)Justine S.
Wow. The margaritas were amazing. Queso was on point. And the tacos .... Yes please! My new favorite spot for street tacos! So glad I found this spot.
(5)Cyn C.
Having been to both the LoDo and Cherry Creek locations, I can say I'm a big fan of Machete. I don't typically drink tequila anymore (unless I'm asking for trouble) but Machete makes it awful hard to say no. Last time, I had the pineapple and coconut infused margarita. Wow. That went down WAY too easily. The only reason i didn't get another was because I knew I had to drive home. Food is also spectacular here. Great selection of "American New" tacos. Salsas and guac are simply delicious (I love that you get a variety of salsas). Deciding between locations? LoDo is... well. in LoDo. Close to Union Station and all that LoDo has to offer. The interior of the LoDo location is dim and intimate. There's one area that's a bunch of couches in a square that's great for a group of 10 or so. Cherry Creek actually has a great set up outside. Comfy patio furniture with coffee tables. Easy to mingle and add on to your group. If you know you're gonna stay in one spot, I'd recommend the Cherry Creek location over the LoDo one.
(4)Sadie P.
I was not as much of a fan as I thought I was going to be. I really like street tacos, but I am a stickler for authentic flavors. I tried two different ones, the pork and the steak. Both were very good for $3 each. But I would not call them authentic. They were very tasty and i could see how you could eat 10 if you have been drinking lol. Good spot for a quick bite and a nice chat, ( as the bartenders are very nice)
(3)Carolyn M.
Holy moly, this is one expensive street taco joint! Don't get me wrong, the food and margs are great, but they BETTER be at $10 and $4 respectively! A weekday lunch can get a little bit pricey, but service is speedy and the ambiance is great. There can never really be too many taco bars in downtown Denver.
(4)Taylor K.
Let's call this a less than pleasing experience. 20 minutes to beer #1...it's busy...not a big deal. Server was busting her ass but 8 tables on a Sat night warrants delays. After an hour for our food, we asked to speak to the manager. Melissa was a treat! Unapologetic and totally confrontational. I've been out of the service industry for a decade but I'm pretty sure she took the exact opposite approach you'd expect from anyone looking to manage a successful restaurant in a city that understands good service. Might return when the entire staff turns over (and it will).
(2)Brian B.
They were able to make vegan tacos and the guacamole was delicious. The fresh chips were a nice touch with the different kinds of salsa. The noise level was a little loud but if you talk loud you could hear.
(4)Jay G.
I literally stumbled onto this place after doing some bar hopping / pub crawling down the 16th St Mall while on vacation from California this past weekend. It was a Sunday afternoon/evening so getting in and out of places was quite easy and service was great. Anyhow, my wife and I saw the sign as we were looking to get a selfie at Union Station and I said, "eff it" let's try this place. We were buzzed and upon entering the atmosphere was like woah. Very cool/creepy yet authentic vibe in this place. The crowd was pretty anglo so that might make you question how truly authentic it is... but let me tell you... the small amount of things we tried were great. We didn't get anything too big since we were only stopping and getting appetizers and like 1 or 2 drinks per spot we hit. My wife got roasted cactus (nopal asado)... I got esquite (or charred corn). She's from Zacatecas and a big old nopalera... me not so much... but we both loved the nopal asado. She doesn't like mayo so she didnt enjoy my esquite, but I thought it was great and spicy. The chips & salsa thing we got was good. All salsa were spicy and had their own unique taste. Not cool that it's charged for, but whatever. I got a simple Victoria beer and my wife got a bloody mary (not sure what it was called on the menu)... it was a bit too strong to enjoy... but at least it wasn't as nasty as the bloddy mary we tried in Estes Park @ the Stanley Hotel (it was horseraddish in it, yuck). Anyways... the typical stuff ppl would get here is probably tacos (hence the name)... but I figured I'd try more specialty stuff that anglos aren't probably used to (nopales and esquite) and they didn't dissapoint. For this reason and the overall style I gave it 4 stars. The strong drink took it a star down. Cool spot tho.
(4)Jennifer C.
Dropped in here on a whim after hearing about the margarita specials on Sunday ($7 margaritas). My friend and I ordered Salsas and Chips, Guacamole, Machete Margarita, Chicharron Taco, Robalito Al Pastor Taco, Lengua Taco, and Pollo Rotizerado Quesadilla. Salsas and chips - super salty chips, small quantities of dipping salsas Guacamole - Super tasty but maybe not worth the $7 special Machete Margarita - Tasty, but very, very strong Chicharron Taco - Small but tasty, oily. Robalito Al Pastor - Lots of flavor. Spicy. Delicious. Lengua Taco - Simple, well cooked, and tasty (but one giant piece that deserved to be cut) Pollo Quesadilla - Ok. Nothing to brag about though. Comes with peppers on the side. Overall it was mediocre. Wasn't bad but it didn't live up to what we were told about it. I probably wouldn't go back.
(3)Mary B.
3.5 would be my rating. The food was spectacular. The service was horrible. Be careful with the margarita...it's 2.5 shots of tequila per drink. Tried the 12 tacos with our group of 4...and all were great! Waitress had a real attitude and we were seated at a tiny table for 4 adults.
(3)Samantha E.
I only got to go to Machete Tacos a couple of times, but it quickly became one of my favorite spots! Ou first visit was for a tequila-tasting event, so it was a little hard to review, but boasted excellent tacos, service, and drinks (all provided by Arte Tequila). Our second visit was a more normal one with a few friends, but was equally delicious. Every margarita I've tasted there has been superb. I doubt you can go wrong-- everything I've tasted from the skinny to the spicy (with jalapeno) were great, and my husband and a friend liked the "hot mess" (with habanero and serrano infusion!). You also really can't pick a bad taco, as far as I can tell. The most impressive was the Mazunte with beer-battered shark in a hibiscus tortilla. Everything has been great, though-- I remember liking the mole, the flank steak, and the pork with pineapple as well. The jicama tortillas are interesting with some tacos if that interests you. If you have a group, the "Taquiza" of 12 tacos for $38 is a pretty good deal, even with the upcharge for some specialty tacos. I don't know anything about the rest of the menu, because I've always just committed to tacos, but I'm sure it's good as well. Definitely a good (relatively new) addition to the neighborhood.
(5)Cindy F.
Stopped in here to grab a drink but turned to leave feeling anti-tequila, until this sweet waitress hooked us with her obsession for the shark tacos. We had literally just come from a pizza restaurant absolutely stuffed but the love in her tone for the tacos and margaritas sucked us right in! Thank goodness we listened! The margaritas were amazing, the atmosphere was super cool with plenty to look at (literrally EVERYWHERE), and the tacos were awesome! We split the taco arra, lengua, mazunte, and robalito and were elated to have taken her advice. This trip wouldn't have been the same without a stop in Machete. The music was loud & good, the people were friendly, the place was busy, and well- we ate... again. I plan on being back ASAP!
(5)Dan T.
Love this place but they are struggling this summer and taking some short cuts. New menu lacks some of the fun and variety they had. Also this location lacks A/C and loads up the Margaritas with ice. I have rejected 3 margaritas the last two visits as they are all ice. And I love the food and staff, but it's an issue that will keep me away.
(3)Ben R.
I am a die hard Pinche Tacos fan, I eat there way more often than I should. Sometimes, however my loyalties stray and I find myself at Machete. Their tacos are different than Pinche, they're a bit more 'high-end', but they're SO good. The scallop and shrimp on jicama instead of a tortilla is amazing! And if you're up for some spice, the habanero-jalapeno margarita is one of the best I've had. I love this place.
(5)Ken I.
II would love to add a review of the food, but unfortunately we didn't get to try any since we sat there for 10 minutes without service. We even asked the bartender if we needed to order from the bar and he said he wold send a server over...that didn't happen and he didn't even ask if he could get us a drink while we wait.
(1)Rachel S.
I was pretty excited about this place as I do enjoy my tequila perhaps too much at times. So we will start there the decor is pretty awesome as you walk in there are iron shelves with all the cool brands of tequila you see in nice liquor stores and more that probably came as an add on to a drug deal in the heart of Mexico. Then of course the traditional type Mexican restaurant type of thing with skeletons and skulls and stuff every where. One cool feature was that there were little hooks on the bottom of all the tables for the ladies to hang their nice purses on. All four of the peeps in my party got margaritas. They start around 10 dollars, which seems a little steep. Especially since one or two of them had some form of Jose Cuervo as the tequila. They were good margaritas though. For food my party each picked three tacos. Some sounded a little interesting as the ingredients may not have been good together. But every taco I tried was fantastic, yet again I thought a tad bit pricey. The shark taco seems to be the famous menu item here. And I had all good things to say about that. I'd try that because where else are you going to eat shark meat? Maybe Iceland? yeah so take advantage of that here. I guess besides the prices I thought this place couldn't decide if they wanted to be a bar or more of a restaurant. So the bar wasn't filled everyone sat at the tables getting food but the music was at the " I have to yell to be heard, which is good because I have nothing really to say to you I just want to get laid level." Which was annoying because I was at dinner caching up with friends. The table was also huge so across the table conversions were a challenge. I did enjoy my time, food and drink here. I might go back if I lived in Denver. This would be a great start to a bar hopping night.
(3)Jon S.
We were here a few months back and had a horrible experience. My wife and I ordered their chicken tacos and both orders came out extremely under cooked. When we notified the server, I told him that it looked like our orders were mixed up because we didn't order the fish tacos. I honestly thought the fish tacos would have been a stretch, but I couldn't fathom that they'd serve such obviously under cooked chicken. They were transparent and rubbery... The server said, "no, these were correct, they're the chicken tacos". After just standing there not offering to do anything I asked him if he could take these back to the kitchen and have them finish cooking the chicken so we don't get sick. This is when the MOD came over and told us that they use "special spices" that make the chicken look red. I said, "the chicken was transparent and rubbery, it's obvious". And said, "no, your dishes aren't under cooked". And then walked away. I couldn't believe that a manager would argue with a guest. Especially when they were so obviously under cooked. When we got the bill, we were charged for the terrible chicken tacos. Wow... Won't be going back. Will stick with Margs... it's MUCH BETTER.
(1)Tricia W.
Went for happy hour which goes until 7pm (God bless them). The margs are pretty pricey but top notch, huge and strongggg. Tacos are a great deal on happy hour too and delicious, the legua isn't as good as Pinche but still worth a try and the shrimp is bomb. Our waiter was awesome and able to accommodate a group of 12 of us which is pretty incredible when you're reservation is for 6... Definitely recommend, probably a good place for a date too!
(5)Nick M.
The guacamole is wonderful and the salsa flight that you get is really good too and they come with really good chips. The tacos are typically pretty good, some are MUCH better than others (don't get the Chicharron de queso, get the Langosta). Drinks are pretty strong, taste good, but are pretty pricy. Cool atmosphere in a great location.
(4)Brandon E.
Great food, delicious margaritas, and a really nice staff... We came in late and they were still on point. Go try it!!!
(5)John C.
Some of the best street tacos I've had... Between the 5 of us we had several different variations and all felt the same way. Delicious!
(5)Paul P.
Don't expect the mixologists to pour a frozen concoction with Gold tequila from a slurpee machine. Do expect to see them dicing habanero and jalapeno peppers to add to an amazing drink menu!!!! The ladies behind the bar are professional bartenders who are helpful with selections whether it be food or drink. My wife and I went yesterday and luckily we got to be there for the new menu roll-out. This may be the freshest ingredients you can get in a restaurant. We are very impressed and totally hooked on Machete's!!!!
(5)Bethany W.
Really, really exceptional handcrafted tacos. Get the 12 pack to share and you have plenty to taste. (Take the leftovers home because as soon as you have room ... you will want another) Don't skip the margarita. Sit at the bar if you want to learn about tequilas. Over 100 to taste and learn about and the bartender loves to tell you about them.
(5)julie n.
Tapa style (street tacos)...1 taco per order at $4-$5 each, gets pretty pricey. Many taco bars in the area to compete with. My favorite was the shrimp and Husbands favorite was the Pastor.
(3)Doug B.
I had a few friends in town and we decided to escape the rain and grab some tacos. There was a wide variety of tacos and are well priced. The tacos are so flavorful and I will definitely be going back! Their margarita wasn't that good though
(4)George F.
Wow! I really love this place. I went with some friends while doing a beer tour of Denver. I had the Costilla Ahumada taco (smoked pork rib meat with chile puya rub sauteed green apples and green onions) and the Robalito al Pastor taco (grilled halibut marinated in recado rojo pineapple butter with onion and cilantro in a squid ink tortilla). They were outstanding! We started with some Tecates and then enjoyed a Casa Amigos Tequila at the bar based on the recommendation of the bartender. I'm not a big tequila fan (or any kind of spirits for that matter) but it was so smooth and tasty. I'd definitely go back to this place!
(5)Rachelle H.
Went here for the first time after we went to opening day for the Rockies!! It was packed full but we got a table very fast. The atmosphere is great! The menu will push you out of your comfort zone and for good reason. The tacos were delish! Everyone's drinks were great but the Cadillac Margarita I ordered was disappointing. As busy as they were, the staff was great and on top of everything. I will defiantly be going back, trying some new types of tacos and giving the margaritas another shot.
(4)Catherine P.
Stopped in for a late dinner on Sunday night, unfortunately the kitchen closes at 9:00 and we arrived at 8:54 (restaurant closes at 10 on Sunday). No time to peruse the menu as we were being rushed to order. Hubby had the Calma Borrachos, which we did not realize was slathered with their HOT salsas. The waitress was great! She had the kitchen refire it and he loved it. I tasted it and it was yummy. I would have it with the hot salsas. I had the chili relleno and it was good, but I liked my husband's dish better. The chips and 4 salsas was really good! Emilia was our server and she did a wonderful job of taking care of us! All in all, I would say a 4 for the food and a 5 for service.
(4)David K.
Another Denver Fail. Stopped in at 8:30 p.m. on a Sunday evening. The place was not that busy and I saw two bartenders. I sat at the bar for about 15 minutes and was never acknowledged. Noticed the other patrons at the bar were not asked if they needed anything either. I walked out without a word ever being exchanged. Strange, but sadly par for the course for Denver. Too bad because I'm a big Tequila fan and a generous tipper.
(1)Allyson H.
The margaritas here are seriously delicious, go down way too easy, and will probably knock you on your behind if you enjoy one too many. But boy are they good! This is a fun spot to go for drinks after work. They have tacos on special during happy hour, which are decent but aren't my favorite. I wish they had greater variety on their menu. Their guacamole is tasty, as are the three other salsas they serve you when you order it.
(4)R K.
What a fun place to have a large group of people! The staff was so helpful and nice - from the hostess (Laura) to the manager (riann) and our amazing server (Amelia). This place not only impressed with service, but the tacos are so good!! There's a huge selection of tequila (pineapple infused!) too with great price points. We look forward to coming back soon!
(5)Sam F.
Hit this place up for two happy hours on two separate occasions - a selection of their tacos are featured and you get a knock off their margaritas. A cool small space, well laid out - can get busy and loud. The tacos are solid with a few standouts - the smoked pork rib meat chief among them. Beers are a bit spendy. Service was solid. A good option for this hood if you are in a relative hurry and have less than 5 in your party.
(4)Jzs N.
Delicious margs. Delicious food. Thanks guys.
(5)Jackie T.
Came here one night with my brother when he was in town. I ordered the arrachera taco, campechano taco, and the pollo rostizado taco. They were all good, but the campechano was amazing. Coming from San Diego, I'm a snob when it comes to street tacos. Machete's did this one right! Flank steak, red chorizo, oaxaca cheese, cilantro, onion, and salsa verde--- bomb! I'd go back and just order like 5 of these babies! I also had a machete margarita which was good but way too strong for me (say what you want). I got the mojito rita after that and it was really delicious- the mojito-ness cut down the taste of the tequila. I'll definitely be back!
(5)Kate N.
I like machete but only go there for special occasions because it is so pricy! The food tastes great but the portions are pretty small. The drinks are also really expensive. We haven't had great service at this location but it is pretty small so nothing takes too long at least!
(3)Terry S.
Ok. They try awfully hard but pull up a little short. Absolutely grotesque decor -- friendly enough
(3)Justin K.
The tacos are all unique and delicious. Great food. However, the service was a bit spotty. The waitress seemed annoyed, we were given our food before our silverware, and it took a while for anyone to take our order. Great tacos, hopefully the service will be better if you check it out.
(3)Brittany B.
I'm ashamed to say I hadn't even heard of this place (or maybe I had but didn't really take note) until my man and I decided to grab some grub before a Nuggets' game. Boy, am I glad we did! The ambiance is a little interesting, but matches well with the establishment. The taco list is varied and everything we tasted was delicious (five different tacos, including the shark which I was pleasantly surprised with, and four margaritas). Let me just plug the pina colada-like margarita. It's wonderful! But scary-smooth, so beware. And if you order a "Spicy Kenny" (strawberry with jalapeno), you won't be dissapointed. We both finished two and were feeling pretty easy-going, if you know what I mean, so they don't skimp on their pours. We also enjoyed the salsa and guac. All of them were delicious. I have not one issue/compaint, but I can't give five stars on a one-time visit... can I?... ...to be continued...
(4)Ryan M.
Finally a Mexican restaurant that does not offer a single margarita with sweet and sour in it. I can't stand it when even the expensive margaritas use S&S. It should be illegal. Machete margarita is great and a big glass as well (small glasses should also be outlawed). Also tried the Mojito margarita and one with chile powder on the rim. Both fantastic and a am a margarita fiend! Tacos are great too. Friendly service. Good decor. Really pleased!!!
(5)Mary T.
Every time we have come here not only is the food great but each staff person is excellent! You won't be disappointed.
(5)Meg J.
Love this place!! THe Street tacos are amazing and perfectly portioned. Their skinny marg is is one of my favs!!!
(4)Amy O.
Honestly, I find these tacos very similar to Pinche Tacos, BOTH of which I really love. So, that's no disrespect to Machete! However, I do recall an extremely creative cricket taco that Machete offered at the Top Taco event. Anyway, back to the restaurant. Excellent drinks and atmosphere. Great service, too! I'd come in first for a Yelp event, and then returned a second time when I had a friend in town. If I bring an out of town friend to your establishment, you are the cream of the crop in my opinion!
(4)Kristin M.
Would come here again for the service, food, and prices. Good value! Went here with some family on a Friday evening and being from Chicago, was surprised but delighted to see happy hour food/drink specials that ran all night. As well, a couple people in our party weren't there right away at the reservation time since I accidentally sent them to the other location in Denver (woops), but the staff was super nice about it and said it's happened before. Unlike a lot of places in Chicago, we were seated w/o our whole party being there, and the server was up front about asking us how we wanted our checks split--(again, such a breath of fresh air!!) Had an enjoyable time trying the different tacos, eating way too many chips and guac, and sampling the various margaritas (no blended ones there, which I prefer). Definitely try this place!
(4)Deginald W.
Nice environment, great staff and cool people, could be a lot better but met my expectations.. Had a better experience there during day hours than at night but great food and drinks!
(4)Joe Y.
Located across the street from Union Station is Machete's second location. Their Cherry Creek location will have easier parking. They have the most Tequila list in Denver with a vibe of a Mexico City cantina. Happy Hour Mon-Fri 2-7pm.
(4)Bhavesh P.
Delicious, absolutely some of the best tacos I've had. The Robalito Al Pastor (Grilled Halibit) tacos were my favorite, incredibly flavorful and very light. Charissa is a great bartender (I hope I spelled her name right). Try it!
(5)Amanda H.
This place is amazing! A HUGE tequila selection. Amazing margaritas (be warned, their Machete Marg is delicious and mysteriously strong), tacos to die for and salsas for everyone. Order the chips and four salsas to start, dive into the jalapeño salsa and prepare to be burned so good. I'm a sucker for heat and that one was perfect. Service is outstanding. These people know their tequilas and their menu. 2 tacos= a snack, 3 tacos = a small meal. The atmosphere is perfect for this place. Also, the color changing skull lamps on the bar are so perfect!! This place is definitely worth your time.
(5)Matt W.
Great tacos. Great happy hour. Great margs. Sweet dia de Los muertos vibe. Recommended.
(5)Jessica L.
We came here on Sunday at about 2 pm. It was pretty dead. My friends were already here waiting and they had ordered guac. The chips also came with 5 different salsas which were all pretty good. I had the kona margarita, which was pineapple/coconut infused tequila, because they were out of Bloody Mary mix for the Bloody Maria. Kind of annoying. We ordered tacos which were $2.75 each except for the starred ones. And everyone except me wanted to order the shark taco (for shark week) but they were also out of that. Really annoying. Who does that? I said to the server "are you out of everything?" Maybe that's why they're not that busy. I ordered the shrimp taco and the pork rib meat taco. They were pretty good sizes and two filled me up along with the chips. I really liked the shrimp one but the meat on other one was kind of hard to chew. We all really liked the tacos overall though. I need to go to Pinche Tacos again to see which is better. Another thing that kinda bothered me was that their online Sunday happy hour menu is not valid at this location, only at the Cherry Creek one. That should be specified. Next time I'll prob go to that location since they have happy hour food all day Sundays. I think the tacos are a tad bit pricey without happy hour. $4.50 for one taco would really rack up a bill. The server was great though. He refilled our drinks all the time and the chips too.
(3)Christie K.
Yum! This place was SO good! We had 8 people on a busy Friday night and they were able to accommodate us without a reservation! They actually put us in this room in the back with couches it was so cool. They have lots of different tasty margaritas! I got a jalapeño one that was spicy! Yum! The food was awesome. The chips and salsa come with 4 different salsas that were all tasty! They have lots of different tacos. I am avoiding dairy and gluten right now and the waitress had no problem helping me out! The service was good, our waitress was very nice. All in all a great experience!
(5)Jordan D.
their margs can be a little pricey but they have a good happy hour, but do yourself a favor and try the steak/shrimp quesidilla!
(4)Marilyn S.
Cool atmosphere, great location, great vibe. Rustic cabin meets taqueria. Street tacos menu, the favorite being the crispy pork. Really liked the chips with four assorted salsas. Good service at bar by German girl. Food runner with curly dark hair very knowledgeable and friendly. Will return!
(4)Rebecca M.
Drinks were good, food was just okay. I could see what they were going for but it fell a bit short. Hoping it was just an off night.
(3)Robert R.
I went here with my family last weekend and we had a great experience. The food was reasonably priced and everyone really liked that you could order by the taco. This allowed you to mix and match, and they had a very wide variety, anything from mako shark to flank steak tacos. This was also good for people in our party who weren't very hungry, so they could just get 1 or 2 tacos. They had everything you'd expect on a mexican menu as well. A ridiculously long list of different tequilas, and the margaritas were awesome. I would definitely go back here any time!
(5)Lisa D.
My friends and I celebrated my birthday at Machete Tequila & Tacos last night, and I felt like a VIP in this place!! I'd never been here before, but I will absolutely be back! We had a large group and were uncertain of the total number of people that would show up...so the hostess brought us to a special room in the back that could seat around 10 or so with comfy leather couches and a big screen tv! I was pretty stoked at that point, knowing that my friends would be comfortable and we'd have room to spread out, and the privacy to talk about whatever we wanted! Our server, Amelia, was very friendly, attentive, knowledgeable, she even recommended a place to go dancing after dinner and hooked me up with a complimentary birthday shot of this delicious pineapple infused tequila! The tacos in this place are PHENOMENAL!! I had shrimp, rotisserie chicken and steak tacos...and OMG they were to die for!! I am very pleased with my experience here and I'll be returning for more in the near future!! Thank you, Machete, for making my birthday special and giving us such great service and food!!!
(5)Michaela M.
Margaritas strong, which is a good thing. A little pricey but zoned in for Cherry Creek. Amazing tacos, well thought out preparation, with nice braise on the meat. Nothing tough and earthy salsa pairing. Solid lunch choice!
(4)Jarrod P.
I just ate here yesterday for the first time and thoroughly enjoyed it. I ordered the Pollo Rostizada (chicken tacos) and they were excellent. I haven't had a chance to try their margaritas as yesterday was a lunch meeting, but will be back soon to do so. The service was fast and friendly. Really cool decorations too!
(5)Meagan N.
Great service and unique margaritas, that are sure make you pucker! They definitely don't skimp on the tequila. The salsas are exceptional as well, but indeed spicy.
(5)Hannah M.
Good food but crappy service. Make sure if your party of 8 has a reservation that you reconfirm a few times. We had a really bad experience and snotty hostesses.
(2)SnowChik B.
This place is great! I thought they only had the 3rd ave location... Glad we found this one! Tacos were great! Service was awesome, even on a busy Saturday night!
(4)Marc W.
Superb tacos. Pinche Taqueria gets all the love, but this place is better. More interesting ambiance, friendlier service, and tastier food.
(5)Jonathan C.
Amazingly delicious tacos and margaritas. The guacamole was fresh and good as well. They serve 4 salsas, all with unique tastes and consistency. We will return for sure.
(5)Shannon M.
I would comment on the food but I didn't have an opportunity to experience it. I came in last Friday night with a few people that live in my building. We live just blocks away and thought this would be a good place to have a drink and appetizer. We sat at the bar and their was a female bartender who acknowledge the two gentlemen with me but not myself. She began to strike up flirt with one of the guys with us and ease drop on my conversation with my neighbor. She began to insult me to our friend. I was shocked and we left the facility. I am a frequent visitor of many restaurants in this area and have never been so appalled and insulted in my life. I will never return to this establishment. What a detriment to business.
(1)Bridgette M.
Delish spicy jalapeño margs & friendly tenders. Good place to watch a game!! Thirsty Lion across the street's poor customer service & lack of enthusiasm for local sports filled Machete up for the second half!
(4)Kathy K.
They have JICAMA tacos! It is nice and refreshing and GLUTEN FREE! I do not have a gluten intolerance, but carbs free! My boyfriend gets the pollo rostizado and yesterday I ordered the camarones colima... LOVE IT! I thought it was going to be a small appetizer, but it was as the description stated, 5 L A R G E jumbo shrimp! It comes with A LOT of guac! An assortment of salsas and chips are included!
(5)Suzanne N.
Tacos were excellent--had the shrimp one, beef tongue one. Hubby had the steak taco, halibut one and loved them too. The margaritas are good, but be prepared they are strong! I also tried the Paloma drink, which I enjoyed. We were with a large group of people and had great service.
(4)Funero L.
Was in from out of town on business and stumbled upon this great find. AMAZING food and a very fun atmosphere.
(5)Wayne S.
I started in cherry creek and loved them. Just moved downtown and tried this one. Loves me some Tyrone! He is so good to us.
(5)Madeleine P.
This place surprised me. The margaritas are incredible, especially the raspberry one. The food is really authentic too. It's a little overpriced but for a good margarita I'll pay!
(5)Amy H.
GREAT FOOD, friendly staff and some killer margaritas that are definitely not short on tequila. Highly recommended
(5)Eli R.
Highly recommended. I usually stick to the chicken tacos, but have heard really good things about the others - especially the halibut. I'm not a huge tequila fan, but their selection is great. Great atmosphere, and I've been treated well by the staff every time I go there.
(5)Aaron V.
Great food and service! Have a shot of tequila and taco plate! Highly recommend to all for a great meal and service.
(5)