El Jimador
196 S Union Blvd, Lakewood, CO, 80228
El Jimador Menu
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Visit below restaurant in Lakewood for healthy meals suggestion.
Visit below restaurant in Lakewood for healthy meals suggestion.
Visit below restaurant in Lakewood for healthy meals suggestion.
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Address :
196 S Union Blvd
Lakewood, CO, 80228 - Phone (303) 985-7597
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Opening Hours
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Specialities
- Takes Reservations : No
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Lunch, Dinner
Parking : Private Lot
Bike Parking : No
Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
Good for Kids : Yes
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Casual
Noise Level : Average
Alcohol : Full Bar
Outdoor Seating : No
Wi-Fi : No
Has TV : Yes
Waiter Service : Yes
Caters : No
Categories
Mexican Cuisine
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.
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Jessica P.
Since my fiance and I live just around the corner from El Jimador, we eat there quite a bit..... and honestly, I don't have one bad thing to say about it! The most appealing factor for us (since we are starving college students) is the fact that the food is dirt cheap. The two of us can eat dinner for $20 or less. In the case of El Jimador, cheap doesn't mean a small quantity. They bring us plates FULL of food, and we never leave hungry! Our food is always in front of us 5 to 10 minutes after we order, regardless of how busy they are. We also always receive awesome service from everyone in the restaurant - not just our server. I'd recommend this restaurant to anyone looking for some tasty, fast Mexican food on a tight budget. Edit: It is probably also worth mentioning that the margaritas here are SUPER delicious, and the ones you get at Happy Hour are gigantic. The sangria is also awesome, so order some.
(5)Mar S.
Went to El Jim yesterday for lunch. I had the Pollo de..Cazuela and husband had the last shrimp entree listed on the lunch menu and starts with an A. The A dish is shrimp wrapped in bacon, fried, and served over sauteed onions, green peppers (Bell I think), and 'shrooms. Both dishes served with beans, rice and a slaw salad. The chicken dish I got was white meat, thinly sliced , served with 'shrooms, carrots and celery, all sliced, in a red sauce that is enhanced with sour cream. It seemed a little on the salty side (I taste salt easily), but nothing to b**ch about. Both choices were absolutely D-lish! Each cost only about. $7.50. The place is as neat as a pin, our waiter was perfect. I can't wait to go again and will order the A shrimp dish hubs got. (I do know quite a bit of Spanish food vocab, but the A dish was a new one on me, so sorry for the vagueness.) They have a nice little bar area separated from the restaurant part too. Anyhoo, highly recommend. Enjoy!
(4)Paul J.
Went for lunch for the first time with a coworker. The chips and salsa were a good first sign as was the friendly service. However, as a vegetarian, my standards probably differ from most. Their refried beans are made with lard and there was a dearth of vegetarian selections on their menu, but I did find a vegetarian burrito available. Unfortunately, when I asked the server what was in it, she could not tell me. Anyway, I ordered it. It was loaded to the gills with onions. It also had a dash of mushrooms and peppers, and half a can of Vegall type veggies in it (diced carrots, peas, corn and lima beans). Overall it wasn't bad, but given their lack of veggie-friendly options, I won't be returning. FWIW, my nonvegetarian coworker enjoyed his gordo burrito.
(2)Terry C.
NICE place! I was a punk and custom ordered a big bean and rice burrito with minimal cheese and lots of veggies. It was 2 meals on one plate. My coworker got some chicken enchilada plate, which was the same number of meals (2) on the same number of plates (1). I'm noticing a trend in serving size here... So I got lunch AND dinner for, get this, $7. A custom burrito for $7. Wow. And they really DID go light on the cheese. Also, they have Negra Modelo, my favorite mexican beer, for less than $4. So they're a winner all around. (But it was a work lunch, so I skipped that order this time). If you're into tequila, they had to resort to smaller print on their menu, there are so many to choose from. I mean dozens. They do chicken, beef, pork, menudo, green chili, rellenos, and pretty much whatever you could be looking for. The service is EXCELLENT. The atmosphere is bright and friendly. The spanish is great, and so is the english. The glasses are taken and refilled BEFORE you finish. I mean, this place is just terrific. Plus, two meals for seven bucks. TIPS: The full bar is FULL. The carry-out (to go) boxes are styro. The booths have a really high back, which provides a bit more privacy and a bit less distraction than a lot of places. The price range is technically $ to $$. They have some very nice looking entrees there. There was a table that looked like it was ready to accommodate literally a dozen people. I'd say they're GREAT for groups. This place is going to become a regular stop for me. Definitely. P.S. It's just north of Wahoo's on the same side of the road. It's not as close to Alameda as the map suggests. Definitely worth the confusion, though. :)
(4)Ryan S.
Food was good. Tea was bad (not brewed there). Salsa was above par but not excellent. Carne asada good but not great. Chorizo con Huevos was very good. Queso dip was just basic heated cheese (very good when mixed with salsa but Meh alone). This place had great reviews so that contributed to us being somewhat disappointed, because what we got was good Mexican food, not great Mexican food as we expected.
(3)Sarah P.
El Jimador is a neighborhood hole-in-the-wall that never fails to deliver delicious, fresh Mexican food... never mind the margaritas! The portions are generous, the food is high quality, and the service is fast.
(4)Allyen W.
Lived nearby for years and just dicovered it this year. Glad we found it, it has been wonderful each time. From the moment you enter the staff is warm, friendly, and welcoming. The menu is extensive and interesting. You will find many good dishes that are not found at the run of the mill Mexican joint. I am going to be a regular here for a long time! Oh, almost forgot, the margaritas are good and they have 65 tequilas to choose from.
(5)Adam H.
This place was fantastic. I'm calling it the best Mexican place in Lakewood, CO by far.
(5)Glenne W.
Best Mexican food Ive had in Colorado! The carne asada is delicious. The margs are yummy. Never a disappointment. Great service every time too.
(5)Asha P.
Delicious food, great service (we had three different waiters checking on us!), a huge menu with a variety of food and drinks. The portions are generous and the food comes out very quickly! This is a great family place and seeming authentic! I would go back again very soon!!
(5)Deborah P.
This was our "go to" place for a Mexican fix. We'd always been on Friday or Saturday night and had decent experiences. The salsa is great. Chips are typical. Service was friendly and fast. Our last experience was disappointing though. We came in at about 3:30pm on Saturday and were the only ones in the dining room. Service was slow. We waited 10 min for water and to order drinks. Our meals came out a different times despite that I only had a guacamole salad and cheese dip. The guacamole included black chunks of avocado which I only discovered after eating one. Clearly it wasn't made that's day. So gross. The waitress was unconcerned and left the black mess sitting on the table instead of removing it. My husband's mole was overly sweet. We had to ask multiple times for more salsa. Water was never refilled. We were never asked if we wanted another bar drink.
(2)Erika H.
This place has really stepped it up. My company has held monthly happy hours at El Jimador for about a year. We like the two for one margarita deal. Tasty! We usually get chicken nachos, beef nachos, guac and chips for the tables. My favorite is the guac. It has a little kick I can't quite place what it is? Service over the past month or so has really improved. Aspen and Janet (I apologize if I am miss spelling) waited on us this past trip. They provided attentive and friendly service. Thanks ladies! We will be back next month!
(4)Jenny C.
This used to be one of my go-to places for Mexican food, especially after Tequilas in Golden burned down. The past few times I've gone, I have regretted it. One of the times, I had to ask multiple times for them to bring out the cabbage salsa, as it appears they don't do it automatically anymore. On the most recent visit, the cabbage salsa was subpar. We ordered the bacon-wrapped prawns and I didn't eat them because they were not de-veined first. I know they were probably safe to eat, but the yuck factor kicked in and I ended up taking the bacon off and eating that. I think the avocados they used for the guacamole were overripe, because the guac had an off taste to it. In all, I hope my future self reads this and goes somewhere else.
(2)Brad W.
Ate at the bar. Service was pretty good. Drinks were great. Had chicken fajitas, well seasoned, well cooked with great fresh vegetables. Rice and refried beans were fair. The biggest downside was an obviously over served loudmouth women at the bar. Apparently a regular, she never shut up. Anoying as hell! I would have stayed, but she literally drove me out.
(4)Teresa T.
First time here, service was good, salsa was tasty, chips were odd. My son ordered ground beef tacos and when I saw his taco shells looked like boxed, pre-made from the grocery store I was disappointed. I ordered a cheese enchilada, the cheese wasn't melted, a chile relleno, I've never seen one that looks like an egg roll before , it was over fried and extremely hard and dark. The beans and rice are pretty tasty not the best but not the worst. Coming from California and having nothing but Hispanic friends I'm used to a different type of authentic Mexican food. I didn't really like the fact that there was only one drink refill. Overall it was average not good not bad, but at least I know now what I'm in for should I come back to this restaurant
(3)Angie R.
Was just OK. The chips were not salted, the green chili had no heat and the ground beef was the only thing that tasted seasoned. I'm sure I will try it again since I work next door. But I was a little let down.
(3)Sasha L.
This is the best Mexican food I have found in the area so far. Like many good restaurants, the outside is deceiving, it doesn't look like much. The abiance on the inside however, is very welcoming and authentic. It is a family restaurant, you can tell. The people that work there are friendly and conversational, usually I get the same server, Juan (probably because I always come in at the same time) After working at Los Dos Potrillos (an amazing Mexican restaurant) for 6 years, I have become picky and addicted when it comes to Mexican food. I am so glad I found something that can give me my fix! I have taken coworkers here (one who is EXTREMELY picky and always complains) and everyone loves it! I don't know why this is listed as $$ on yelp, the food is highly affordable, they have some impressive plates which obviously cost more but if you come here during lunch it is around $8 for a good sized entree. I would come here for lunch, date nights, happy hours, any occasion. HIGHLY RECOMMEND!
(5)Keeley S.
This place was awful not because of the food... The management is the reason we will not be back. We had never been there before but we tried it because we found a coupon through the Live deal ap. I showed the coupon to our waitress before we ordered and she made no indication that it would not be accepted. The coupon was spend 37.50 get 15 off so we ordered entrees, appetizer and margaritas. Waitress dropped off bill and then said her manager would not accept the coupon. We spent way more than we would have and only went there because of the deal. We will never go back.
(1)Bobby Z.
The portions and quality of food here are never leaving you wanting! It's not fine dining by any means, but the value is there so I can't recommend this place enough!
(5)Jake L.
Went there on a Monday night with my parents. Service was slow, food tasted ok, until I found a 2" long rubber tube in it. After I showed the waitress they wouldn't comp our meal. They asked me if I wanted something else but wouldn't even comp my meal! Needless to say we walked out and won't be back.
(1)Katie S.
Meh. This place is just sort of alright. I love Mexican food and the menu here is identical to Tequila's. Tequila's food is better, though. The chile relleno here was overly crispy and the rice and beans were whatever. The enchilada was pretty tasty, though. The sauce was good and I enjoyed it. The salsa had a strange taste to me, but the cucumbers served alongside it were fun. The staff was nice enough, but as is the case with most Mexican restaurants, they seemed more interested in getting my friend and I in-and-out quickly. I understand that when the place is hopping, but it was dead when I visited. So...I didn't love that. Honestly, the only reason to come here is the margarita. Absolutely delicious and damn strong.
(3)Ts L.
Great food and service!! The owners son always waits on a large group of us at lunch. He's awesome!! We're a pain with seperate checks but he doesn't mind, we appreciate that. Keep up the great work we'll see you soon
(5)Matt N.
I drive past their sign advertising "the bast margaritas in town" on an occasional basis, usually in the mornings, it always intrigued me, but by dinner time I had long forgot about it. My friend was asking where he could find good margs, recalling the sign I'd driven by so often, I suggested this place... The margaritas were okay, nothing really to get very excited about, but were priced right. The chicken mole was surprisingly sweet, really too sweet for my liking. My buddy had a burrito with chicken, shrimp, and steak covered in a white cheese sauce that I had a few bites of and was delicious, I would go back just to try that again. For dessert, we shared the Jimador Platter, with several churros, sopapillas, and fried ice cream (3 of their 5 desserts) and both agreed that none of them were great... Disappointing end to an okay meal.
(3)Kelly U.
SO awesome!!! Everything is on point and the margaritas are poured strong! I don't leave reviews but this place deserves it. Best Mexican food I've found in Denver.
(5)Jeff D.
Love this place! Some of the best Mexican food in the Metro area. Staff is very friendly and everything I have tried has been delicious.
(4)Perla A.
So we won a contest on the radio and that's how we came to meet this wonderful spot.I love 100% authentic places and that's what this is !!!!!the service is great and the food was the best I have ever had ! !!!100 % recommend it !!!!check it out you will not regret it! !!!
(5)Jeanne J.
I want to give this place a a couple of stars only because i really hate to give people bad reviews but I just can't :(. I do want to say that the guy that waited on me was very nice and gave great service to bad the food was not very good. I ordered the chili rellenos as I do at every Mexican restaurant and must say it may be the worst I've ever had. I went there around lunch time yesterday and they were not all that busy so when my rellenos came out not even cooked enough to melt the cheese inside I was very disappointed. The green chili was just not good at all. The chips and salas was the best part of the meal. The only reason i did not send my food back was because it only cost around $6. I don't believe I will give them another chance.
(1)Alma P.
Great service, the staff was so nice, but the food was awful. I only ate half of my bean and chicharron smothered burrito -- it was terrible. My BF also only ate half of his smothered bean burrito. Really disappointed, staff was so great, I really wanted to like it.
(2)Jessica L.
This is my second time coming here. I got a the desayuno burrito (or vice versa I can't remember) which is basically a smothered bacon breakfast burrito with rice, beans, lettuce, and tomato on the side. The first time I got this it was pretty good except they bacon was in strips. This time I'm pretty sure they forgot to put the bacon in. I forked through the entire burrito and didn't not find any bacon. Just a few pork chunks from the green chile. I called them right after this and the girl went and asked the cook if there was bacon. They said they had chopped up four pieces of bacon but there was no way I could've missed it. I didn't feel like arguing and was too lazy to bring it in to show them. I'm pretty disappointed in this and probably won't be back, even with their bogo half off coupon on the back of the king soopers receipts. One thing I did like about El Jimador is that they give to go chips and salsa for free, usually restaurants just give chips and salsa for dine in only. Oh and they need to update their menu online because their prices have gone up since. Hate when that happens when prices are stated differently. It said $6.75 online and I was actually charged 7.50. I even left a Togo tip today (just a dollar) but still I expect to have bacon in my burrito esp when I'm paying 7.50 for it. Next time I'll just go get a handheld breakfast burrito from Las Fuentes for $3 when I'm at work since that's the only close place and burrito express is too expensive now with no green chile.
(2)Angela A.
My stomach hurts all over again writing this review. I ordered the chicken burrito. I'm pretty sure they dumped a pound of salt in it, covered it in preservatives, and slapped on a can of minced chicken for special zest. Bleh! Salsa good. Eat a lot of it because you will not want to eat your meal!
(1)Keith W.
After passing by this place on several occasions, I took note of the 4-star plus Yelp average and decided to give it a go. I was pleasantly surprised to find a Mexican restaurant in Lakewood to which I will happily return. The very pleasant host seated me immediately and took my drink order. While I perused the menu I was comforted by the pat-pat-pat sound of a lady shaping dough prior to pressing it into tortillas on the establishment's traditional wood press, and immediately tossing them onto a portable skillet top in preparation for the lunch rush. I munched on the complimentary homemade chips and mild salsa while I waited for my pork carnitas to arrive. The carnitas plate was fantastic - rice, beans, a little bit of guacamole and shredded lettuce, and slow-cooked pork in a thick, brown, very flavorful sauce full of big chunks of sauteed onions. The pork was tender as could be and very moist. The staff was universally friendly and speedy, and asked on several occasions if I required a drink refill or anything else. El Jimador is a pleasant discovery after the mild disappointment of D'Corazon a few blocks north, and the atrocious, never-again mess that is Jose O'Shea's.
(4)Ryan H.
Real Mexican food. I feel like the low reviews come from those seeking a chimichanga. This is not a plate of unidentifiable food covered in cheese and chili, this is fresh shrimp, beef and chicken like you would find in Mexico. Having just returned from Guadalajara and Jalisco, this very good authentic Mexican food.
(5)Lisa O.
I have been back a number of times. The food and especially the service has gone way way down hill. At first it was little things, like slow service or forgotten sides. It took 10-minutes for us to get a glass of water. The last straw, was when I was served an uncooked chili relleno, literally had a block of non-melted cheese in the middle. The whole thing was so unappetizing, I did not touch it. They offered to cook it for me and I told them no and when the bill came, they wanted to charge me for the whole damn thing. After the server spoke with the manager, he gave me 50% off. Ummm... Maybe I am weird, but I don't want to pay for craptastic uncooked food. BTW, you can get slightly cheaper, better food, and very good service 5-miles away at Tequilas. Go there.
(2)David M.
A 3.5 star Mexican Restaurant that is much better than its franchise neighbor, Jose O'Shea's. The frijoles refritos were appropriately saturated with lard. The thinly sliced and grilled churrasco-like steak was authentically Mexican in preparation, as were the freshly made flour tortillas. Liked the chile, and all in all, the tastes were very good. The main problem for me, however, was the over-salting of all the dishes. Made my body cry out for water over the next couple of hours. If they could fix that issue, they'd have a legitimate 4 star Mexican restaurant. Would go back when in the area.
(3)Cathie C.
My husband and I went here for lunch after reading reviews of the chicken mole. I had the mole enchiladas plate and my husband had the Jimador beef burrito. The mole enchiladas were amazing! The Jimador burrito sauce was ok but not nearly as good as the mole sauce. They also seemed to have a large selection of tequilas so we will be back soon when we can stay for drinks!
(4)Stephen D.
Good food. Not good ambiance.
(3)Jose G.
I got the Mexican hamburger it was meh ok I guess. It was missing flavor in the patty and beans. The rice seemed like it was from yesterday it was kinda mushy. I didn't like the rice that much because it had veggies in it I don't like that. I've had better Mexican hamburgers else where. Like I said the food was ok. Maybe I have a high standard for Mexican food since I eat homemade Mexican food everyday at my home so maybe that's why this place fell short of my expectations
(2)Jason A.
I got the mole. It was very very sweet. I'd guess corn syrup and red tomalley sauce. I couldn't eat it. I expect mole to be rich, smokey, savory, and complex. El Jimador's mole is none of those. Also, the prices seem a bit high for what you get, quality-wise. Otherwise, the place is clean and comfortable, and the service was good. I'd give two stars, but I've only been there once. I'd be interested to hear what others think if their mole.
(2)Sam G.
Never again. As a Texan who enjoys good Mexican on a regular basis, this was awful. Salsa was disgusting, margaritas just as bad, rice was under-cooked, meat was flavorless. Our dishes in general looked like slop. Also, we went at dinner time and we were the only two people in the restaurant. That should tell you something right there...
(1)Lindsay A.
LOVE El Jimador! The food is fresh, authenic, and inexpensive. Margaritas are the same! And delicious pina coladas too! I've never had a bad meal here, though the refried beans and rice are standard... My favorite menu items are the crispy chile rellenos and enchiladas. Also, if you like mushrooms, you MUST TRY the mushroom appetizer! It's like an entire container of mushrooms spiced and sauteed perfectly, served on a platter, surrounded by fresh sliced avocado. SOOOOOOOOO good! Everyone that's had it raves about it. It's so simple, yet VERY delicious!
(4)Cathie M.
I just moved to Golden 2 weeks ago and have been to EL Jimador twice this week. The staff is very friendly, the food really good, and the margaritas are the best. Love the cucumbers.
(5)Peter M.
I am always skeptical when I see a sign that reads, "Colorado's Best Margarita!". Insert any town or state in there and my reaction is the same. Really? The best? Usually they are piss poor concotions thrown together with shit tequila and sours mix. Besides, anyone who is anyone know that my parents make the best margs; fresh squeezed lime juice, high end tequila and triple sec. On with the review: Pretty damn good margaritas. Suprisingly good. Some folks might try them and think, "hey, this just isn't sweet enough". To those people, I say go back to TGI Friday's ya toolbag! Food was pretty good too. My mom and I split a combo, and added a side order chili relleno, thinking we were clever by not overordering. We ended up taking half of it to go. Big portions.
(4)Douglas B.
I had eaten here several times years ago and really liked their seafood selection. However, I kid you not on this. Our food was brought out and there was a live cockroach crawling over one of the dishes. I could hardly believe it. To add insult to injury, they offered no compensation! Needless to say, I have never been back. I could swear I had posted this review before-did the owners have it taken off? If it gets taken off again, I will repost. Don't bother with this place-there's a Mexican joint on every corner anyway.
(1)Molly H.
Great Mexican food! The chips and salsa are awesome, I really like the cabbage slaw stuff they serve too, its sooo tasty and the salsa is perfectly spicy! You will not leave this place hungry, the portions are huge! Just see the pic of the sopapilla I added, Its the size of my head and very delicious. By the way this was the first time we actually made it to dessert, we usually stuff ourselves and can barely walk out. We paced ourselves this time and took half our meals home so we could try their desserts. Service is the best on this side of town. Everyone you come in contact with has a smile, greets you and is willing to help service you. They dont just go get your server like most other restuarants. Everyone works together to create a great dining experience. They tote themselves as the 'Best Margarita in Town', and I would have to agree! Its muy delicioso!
(4)Laura A.
I am not sure why this restaurant has so many good reviews, it isn't that great. Perhaps I base my expectations to high based on Yelp reviews. First off, the service was awful. We went in at about 7:45 on a Friday night and the place was dead. It took about 5 minutes just to have someone come take our drink order, and that was after staring down a couple servers. Our server had no personality..... and was the least bit friendly or attentive. Chips and salsa.... Well, chips were stale, but salsa was alright..... No spice to it at all. Dinners were delivered very short after ordering and came out nice and hot. However, you could tell that everything was probably frozen and not at all fresh.. The margaritas are the best thing about this place, they are pretty good. Perhaps, I just went on a bad night, but I won't being going back to give it a second try. I can have mediocre Mexican food closer to home.
(2)James M.
TWO VISITS! First visit: My wifes birthday. I ordered the Chulettas de puerco (smothered pork chops). They literally tasted rancid, like the meat had been cooked, left out for 48 hours and reheated. I sent them back and my waiter came back and told me that the cook tried them and they tasted fine to him. I re-ordered the tacos al carbon. They were just edible, but pretty salty. My wife orderd steak fajitas. They were so salty and smothered with a white velveeta like substance that she had to send them back. She re-ordered a burrito. It was also salty but just edible. She did not eat more than half, Flash forward 2 years. We have moved to the neighborhood and felt we should give it another chance due to our neighbors opinions and proximity. We walked in and the entire place had a haze of greasy smoke hanging over it. We should have left. I ordered the tacos de carnitas. They were ok. I finished them. big deal. My wife again ordered a smothered burrito . The green chile tasted like campbell's condensed chicken noodle soup. She sent it back. Three dishes sent back in two visits. We almost never send food back! Their margs are just ok. This place is so overrated it's ridiculous!
(1)Derrick G.
Food seemed over priced. Ordered 2 burritos and a plate of mushrooms to go ended up paying $45. I almost told the waiter never mind but the food was already made.
(2)Fielding G.
My wife just went to this establishment with her sister in law and our kids. They were out shopping and decided to grab lunch. They got on restaurants.com and saw if they had and deals in the area they saw El jimador $6 for $15 they purchased on the mobile app. They read they restrictions the only one was spend $22.50 which they did. They presented the proof of this on the app that the restaurant then they validate on it so you can't use it again, they wouldn't take it said they needed it printed. We have used this site before never needed a printed copy of the certificate. They were given the run around about no manager being there about no email for a manager. Just absurd. All in all I am very upset about this. And they paid the full $29.82 + the $6 for the coupon totalling $35.82 when it should have been $14.82 + the $6 for the coupon for a total of $20.82. Thanks for taking my $15 el jimador!
(1)Sara H.
We have a Mexican restaurant close to home we like, but sometimes you just want to try something new. El Jimador did not disappoint! Great Margaritas and cheap. We ordered an appetizer that we never got but maybe that was meant to be. We sure got enough food so we didn't complain. The Chimichanga wasn't fried which I found odd but it was still pretty darn tasty. Even the kids ate almost all of their dinners. We left full and happy, what more do you need?
(4)Jeff L.
El Jimandor is probably the closest thing to authentic Mexican food that I have experienced in Colorado. My cousin who is from Mexico brought me here for lunch, telling me this is "the" place in town for real Mexican food. All of the food i had was very fresh tasting and had great flavor. The prices are just right and the quality is equally good. I can't wait for my next visit!
(4)Jack N.
They have top notch lunch specials around $8.00 and exceptionally good service! Tacos al carbon are delicious and good sides to boot. Great salsas too. If you're in the mood for authentic Mexican food this is the place!
(5)Leahrae A.
Yep, Margaritas are as advertised, "Best in town." That's all I had and all I went for but they are awesome. Just be warned....I had 2 large ones and that was too much. They are potent! Chips and salsa was good too....light and crispy chips and nice and hot salsa. I'll be back!
(5)Justin M.
Way more food than 1 person can eat, that's for sure. Very good though, so you'll wanna try to eat it all and feel the pain later if you don't stop yourself. The chips and salsa are great, plus the chips are red, yellow, and black. I know that doesn't mean much, but i like all the pretty colors. Service was excellent; we even had a waiter from another table come over and ask if we wanted refills on our drinks. At first the prices seemed a bit high, but when they show up with a burrito the size of a football, you really can't complain. You could probably make 3 decent meals out of their burritos they're that freaking enormous.
(4)Darby E.
Great neighborhood joint! HUGE portions! Yummy food, although not my favorite green chili (very peppery) Definitely will go back!
(4)Peter W.
Weeelllll.... I don't think so. We stopped here for dinner based on our fellow Yelper's reviews. The food was two stars all the way around the table. My wife, my son and daughter, and myself. Just okay Mexican food, nothing to escribe home about. Chips and salsa arrive first. They are of the thin chip variety with pretty spicy salsa, a 6 out of 10 on hotness. The chips were nothing great. Tasted like out of a bag kind of chips. I had the chorizo burrito and it wasn't that flavorful. I love chorizo and it should always rock. This didn't. At all. My son had the relleno and enchilada plate and he didn't finish it. My wife had an enchilada as well and also didn't finish. Of course the amount of food you get is quite generous, but we all usually (especially the Teen) clean our plates, so I don't think it was the volume that had to do with mucho leftovers. My wife said the best thing about the dinner was the slaw that comes with every entree. BTW, nothing came home with us either. The service and the people are five stars for sure. We had attentive, friendly staff and couldn't have asked for better. But the food just wasn't that good to even bring the entire experience up to three stars. I don't know. Maybe we're spoiled living in NW Denver where there are GREAT Mexican restaurants that now we can't go outside the hood for good Mexican. We had the sopapilla for dessert and it also was just good/not great.
(2)Kat A.
I've been to El Jimador twice now, and both times we've received stellar service, great food, and superginormo amounts of tasty food. During our first visit, I tried the fajitas and really enjoyed them. Plus, their chips and salsa are great. We returned recently with friends and tried their mexican pizza and this insanely good mushroom appetizer - I can't remember the name, but dude, if you go, order the mushrooms - and then I further stuffed myself with the pork carnitas and a helluva margarita to accompany my meal. The employees are warm and genuine, the flavorful food shows up at your table promptly, and everything is really affordable. If you find yourself near Union and Alameda any time soon and you're craving some good Mexican fare, give these folks a shot. I wish I lived closer to them so I'd have an excuse to visit their establishment more often!
(5)Alex D.
Bring lots of change for the gumball machines after dinner. Guaranteed to reinvigorate your inner child.
(5)Mark B.
The Margaritas used to be outstanding fresh squeezed lime juice. Now their just sweet and sour mix like just about every other crappy Margarita in town. Such a shame. Come on people lets demand better
(2)John M.
I had lunch here yesterday, Terrific food. As a vegetarian they offer black beans upon request. They will fashion a vegetarian burrito also. Obviously a family run establishment, wait staff all native speakers, Spanish and probably from Mexico. Mariachi on Tuesdays evenings. The menu is varied, mole, etc. and not your typical "gringo" food. Too few of these gems, and when you find them, tell other people! JPM
(4)G D.
Interesting place with lively decor. They have a pretty big menu and the portions were good-size. The sopapilla was fantastic!
(4)Heidi T.
I moved here from CA almost two years ago. I have to say it has been difficult finding a decent Mexican place since we moved here. There are a few recommendations I have yet to try, but El Jimador seems to be the best in Lakewood. Great margaritas, especially during Happy Hour. No sweet and sour, they use fresh lime juice. Their chips and salsa are delicious. The food is standard Mexican fare, but it's good. Not blan, which is a huge no, no for Mexican food.
(4)Tyler N.
Best salsa I've found in the Denver area so far! And I was especially happy to see that they had homemade tortillas. I'll go back
(3)Nick F.
I was raised on authentic Mexican food in Southern California and have been searching for something similar since leaving there in the early 90's. I'm pretty confident my journey ended last night (I'll know for sure when I try other things on the menu). Thanks to Jeff L. for getting us to try this place out! The first thing that impressed me was along with a great tasting but spicy salsa you get a bowl full of chopped cabbage, jalapenos, cilantro etc. It was great to eat with chips and by the fork full. Second, they were hand making tortillas in the seating area, which were piping hot and fresh when they were served with my carnitas. The service was friendly and attentive and we really enjoyed the food and drinks. Although my margarita was a little heavy on the tequila, (but that's not a really a knock). Can't wait to come back.
(4)Connie W.
We've driven past this place a million times and never stopped. Since we're looking for a new favorite Mexican place and this is close to our home we gave it a try. The bean and cheese burrito and the Pork Carnitas Tacos were both excellent. Hubby got the carnitas and I couldn't stop stealing bites from his plate. Both kids' meals (corn dog and cheese burger) were really good and came with a large amount of fries.
(4)Alvaro T.
Worth it if you're in the area! I got the lunch chorizo con huevos plate which came with beans, rice, a very small bit of veggies, and the requisite chips and salsa. It came out to $7.24 with tax...not bad, eh? I'll go back soon and try out some of the other plates. I also dug the ranchero music playing in the background ( I am neither Mexican nor a ranchero lover), but when in Rome (or Zacatecas)... Vegetarians be warned: I suspect that you will not find much here that you will be happy to eat.
(3)Susan P.
Great food, huge portions, and awesome drinks. I'm picky about Mexican food, and this place delivers every time I go. Try the blueberry margarita!
(5)Donny C.
Always had a good experience. Extremely friendly staff, and food. I recommend the steak platters.
(5)Evan W.
As we pulled up into the empty parking lot my girlfriend we suggested that we find somewhere else. But man am I glad we stayed! This place is by far the most delicious and authentic Mexican food I've had since moving to Denver. Their in-house made salsa is amazing!They offer an excellent happy hour and more than large enough portions. If you're in the mood for Mexican, you have to try El Jimador.
(5)Jamie V.
A few friends and I have been here twice now, and it hasn't disappointed in any area yet. The service is fast and attentive, from the moment we walk in. Also, the plates are completely full, leaving even my never-satisfied boyfriend full and searching for a to-go box. Large traditional combos are around $9. I have to add that this might be the most authentic tasting Mexican food I've had in CO, and I've lived all over this state. To top it off, they have a great margarita happy hour that any tequila lover will enjoy.
(4)Alisa G.
Jimador is the absolute best. Granted I do work in Lakewood and have pretty limited options for lunch... Jimador is still one of the best Mexican restaurants I have been to in Colorado. We come here for lunch weekly and are never disappointed. Service and food are TOP NOTCH. Cannot go wrong eating at Jimador.
(5)Deja V.
We went back here today for lunch because the first time we went a couple of weeks ago was awesome. We were not disappointed. The beans are the best in town, the portions are huge (especially the sopapilla!) and the staff is all very hospitable. It's our new favorite Mexican restaurant. Oh yes, we both got exactly what we had the first time -- Beef Burrito and Chile Relleno. They have a great menu with some unusual dishes, but we loved what we got.
(5)Brian W.
Consistently good quality. Generous portion. This is a mainstay for us.
(5)Ann K.
Great margaritas, not too sweet. I had the chicken chimichanga which was just okay. My friend ordered the tacos al pastor which tasted really good. I'll probably order that the next time I go. Salsa had a little heat. Green chili was okay. Service was very good and friendly, especially with the kiddos.
(4)Austin A.
Decent food, usually not very busy at lunch. I usually have a taco salad, but have tried their burritos as well. Not fantastic, but pretty good for what you pay for. I will be going again.
(3)Brian W.
Consistently good quality. Generous portion. This is a mainstay for us.
(5)Nick F.
I was raised on authentic Mexican food in Southern California and have been searching for something similar since leaving there in the early 90's. I'm pretty confident my journey ended last night (I'll know for sure when I try other things on the menu). Thanks to Jeff L. for getting us to try this place out! The first thing that impressed me was along with a great tasting but spicy salsa you get a bowl full of chopped cabbage, jalapenos, cilantro etc. It was great to eat with chips and by the fork full. Second, they were hand making tortillas in the seating area, which were piping hot and fresh when they were served with my carnitas. The service was friendly and attentive and we really enjoyed the food and drinks. Although my margarita was a little heavy on the tequila, (but that's not a really a knock). Can't wait to come back.
(4)Connie W.
We've driven past this place a million times and never stopped. Since we're looking for a new favorite Mexican place and this is close to our home we gave it a try. The bean and cheese burrito and the Pork Carnitas Tacos were both excellent. Hubby got the carnitas and I couldn't stop stealing bites from his plate. Both kids' meals (corn dog and cheese burger) were really good and came with a large amount of fries.
(4)Alvaro T.
Worth it if you're in the area! I got the lunch chorizo con huevos plate which came with beans, rice, a very small bit of veggies, and the requisite chips and salsa. It came out to $7.24 with tax...not bad, eh? I'll go back soon and try out some of the other plates. I also dug the ranchero music playing in the background ( I am neither Mexican nor a ranchero lover), but when in Rome (or Zacatecas)... Vegetarians be warned: I suspect that you will not find much here that you will be happy to eat.
(3)Susan P.
Great food, huge portions, and awesome drinks. I'm picky about Mexican food, and this place delivers every time I go. Try the blueberry margarita!
(5)Donny C.
Always had a good experience. Extremely friendly staff, and food. I recommend the steak platters.
(5)Evan W.
As we pulled up into the empty parking lot my girlfriend we suggested that we find somewhere else. But man am I glad we stayed! This place is by far the most delicious and authentic Mexican food I've had since moving to Denver. Their in-house made salsa is amazing!They offer an excellent happy hour and more than large enough portions. If you're in the mood for Mexican, you have to try El Jimador.
(5)Matt N.
I drive past their sign advertising "the bast margaritas in town" on an occasional basis, usually in the mornings, it always intrigued me, but by dinner time I had long forgot about it. My friend was asking where he could find good margs, recalling the sign I'd driven by so often, I suggested this place... The margaritas were okay, nothing really to get very excited about, but were priced right. The chicken mole was surprisingly sweet, really too sweet for my liking. My buddy had a burrito with chicken, shrimp, and steak covered in a white cheese sauce that I had a few bites of and was delicious, I would go back just to try that again. For dessert, we shared the Jimador Platter, with several churros, sopapillas, and fried ice cream (3 of their 5 desserts) and both agreed that none of them were great... Disappointing end to an okay meal.
(3)Kelly U.
SO awesome!!! Everything is on point and the margaritas are poured strong! I don't leave reviews but this place deserves it. Best Mexican food I've found in Denver.
(5)Jeff D.
Love this place! Some of the best Mexican food in the Metro area. Staff is very friendly and everything I have tried has been delicious.
(4)Perla A.
So we won a contest on the radio and that's how we came to meet this wonderful spot.I love 100% authentic places and that's what this is !!!!!the service is great and the food was the best I have ever had ! !!!100 % recommend it !!!!check it out you will not regret it! !!!
(5)Jeanne J.
I want to give this place a a couple of stars only because i really hate to give people bad reviews but I just can't :(. I do want to say that the guy that waited on me was very nice and gave great service to bad the food was not very good. I ordered the chili rellenos as I do at every Mexican restaurant and must say it may be the worst I've ever had. I went there around lunch time yesterday and they were not all that busy so when my rellenos came out not even cooked enough to melt the cheese inside I was very disappointed. The green chili was just not good at all. The chips and salas was the best part of the meal. The only reason i did not send my food back was because it only cost around $6. I don't believe I will give them another chance.
(1)Alma P.
Great service, the staff was so nice, but the food was awful. I only ate half of my bean and chicharron smothered burrito -- it was terrible. My BF also only ate half of his smothered bean burrito. Really disappointed, staff was so great, I really wanted to like it.
(2)Brad W.
Ate at the bar. Service was pretty good. Drinks were great. Had chicken fajitas, well seasoned, well cooked with great fresh vegetables. Rice and refried beans were fair. The biggest downside was an obviously over served loudmouth women at the bar. Apparently a regular, she never shut up. Anoying as hell! I would have stayed, but she literally drove me out.
(4)Jessica L.
This is my second time coming here. I got a the desayuno burrito (or vice versa I can't remember) which is basically a smothered bacon breakfast burrito with rice, beans, lettuce, and tomato on the side. The first time I got this it was pretty good except they bacon was in strips. This time I'm pretty sure they forgot to put the bacon in. I forked through the entire burrito and didn't not find any bacon. Just a few pork chunks from the green chile. I called them right after this and the girl went and asked the cook if there was bacon. They said they had chopped up four pieces of bacon but there was no way I could've missed it. I didn't feel like arguing and was too lazy to bring it in to show them. I'm pretty disappointed in this and probably won't be back, even with their bogo half off coupon on the back of the king soopers receipts. One thing I did like about El Jimador is that they give to go chips and salsa for free, usually restaurants just give chips and salsa for dine in only. Oh and they need to update their menu online because their prices have gone up since. Hate when that happens when prices are stated differently. It said $6.75 online and I was actually charged 7.50. I even left a Togo tip today (just a dollar) but still I expect to have bacon in my burrito esp when I'm paying 7.50 for it. Next time I'll just go get a handheld breakfast burrito from Las Fuentes for $3 when I'm at work since that's the only close place and burrito express is too expensive now with no green chile.
(2)Angela A.
My stomach hurts all over again writing this review. I ordered the chicken burrito. I'm pretty sure they dumped a pound of salt in it, covered it in preservatives, and slapped on a can of minced chicken for special zest. Bleh! Salsa good. Eat a lot of it because you will not want to eat your meal!
(1)Lindsay A.
LOVE El Jimador! The food is fresh, authenic, and inexpensive. Margaritas are the same! And delicious pina coladas too! I've never had a bad meal here, though the refried beans and rice are standard... My favorite menu items are the crispy chile rellenos and enchiladas. Also, if you like mushrooms, you MUST TRY the mushroom appetizer! It's like an entire container of mushrooms spiced and sauteed perfectly, served on a platter, surrounded by fresh sliced avocado. SOOOOOOOOO good! Everyone that's had it raves about it. It's so simple, yet VERY delicious!
(4)Cathie M.
I just moved to Golden 2 weeks ago and have been to EL Jimador twice this week. The staff is very friendly, the food really good, and the margaritas are the best. Love the cucumbers.
(5)Peter M.
I am always skeptical when I see a sign that reads, "Colorado's Best Margarita!". Insert any town or state in there and my reaction is the same. Really? The best? Usually they are piss poor concotions thrown together with shit tequila and sours mix. Besides, anyone who is anyone know that my parents make the best margs; fresh squeezed lime juice, high end tequila and triple sec. On with the review: Pretty damn good margaritas. Suprisingly good. Some folks might try them and think, "hey, this just isn't sweet enough". To those people, I say go back to TGI Friday's ya toolbag! Food was pretty good too. My mom and I split a combo, and added a side order chili relleno, thinking we were clever by not overordering. We ended up taking half of it to go. Big portions.
(4)Douglas B.
I had eaten here several times years ago and really liked their seafood selection. However, I kid you not on this. Our food was brought out and there was a live cockroach crawling over one of the dishes. I could hardly believe it. To add insult to injury, they offered no compensation! Needless to say, I have never been back. I could swear I had posted this review before-did the owners have it taken off? If it gets taken off again, I will repost. Don't bother with this place-there's a Mexican joint on every corner anyway.
(1)Sara H.
We have a Mexican restaurant close to home we like, but sometimes you just want to try something new. El Jimador did not disappoint! Great Margaritas and cheap. We ordered an appetizer that we never got but maybe that was meant to be. We sure got enough food so we didn't complain. The Chimichanga wasn't fried which I found odd but it was still pretty darn tasty. Even the kids ate almost all of their dinners. We left full and happy, what more do you need?
(4)Ryan H.
Real Mexican food. I feel like the low reviews come from those seeking a chimichanga. This is not a plate of unidentifiable food covered in cheese and chili, this is fresh shrimp, beef and chicken like you would find in Mexico. Having just returned from Guadalajara and Jalisco, this very good authentic Mexican food.
(5)David M.
A 3.5 star Mexican Restaurant that is much better than its franchise neighbor, Jose O'Shea's. The frijoles refritos were appropriately saturated with lard. The thinly sliced and grilled churrasco-like steak was authentically Mexican in preparation, as were the freshly made flour tortillas. Liked the chile, and all in all, the tastes were very good. The main problem for me, however, was the over-salting of all the dishes. Made my body cry out for water over the next couple of hours. If they could fix that issue, they'd have a legitimate 4 star Mexican restaurant. Would go back when in the area.
(3)Lisa O.
I have been back a number of times. The food and especially the service has gone way way down hill. At first it was little things, like slow service or forgotten sides. It took 10-minutes for us to get a glass of water. The last straw, was when I was served an uncooked chili relleno, literally had a block of non-melted cheese in the middle. The whole thing was so unappetizing, I did not touch it. They offered to cook it for me and I told them no and when the bill came, they wanted to charge me for the whole damn thing. After the server spoke with the manager, he gave me 50% off. Ummm... Maybe I am weird, but I don't want to pay for craptastic uncooked food. BTW, you can get slightly cheaper, better food, and very good service 5-miles away at Tequilas. Go there.
(2)Cathie C.
My husband and I went here for lunch after reading reviews of the chicken mole. I had the mole enchiladas plate and my husband had the Jimador beef burrito. The mole enchiladas were amazing! The Jimador burrito sauce was ok but not nearly as good as the mole sauce. They also seemed to have a large selection of tequilas so we will be back soon when we can stay for drinks!
(4)Stephen D.
Good food. Not good ambiance.
(3)Jose G.
I got the Mexican hamburger it was meh ok I guess. It was missing flavor in the patty and beans. The rice seemed like it was from yesterday it was kinda mushy. I didn't like the rice that much because it had veggies in it I don't like that. I've had better Mexican hamburgers else where. Like I said the food was ok. Maybe I have a high standard for Mexican food since I eat homemade Mexican food everyday at my home so maybe that's why this place fell short of my expectations
(2)Jason A.
I got the mole. It was very very sweet. I'd guess corn syrup and red tomalley sauce. I couldn't eat it. I expect mole to be rich, smokey, savory, and complex. El Jimador's mole is none of those. Also, the prices seem a bit high for what you get, quality-wise. Otherwise, the place is clean and comfortable, and the service was good. I'd give two stars, but I've only been there once. I'd be interested to hear what others think if their mole.
(2)Sam G.
Never again. As a Texan who enjoys good Mexican on a regular basis, this was awful. Salsa was disgusting, margaritas just as bad, rice was under-cooked, meat was flavorless. Our dishes in general looked like slop. Also, we went at dinner time and we were the only two people in the restaurant. That should tell you something right there...
(1)Molly H.
Great Mexican food! The chips and salsa are awesome, I really like the cabbage slaw stuff they serve too, its sooo tasty and the salsa is perfectly spicy! You will not leave this place hungry, the portions are huge! Just see the pic of the sopapilla I added, Its the size of my head and very delicious. By the way this was the first time we actually made it to dessert, we usually stuff ourselves and can barely walk out. We paced ourselves this time and took half our meals home so we could try their desserts. Service is the best on this side of town. Everyone you come in contact with has a smile, greets you and is willing to help service you. They dont just go get your server like most other restuarants. Everyone works together to create a great dining experience. They tote themselves as the 'Best Margarita in Town', and I would have to agree! Its muy delicioso!
(4)Laura A.
I am not sure why this restaurant has so many good reviews, it isn't that great. Perhaps I base my expectations to high based on Yelp reviews. First off, the service was awful. We went in at about 7:45 on a Friday night and the place was dead. It took about 5 minutes just to have someone come take our drink order, and that was after staring down a couple servers. Our server had no personality..... and was the least bit friendly or attentive. Chips and salsa.... Well, chips were stale, but salsa was alright..... No spice to it at all. Dinners were delivered very short after ordering and came out nice and hot. However, you could tell that everything was probably frozen and not at all fresh.. The margaritas are the best thing about this place, they are pretty good. Perhaps, I just went on a bad night, but I won't being going back to give it a second try. I can have mediocre Mexican food closer to home.
(2)James M.
TWO VISITS! First visit: My wifes birthday. I ordered the Chulettas de puerco (smothered pork chops). They literally tasted rancid, like the meat had been cooked, left out for 48 hours and reheated. I sent them back and my waiter came back and told me that the cook tried them and they tasted fine to him. I re-ordered the tacos al carbon. They were just edible, but pretty salty. My wife orderd steak fajitas. They were so salty and smothered with a white velveeta like substance that she had to send them back. She re-ordered a burrito. It was also salty but just edible. She did not eat more than half, Flash forward 2 years. We have moved to the neighborhood and felt we should give it another chance due to our neighbors opinions and proximity. We walked in and the entire place had a haze of greasy smoke hanging over it. We should have left. I ordered the tacos de carnitas. They were ok. I finished them. big deal. My wife again ordered a smothered burrito . The green chile tasted like campbell's condensed chicken noodle soup. She sent it back. Three dishes sent back in two visits. We almost never send food back! Their margs are just ok. This place is so overrated it's ridiculous!
(1)Derrick G.
Food seemed over priced. Ordered 2 burritos and a plate of mushrooms to go ended up paying $45. I almost told the waiter never mind but the food was already made.
(2)Fielding G.
My wife just went to this establishment with her sister in law and our kids. They were out shopping and decided to grab lunch. They got on restaurants.com and saw if they had and deals in the area they saw El jimador $6 for $15 they purchased on the mobile app. They read they restrictions the only one was spend $22.50 which they did. They presented the proof of this on the app that the restaurant then they validate on it so you can't use it again, they wouldn't take it said they needed it printed. We have used this site before never needed a printed copy of the certificate. They were given the run around about no manager being there about no email for a manager. Just absurd. All in all I am very upset about this. And they paid the full $29.82 + the $6 for the coupon totalling $35.82 when it should have been $14.82 + the $6 for the coupon for a total of $20.82. Thanks for taking my $15 el jimador!
(1)Jack N.
They have top notch lunch specials around $8.00 and exceptionally good service! Tacos al carbon are delicious and good sides to boot. Great salsas too. If you're in the mood for authentic Mexican food this is the place!
(5)Leahrae A.
Yep, Margaritas are as advertised, "Best in town." That's all I had and all I went for but they are awesome. Just be warned....I had 2 large ones and that was too much. They are potent! Chips and salsa was good too....light and crispy chips and nice and hot salsa. I'll be back!
(5)Justin M.
Way more food than 1 person can eat, that's for sure. Very good though, so you'll wanna try to eat it all and feel the pain later if you don't stop yourself. The chips and salsa are great, plus the chips are red, yellow, and black. I know that doesn't mean much, but i like all the pretty colors. Service was excellent; we even had a waiter from another table come over and ask if we wanted refills on our drinks. At first the prices seemed a bit high, but when they show up with a burrito the size of a football, you really can't complain. You could probably make 3 decent meals out of their burritos they're that freaking enormous.
(4)Kat A.
I've been to El Jimador twice now, and both times we've received stellar service, great food, and superginormo amounts of tasty food. During our first visit, I tried the fajitas and really enjoyed them. Plus, their chips and salsa are great. We returned recently with friends and tried their mexican pizza and this insanely good mushroom appetizer - I can't remember the name, but dude, if you go, order the mushrooms - and then I further stuffed myself with the pork carnitas and a helluva margarita to accompany my meal. The employees are warm and genuine, the flavorful food shows up at your table promptly, and everything is really affordable. If you find yourself near Union and Alameda any time soon and you're craving some good Mexican fare, give these folks a shot. I wish I lived closer to them so I'd have an excuse to visit their establishment more often!
(5)Darby E.
Great neighborhood joint! HUGE portions! Yummy food, although not my favorite green chili (very peppery) Definitely will go back!
(4)Peter W.
Weeelllll.... I don't think so. We stopped here for dinner based on our fellow Yelper's reviews. The food was two stars all the way around the table. My wife, my son and daughter, and myself. Just okay Mexican food, nothing to escribe home about. Chips and salsa arrive first. They are of the thin chip variety with pretty spicy salsa, a 6 out of 10 on hotness. The chips were nothing great. Tasted like out of a bag kind of chips. I had the chorizo burrito and it wasn't that flavorful. I love chorizo and it should always rock. This didn't. At all. My son had the relleno and enchilada plate and he didn't finish it. My wife had an enchilada as well and also didn't finish. Of course the amount of food you get is quite generous, but we all usually (especially the Teen) clean our plates, so I don't think it was the volume that had to do with mucho leftovers. My wife said the best thing about the dinner was the slaw that comes with every entree. BTW, nothing came home with us either. The service and the people are five stars for sure. We had attentive, friendly staff and couldn't have asked for better. But the food just wasn't that good to even bring the entire experience up to three stars. I don't know. Maybe we're spoiled living in NW Denver where there are GREAT Mexican restaurants that now we can't go outside the hood for good Mexican. We had the sopapilla for dessert and it also was just good/not great.
(2)Alex D.
Bring lots of change for the gumball machines after dinner. Guaranteed to reinvigorate your inner child.
(5)Mark B.
The Margaritas used to be outstanding fresh squeezed lime juice. Now their just sweet and sour mix like just about every other crappy Margarita in town. Such a shame. Come on people lets demand better
(2)John M.
I had lunch here yesterday, Terrific food. As a vegetarian they offer black beans upon request. They will fashion a vegetarian burrito also. Obviously a family run establishment, wait staff all native speakers, Spanish and probably from Mexico. Mariachi on Tuesdays evenings. The menu is varied, mole, etc. and not your typical "gringo" food. Too few of these gems, and when you find them, tell other people! JPM
(4)G D.
Interesting place with lively decor. They have a pretty big menu and the portions were good-size. The sopapilla was fantastic!
(4)Heidi T.
I moved here from CA almost two years ago. I have to say it has been difficult finding a decent Mexican place since we moved here. There are a few recommendations I have yet to try, but El Jimador seems to be the best in Lakewood. Great margaritas, especially during Happy Hour. No sweet and sour, they use fresh lime juice. Their chips and salsa are delicious. The food is standard Mexican fare, but it's good. Not blan, which is a huge no, no for Mexican food.
(4)Tyler N.
Best salsa I've found in the Denver area so far! And I was especially happy to see that they had homemade tortillas. I'll go back
(3)Terry C.
NICE place! I was a punk and custom ordered a big bean and rice burrito with minimal cheese and lots of veggies. It was 2 meals on one plate. My coworker got some chicken enchilada plate, which was the same number of meals (2) on the same number of plates (1). I'm noticing a trend in serving size here... So I got lunch AND dinner for, get this, $7. A custom burrito for $7. Wow. And they really DID go light on the cheese. Also, they have Negra Modelo, my favorite mexican beer, for less than $4. So they're a winner all around. (But it was a work lunch, so I skipped that order this time). If you're into tequila, they had to resort to smaller print on their menu, there are so many to choose from. I mean dozens. They do chicken, beef, pork, menudo, green chili, rellenos, and pretty much whatever you could be looking for. The service is EXCELLENT. The atmosphere is bright and friendly. The spanish is great, and so is the english. The glasses are taken and refilled BEFORE you finish. I mean, this place is just terrific. Plus, two meals for seven bucks. TIPS: The full bar is FULL. The carry-out (to go) boxes are styro. The booths have a really high back, which provides a bit more privacy and a bit less distraction than a lot of places. The price range is technically $ to $$. They have some very nice looking entrees there. There was a table that looked like it was ready to accommodate literally a dozen people. I'd say they're GREAT for groups. This place is going to become a regular stop for me. Definitely. P.S. It's just north of Wahoo's on the same side of the road. It's not as close to Alameda as the map suggests. Definitely worth the confusion, though. :)
(4)Ryan S.
Food was good. Tea was bad (not brewed there). Salsa was above par but not excellent. Carne asada good but not great. Chorizo con Huevos was very good. Queso dip was just basic heated cheese (very good when mixed with salsa but Meh alone). This place had great reviews so that contributed to us being somewhat disappointed, because what we got was good Mexican food, not great Mexican food as we expected.
(3)Sarah P.
El Jimador is a neighborhood hole-in-the-wall that never fails to deliver delicious, fresh Mexican food... never mind the margaritas! The portions are generous, the food is high quality, and the service is fast.
(4)Allyen W.
Lived nearby for years and just dicovered it this year. Glad we found it, it has been wonderful each time. From the moment you enter the staff is warm, friendly, and welcoming. The menu is extensive and interesting. You will find many good dishes that are not found at the run of the mill Mexican joint. I am going to be a regular here for a long time! Oh, almost forgot, the margaritas are good and they have 65 tequilas to choose from.
(5)Adam H.
This place was fantastic. I'm calling it the best Mexican place in Lakewood, CO by far.
(5)Glenne W.
Best Mexican food Ive had in Colorado! The carne asada is delicious. The margs are yummy. Never a disappointment. Great service every time too.
(5)Asha P.
Delicious food, great service (we had three different waiters checking on us!), a huge menu with a variety of food and drinks. The portions are generous and the food comes out very quickly! This is a great family place and seeming authentic! I would go back again very soon!!
(5)Paul J.
Went for lunch for the first time with a coworker. The chips and salsa were a good first sign as was the friendly service. However, as a vegetarian, my standards probably differ from most. Their refried beans are made with lard and there was a dearth of vegetarian selections on their menu, but I did find a vegetarian burrito available. Unfortunately, when I asked the server what was in it, she could not tell me. Anyway, I ordered it. It was loaded to the gills with onions. It also had a dash of mushrooms and peppers, and half a can of Vegall type veggies in it (diced carrots, peas, corn and lima beans). Overall it wasn't bad, but given their lack of veggie-friendly options, I won't be returning. FWIW, my nonvegetarian coworker enjoyed his gordo burrito.
(2)Mar S.
Went to El Jim yesterday for lunch. I had the Pollo de..Cazuela and husband had the last shrimp entree listed on the lunch menu and starts with an A. The A dish is shrimp wrapped in bacon, fried, and served over sauteed onions, green peppers (Bell I think), and 'shrooms. Both dishes served with beans, rice and a slaw salad. The chicken dish I got was white meat, thinly sliced , served with 'shrooms, carrots and celery, all sliced, in a red sauce that is enhanced with sour cream. It seemed a little on the salty side (I taste salt easily), but nothing to b**ch about. Both choices were absolutely D-lish! Each cost only about. $7.50. The place is as neat as a pin, our waiter was perfect. I can't wait to go again and will order the A shrimp dish hubs got. (I do know quite a bit of Spanish food vocab, but the A dish was a new one on me, so sorry for the vagueness.) They have a nice little bar area separated from the restaurant part too. Anyhoo, highly recommend. Enjoy!
(4)Austin A.
Decent food, usually not very busy at lunch. I usually have a taco salad, but have tried their burritos as well. Not fantastic, but pretty good for what you pay for. I will be going again.
(3)Jessica P.
Since my fiance and I live just around the corner from El Jimador, we eat there quite a bit..... and honestly, I don't have one bad thing to say about it! The most appealing factor for us (since we are starving college students) is the fact that the food is dirt cheap. The two of us can eat dinner for $20 or less. In the case of El Jimador, cheap doesn't mean a small quantity. They bring us plates FULL of food, and we never leave hungry! Our food is always in front of us 5 to 10 minutes after we order, regardless of how busy they are. We also always receive awesome service from everyone in the restaurant - not just our server. I'd recommend this restaurant to anyone looking for some tasty, fast Mexican food on a tight budget. Edit: It is probably also worth mentioning that the margaritas here are SUPER delicious, and the ones you get at Happy Hour are gigantic. The sangria is also awesome, so order some.
(5)Keith W.
After passing by this place on several occasions, I took note of the 4-star plus Yelp average and decided to give it a go. I was pleasantly surprised to find a Mexican restaurant in Lakewood to which I will happily return. The very pleasant host seated me immediately and took my drink order. While I perused the menu I was comforted by the pat-pat-pat sound of a lady shaping dough prior to pressing it into tortillas on the establishment's traditional wood press, and immediately tossing them onto a portable skillet top in preparation for the lunch rush. I munched on the complimentary homemade chips and mild salsa while I waited for my pork carnitas to arrive. The carnitas plate was fantastic - rice, beans, a little bit of guacamole and shredded lettuce, and slow-cooked pork in a thick, brown, very flavorful sauce full of big chunks of sauteed onions. The pork was tender as could be and very moist. The staff was universally friendly and speedy, and asked on several occasions if I required a drink refill or anything else. El Jimador is a pleasant discovery after the mild disappointment of D'Corazon a few blocks north, and the atrocious, never-again mess that is Jose O'Shea's.
(4)Deborah P.
This was our "go to" place for a Mexican fix. We'd always been on Friday or Saturday night and had decent experiences. The salsa is great. Chips are typical. Service was friendly and fast. Our last experience was disappointing though. We came in at about 3:30pm on Saturday and were the only ones in the dining room. Service was slow. We waited 10 min for water and to order drinks. Our meals came out a different times despite that I only had a guacamole salad and cheese dip. The guacamole included black chunks of avocado which I only discovered after eating one. Clearly it wasn't made that's day. So gross. The waitress was unconcerned and left the black mess sitting on the table instead of removing it. My husband's mole was overly sweet. We had to ask multiple times for more salsa. Water was never refilled. We were never asked if we wanted another bar drink.
(2)Erika H.
This place has really stepped it up. My company has held monthly happy hours at El Jimador for about a year. We like the two for one margarita deal. Tasty! We usually get chicken nachos, beef nachos, guac and chips for the tables. My favorite is the guac. It has a little kick I can't quite place what it is? Service over the past month or so has really improved. Aspen and Janet (I apologize if I am miss spelling) waited on us this past trip. They provided attentive and friendly service. Thanks ladies! We will be back next month!
(4)Jenny C.
This used to be one of my go-to places for Mexican food, especially after Tequilas in Golden burned down. The past few times I've gone, I have regretted it. One of the times, I had to ask multiple times for them to bring out the cabbage salsa, as it appears they don't do it automatically anymore. On the most recent visit, the cabbage salsa was subpar. We ordered the bacon-wrapped prawns and I didn't eat them because they were not de-veined first. I know they were probably safe to eat, but the yuck factor kicked in and I ended up taking the bacon off and eating that. I think the avocados they used for the guacamole were overripe, because the guac had an off taste to it. In all, I hope my future self reads this and goes somewhere else.
(2)Teresa T.
First time here, service was good, salsa was tasty, chips were odd. My son ordered ground beef tacos and when I saw his taco shells looked like boxed, pre-made from the grocery store I was disappointed. I ordered a cheese enchilada, the cheese wasn't melted, a chile relleno, I've never seen one that looks like an egg roll before , it was over fried and extremely hard and dark. The beans and rice are pretty tasty not the best but not the worst. Coming from California and having nothing but Hispanic friends I'm used to a different type of authentic Mexican food. I didn't really like the fact that there was only one drink refill. Overall it was average not good not bad, but at least I know now what I'm in for should I come back to this restaurant
(3)Angie R.
Was just OK. The chips were not salted, the green chili had no heat and the ground beef was the only thing that tasted seasoned. I'm sure I will try it again since I work next door. But I was a little let down.
(3)Jeff L.
El Jimandor is probably the closest thing to authentic Mexican food that I have experienced in Colorado. My cousin who is from Mexico brought me here for lunch, telling me this is "the" place in town for real Mexican food. All of the food i had was very fresh tasting and had great flavor. The prices are just right and the quality is equally good. I can't wait for my next visit!
(4)Jamie V.
A few friends and I have been here twice now, and it hasn't disappointed in any area yet. The service is fast and attentive, from the moment we walk in. Also, the plates are completely full, leaving even my never-satisfied boyfriend full and searching for a to-go box. Large traditional combos are around $9. I have to add that this might be the most authentic tasting Mexican food I've had in CO, and I've lived all over this state. To top it off, they have a great margarita happy hour that any tequila lover will enjoy.
(4)Alisa G.
Jimador is the absolute best. Granted I do work in Lakewood and have pretty limited options for lunch... Jimador is still one of the best Mexican restaurants I have been to in Colorado. We come here for lunch weekly and are never disappointed. Service and food are TOP NOTCH. Cannot go wrong eating at Jimador.
(5)Deja V.
We went back here today for lunch because the first time we went a couple of weeks ago was awesome. We were not disappointed. The beans are the best in town, the portions are huge (especially the sopapilla!) and the staff is all very hospitable. It's our new favorite Mexican restaurant. Oh yes, we both got exactly what we had the first time -- Beef Burrito and Chile Relleno. They have a great menu with some unusual dishes, but we loved what we got.
(5)Ann K.
Great margaritas, not too sweet. I had the chicken chimichanga which was just okay. My friend ordered the tacos al pastor which tasted really good. I'll probably order that the next time I go. Salsa had a little heat. Green chili was okay. Service was very good and friendly, especially with the kiddos.
(4)Sasha L.
This is the best Mexican food I have found in the area so far. Like many good restaurants, the outside is deceiving, it doesn't look like much. The abiance on the inside however, is very welcoming and authentic. It is a family restaurant, you can tell. The people that work there are friendly and conversational, usually I get the same server, Juan (probably because I always come in at the same time) After working at Los Dos Potrillos (an amazing Mexican restaurant) for 6 years, I have become picky and addicted when it comes to Mexican food. I am so glad I found something that can give me my fix! I have taken coworkers here (one who is EXTREMELY picky and always complains) and everyone loves it! I don't know why this is listed as $$ on yelp, the food is highly affordable, they have some impressive plates which obviously cost more but if you come here during lunch it is around $8 for a good sized entree. I would come here for lunch, date nights, happy hours, any occasion. HIGHLY RECOMMEND!
(5)Bobby Z.
The portions and quality of food here are never leaving you wanting! It's not fine dining by any means, but the value is there so I can't recommend this place enough!
(5)Keeley S.
This place was awful not because of the food... The management is the reason we will not be back. We had never been there before but we tried it because we found a coupon through the Live deal ap. I showed the coupon to our waitress before we ordered and she made no indication that it would not be accepted. The coupon was spend 37.50 get 15 off so we ordered entrees, appetizer and margaritas. Waitress dropped off bill and then said her manager would not accept the coupon. We spent way more than we would have and only went there because of the deal. We will never go back.
(1)Jake L.
Went there on a Monday night with my parents. Service was slow, food tasted ok, until I found a 2" long rubber tube in it. After I showed the waitress they wouldn't comp our meal. They asked me if I wanted something else but wouldn't even comp my meal! Needless to say we walked out and won't be back.
(1)Katie S.
Meh. This place is just sort of alright. I love Mexican food and the menu here is identical to Tequila's. Tequila's food is better, though. The chile relleno here was overly crispy and the rice and beans were whatever. The enchilada was pretty tasty, though. The sauce was good and I enjoyed it. The salsa had a strange taste to me, but the cucumbers served alongside it were fun. The staff was nice enough, but as is the case with most Mexican restaurants, they seemed more interested in getting my friend and I in-and-out quickly. I understand that when the place is hopping, but it was dead when I visited. So...I didn't love that. Honestly, the only reason to come here is the margarita. Absolutely delicious and damn strong.
(3)Ts L.
Great food and service!! The owners son always waits on a large group of us at lunch. He's awesome!! We're a pain with seperate checks but he doesn't mind, we appreciate that. Keep up the great work we'll see you soon
(5)