24/7 Mexican Drive-Thrus: The Unsung Heroes of Late-Night Dining in Denver

The pandemic nearly crushed Denver’s late-night food scene with the loss of former 24/7 favorites like Denver Diner, Tom’s Diner and Breakfast King.

While no one can re-create the kind of iconic appeal those spots had, demand for late-night food is coming back, and there are some places catering to people who are hungry for a full meal after midnight.

All-night eateries are still rare, though. Pete’s Kitchen on Colfax and the Denver location of Great Scotts Eatery are both open 24 hours these days, at least on weekends, but the only other options for sitting in a dining room at 3 a.m. are chains like Denny’s, IHOP and Waffle House. Even the 24/7 Perkins on South Colorado Boulevard is gone.

But there’s a bright light for anyone up late and hungry: Mexican fast-food drive-thrus. And no, we don’t mean Taco Bell. With massive menus offering everything from tacos and tortas to burritos and enchiladas, these locally owned spots offer the ideal comfort food when the rest of the city is dark.

Here are six spots serving hope slathered in melted cheese for night owls in the Mile High:

Alvarado’s Mexican Fast Food
4901 South Broadway, Englewood
720-479-8029
Last year, Englewood got its first 24/7 Mexican drive-thru (and really, the only 24/7 option for anyone in the southern suburbs) when this spot opened inside a former Burger King. All the staples are available, along with combo plates, rolled tacos and breakfast items such as chilaquiles and huevos rancheros. Our favorite so far: the giant chile relleno burrito. Smothering is optional, but this kitchen’s nearly neon green take on green chile adds just the right amount of heat.

Raliberto’s Mexican Food
4020 Wadsworth Boulevard, Wheat Ridge
303-467-6810
Raliberto’s, a San Diego-style taco hut, has two locations, but only the Wheat Ridge outpost is open 24/7. (Arvada’s hours are currently 5 a.m. to 10 p.m.) Through its drive-thru window, Raliberto’s doles out some of the diviest drunk food north of the border: tacos, tortas, quesadillas, taquitos, nachos and huge mounds of carne asada fries blanketed with cheese and green chile. Salsas, red and green, give everything a jolt.

Tacos Los Compas
1385 Santa Fe Drive
720-328-0299
A former Chubby’s spinoff reopened in 2017 as Tacos Los Compas, offering an assortment of burritos, tacos, enchiladas, tortas and — most important — carne asada fries, a late-night must for after-hours diners. This hefty order of loaded fries will test the limits of a plastic takeout bag, so carry that precious cargo with both hands if you must remove it from the safety of your car before consuming.

Tacos Rapidos
2800 West Evans Avenue
2260 South Federal Boulevard
The two Tacos Rapidos outposts are on the very same block, and while both are technically open 24/7, the one facing Evans tends to be the most reliable when it comes to late-night hours. And while it may not always be muy rapido, since the line tends to get long, it’s been a dependable staple for greasy goodness for nearly two decades. While you can’t go wrong with a heaping serving of carne asada fries, it also serves up our 2021 pick for Best Breakfast Burrito.

Taco Star
Five metro locations
With its bright-red branding, the Taco Star locations in Denver, Thornton and Aurora beckon you to stop for a fix of Mexican-style greasy-spoon goodness. While the tacos are solid, the actual star may be the big, filling burritos. Be sure to order extra salsa, too.

Tamale Kitchen
1030 West 104th Avenue, Northglenn
720-379-7825
8665 Sheridan Boulevard, Westminster
303-429-5607
The first Tamale Kitchen opened in 1981 in Lakewood, and the family-owned chain has since grown to eight locations in the metro area, but only two offer 24/7 drive-thru service, and only on Fridays and Saturdays. Choices range from enchilada plates and fajitas to menudo and posole, but the go-to move is, of course, tamales, which come in five varieties: red mild pork, green hot pork, green mild veggie, green mild chicken and green hot cheese with jalapeño.