Reviews

MEXICAN RESTAURANT IN GOLDEN, CO

I've enjoyed Tafolino's about a million times!! I remember going here for dinners and lunches while I was in middle school.

They are always so friendly, the food is amazing. The nachos are yummy and everything I've ever eaten from here has met or exceeded my expectations. The prices are super reasonable and I will continue to go out of my way when the craving hits!!!

If you're in the area, stop by!!

-Janna B.
Had a super dinner with excellent service. It was Cinco de Mayo so the atmosphere was very festive. The carnitas were soooo delicious! and the meat melted in your mouth. We will continue to return...and bring our friends!

-Linda M.
Really good Mexican food. I had the smothered pork chops with rice and beans. The chops are quite small but when smothered with their green chili, delish! My friend doesn't like Mexican food but likes Menuedo. He loved it. Comes with or without pig feet. He gets pig feet cuz he is that kind of guy. One of my favorite Mexican joints.

-Anonymous.
We have loved this place but tonight was amazing!! I tried the #12 enchiladas & they were fantastic!!
Good happy hour, service. We like this little restaurant and will be back again and again!

-Ashley K.
Prices were pretty good, but nothing exciting about the quality of the food. Next time I'll do carry out if I'm hung over and need a greasy cheesy meal!

-Jesse F.
Seriously some of the best tasting Mexican food we have and since moving here from Oregon six years ago. Everything is perfectly seasoned packed full of flavor. Their chips appear to be made fresh in house and they dust them with a settle but flavorful seasoning. Their salsa is so good. When you order a pitcher of margaritas you get a pitcher full of margarita, not full of ice. They fill your salted glass full of ice. We have been back twice in 2 weeks and plan on visiting many more times.

-Robyn S.
This place was such a nice surprise. We live in the highlands and are surrounded by Mexican but one day we went to the mills and couldn't wait to get home. Everything was spot on and exactly like the Mexican we were used to in Florida. (Which we have yet to find a place here like that)

The fresh chips were very tasty, the salsa is yummy. We have started finding more and more reasons to come out this way to just to eat here. The only small downside is that if its at lunch time, even when it's not full, a small order may take upwards 30 minutes. On the odd times we have come before we never noticed the wait and it was always fast.

-Nova Z.
Some good friends of mine have been coming here for years and they love it. I have ordered food to go several times and it has always been great. Last night we went into the resturaunt with some friends and it was great. The staff was all very friendly. I have tried a variety of things on the menu over some time, and all of it is good. The chips and salsa are great. We will be regular customers from now on.

-Marisa L.
Wanted a great Mexican food dinner, Tafolino's was recommended by a friend. So glad we decided to stop by. We all ordered the Chimichanga, with the sauce on the side. It was delicious!

-Elizabeth H.
I'm a fan. This is a large place with plenty of seating, lots of booths. My coworkers and I checked this place out last week to get our Mexican cuisine fix.

We were brought chips and salsa right away, both of which were delicious. They use flour rather than corn tortilla chips with an amazing seasoning.

I had a beef and bean burrito, which was $5 at base price, then extra for sour cream plus lettuce, cheese, and tomatoes. I wish the cheese was melted on top but it was cold.

The green chili they smother everything with is absolutely amazing.

My coworkers had the steak and chicken ranchero plates. The sauce was outstanding and it was very spicy!

Not a bad value for lunch, we will be back. The food here is authentic and the service is very prompt. They have a pretty good sized menu so I will have to try something new next time.

-Sasha L.
Food is great and they really do treat you like family. One of the best restaurants in the neighborhood and the Margs are strong and tasty.

-Chase S.
I judge Mexican restaurants by their chips and salsa first, if that is good then the food. The salsa was perfectly spiced and chips were homemade...a good sign. The guacamole was good and lots of it, i like mine with a little kick but it was just right for the kids as well. The service was a little slow and the food was good and plentiful. We had quite a bit of leftovers, we'll be back.

-Joe K.
Not sure where to go in this cute mountain city, I decided to use yelp, which, to mmy amazement did not mention the whole slew of chains or mall restaurants which I had to pass to get here.

I am happy with my choice as they were one of the few independent restos in Golden that didn't seem to close at 7pm.

Anyway, they have a pretty big menu of just about anything mexican you might want. I got a combo platter, which was a very large portion of delicious food for just under $10.

We also got started off with freshly made tortilla chips and delicious home made salsa. I highly recommend Tafolino's if you are in the order and in the mood for Mexican.

-Dan G.
Flautas are still the best of Tafolino's many offerings. Got to try a few more things this time with a group of four. The Queso Fundido is as good as it gets, make sure to ask for their homemade tortilla, they'll serve it warm. I'll bet the same great quality tortilla is used to make the house chips.

#25 Camarrones Estillo Fin (jumbo crisp fried shrimp stuffed with cheese and wrapped with smoke bacon) sounded a lot better than it actually is. Still good, but a little too crunchy/hard. If they're grilled instead of fried, perhaps it'll solve the problem. The flavor was pretty good especially with the dipping sauce. I had the hardest time deciding between this or #26 (grilled whole tilapia), maybe next time!

#14 Pablos Plato (beef taco and a smothered chile relleno) would not be something I'll order again. It's not awful but Tafolino's other dishes are better. I just don't prefer hard shelled chile rellenos because you can't taste the poblano. If you like their house chips, you'll like the taco shell.

We also got a tamale a la cart, not smothered, and it was a nice break from all the spiciness from the other dishes.

Beans and rice and green chile were all good as usual. Service was fast and smooth. It felt like they've got a good operation here.

-Lily S.
A friend recommended Tafolino's flautas and naturally that's what I got. She said the chicken was tasty and being me, of course I had to ask for two chicken and one beef. The server complied gladly. They were pretty good, especially when I pour the cup of green chile on top. Beans and rice are the standards. My co-worker got the Tacos Al Carbon, I tasted the beef, not bad. Chips and salsa were automatically brought to the table (I made sure to ask if they were free). Liked the chips a lot but the salsa had a bit of bitterness to it.

Lunch time the place gets pretty busy but the turn around time was satisfactory!

-Anonymous.
What a pleasant surprise! My friend and I had a Groupon for this place (that I've driven by more times than I can count and never once realized was there). I may not have realized it was there but several other people did. This place was crowded! I had one of the combination plates and my friend had the chile rellenos. My food was delicious and very filling! I wasn't that big a fan of the chips but everything else was fantastic. The service was great, too. They made you feel like you were a VIP. I'll definitely go back and bring my teenage son who is a bottomless pit. I know he won't go home hungry.

-Jennifer H.
I spent 20 years living in northern New Mexico and pride myself on knowing what excellent mexican food should taste like and the lunch I enjoyed here last weekend was one of the best tasting mexican meals I've ever had. Everything I tried was literally an explosion of flavor. I ordered one of the combination platters and my boyfriend ordered a breakfast burrito and huevos rancheros (he was extra hungry, haha). The sausage patty that came with the huevos was hand formed, cooked with that perfect crisp texture on the outside, and delicious. He said the rice was done exactly right. The green chile is spot on and I'm a critique of green chile. The tamale was full of flavor and very moist, the masa tasted like corn like it should. The relleno was properly fried and crisp. The bean burrito, which I've not had a bean burrito in years and years, was filled with the best damn tasting refried beans I've ever had. They tasted like they were cooked in bacon fat. And the portions were very big. The service was attentive and pleasant. People who claim to not like the food here are crazy.

A groupon brought us here and we will be returning again soon. I'm sure we will become regulars. It's out of the way of where we live and we honestly do not care. It's worth the drive. What an amazing find.

-Annie W.
Nice size place, excellent service and ample quantities of delicious food. Very comfortable and enjoyable restaurant. The manager even checked personally to make sure everything was done to our satisfaction.

-Mike L.
So on our way back from keystone I was craving some good o'l mexican food, not resort or the river run area...I checked those out and they were over priced and nothing I wanted...this place was well worth the 45 min drive. My hubs use to come here when he was doing a job in lakewood..lo down:

Chips/salsa were delicious..I like how they season their chips..yum..

Tacos el carbon- oh my gosh, soo crispy and moist steak..their beans that come in a bowl were soo delicious by itself with pieces of bacon in them..

Poblano burrito- I ate 1/2 of my hubby's one and it was soo good...he had the chicken and it was juicy & grilled 2 perfection!

Appetizer crispy relleno- it was so crispy and cheesy and very satisfying and filling!

All in all this place is awesome and so is the service...delicious food and friendly service! Worth it all the way. Oh and ofcourse is affordable for sure.

-Lani P.
I really like Tafolino's. I've been going here for several years, and I have always enjoyed their food as well as the friendly, attentive staff.

Often, I just stop by for take out on the way home, but even if I'm only getting a to go order, I get superb service each and every time I go to Tafolino's. Usually I don't even call ahead and just stop by instead. They always take my order very quickly, quite often immediately. Most of the time they have my food to me in five minutes. The waiters and waitresses here are sincerely friendly and nice, and it is a pleasure to have them take care of me.

Some of my favorite menu items are the flautas (any type, but especially the ground beef flautas), cheese enchiladas with onions, and the chicken or steak poblano burrito. Every time I've ordered any of these three items, I've never been unhappy. Generally I inhale the plate in very short order as it is so delicious!

Yay tafolino's!

-James G.
First of all, not sure if it's a normal occurrence but our table received unlimited chips and salsa, which were both homemade and very tasty. Only downside to that was we started getting full waiting for our entrees (not a bad thing).

Second, the portions of the "Tafolino Grande" combo meal were VERY generous. The food quality was above average. The green chili was good, not great but good is highly acceptable. If I had one critique it'd be that the cheese they use is of low grade but for the price I understand why. My overall visit was a good one and I will be back. I hope this review helps settle the long dreaded question of, "what do you want for dinner?".

-Vance A.
I have gone to Tafolino's several times. In the past the food was great and I would consider it my favorite Mexican Restaurant. Lately, the food quality has varied. There are times the food is great and delicious, and than there are times the food is not so amazing. I can say the green chili here is amazing, which is the only reason I gave 3 stars. The last time I went my food came out lukewarm and soggy. I usually get a combo palate. It seems that the food sits under the warming light to long before being severed.

-Kurt P.
First time here and I enjoyed it. The chips and shells are made in-house, yum. The green chilli was very good, almost as good as Mom's.
I will be back for sure

-Manuel S.
I would have given it a 5-star rating for the food and service, but it's Friday night and they were very busy. The food for eight of us came pretty luke warm, except for the fajitas. It took forever to get our food--more than an hour.

Even so, their chile verde is awesome, and the food was still flavorful and good. The wait staff is very nice. They were just slammed. I hope they get their larger new restaurant soon.

-Lyn K.
If you have not been ,then you've never had real Mexican food! Experience flavor! Experience tradition! Experience the legend that is tafolinos!

-Mikey R.
Had a great meal here! The strip mall location and decor are the only downsides but the product they put out is above average for Mexican food in CO. Great green chili- homemade tortilla chips- flautus and red enchilada sauce. Reasonable price and an enjoyable night out. Highlights were the red and green sauces and the poblano burrito had great flavor. We were here in September 2015.

-Whitney M.
I love this place. I have never had bad food here, and I have had everything on the menu. The service is always great. I drink a lot and my cup is always full, without asking.

The one thing I alway order is the sopapilla delight for dessert. It is caramel, whipped cream, cheeries and cinnamon, sugar all orver a huge plate of sopapillas. Make sure you have a friend to share it with tho, it is HUGE!

If you like mexican food this is the place to go!

-Jimmy B.
Delicious, looks can be deceiving! Guacamole tostada and chili Riano with green chili was most excellent. Love this place!

-Jan P.
In my never ending search for the best crispy chili rellenos in the metro area I was taken here to a strip mall and what did I find you ask... Well I found some very yummy rellenos. When I first walked in this very nice lady showed me to my table and ask what I wanted to drink before I had even sit down which I thought was very nice. They brought out some chips and salsa. The chips looked as though they were made in house. Very thick and warm and oh so great :) I just ordered a single relleno with green chili and it was very good :) As I looked around I noticed that everyone was eating everything in front of them which is always a good sign. The servers were very nice and on top of everything. I will for sure be back to try other things :) Thanks so much for a great lunch!!

-Jeanne J.
I have been coming to Tafolino's all my life. This was probably the first Mexican food I ever ate if you ask me.
It's a very nice sized restaurant with plenty of seating. Their food is always good and freshly made. The staff is so friendly and attentive. And did I mention how yummy the food is?
They're very accommodating with your order, my papa likes his chimichanga with the sauce on the side and they do it without a problem.
If your a burrito fan their smothered burritos (any filling) is delicious. Beef or shredded chicken smothered green burrito is my favorites. Their chile poblano is also really good, their enchiladas are delicious and their tamales are tasty. Not to mention their margaritas are really good and their chips and salsa could fill you up before your food comes if you don't watch yourself.
If your passing by and need a bite to eat or if you have never been here I highly HIGHLY recommend coming here. Love Tafolino's

-Stephanie M.
We moved up to this area about a year ago and we have been looking for a new favorite Mexican food place. We found it!! the food was amazing and our waitress was super nice. The owner even came over and introduced herself and made sure every thing tasted okay. We ate all of our food it was great! The mild green chili is REALLY mild. I think i'll try the half n half next time instead. The beef and chicken in the burritos have great flavor. The salsa and chips were also great. You can tell the salsa is fresh which is great. We will definitely be back soon and will make sure to spread the word. Thank you again!

-Jackie F.
I could tell it's great authentic Mexican food...holy moly was it spicy!! I loved the green chili! So good...I like a little heat in my food but I think that was definitely hitting my heat limit. Staff was great and friendly! The chips, salsa, and guacamole were fantastic!

-Marites C.
Went in for dinner on 6/4/15....Great food, great service. Apparently they are listening to the critical reviews because they were ON POINT with everything. Highly recommend trying this place out.

-Shannon P.
My favorite Mexican restaurant! I drive from aurora just to enjoy the amazing chips and salsa and the city's best green chile! I even bring all my out of state guests to try it and they have all loved it.

-Jenyfer K.
I have always been impressed with their food and service. I absolutely love and crave their burrito pablano.

-Tiffany B.
Tafolino's is a great place to go to lunch. The staff there is responsive and the food is delicious. I always get the vegetarian supreme burrito with salsa (not ranchero sauce).Their chips and salsa are great and the staff are quick to bring you more if you need more. I would like to come here for dinner sometime and try their margaritas.

This place is reasonably priced and is conveniently located near work. My only complaint is that the men's bathroom is a little strange (no privacy).

-Michael S.
We visit this place a bunch for lunch and lunch meetings. Good chips and salsa, quick service, clean place, friendly staff. Get the burrito poblano with chicken smothered in green chile. So good, sometimes HOT!

-Chad P.
This is by far our family favorite place to eat. Always great service and all the wait staff treat you like family. The burrito Pablano is the bomb. We eat here about every two weeks. Good food at very affordable prices.

- Tom W.
This is a must stop every time I visit my parents. Living in Texas, I'm surrounded by get TexMex Mexican food, but this place does it up right too with their Southwest style. I recommend anything smothered in their green chile, especially the Burrito Poblano. Not much to look at from the outside or inside, but never disappointed in their food.

- David Z.
Great food, reasonable prices, friendly staff. They play good oldies music. I will be going back here soon. You should definitely try it at some time.

- Gabb O.
Tried Tafalinos for the the first time today...OMG. A couple co workers came in for lunch after hearing about it and needless to say we were impressed. We walked in and were seated right away. That doesn't normally happen when you have a party of 6. After we figured out what to order the food came maybe 6 or 7 minutes later; so quick! In the mean time we got chips and salsa. The food was amazing!! The green chili, to die for. The staff is very sweet. I ordered the Pablano burrito and it was fantastic. Can't wait to come back after work and order a margarita!

-Andrea S.
This is one of my favorite places for green chili but beware, it is spicier than most! They have tasty chips with some seasoning on them as well but it's the green chili that keeps me coming back! The margaritas are nothing special but aren't bad either and they do a great job of cooling off the pallet after the spiciness of the chili!

-Emily B.
Been going here for years! Food is great, huge portions, and good prices. Service is great, and you can even get take out from their second store, Tafolino's Too.

Everything is great, but I recommend ordering a heaping plate of chili-cheese fries!

-Caroline E.
Okay okay so there are a lot of Mexican place in Golden, Arvada, Wheat Ridge and Lakewood. So what's so great about this place? Everything.
The wait staff and the beautiful female owner and her husband run this restaurant in the best fashion. It sure beats Moose Hill up the street on Colfax.
I too have been a customer since the 1990's and nothing changed- and that is a good thing, how do you achieve better then yummy? So dont mind the walls- you are there to feast your eyes on your plate.
My fav's are" Menudo,. Chile Rellenos, the green chili- when in season is Whoa- Warm :-) so watch out.
The beans are good and not too salty.
When my mom comes to town- she almost always gets the beef fajita's with a side of green chili (dont really get that, but its okay). PS I always leave with a dozen of handmade tamales. yums)
Hint- There is ample parking albeit if you miss the first turn in- turn at the light.

-Lynn B.
Good stuffed sopapilla with ground beef, refried beans, and red chili.I give three stars because I found a little fat in the red chili, it still had a good flavor, I'm just very picky when I comes to meat.

Tofolinos is close to my job was packed on a Wednesday during lunch time. I walked in ordered and was out in less then 10 minutes. Great place for a quick lunch. I'm excited to try some if their other menu items next time.

-Brandon B.
If you love everything smothered in green chili, this is the place for you. Always busy, but always fast. I have liked everything on the menu, but usually try to order a combo that includes a chili relleno. Not a place your going to go to for happy hour or Margaritas, although they have them. More of a family place.

-Thad S.
Great tex-mex. my favorite is the shredded beef burrito smothered with lettuce and cheese. Good salsa, decent margs. Never had a problem with parking. We visit monthly an is always constantly good.

-Matt M.
Borderline obsessed with this place... I live 2 hours away and come down here about once a month and the first thing I always ask is "Can we go to Taf's?!". I will admit, the atmosphere won't be your favorite thing about this place. They're cooks, not interior designers. Just accept it. Chips and salsa is probably the best I've ever had, but the salsa has been on the spicy side as of late. Not unbearable, but it has a kick. I can't attest to much on the menu since I always order the same thing; it's the #15 on the menu and it's a pork green chili smothered carne asada burrito and it's just amazing. And any comments people are making about the wait staff... It's a family owned place and these people have personality. Be polite to them and they'll be polite to you. It's not rocket science.

-Shelby S.
Great Mexican food. We've been customers for 20 years and it's the same wait staff as it always has been. They are so nice, the food is good and fairly priced. The homemade chips and the green chile are crave-worthy.

-Jennie H.
I love Tafolino's....just wishing that I didn't live on the other side of town now. Chip & salsa are great, and food portions are generous. I generally go with one of the combo platters that provide a plethora of choices, but the enchiladas are one of my favorites here.

Quick service, good prices & wonderful food, what more can you ask for?

-Lisa H.
This place is really great. The food is very consistent and being a Colorado native, I believe it's how Mexican food should be. Green chili is really good. My wife doesn't like green chili but she is from California. They don't know what green chili is out there so that's understandable. She does however like everything else. So, It really comes down to this. During times like lunch & dinner, if I can find a place that is busy as hell on a consistent basis, they are doing something right. Try Tafo's. They do it right day in and day out. Good sloppy Mexican food. The help are short winded & to the point, but they are often very busy so it's understandable. Do yourself (and us review readers) a favor, if you're self proclaimed picky or high maintenance diner, say home and make your food yourself. Burrito!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

-Dave R.
very good authentic mexican food, with average service....we've been here a few times and the food is very consistent. Not the greatest chips and salsa, but pretty good.

-Peter P.
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