Best of Denver 2005

Best Bar for Chips and Salsa

In many cases -- okay, in every case -- the most important thing influencing our appreciation of a Mexican joint's chips and salsa is the environment in which they're served. The best-tasting chips and salsa on the planet do nothing for us if they're dished up, say, by the sample ladies at the local Sam's Club. That's why we're such fans of Juanita's. This Boulder institution is basically a chips-and-salsa kind of bar, the sort of place where you want to collapse into one of the tall-backed booths and stay for days. Making this perfect chips-and-salsa environment even better is the fact that Juanita's happens to serve an excellent order of crisp, oily chips and a fine, fresh, thin salsa that's the ideal accompaniment to a couple of cold ones.

westword.com | originally published: March 24, 2005

"Darn good Mexican food, huge portions, small bill, staff is friendly."
David of Boulder

"Salsa at Juanitas will put spice back into your life."
Rocky Mountain News

"Hot corn tortillas, and cold margaritas, spicy green chile, and warm sopaipillas."
Best Mexican Restaurant - Boulder Weekly

"My husband absolutely loves their Chicken Cuervo. I dont believe I have ever known him to order anything other than that particular dish. Now our son has become hooked."
Blekicki

"A Mexican cantina in Boulder that has become a latenight Pearl Street Mall tradition the past 19 years."
Ricardo Baca - Denver Post staff writer

"The restaurant continues to provide top-notch chili rellenos, great specials, short quarter queues at the pool table, and an impressive selection of top shelf agave product for the discriminating lush."
Boulder Weekly

"The first time I visited Juanita's I ordered the Chicken Quesadilla. My friend was enjoying a salad and I asked him if I could dip my quesadilla into his dressing. He obliged me and the rest is history...I could enjoy cardboard with that dressing!"
Jordan Kobert of Boulder