Few foods pack as much variety into such a compact format. A tortilla can carry slow-braised beef, crisp fish, roasted vegetables or pork, then gain another layer from salsa, cheese, herbs, pickled vegetables and chiles. Preparation matters just as much as the filling, with grilling, braising and frying creating entirely different experiences. Summit County restaurants take advantage of that flexibility, giving Best of Summit readers choices that range from Baja-inspired seafood to street-style combinations and traditional Mexican cooking.
Chimayo Grill has served its locally owned take on Coastal Mexican food in Dillon since 1998, with tacos among the cornerstones of its fast-casual menu. Baja fish and shrimp are specialties: the kitchen hand-breads the seafood rather than relying on frozen, prebattered products, then fries each order. Grilled versions are available as well. Customers build their meals through the service line, adding salsas and sauces such as corn salsa ranchera, pico de gallo, tomatillo salsa verde, roasted tomato habanero, white sauce or the restaurant's chipotle-based Chimayo Sauce. The scratch-kitchen approach extends to chile rellenos made in-house, while gluten-free and vegan choices broaden the possibilities.
Mercado La Perla combines a Mexican market with a casual food counter in Silverthorne, creating a setting where prepared food and specialty groceries share the same space. Tacos are part of its selection of Mexican dishes, alongside burritos and other familiar preparations.
Sancho Tacos & Tequilas puts street tacos at the center of a menu that moves between braised meats, seafood and plant-based fillings. Barbacoa combines chile-braised beef cheek with tomatillo salsa, escabeche, cilantro and cotija, while pork carnitas adds radish and shredded cabbage. Al pastor pairs marinated pork with sautéed pineapple and salsa verde. Seafood choices include tempura-fried white fish and Costa Rican shrimp, and the menu ventures further with pork belly, duck confit and roasted sweet potato tacos. An Impossible taco provides another meat-free option. Margaritas, tequila and mezcal flights reinforce the taqueria-and-cantina format.
El Perro Negro keeps its taco selection concise within a broader menu of Mexican-inspired small plates and agave-focused drinks. Street tacos arrive on 4-inch tortillas with onion, cotija, cilantro and avocado sauce. Diners can choose chicken tinga, barbacoa or jackfruit, with carne asada and pork belly al pastor available as additional choices. The kitchen also applies its Mexican-inspired approach to enchiladas with guajillo-lime sauce and a quesabirria quesadilla made with braised beef, Oaxaca cheese and consommé. The food accompanies a cocktail program centered on tequila, mezcal and other Mexican spirits, giving tacos a natural place within the bar's larger concept.
Hacienda Real has spent more than two decades serving Frisco and Summit County with a broad menu rooted in Mexican cooking. The family-operated restaurant prepares its food daily and places tacos within a larger dining experience that includes dishes such as carne asada, enchiladas, chile rellenos, fajitas and combination plates. A full bar accompanies the food, while the restaurant also accommodates large groups and provides catering for events. That breadth gives diners the option of making tacos the focus of the meal or including them as part of a wider exploration of familiar Mexican dishes.
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