Los Chingones RiNo — Restaurant in Denver

Los Chingones RiNo in Denver’s vibrant RiNo Arts District is a must-visit gem that delivers an unforgettable Mexican dining experience! From the moment you step into this colorful, industrial-chic space, you’re enveloped in a lively atmosphere that blends modern flair with authentic Mexican vibes. The murals, exposed brick, and bustling energy make it the perfect spot for a fun night out. I’m giving this place a well-deserved 5 stars, largely due to the amazing tacos and the exceptional service from our server, Gaby. However, a slightly lackluster greeting from the front-of-house host was a minor hiccup that didn’t overshadow the overall brilliance of the visit. Let’s start with the star of the show: the tacos. They were nothing short of spectacular! Each bite was a burst of flavor, with perfectly balanced ingredients and fresh, high-quality components. Whether it was the tender carne asada, the zesty al pastor, or the creative vegetarian options, every taco was a masterpiece. The menu’s bold, innovative twists on classic Mexican dishes set Los Chingones apart, and the vibrant presentation only added to the experience. Pairing the tacos with a house margarita—crafted with just the right kick—made for a meal that left me craving more. What truly elevated this experience was our server, Gaby. She was an absolute rockstar! Her warm, genuine smile and attentive service made us feel like VIPs from the moment we sat down. Gaby’s knowledge of the menu was spot-on, and her recommendations were perfect. She checked in just enough to ensure we had everything we needed without being overbearing, and her infectious enthusiasm made the meal even more enjoyable. Gaby deserves a raise and a promotion to manager—she’s a true asset to Los Chingones and one of the main reasons I’ll be back soon! The only slight misstep came at the start. The front-of-house host with braids greeted us with a noticeably nonchalant attitude. Her demeanor felt detached, and when we asked how her day was going, her response of “I’m happy” didn’t match her flat tone or expression. It wasn’t the warm welcome you’d expect from such a vibrant spot, and it momentarily threw off the vibe. I’d encourage management to coach the host team on delivering a more enthusiastic first impression to match the restaurant’s lively spirit. Thankfully, Gaby’s stellar service and the incredible food quickly turned things around. The patio was a fantastic spot to soak in the RiNo energy, and the overall vibe of Los Chingones was electric. From the creative cocktails to the mouthwatering desserts, every detail was on point. This is the kind of place you bring friends, family, or a date for a memorable meal. I’m already looking forward to my next visit to indulge in those tacos again and, hopefully, see Gaby’s smiling face. Los Chingones RiNo, you’ve earned your 5...

I hate to rate this so poorly, because I used to love Chingones… but it’s definitely not what it used to be, and I would absolutely recommend going elsewhere.

My experience could be a rare one, but it was definitely frustrating. I asked for a very simple meal of a vegetarian quesadilla, rice, and beans, and chips / guac… and a cheese quesadilla for my son who is 3 and picky. Pretty simple order for what I hoped would be a hassle-free, easy, and quick dinner — so simple it should be impossible to mess up, right? However, I received 2x chicken quesadillas, no rice and beans, no chips and guac. After 5 mins or so the server came back and I asked if they could remake the quesadillas without the chicken. He apologized for it but jumped into action way too quick and ran off with just my son’s quesadilla, probably not realizing I meant both despite saying both… fine, whatever, I will deal with it… but then, by the time my son’s plain cheese quesadilla came back out my wife was already well beyond being done eating so her food wouldn’t just sit the whole time. I still hadn’t been able to get the attention of another server about MY food, and so the timing and enjoyment of everything was kind of blown. At this point, my wife nicely reminded a different server about the rice and beans, and when they finally came out they were totally dried out and the rice was hard… really disappointing. The quality of the food wasn’t really any good at all. I definitely don’t think the owners would sit down and happily eat it, that’s for sure. It was definitely not what I would consider anything higher than 2/5 or 3/10 at this point. The chips were also super stale, guac was basically just scooped out avocado with overwhelming onion flavor…Truthfully, Illegal Pete’s is much cheaper and better by far.

I’m not a jerk, and I honestly expect very little. The server was pretty nice, so I still tipped 25% despite the circumstances … but it was a pretty frustrating experience overall and left me put off to going to the restaurant again.

The harsh truth is, this place is not really what it used to be 5-10 years ago at all. For being touted as a place that’s started by a “famous chef” it really doesn’t give that vibe at all, not even slightly. They must have just slapped his endorsement on it and let the place slide over time. Even the tables were very, very sticky — hard to even pick up the menus… seems like that would be unacceptable by a famous chef’s standards. Place could really use a serious quality check overall, and I don’t think that falls on the servers, it’s...

My friends and I came to this restaurant this past Saturday and we were treated with such little respect by the hostess (I think she said her name was Carla) and a man named Josh who claimed to be the manager. We had put our names down earlier that night and had been told the wait would be about 50 min. Normal for a Saturday so I left my name and number with the hostess who told us they would send us a text when the table was ready. My friends and I went to the Death and Co Bar across the street while we waited for our table. I was checking my phone diligently and after checking it, I realized I had a missed call. I realized I had a missed call only 5 minutes after the restaurant had called me. I immediately called the restaurant back and the hostess informed me that since I did not answer the call, they had given away my reservation. I asked the hostess why they did not text me, and the hostess said that I had opted out of text messages, which I had not. I walked into the restaurant 8 minutes after the restaurant had called me and asked the hostess to speak to the manager. When the manager approached us, he was extremely rude and walked away in the middle of me asking if we could be seated next. When I asked the manager for his name, he again walked away from me and refused to give me his name. When he finally did give me his name, he said his name was Josh. After practically begging for a table, they sat us outside where it was 30 degrees outside. We ended up leaving and not eating here due to such poor treatment. I am solely writing this review over the treatment from these two employees. Because of treatment by these two employees, I will not be recommending my friends to come to this establishment, nor will I return. My friends had just gotten engaged, we were celebrating at the ramble, we had put our name down and waited for 50 minutes for a table, we had returned to the restaurant 8 minutes after the restaurant called us to let us know our table was ready, and then we were treated with such hostility that it really ruined a part...