Tocabe, An American Indian Eatery — Restaurant in Denver

Tocabe, An American Indian Eatery

Nestled just outside downtown Denver at 3536 W 44th Ave, Tocabe, An American Indian Eatery, has garnered quite the reputation with an impressive 4.7 rating on Google, supported by over 4,000 reviews. During my recent visit, I was eager to see if this culinary hotspot lived up to the hype, and while my experience was enjoyable, I would rate it a solid four stars.

Upon entering, the buzz of customers immediately set a welcoming and vibrant atmosphere. The steady flow of patrons is a testament to the eatery's popularity and the delicious offerings on the menu. The layout is casual yet inviting, with the option for outdoor patio seating that adds to the overall charm.

I opted for the Tocabe Favorite: the Bison Ribs served alongside two Fry Bread Biscuits and optional Green Chile. This dish was indeed a home run; the bison ribs were tender and flavorful, while the fry bread provided a delightful, fluffy accompaniment. I highly recommend this choice for anyone looking to savor the authentic flavors of American Indian cuisine.

Additionally, I explored The Plates, which offer a range of options including vegetarian, grilled chicken, ground beef, ground bison, and shredded bison. The Posu Bowls presented a similar selection but with the choice of rice or fry bread, making it a versatile option for diners. The "What's On Top" section introduced an array of toppings like sweet corn, hot tomato, roasted green chilies, seed milk, mild tomato, or Osage Hommy, allowing for a personalized touch to each dish.

While the menu boasts a variety of bottled drinks and fountain options, I found myself seeking a bit more depth in the flavors. The distinctions between the mild, medium, and hot spice levels felt minimal, leaving me wanting a bolder experience. Perhaps this was just a matter of personal preference, and it did impact my overall impression of the meal.

Tocabe is undoubtedly worth a visit if you're in the Denver area. With its unique offerings and warm atmosphere, it’s easy to see why it has captivated so many. I look forward to returning, hopeful that my next experience will align more closely with the stellar 4.7 rating I’ve seen online. For now, my visit remains a commendable...

Unfortunately we had a very disappointing experience with Tocabe yesterday. The staff was very disrespectful and unsanitary. We experienced the man in front of us clearly order no cheese- as he corrected the young lady piling on the cheese, instead of offering him a new plate, she grabbed the handful of cheese (along with meat particles) and placed it right back in the cheese bin... Then resumed to pick off remaining cheese until the man ended up pasifying saying it'd be fine. As a vegetarian, staring at all the meat particles now mixed in with the cheese I decided to make other options for my bowl. The staff lady was in such a rush and was not listening to my selections, and hastily grabbed another handful of cheese (with the meat). As I corrected her and said "no cheese" and pointed at the meat, she raised her voice and tone with me and said, "keep your hands behind the glass" which they never crossed the glass and i was attempting to not have the same repeated mistake as the customer prior. The rest of the interaction was tense as she scooped the rest of my toppings aggressively and forgot to place the order of my fry bread. While I understand the mistake of adding cheese to someone's order on accident- I was disheartened to see they didn't offer to remake his order and instead cross contaminated their cheese with meat particles after it was on another customers plate. The tone and disrespectful, rightous, attitude of the young lady was also unacceptable. It is unfortunate as we've always loved Tocabe being a vegan/vegetarian household. I would caution anyone who has food allergies or food restrictions as their staff is clearly not well trained in food management, health and safety, or...

"Why Isn’t Native American Food Hip?" Emily DeRuy asked in a perceptive article in The Atlantic (June 30, 2016). She made some persuasive guesses, and in fact discussed Tocabe in her article. Lucky for us, we're "locals." We don't have to worry about hipness, or access either - in Denver, there are two Tocabe restaurants and they also have a food truck.

303 magazine, Westword, and The Denver Post have all published positive reviews of Tocabe's dishes. I found the idea of a Native American restaurant intriguing, and sure enough, I enjoyed my meal. I ordered the stuffed fry bread, and had it filled with chili beans, cheese, and ground bison. It was delicious. The fry bread was just right, soft and thick inside with a toasted crispiness on the outside edge. It came with a small salad made of greens and a choice of sides; I selected hominy with cranberries and green chiles.The creamy Ancho Chipotle sauce had a pleasant smoky flavor. Their hottest sauce reminded me of Chipotle's red tomatillo sauce, but with more tomato in the mix. The hot sauce on the table either was Tabasco Sauce or something very close.

I have heard the bison short ribs are very tasty, but I did not try them... yet. I am eager to return for them, and to try other plates as well - the Indian Taco, the Melting Pot Salad, the Posu bowl. This Native American food is definitely hip, if you ask me...