Kiké’s Red Tacos plans first brick-and-mortar restaurant in Denver

Kiké’s Red Tacos has found a permanent place to park its food truck. The birria taco specialist, which won The Denver Post’s March Madness Taco Bracket, plans to open its first brick-and-mortar location at 1200 W. 38th Ave., in Denver, according to a liquor license application.

That’s the former home Crush Pizza + Tap, which closed in April after a decade. So, instead of waiting outside in camping chairs or rushing to the popular food truck’s parking lot before it sells out every day during lunch, customers will be able to comfortably chow down on rich Mexican stewed beef tacos in a 2,000-square-foot restaurant.

Owner Cesar Silva González declined a request for comment.

Kiké’s currently operates out of a parking lot at the southeast corner of Meade Street and West 38th Avenue. The birria truck has moved three times around north Denver since González and his father Enrique Silva Figueroa (aka Kiké) opened it in 2020.

The taco truck’s liquor license hearing was held on Dec. 7, although approval is still pending, according to Denver’s Department of Excise and License.

Birria tacos have been trending on social media and in local Mexican restaurants for the past couple of years, but Kiké’s gained a viral following thanks to its TikTok and Instagram-friendly birria tacos, burritos, quesadillas, tortas and even ramen bowls.

Its quesatacos are another popular specialty. The corn tortillas are dipped into the birria consomé, or broth, before grilled to a crunch (and to a slightly red hue, hence the name). The rich stewed meat is layered with melted cheese and topped with onions, cilantro and lime juice.

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