Winner

Efrain’s Mexican
www.efrainsrestaurant.com
101 E. Cleveland St., Lafayette, 303.666.7544
Efrain’s II: 1630 N. 63rd St., Boulder, 303.440.4045
Efrain’s III: 451 S. Pratt Pkwy., Longmont,720.494.0777


For authentic Mexican food, speed past the fast-food chains and head over to Efrain’s, a 20-year institution in Lafayette. This is the mother ship for three restaurants serving home-cooked favorites from the Gomez family’s trove of traditional recipes. “Mom was the cook and still comes in to help,” says George Gomez, one of the 10 Gomez siblings who run the Lafayette eatery as well as the Boulder and Longmont branches. “She’s almost 80 and looks about 55.” Chicken chimichanga is the most popular dish, with chicken fajitas, chile verde and rellenos not far behind. “I have the best customers in the world,” Gomez says, “and my brother is the best cook. We are very busy, even on Mondays. I tell the customers I’m so lucky; they say, ‘You do everything right.’ My prices here in Lafayette are the best prices anywhere. We have good prices, good food, and good tequila.” He explains that the tab is higher in the Boulder and Longmont branches because “we pay rent. In Lafayette, it’s my building.”

Runner Up

Rio Grande Mexican Restaurant
www.riograndemexican.com
1101 Walnut St., Boulder
303.444.3690