Nestled in one of the most famed cultural districts of Denver, the Santa Fe Art District, is a small Mexican restaurant by the name of El Noa Noa. While a bit unassuming on the outside, the interior of the restaurant, much like the food it serves, is full of color, spice and authentic Mexican flair—a perfect place to spend a portion of your next First Friday or any other time you find yourself in this eclectic part of town.

Upon entering the restaurant, especially on a cold afternoon or at night, the first thing that hits you is the warmth of the interior—the rich colors and friendly staff set the tone for the dining experience. The walls are decorated with tasteful amounts of colorful Mexican-themed paintings and decorations, but nothing that ever seems garish or overwhelming; on the contrary, the vibe of the restaurant comes off as quite charming. The main attraction—the food—doesn’t disappoint either.

I would definitely recommend chips and salsa ($2) to start—although, let’s be real, that’s half the draw of any Mexican place and you were going to get it anyway. I’m happy to report that the chips and salsa at El Noa Noa are especially tasty. I’m a sucker for more than one salsa being served, and the two spicy and not-so-spicy options that are served with the perfectly salted chips were both delicious. Although I prefer for this appetizer to come complimentary with a meal, I can’t complain too much due to the quality of the product.

For main course options, El Noa Noa doesn’t disappoint either, and they certainly don’t skimp on variety. They have breakfast, lunch and dinner menus, the latter two of which include seafood, carnes y tacos, house specialties, Mexican cravings and combination plates. The sheer volume and variety of options can be intimidating but, luckily, with Mexican food it’s hard to go wrong whether sticking with an old standby like fajitas ($15.50) or going with something new and adventurous like El Noa Noa Special (sopapilla stuffed with pork, beans and cheese smothered in pork green chile topped with lettuce, cheese, tomatoes and Mexican style cream, $9.50). The prices at El Noa Noa aren’t the cheapest, but portions are so large that you’re almost guaranteed two meals.

The 21+ beverage menu is comprised of beer, margaritas and tequila. Margaritas come in fun flavors like strawberry and gold, but be warned—they’re super strong.

This Grinder had a flauta, taco and chile relleno combination plate ($10) and it was absolutely delicious. As I’ve said before, it’s hard to go too wrong with Mexican food, but it’s also not easy to go really right; however, El Noa Noa achieves this lucrative goal, and its prime location is just icing on the cake.