The Aurora-favorite Tacos Restaurant comes to Denver in full swing. 

Throughout the pandemic, many restaurants struggled to get back on their feet. Due to supply restrictions, lack of employees and customer shortages, nearly 110,000 restaurants closed temporarily, or for good; however, Tacos El Metate was able to open up its doors even when the COVID-19 pandemic was prevalent. 

Located on the corner of University Blvd. and Evans Ave., the taco joint attracts many students and community members alike.

“We started a Tacos El Metate at our Aurora location in 2017 and decided to open up this location last year in July,” owner Jasmine Medina explained. “The whole idea of students and a campus in the area really attracted us.” 

The family-owned establishment learned from its success in Aurora and continued the same diligence in Denver—from the quality of food to the practices of maintaining food safety.

Since the pandemic, many restaurants have been closed down due to food and sanitizing violations. Over the past two years, with health of the foremost importance in the restaurant industry and beyond, it’s no surprise that food inspectors were stricter than usual when doing a check-through. 

Per CORA request from the Denver Department of Public Health and Environment, 10.31% of inspection staff reported poor hygienic practices from evaluated restaurants in the Denver area from January through September of 2021. In this sense, it’s paramount that restaurants practice hygiene in order to keep customers safe and the business alive. 

Jasmine Medina, one of the founders of Tacos El Metate, made sure that staff was fully aware of the differences that the pandemic levied upon the restaurant industry. 

“We have to make sure that everything that we do is up to standards,” she said. “I make sure the kitchen is always sanitized, that the food is always stored right and all our employees wear masks and gloves when making [food] and interacting with customers.” 

Practices like these are why people keep coming to Tacos El Metate. From the carne asada fries to the al pastor tacos, the quality of food is always consistent. 

“I come here every Tuesday,” said University of Denver student David Vincent. “On top of their special taco Tuesday deal, everything about this restaurant is great. From how clean it is, to the vibes – it’s a good space to be in.” 

The inspiration behind the restaurant is Medina’s mother. When Medina was eight, her mother owned a food truck that sold tacos. Because of how small the space was, and the struggles that the family had to work through, they closed up the food truck. After graduating high school, Medina sought to revive her mother’s vision, opening Tacos El Metate’s Aurora location with her brothers and cousins.

“Everything is my mother’s recipe. She’ll come and test the food from time to time, telling us to add this or telling us how it’s missing that,” Medina shared, laughing. 

Open six days a week besides Sunday, the restaurant remains standing tall in a time where many others are struggling. Thanks to Medina and her family’s resilience to put the quality of food and the health of its customers first, Tacos El Metate continues to serve the DU community with open doors.