Venalonzo’s Tacos Brings Award-Winning Birria and Big Flavor to Douglas County
Giant birria pizzas. Handcrafted cocktails. Fiesta-inspired décor. World Cup energy. A celebration of Latin culture that takes center stage rather than sitting quietly in the background.
What makes Venalonzo’s Tacos different isn’t just the food. Plenty of restaurants serve tacos. Few create an atmosphere that feels like you’ve stepped into a lively family gathering, blending the street food culture of Guerrero, Mexico, with the welcoming feel of a Colorado neighborhood hangout.
The first Venalonzo’s Tacos opened in Centennial, and in 2025 the restaurant expanded into Douglas County with locations in Lone Tree and Parker.
One of the most popular menu items is the quesabirria taco, featuring slow-cooked birria folded into a crispy corn tortilla with melted cheese, onions, and cilantro, served with a side of rich consommé for dipping. Venalonzo’s has built its reputation around birria, offering everything from quesabirrias and consommé to ramen birria, birria pizzas, and even birria burgers. View the menu.
Breakfast is served all day, and catering, pickup, and delivery are all available.
Brother-and-sister duo Pako and Nati Venalonzo own and operate the restaurant. Inspired by the herbs, spices, flavors, and traditions of their hometown, they have created a dining experience that brings the warmth of their family ranch to every table. Their goal is simple: serve great food while making every guest feel like part of the family.
The Lone Tree location operates under Sueños Realizados, LLC, which translates to “Dreams Realized.” CEO Maria “Nati” Venalonzo says she remains grateful every day for the opportunities the United States has provided her family as a proud U.S. citizen.
Walk through the doors and you’ll quickly understand why people remember the experience. It feels like someone’s cousin is laughing in the kitchen, a soccer match could break out at any moment, the music is turned up just a little too loud, and the tacos are about to ruin every forgettable drive-thru tortilla you’ve ever settled for.
The restaurant’s success has been recognized with a growing list of awards. In 2023, Venalonzo’s earned honors including Best New Mexican Restaurant and quickly climbed the rankings on Google and Yelp. In 2024, the restaurant competed in the Denver Gazette Top Taco Contest, defeating 32 other restaurants to be crowned Denver’s Best Taco. Yelp has also recognized Venalonzo’s as one of the Top 100 Taco Spots in America, one of the Top 50 Places to Eat in and Near Denver, and one of the Top 100 Restaurants in the Southwest. Most recently, Venalonzo’s Tacos was named Best Birria Taco in Denver by Westword’s 2026 Best of Denver awards, earning both the Readers’ Choice and Editors’ Pick honors.
Recently, co-owner and chef Pako Venalonzo was nominated to compete in the Colorado Beef Festival in a cook-off against other chefs. He is the only chef to be nominated from Douglas County. The competition will be held in August.
With its award-winning birria, family-centered atmosphere, and new Douglas County locations, Venalonzo’s Tacos offers a dining experience that’s about more than just great food. It’s a place where culture, community, and flavor come together—one taco at a time.
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