Since first opening its doors in 1982, El Jardin has grown from a 65-seat neighborhood cafe into one of Commerce City’s most beloved Mexican restaurants.
This family-owned Mexican restaurant now seats 120 guests, with a banquet room added in 2002 that seats another 130, but the food and service still feel like a true mom-and-pop operation. 🌮
Decades later, it’s the sizzling fajitas and generous combination plates that keep locals coming back.
How El Jardin won Commerce City’s hearts
What makes El Jardin such a genuine Commerce City institution is its staying power, growing from a small corner cafe into its current location while remaining family-owned and operated for over four decades.
That kind of longevity in the restaurant business, especially one built on scratch-made Southwestern and Mexican cuisine, speaks to a level of consistency that keeps generations of diners returning.
Longtime regulars consistently point to the chicken enchiladas and carnitas chimichanga as personal favorites, describing the food as never disappointing no matter what they order.
The restaurant’s daily specials, including chicken enchiladas made with a special house sauce, tequila lime chicken, and seasoned fish tacos, give regulars a reason to try something new on repeat visits.
Diners also single out the green chili, available by the cup or bowl in mild, medium, or extra hot, as an outstanding standalone order.
That combination of a decades-old family recipe base and a menu that still surprises loyal customers is exactly how this Commerce City Mexican restaurant became such a lasting local landmark.
Food Highlights
- Chicken Enchiladas: A daily special made with the restaurant’s own house chicken sauce, a longtime customer favorite.
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Huevos Rancheros: Two eggs any style served atop a corn tortilla smothered in green chile and melted cheese, with refried beans and Spanish rice. 🍳
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Fiesta Seafood Quesadilla: Shrimp and crab meat blended with melted cheese and jalapeños inside grilled flour tortillas, served with guacamole and sour cream.
- Grilled Pork Chops: Seasoned and grilled pork chops served with a choice of green chile or ranchero sauce.
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Mango Shrimp Salad: Grilled shrimp tossed with mixed greens, fresh strawberries, diced avocado, and walnuts in a raspberry vinaigrette. 🍤
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Carnitas Chimichanga: Slow-cooked pork carnitas rolled and fried, frequently named by regulars as one of their personal favorites.
- Taco Salad: Seasoned beef or chicken served in a crispy flour tortilla bowl with tomatoes, cheese, black olives, guacamole, and sour cream.
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Green Chili Cheese Burger: A burger topped with the restaurant’s outstanding house-made green chili and melted cheese.
Atmosphere
The dining room has a casual, festive feel, complete with a courtyard and a full bar, making it a comfortable spot for a family dinner or a night out.
It’s the kind of neighborhood restaurant where the setting feels lived-in and welcoming rather than polished for show.
The addition of a large banquet room shows how central the restaurant has become for community gatherings and celebrations. It’s unmistakably built for repeat visits and special occasions alike.
Bottom Line
Visit for the sizzling fajitas, the decades of family-run consistency, the daily chicken enchilada specials, the standout green chili, and a menu that’s kept Commerce City coming back since 1982.
Address:
6460 East 73rd Avenue, Commerce City, CO 80022
📞 (303) 288-3500
🕔 Mon-Sat 8 AM–9 PM; Sun 10 AM–8:30 PM