Olde Town Arvada is a taco lover’s paradise, boasting an impressive five taco shops packed into its charming streets. With so many options, the only real challenge is choosing where to go.
That’s where our Olde Town Taco Showdown comes in. We’re putting these five local favorites head-to-head to determine the ultimate taco champion. From classic street-style tacos to bold, creative flavors, each spot brings something special to the table. (We only included the brick-and-mortar shops, so we did not include Ruta Libre’s excellent food truck.)
Now, it’s up to you! Cast your votes for your favorite shop at the bottom of this article by 8 a.m. Friday, March 28. With this many options, there’s no wrong choice.
(Did you have fun doing this? Then you should be participating in our annual Readers Survey, Best of the Best. Go show your love for your favorite spots here.)
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Cochino Taco
7702 Ralston Road | 303-284-5194 | cochinotaco.com/arvada
Located just outside of Olde Town (but close enough for our purposes), Cochino has earned a reputation for their unique take on Mexican cuisine since opening its doors in 2021. Their elote is a fan favorite, and their vegetarian options — including their cojita cheese skirt taco — have earned them a spot in the hearts of many Olde Town regulars.
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Fuzzy’s Taco Shop
5760 Olde Wadsworth Blvd. | 303-438-9997 | fuzzystacoshop.com/locations
/colorado/arvada
Not much is guaranteed in life, but death, taxes and Fuzzy’s Olde Town Arvada location don’t seem to be going anywhere anytime soon. The oldest of the cadre of Olde Town taco shops, Fuzzy’s has been serving up solid baja-inspired cuisine since 2012 and recently rolled out a breakfast menu. Can any of the newbies take down ole reliable? Only you, dear reader, can decide.
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Lady Nomada
7519 Grandview Ave. | 303-900-2980 | nomadakitchen.com
Opened in 2021 by the folks behind Homegrown Tap and Dough, Lady Nomada serves food inspired by Baja Californian cuisine and was envisioned as a laid-back offshoot of another one of the owner’s restaurants; Perdida. The restaurant has earned a reputation for its pastel decor as well as its flavorful ceviche and (dangerously) strong margaritas.
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Teocalli Cocina
5770 Olde Wadsworth Blvd. | 303-923-3170 | teocallicocina.com
For longtime Arvadans, following Griff’s Hamburgers is a tall order, but Teocalli has done just that since moving into the storied Olde Town A-frame in 2022. The restaurant’s carne asada tacos have earned top honors at Denver’s Top Tacos festival, and their patio always seems to be a hotspot for locals.
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Wapos Cantina
5777 Olde Wadsworth Blvd | 720-968-4634 | waposcantina.com
Since opening its doors in 2024, Wapos Cantina has made a name for itself with fresh, generous portions of authentic Mexican food. The Arvada location of Wapos is the fifth for the Colorado-based chain, which also operates restaurants in Boulder, Erie, Thornton and Westminster.
Was there a place we missed? Tell us in the comments or email us at hello@coloradocommunitymedia.com