Camargo Tamales Restaurant

Let’s get the obvious out of the way — it’s an old place, and looks rough on the inside and outside — the owner can be a cranky old cuss, but he’s truly a good-​hearted guy so just let it slide and be patient. If you can withhold your judgement on the 2 biggest offenses then you’re in for some of Denver’s most authentic and flavorful Mexican food.
I have been going here for more then 20 years and it’s always been the same. Beer posters with well endowed beer-​maids on the ceiling, hand painted menu on the back wall, a cartoonish hand-​painted mural of Denver, crappy plastic booths from some fast food joint that shuttered long ago, and pad-​locked coolers with beverages kept safe from little hooligans from the neighborhood from taking them when the staff is hard at work in the back.
FYI this is Denver Mexican, not Baja, not Southwest. Don’t base your food expectations on some crappy fast food joint.
The highlights of the menu are the basics (don’t try to order some Chipotle/​Doba ish here). My favorite, the beef & bean burrito, smothered/​plain (amazing tortillas, beans with flavor, tender potatoes to add some heft, and the green chile… it’s perfection, not too hot, full of flavor and pork). Don’t skip on the tamales or the rellenos.

This place is amazing! Living in Denver my whole life, I’ve finally found a place with real Mexican food. The tortillas are homemade and absolutely incredible. Don’t judge a book by its cover, this place does not disappoint. Try the chorizo!

My husband and I stopped in for lunch. We had actually been looking for another restaurant when we found Camargos but decided to go on in when we smelled the kitchen cooking. We entered into this hole-​in-​the-​wall, obviously geared toward the local crowd place and were greeted by a friendly gentleman behind the counter. I tripped him up a bit when I asked what was a good vegetarian dish but he recovered quickly and offered a grilled shrimp burrito with jalepenos. My husband got a plate special with a beef burrito and a tamale. The food came out quickly, well made, and smelling delicious. The staff was very friendly and the food was absolutely delicious and fresh! It felt like we were visiting a grandma’s kitchen. I forgot to take pics of the food bc we were so hungry but the plates looked as good as they tasted. This is definitely not a place for someone who thinks Taco Bell is «good Mexican food» or somone afraid to explore somewhere that doesn’t look like much but if you’re looking for amazing food at fantastic prices, you should check out Camargos.

Here at camargos, love to wake up in da morning n go have a bacon egg n cheese with green Chile n beans always hits da spot, come thru 4 breakfast

Ok food but the service and cleanliness of this place earns it 2 stars. The person taking the order always has an attitude and they just walk away. Don’t even try placing an order over the phone for pick-​up, it’s going to be wrong.

For all the Northside «Highland» transplants complaining about our beloved Camargos, why don’t ya’ll stick to your taco hell & Chipotle, you wouldn’t know what real mexican food is if it bit you in the ass! Why don’t you guys «sell» n move back to yuppieville.
Camargo’s is and always will be here, and here to stay You bunch of Crybabies!

Terrible fajitas and burritos. They put potatoes in everything. I have given them plenty of chances, but they have failed every time. Last time I went in, everybody who ordered after me, got their orders before me and I ordered only two burritos. After thirty minutes of waiting I left. Thank God they I didn’t pay beforehand. The first time I ordered a ground beef, bean and cheese burrito. Guess what? It had very little ground beef and tons of potatoes. When I mentioned that I didn’t want potatoes, the owner/​cook told me they pre-​make all the meat fillings and with potatoes. Too cheap to put in a full order of meat so they use potatoes as a filler. Save your money, go somewhere else like the new La Bonita restaurant.

I have been checking out all of the Mexican restaurants in this neighborhood because most of them are awesome and well priced. My experience at Camargo’s has left me scarred and hopeful they will sell and leave this neighborhood.
I walk into the dated restaurant without a greeting. The wall is lined with beverage refrigerators like a gas station from 1987. The ceiling is covered, I mean COVERED, in swimsuit model posters from the 90’s. No joke. Like Jenny McCarthy and Cindy Crawford posters. I had these in my room as a teenager to the disapproval of my father.
I was there for the advertised $ 2.55 breakfast burrito. I ask the woman whom I had to flag down what the options were. She pointed, obviously irritated that I couldn’t figure it out on my own, to the massive hand-​written in crayons menu behind her head with the options. I chose egg and chorizo. I asked what else was in it. «Green chili and beans,» she said.
I asked if I could add cheese. «Yes,» she replied. I asked if she owned the place. «No, but my father does.» While I wait for my burrito, I cruise through the restaurant. They sell boots. Yes, cowboy boots. In the restaurant. What the…
Upon paying, I should have known, there is a $.75 charge to use my debit card. It maybe costs them $.12 to run it, so that’s a ripoff. My total was $ 6.00. She told me $ 5.75, then ran my card for $ 6.00. She finally smiled, but I’m assuming it’s only because she wanted a tip. I didn’t give her one.
I went home hoping to God that this would be the best breakfast burrito of all time. It’s not even edible. Check out the picture of this disgusting, undercooked, sloppy piece of garbage.
Apparently, adding cheese costs $ 2.70. That’s even more expensive than the burrito. What a terrible place.

This hole in the wall place has absolutely the best breakfast burritos. Come here and enjoy fresh and homemade delicious ness!

This was the worst food i have ever had. A beef burrito had no beef, it contained potatoes and other items that were not identified. The food was messy, the,“gravy” was all over leaked through the bag. The food and no flavor. It was a bad experience, all around.

Boom. First time here — had a Chorizo breakfast burrito. It was glorious!
Homemade (on the spot) tortillas are scrumptious.
I may propose to my burrito the next time I have one. Just sayin’…

An egg and chorizo burrito almost murdered me. I was worried I’d be sick for two days. The place was super filthy when I walked in. There was one guy eating who looked semi homeless. In the other room there were grown men watching cartoons in spanish. What a trip.
The other reviewers that like this place are tough as sh*t.

This is my favorite restaurant, hands down. I only ever order one thing. «Carne Desebrada» A burrito with green chile. The day this place stops making those is the day I die.
So I hope they don’t stop making them.
Service is relaxed, but always has been friendly to myself and my family. I like the fact that we are treated like friends despite being the typical pasty white folks that we are!
Also, Mike the owners son is awesome.

Average food with rude and slow service. I have had better service and food at every other Mexican restaurant in the North SIde. This place is dirty, old and below my expectations. If you trying to decided on all the Mexican restaurants in the neighborhood drive past this one. A friendlier tastier restaurant is right around the corner, any corner. There are many awesome Mexican restaurants here this is not one of them.

I was introduced to Camargo’s tamales years ago when someone brought them to a work potluck. Hands down, the best tamales I have ever had. I usually get a couple dozen at a time and have never been disappointed. Ask for a plastic fork… you won’t be able to get them home before you have to dive in!
I have never actually sat and dined in the place, never had anything other than the tamales (why would I?), and yes, the décor is full-​on overload, but I have always been treated kindly and the down-​to-​earth qualities are a pleasant surprise.
Word to the wise: Around holiday time, pre-​order your tamales! Order more than you need, freeze ‘em, bring ‘em out when you have a craving. Trust me… you will crave them for sure!

First better tamales can be found at la casita! (Red and green)
Second, their burritos are freaking expensive unless you get one of the weird ass combo’s they have up at the designated times.
There is NO CUSTOMER SERVICE period. The old guy who owns it and his son don’t give a crap about it.
It is such a random place half naked girl posters on the ceiling and in the dining area paintings of disney characters? wtf
However they do have bad ass tortillas which is the only thing worth dealing with their surly attitudes for that and the shrimp burrito which is hot so if your a pansy don’t even bother. You’ll be on the toilet for days

Camargo’s tamales are pretty good. I’ve purchased a few dozen and really liked them. So I decided to go there for dinner last night and try some of their other food. It was horrible. I ordered a combo plate (a barbacoa taco, a taco al carbon, rice) for $ 8. I couldn’t believe what they gave me for 8 bucks. The tacos were about 2in long with about a tablespoon of meat in each, greasy, and tasted horrible. I give their tamales four stars but the rest of their food only one.

Go to Camargo’s and order a dozen tamales (I am seriously salivating, just thinking about them!). Then proceed to eat half of them for lunch and give away the other half to spread the joy. I freakin’ love their tamales. They are meaty, and although slightly on the greasy side according to some, delicious to me and my taste buds. I’ve also been told I need to eat a burrito from there before I die, so I’d better get on that. Because you never know when you’re going to kick it. Authentic Mexican food. Yum. Squared. I break my budget for Camargo’s! And I am one frugal mug.
One dozen tamales is $ 10.25 after tax, which is perfect if you are paying with plastic, because they charge you ($.75?) for orders under $ 10.