Little Anita's Mexican Foods

Doesn't Recommend

DenverKat

Joined 5 years ago

DO NOT GO HERE IF YOU ARE A VEGETARIAN- they lie!!!!. I have been going to Little Anita's for 6 years. My husband and I were thrilled to find a New Mexican restaurant with vegetarian green chili. I always ask when I order if the green chili is vegetarian, even though I have eaten there countless times. I have always been told, YES-both their green & red are vegetarian. Today when I asked I was told..."yes it is vegetarian. Made with beef stock, but no meat. That's okay-right?". NO NOT OKAY!!! That is not vegetarian! My husband called the manager of the DTC location & was assured that all their sauces are 100% vegetarian-no beef stock. He then called the corporate office and left a message. He received a call back right away -they apologized, BOTH the red & green chili sauce are made w/beef stock. All of there sauces are made in one location, so it does not vary depending on location. They will be updating their menu to make it clear, but in my opinion this is too little too late. I have had 3 different Denver area locations tell me that both sauces are vegetarian. SHAME ON YOU LITTLE ANITA'S!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!! What else are you lieing about? Maybe your beans???

Doesn't Recommend

adee kumar

Joined 3 years ago

Vegeterians beware - Some items are cooked in lard. After reading good reviews about this restaurant, we decided to give it a try.

We are vegeterians and asked the server about each item we ordered. The server clearly told that their Chili, Refried beans and rice are vegetarian. We liked the food so much that we decided to go again to a Little Anita's restauarnt near our home.

We were shocked the second time, when the server told us that the Chili and Refried beans are cooked in modified lard. We called the first location and they confirmed that the Chili, Refried beans and rice are cooked in a beef base with modified lard.

They even claim in their menu that "All our chilis are vegetarian unless meat is asked". Shame on them for misguiding the customers and not disclosing the complete information. An item that is cooked in lard and has a beef base cannot/should not be claimed as vegetarian!!!

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uncledave

Joined 6 years ago

The Real New Mexican Deal. I grew up in New Mexico and prefer that style of Mexican food and it's hard to find in Denver. Really only Little Anita's and Jack-n-Grill have it. I think the food is comparable and go to both. The advantage at Little Anita's is price.and their great sops. The advantage at Jack-n-Grill is table service, slightly nicer atmosphere and a larger menu from which to choose.

Recommends

DenverAsh

Joined 4 years ago

Great Tasting Food. It's called "New Mexico" Mexican food, but it's great even if you've only had "regular" (perhaps Tex-Mex) Mexican food that the major chains serve.

Little Anita's burritos are good, but the meat-stuffed sopapillas (shredded beef, steak, ground beef, etc.) are really where it's at. Covered in green chile and they're perfect. Adding in a side of rice and beans with 2 shredded beef sopapillas brings the bill to about $8, which, as another reviewer noted, is a bit steep considering you have to wait in a line at a counter just to place the order, which is the biggest weakness of Little Anita's.

Whenever I've visited, there's only been one woman running the counter/cash register, and she's basically fulfilling several roles at once: taking to-go orders, taking dine-in orders, answering the phone for call-in orders and also ferreting special messages in between all that to the back kitchen staff-- all one at a time. She has a lot of plates to spin, metaphorically, so she doesn't have time for a lot of pleasantries or directions on stuff, which is why another reviewer probably didn't like the service here.

There are about 12 small tables in the dining area, but it's dark and crowded, especially when a line forms around the dining area on one side. And the fried ice cream is a joke at $2.50-- the size of the ice cream is akin to a "superball"-- between a golf ball and a baseball and maybe worth a buck, but definitely not $2.50. You'll get a lot more ice cream and toppings for the same amount of money at a Dairy Queen or McDonalds.

That said, the dinner food is incredibly delicious and filling, and an extra, free dessert sopapilla (and packet of honey) comes with regular meals. Recommendation-- call in your order, pick it up (hopefully you won't have a long line wait) and skip the ice cream. You'll still love the dinner.

Doesn't Recommend

lizmvr

Joined 11 years ago

Why was this place even busy?. I would prefer chips and salsa to start rather than the fried dough that comes with the meal. I thought the selections were a bit overpriced, especially for a place where you need to order at a counter and get your own drink.

I was a bit put off by the tone I got at the register when I said I wanted to dine in the restaurant. The cashier didn't bother to give me a cup for my fountain drink, nor did she point out where I could get them--it was like I had to be an employee for myself. No one was that helpful, and trying to figure out where the line started was a bit ridiculous.

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NoLaDenver

Joined 5 years ago

(Second) Best tamale. My friend's aunt lives in Pueblo and makes tamales every Sunday. She always makes extra, and is willing to part with them for a small fee and a 'por favor'. Little Anita's comes very close to those perfect tamales with their offering. I got mine as part of a combination with an enchilada and a small burrito all smothered in GREEN (next time I go, I'll try the red) The burrito was easily the tamale's equal while the enchilada was decent (how do you judge something so simple as a cheese enchilada?). The sopapilla was delicious too. All in all, an excellent meal. However, for an appetizer we got queso. This was a mistake. The queso was like the nacho cheese out of a can or box, and really wasn't good. At all. Other than that, Little Anita's serves the best New Mexican food I've had, and scores just slightly lower than my absolute favorites for tamales, green chili, and burritos.

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Buco

Joined 5 years ago

THE BEST RED CHILE. I spent ten years in Northern New Mexico. GREAT NEW MEXICAN FOOD

I Love RED CHILE, THIS IS THE BEST RED CHILE IN THE DENVER AREA.

This food reminds me of the food from Northern New Mexico. RED OR GREEN CHILE?

Recommends

kersplatt

Joined 11 years ago

Great burritos. A chain, but a local one (I think). The calabacitas(?) burrito is my favorite. Each guest receives a complimentary sopapilla, and they are great. The menu is extensive, and everything I've tried has been good. A nice place to go for a quick meal.

Recommends

diorblingbling

Joined 7 years ago

Little Anitas is my second home. Little Anitas is defenitly my favorite place to eat. It's cheap, good (especially the green chilli), friendly, quick, and you don't have to tip! Could you really go wrong with that?