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South Mason Street Corridor · Larimer County · Fort Collins · Colorado4.4(221)

El Diablo Mexican restaurant

Dining

Known For

  • Salsa bar with multiple house salsas
  • Birria enchiladas
  • Mole Daño Diabla (chicken mole)
  • House margaritas

Insider Tips

Best Time

Weekday lunch for a quieter meal; evenings for a livelier bar and patio atmosphere

Ideal For

Family dinnersDate nightsCasual weekday lunches

Pro Tip

Start with the free thick, warm chips and sample the salsa bar; pair spicier salsas with a mango or strawberry lemonade.

El Diablo wears its origin story on its sleeve: yesterday’s taco truck grown into a full-service neighborhood cantina that still feels handmade. The room opens wider than the façade suggests, warm lighting, a busy salsa bar with seven varieties, and a patio that fills on mild Colorado evenings. Order boldly — birria enchiladas, the house Mole Daño Diabla, or a gigantic skirt steak — and expect honest portions and margaritas that quietly punch above their weight. Service is unfailingly friendly and personal; staff move like they care about your next bite. Locals treat it like a reliable staple, families and couples sharing combo plates, while visitors discover it as Fort Collins’ take on bona fide street-cooked flavors. There are occasional misses — a too-tart green salsa or the rare kitchen lapse — but those are outnumbered by the moments when the chips are warm, the salsa is addictive, and the place hums with regulars plotting their next order.

Price Level

$$

Contact

+1 970-232-9473

Outdoor Seating

Hours

  • Monday: 11:00 AM – 9:00 PM
  • Tuesday: 11:00 AM – 9:00 PM
  • Wednesday: 11:00 AM – 9:00 PM
  • Thursday: 11:00 AM – 9:00 PM
  • Friday: 11:00 AM – 10:00 PM
  • Saturday: 11:00 AM – 10:00 PM
  • Sunday: 11:00 AM – 9:00 PM

Drifter Insights

Hidden Gem
Rare Find
Gem Score
66

Local favorite with excellent reputation

Popular with couples and families

Popular With

CouplesFamilies

Tourist Awareness

LevelLow

TripAdvisor: #154 of 550 Places to Eat in Fort Collins

  • Outdoor seating available
Data confidence: high(5 sources)