Hernandez family reclaims 30-year-old Denver taqueria

A 30-year-old Mexican eatery in Denver’s Highland neighborhood is preparing to reopen under new family management.

Alejandra Hernandez is taking over the restaurant, which her father, Raúl Hernandez, founded in 1984. The business, originally named La Mexicana Taqueria, will operate as Don Raúl’s Mexican Cuisine. The space is located at 2538 West 32nd Avenue, a building Raúl purchased in 1995 and debuted the following year.

The Hernandez family took back control of the property on Sept. 21, 2026. After retiring in 2020, Raúl and his wife, Eloisa, rented the space to new operators who ran it as La Grande Mexicana. Those operators subleased the space to an investor who damaged the property. Alejandra stated that the family had to hire a lawyer and execute an eviction to secure the location.

The family moved quickly to restore the restaurant after regaining possession. Alejandra is currently waiting for the City of Denver to issue the business food license. She initially hoped to open by the first week of November, but the final date will be announced on the restaurant’s Facebook page once the license is approved.

The menu will remain largely identical to the original La Mexicana Taqueria offering. The staff will return, as the family maintained contact with them during the transition. The decor, which includes items brought from small towns in Mexico by Alejandra’s mother and grandmother, remains in the dining room.

Alejandra plans to update the menu presentation to include more detailed descriptions of ingredients and preparation methods. She cited the eight-hour cooking process for the signature green chile and the complex ingredient list for the mole as examples of details she wants to share with guests. Her goal is to keep the food recognizable to longtime customers while providing context for the dishes.

The name change was proposed by Eloisa Hernandez to shorten the title while honoring Raúl’s legacy on the block. Both parents are helping prepare for the reopening. The restaurant will serve lunch and dinner at 2538 West 32nd Avenue, with updates available on its Instagram account, @donraulsdenver.