After more than a year away from Denver’s dining scene, El Chingon is preparing to make its return. The family-owned Mexican restaurant has found a new home at The Source Hotel in RiNo, where it plans to introduce a more focused menu and a new patio.
The restaurant has signed a 10-year lease for approximately 3,100 square feet at 3330 Brighton Blvd., Unit 105, according to a recent post from NakedDenver. Coming-soon signs are already displayed in the windows, with an opening targeted for fall 2026.
El Chingon has been closed since June 2025, when a kitchen fire damaged its previous location at 722 Santa Fe Drive, shortly after the restaurant opened there. The incident brought its latest chapter to an abrupt halt, leaving the family to find a new way forward.
The RiNo location will mark another move for a business that has spent 16 years building its presence around Denver. Founded by the late Gloria Nuñez, El Chingon began in Arvada before moving to other Denver neighborhoods and establishing a following for its Mexican food. It is now owned by Lorenzo Nuñez Jr.
The new restaurant will have a tighter, more modern Mexican menu, according to the news publication. One of the dishes planned is chile rellenos made from a family recipe that dates back more than 100 years.
The drinks menu will also be more selective, with fewer than 10 cocktails focused on agave spirits. Outdoor dining is expected to be part of the new setup, with a patio planned to accommodate approximately 25 to 30 guests.
Located along Brighton Boulevard, The Source Hotel is part of RiNo’s mix of restaurants, shops and creative businesses. El Chingon’s arrival would give the restaurant a new setting as it looks to resume serving customers after the disruption of the past year.
Although the restaurant is targeting a fall 2026 opening, an exact date has not yet been announced.
