Alejandra Hernandez to Reopen Highland Taqueria as Don Raúl's

Alejandra Hernandez is set to reopen a 30-year-old Mexican restaurant in the Highland neighborhood under a new name. The eatery at 2538 West 32nd Avenue will reopen as Don Raúl’s Mexican Cuisine. Hernandez took back control of the space on Sept. 21 after a legal dispute with previous operators. Her parents, Raúl and Eloisa Hernandez, are helping her prepare for the relaunch.

Raúl Hernandez opened his first restaurant in the area, then known as the Northside, in 1984. He was 31 years old at the time. By 1995, he purchased the building at West 32nd Avenue. La Mexicana Taqueria debuted at that address in 1996. Raúl and his wife Eloisa ran the business for 24 years. They retired in 2020 and rented the space to new operators.

The new operators ran the restaurant under the name La Grande Mexicana. Hernandez said the restaurant was a central part of her childhood. "It was my normal," she said. "This was the center of what our lives revolved around." She took a break from the restaurant industry and worked in education after her parents retired. She admitted that it was difficult to drive past the building during that period.

The situation changed when the operators subleased the space to an investor. Hernandez said the investor caused damage to the property. The family hired a lawyer to handle an eviction. After regaining the space, the family considered finding a new tenant. Hernandez proposed taking over the restaurant herself. Her father agreed to the plan, and the couple has been assisting with preparations since.

The family is currently waiting for a food license from the City of Denver. Hernandez expected the license to arrive soon. She initially hoped to open during the first week of November. The restaurant will announce its specific opening date on its Facebook page once the license is approved. The location will serve lunch and dinner.

The menu will remain largely the same as the original La Mexicana Taqueria. The decor, which Hernandez's mother and grandmother brought from small towns in Mexico, remains in the space. The original staff members will return to work. The family kept in touch with them during the transition period. Hernandez said the goal is to keep the place recognizable to longtime customers.

One major update involves how the menu is presented. The dishes will be organized in a modern format with more detailed descriptions. Hernandez wants to provide guests with more information about the ingredients and cooking processes. For example, the menu will list the ingredients in the mole. It will also note the eight-hour cooking process for the signature green chile.

The new name, Don Raúl’s, was chosen by Hernandez's mother, Eloisa. Hernandez wanted a name that was shorter and more modern but still familiar. "My mom was the one who came up with Don Raúl’s," Hernandez said. "It’s short and sweet, and everybody knows [my father] anyway, so it just makes sense." The name honors her father's legacy on the block.

The neighborhood around West 32nd Avenue has changed significantly since 1984. Hernandez said she is ready to run the business with fresh ideas. Her mother, Eloisa, expressed her excitement for her daughter. "We’re so excited for her," Eloisa said. Hernandez said the restaurant represents the family's roots. "It’s really an honor that even though the neighborhood has changed so much, this can still continue to be the same," she said.