Salud!

It's a common understanding that you're not truly "from" Colorado until you've eaten at 3 Margaritas. If you want to be especially authentic about it, then the actual requirement is eating at three DIFFERENT 3 Margaritas locations. The history behind this iconic eatery is an inspiring one—an immigrant success story about hustle, family, and—of course—plenty of awesome margaritas.

Let's take a look!

Although 3 Margaritas has been a Denver fixture for over 20 years, many people don't know that it actually got its start in Seattle, of all places. Brothers Nicolas and Manuel Morales invested all of their savings in opening Las Margaritas, a six-table restaurant located just outside downtown Seattle. The first six months were incredibly challenging for the brothers, with the restaurant struggling to make rent. After a glowing review from a Seattle-based food critic, however, their fortunes quickly changed. 

After the word got out about Las Margaritas' authentic food and friendly service, the restaurant became so packed they consistently sold out of food within an hour of opening during peak days. Before long, the brothers had 15 total restaurants open in Washington state. Eager for a change of pace, Manuel sold these restaurants to former employees before relocating to Colorado and opening the first of many 3 Margaritas locations.

Fast forward to today, and 3 Margaritas has more than 13 locations, spread all over the state and its surrounding areas. The wide area covered by these restaurants has been a key reason they've become so ubiquitous with Colorado dining; it doesn't matter whether you're in Denver, Thornton, or even Sidney, Nebraska—the restaurant's signature margaritas are always right around the corner. While the menu might have evolved over the years, the friendly service and authentic Mexican cuisine at the heart of the restaurant have stayed the same. 

One of the biggest secrets to 3 Margaritas' success is that it still remains a family operation, even though both the restaurant and the family have expanded a lot in the years since. In fact, every location is owned by a member of the Morales family or a long-time employee of the chain! Keeping the business in the family has been a massive advantage for 3 Margaritas over the years, as it's allowed them to constantly focus on putting their menu and employees first, instead of chasing profits or answering to soulless parent companies. Both of these things were critical during the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic, as the restaurants were not only able to successfully pivot to takeout-only, but they also hosted numerous community fundraisers and drives that made them a valuable lifeline for their neighbors. 

The story doesn't end there for Nicolas Morales either, who has since moved back to his hometown of Cuautla, which is located in Jalisco, Mexico. Since returning home, Nicolas has been elected mayor on an ambitious agenda to tackle a lack of education and well-paying jobs—two factors that lead him to migrate to the United States when he was just 17. 

Although the management and menus of specific 3 Margaritas locations can vary slightly, the chain is just as committed to their core vision as they were when they first opened. You don't need us to tell you that—you can just walk into one of their restaurants and see for yourself! 

What is your favorite 3 Margaritas location? Sound off in the comments!