As a native Houstonian, a city with prolific food culture, moving to Boulder was a challenge. For a while, it seemed like Taco Bell, McDonald’s and Chipotle were my best options for a meal. Not so! Boulder’s culinary scene might not teem with life like a big city’s, but there are some gems in this town that I’ll miss dearly when I head back home after graduation. Here are my top 11 favorites.
11. Boulder Pho
This restaurant has a variety of Vietnamese options — from its namesake Pho, to Banh Mi, to Stir-Fries, or a spectacular Thai tea, it’s got it all. Bahn Mi is one of life’s greatest pleasures, and Boulder Pho knows how to do this Vietnamese sandwich right. Granted, the jalapenos are spicy, so if you aren’t accustomed to spice, I’d either make your order sans-jalapeno, or peel them off for a teensy bit of residual tingle. (For the vegetarians out there — this spot won’t disappoint!)
10. Illegal Pete’s
Everybody knows about Pete’s. It’s a Boulder treasure, and this list wouldn’t be complete without it. My favorite: a barbacoa bowl. (If you didn’t know: every bowl comes with a free side of tortilla chips to scoop up the goodness!) Plus — they’ve got a bar. It works for a quick bite between classes, a nice cheap-but-not-too-cheap meal for a lunch date, or a girl’s night out pregame. To call it an elevated Chipotle feels… wrong, because Pete’s is its own phenomena entirely, and it’s an important piece of Boulder’s culinary puzzle.
Nana’s offers my favorite feel-good food when days are short, cold, and sniffle season is in swing: xiaolongbao soup dumplings. The restaurant is nice and cozy, with a dark interior that grounds you in the space and prepares you for the oncoming warmth of their delicious dumplings. Nana’s is a go-to spot on The Hill. It might not be for everyday, but when spring semester brings in the dreary, overcast, windy days of flu season, this restaurant will always be there for a pick-me-up.
L&L is a chain of Hawaiian barbecue restaurants that was terribly missed in my life before this location opened up in Boulder. In terms of bang-for-your-buck, nothing beats L&L’s mix plate. You’ve got delicious BBQ of all varieties accompanied by stellar macaroni salad, rice, and coleslaw — I don’t even like coleslaw, but L&L just knows how to do it right. Pair all of that with a can of Hawaiian Sun (I recommend the Passion Orange flavor), and you’ve got yourself a more than solid meal big enough to either share or bring home some leftovers. It’s affordable, it’s yummy, and it’s filling — what more can you ask for?
Truly a Boulder classic, the Village Coffee Shop is not just a cozy spot for a traditional American breakfast, it’s an institution. If it’s your first time visiting, let them know that you’re a ‘Village Virgin’ and you’ll be met with a litany of cheers — you’ve finally made it to reality. This charming breakfast diner’s slogan, which you might’ve seen on a bumper sticker or two, “890 sq. ft. of Reality / Surrounded by Boulder,” is a perfect reflection of its vibe. Stepping into this tiny spot feels like a journey back in time to childhood breakfasts spent with the family, eating sloppy biscuits and gravy, and sipping on mediocre chocolate milk. Is the food out-of-the-park fantastic? Well, no. But it’s always worth a trip to experience this little slice of reality in BoCo.
6. Arabesque
Oh, Arabesque. When I say this place is charming, I mean charming. The owner’s energy is really what makes this place come alive. She treats you like family, remembers your face, and wants you to enjoy her fresh, homemade, small-batch Mediterranean food to its full potential. There’s a small chalkboard menu offering gyros and shawarma plates, but the real culinary highlight of this restaurant is the fresh baklava. In the summer, a meal here is paradise. Imagine enjoying veggies and juicy, marinated meat on a bed of fresh hummus, eaten on an outdoor brick patio flush with foliage on a bright summer’s day — nothing beats it.
If you’ve never tried Salvadorian pupusas, you’ve got to hit up Pupusas Lover 2. Pupusas are like the Salvadorian version of naan — like a pillowy, warm, savory, stuffed pancake. If you don’t get the picture, imagine a fluffier, elevated quesadilla. The decor gives off that quintessential Salvadorian restaurant in the U.S. energy, the pupusas are affordable, and the possibilities are endless: meat, cheese, vegan, vegetarian, whatever you want in your pupusa, this place has it. The service is excellent, your food comes out quickly, and the pupusas are warmed to perfection. Plus, if my lady readers need another reason to visit, this business is women-owned and proud.
As a Southerner, each time I visit Lucile’s, the meal makes me feel like I’m back home. They’ve got beignets, shrimp and grits, gumbo, po’boys, and most any other creole breakfast food you could want. Located in a little house off of Pearl Street, Lucile’s has a homey energy that I find unmatched in the city of Boulder. Primarily a breakfast and brunch joint, you have to catch a table before closing at 2pm, but it’s so worth it — be prepared, there’s often a wait (it’s just that good!).
Praise for Ali Baba! If you’re constantly disappointed by the limited flavor profile of your CAVA bowl, here’s the light at the end of the tunnel: Ali Baba Grill. My personal favorites on the menu are the Hummus Be-Shawarma, a combination of gyro and chicken shawarma meat served on top of a large serving of hummus and rice, and the Beet Motabbal, topped with olive oil and served with veggies and (albeit, not the best) pita bread. Plus, for those missing the cultural staple, they serve baba ghanoush. The restaurant is small, crowded with turkish lamps, and you immediately know that you’re in for an authentic Mediterranean meal. The wait staff is friendly, and the food is filling, fresh, and flavorful. The prices are a bit steep, but for the amount and quality of the food, I’m always down for a visit to Ali Baba.
This place serves Indian food right. Every dish is a banger, from the saag paneer to my personal favorite, the shrimp korma. The naan is hot and fresh, homemade, and comes in several varieties — I recommend the garlic butter naan. Any meal can be accompanied by a positively delicious mango lassi (which comes in handy if you go for a higher spice level). Meals are served using stainless steel Katoris and Thali plates, allowing you to easily share your meal — which is definitely enough for two — with another person. The curries are warm, accompanied by yummy long-grain rice, and definitely worth your time. If you’ve been craving Indian cuisine, this is the restaurant for you.
1. Blackbelly Market & Restaurant
When you want your food with a side of artistry, this is the place to go. This restaurant is Michelin-recognized, earning a green star for sustainable practices, and the chefs are well decorated for their culinary achievements. It’s definitely pricey, because the food is luxurious — it’s a restaurant to visit when you’ve got some extra coin in your pocket and a special event coming up (or you’ve got a willing parental donor in town). The menu shifts with the seasons, because the meat is top-notch, and they don’t compromise on quality, but one consistent item that I can recommend to accompany your main course is the Crispy Pig Ears. The Housemade Bread is not to be missed either, and ,when they’re feeling friendly, you’ll likely be served it without an order, compliments of the kitchen. No matter what menu option you choose, it’ll be crafted with love, diligence, and intentionality. The atmosphere is dimly lit and refined, you’ll want to dress up a bit and enjoy your meal with a glass of wine to optimize your luxury-meal experience. I can’t praise the food enough; you must visit Blackbelly as a Boulderite.
Honorable Mentions:
These restaurants technically aren’t in Boulder, but if you have access to transportation, it is well worth your time to make a drive out to these gems.
3. Marco’s Hot Dogs & Tacos (Longmont, CO)
This Longmont classic is always bumping. People are in and out of the red tent that hosts the hot dog and taco cart all night, lining up for Marco’s affordable, fresh, street-style food. You’ve got two options: hot dogs or tacos, and then hundreds of combinations from there. They’ll serve your dog bacon-wrapped, plain, as a burrito dog, a burrito loco dog, or even with shrimp. As for the tacos, they’ve got every kind of meat you could want, and it’s all juicy and delicious. Asada, adobada, barbacoa, chicken, and buche are all on the menu — pro tip, go for the double tortilla, because the tortillas are soft and fragile when loaded up to their capacity. It’s up to you what toppings you want! You can pile up the cilantro, tomato, cheese, salsa, and more, all after they serve you. Do yourself a favor and experience Marco’s, because there’s nothing quite like it in Boulder.
2. DAE GEE Korean BBQ (Arvada, CO)
Featured on Guy Fieri’s Diner’s Drive-In’s and Dives, this place is the best spot to get K-BBQ in the Denver area. You’ll be served your unlimited BBQ order ($38/person during dinner, $30/person during lunch) with a variety of sides and your choice from a myriad of meat selections. The service is admittedly not the best, but the grills are clean, and the food is to die for. When I need my iron up (ladies, you know) this is the place to go. It’s the best combo: unlimited marinated meats, cooked to my preference, with my favorite of their sides accompanying — potato salad, kimchee, and pickled radish. If you’re looking for a fun and yummy date night dinner spot, this is the place for you.
1. Chubby Fish Sushi (Thornton, CO)
All-you-can-eat sushi where a dinner for two gets you out of the door under $100? Sign. Me. Up. I’ll be honest, I’m a Chubby Fish regular. The restaurant decor is straight out of Japan, with large TVs playing Naruto or Pokemon on mute while EDM plays from the speakers, colorful signs hanging from the ceiling, and hardly a wall untouched by a hip mural. Little robots escort your food to the table, but the human service is stellar — they’re always checking in to see if you’re ready to put in another order. When you sit down, you’ll be given a white sheet of paper to check off what appetizers, tempura, ramen, hibachi, rolls, or sashimi you’d like to order. On a great night, I’ll get three order sheets in before I have to tap out and drive back to Boulder to knock out in a food coma. Make the drive to Thornton, and you will not be disappointed — but be warned: this place is busy, busy, busy, and they don’t take reservations. There’s often a line outside the door, so to secure your table early, join the waitlist on OpenTable when you start your drive over.
Variety is the spice of life, and all of these restaurants provide a solid rotation to make sure your culinary needs are never sidelined. Bon Appétit!