Colfax Avenue may be the most famous street in Colorado, and its history dates back to the 1860s. Stretching almost 50 miles, the continuous avenue starts in Golden and moves through Lakewood, Denver, and Aurora. Originally called Golden Road, the path led gold miners to the city for trade. Decades ago the infamous avenue was known for seedy deals, crime, and subversive culture (mainly in Denver).
Storied past aside, now, diners can strike gold when it comes to eating out along the ‘fax, which is dotted with independent restaurants from one end to the other. But while there’s plenty to choose from, these are ten places you have to try.
Slavic Comfort Food at Molotov Kitschen + Cocktails
Restaurateur Bo Porytko splashed into Denver’s dining scene with Rebel Restaurant, serving eclectic foods for the adventurous. Later he joined another Colfax mainstay, Middlemen, and launched Misfit Snack Bar. When he stepped away from that venture (though now he is back) he went on to launch Molotov, a tiny, 28-seat eatery that draws on his Ukrainian heritage.
A semifinalist for both the James Beard Award for Emerging Chef in 2023 and Best Chef: Mountain in 2024, Porytko’s frequently-changing menus focus on Slavic comfort food. Think stuffed cabbage rolls, duck and sour cherry borscht, beef stuffed pelmeni, and chicken paprikash. 3333 E. Colfax Ave., Denver, molotov.com
Historical Dining at Davies’ Chuck Wagon Diner
In the 1940s, William Lyman Davies crisscrossed the country working as a restaurant supervisor. During that time he was enamored with the diner culture emerging on the East Coast in the WWII era. He returned to Denver in 1947 with plans to open his own diner on U.S. 40, the thoroughfare used by locals, truckers, and tourists to reach the mountains.
Davies had the two halves of his 100-foot long silver lunch car shipped all the way from New Jersey, and installed its unmissable, 36-foot-tall neon cowboy sign, as well as its life-sized fiberglass palomino companion.
Today, the original table-top jukeboxes that play country and rock and roll are still turning out tunes and the restaurant is on the National Register of Historic Places. Most of its customers are regulars who come in for retro diner fare, but the restaurant is also known for country-fried steaks, smothered burritos, and chicken and waffles. 9495 W. Colfax Ave., Lakewood, davies-chuckwagon.com
Sweet and Savory Treats at Bánh & Butter Bakery Café
Pastry chef Thoa Nguyen has cooking in her DNA, after all, she comes from the New Saigon restaurant and bakery dynasty. Her parents gave up the restaurant years ago, and once Nguyen left the bakery to make her own path, she explored, learned, and eventually opened up Bánh & Butter Bakery Café in Aurora.
While skilled in numerous pastry forms, her real passion resides on the French side. In fact, she traveled to Paris to study the proper way to make flaky croissants and perfect baguettes. At her cafe the menu toggles between Parisian and Vietnamese, with sweet and savory bites paying homage to both sides. Nguyen also appeared in the 2023 season of Holiday Baking Championship, which is worth a watch if you want to drool over seasonal treats. 9935 E. Colfax Ave., Denver, banhandbutter.com
Ethnic Eats For a Cause at Mango House
Doctor P.J. Parmar saw a vacant JC Penney on Colfax Avenue and had a vision that the space could become a community center for immigrants and refugees. Now, it is, and includes a dental clinic and Parmar’s own medical practice, an active Boy Scout troop, a few boutiques, and several immigrant-owned restaurants.
One, Urban Burma, serves curried noodles with chicken. Feel like eating Ethiopian? Try using injera bread to scoop lentils from Natoli Ethiopian Cafe. Next, sample shawarma from Jasmine Syrian. No matter what you choose, you’re supporting a small business in a tasty way. 10180 E. Colfax Ave., Aurora, ardasclinic.com
Food For All at SAME Cafe
SAME is an acronym for So All May Eat and is a donation-based, fair-exchange, and non-profit aimed at serving healthy food to all of its diners regardless of their ability to pay. Volunteers can earn a meal simply by working for half an hour.
The weekday, lunch-only restaurant is helmed by chef Carrie Shores, a longtime pillar of the Denver dining scene. The menu changes daily and there are always vegan and gluten-free options available. Recent menu items include sweet apple BBQ pizza with homemade barbecue sauce, flame-grilled chicken stew with roasted veggies, and creamy spinach and kale soup. 2023 E. Colfax Ave., Denver, soallmayeat.org
Sắp Sửa Brings Comforting Vietnamese to Colfax
Husband and wife duo Ni and Anna Nguyen take a fresh, non-traditional approach to Vietnamese fare at sắp sửa. The name means “about to be” in Vietnamese, mirroring the ethos of both chefs, who are always striving for greatness.
Their philosophy has paid off. Shortly after opening, the team rocketed to fame with mentions in Esquire, Bon Appetit, and a James Beard nomination for Best New Restaurant this year. On the menu, enjoy modern takes on thịt heo nướng sả (lemongrass pork chops) made with cucumber and tamarind; phở sườn bò (short rib pho) served with cilantro gremolata, and Anna’s dynamic desserts, like grass jelly served with coconut cream and guava granita. 2550 E. Colfax Ave., Denver, sapsua.com
Immersive Dining at Casa Bonita
The behemoth pink palace of Mexi-kitsch is a Colorado landmark and the last of a once booming chain in the 1970s. After declaring bankruptcy during the pandemic, the Lakewood location was revitalized by the creators of South Park, the animated satire show featuring an entire episode dedicated to Casa Bonita.
Keeping with the cafeteria style of dining, the new Colorado-Mexican menu got a glow-up thanks to award-winning chef Dana Rodriguez. Now the Pink Palace is back in business with all of its old-school vignettes and grottoes, cliff divers, mariachi music, puppet shows, Black Bart’s Cave, and of course, bottomless sopaipillas. The destination is something every Coloradoan and tourist should experience at least once. 6715 W. Colfax Ave., Lakewood, casabonitadenver.com
Champagne Tiger
The mid-century modern space that housed Tom’s Diner for two decades has been reborn as Champagne Tiger, a glitzy French-American cabaret with solid food. The menu features oysters and burgers, grilled cheese with mortadella, mustard chicken, tater tots with caviar, and a thoroughly bougie drag brunch on the Sundays. On Wednesday nights enjoy homemade pasta to the tune of performer Buddy Bravo tickling the ivories. There’s nothing like it on the ‘Fax, let alone Denver. 601 E. Colfax Ave., Denver, champagnetiger.com
Modern Chinese at Q House
Since 2018 chef Christopher Lin has run his hip Chinese restaurant along Colfax Avenue, and even with the influx of modern Asian eateries that opened up over the years, Q House remains a stalwart. Lin uses skills he learned under famed chefs Floyd Cardoz and David Chang to create innovative dishes such as Smoked Wagyu Brisket Lo Mein ($22) with five spice rub and toasted chili oil, and the Hot & Sour Shredded Potato Salad ($14). If you love spice and the cooling tingle of sichuan peppercorns, this place should be top of your list. 3421 E. Colfax Ave., Denver, qhousedenver.com
Bastian’s Restaurant, Home of the Sugar Steak
Some restaurants are more about the icon status than the food, but at Bastian’s you can get a solid meal and a slice of history. The mid-century dining room is famous for its sugar-rubbed steaks, which have been on the menu since opening in 1937. The dish proves so popular, it’s even on the large sign in front of the restaurant along with the name.
Other must-try menu items include the appetizer Devils Riding Bare Back with shrimp, fresh jalapeños, cream cheese, and parmesan, and the classic Iceberg Wedge. Of course, burgers also dominate the scene and shouldn’t be missed. 3503 E. Colfax Ave., Denver, bastiensrestaurant.com
