Where We Eat When We Visit Denver

People are always so surprised when we talk about how often we visit Denver. It started with a spring break trip in college and turned into an annual family holiday trip. Aside from being cold af, 420 friendly, and a ski destination, Denver has some good food too. After our first trip to Denver, we challenged ourselves to step beyond our soul food cravings and try some of the cuisines the more popular cuisines in Denver. Here's a list of our favorite spots to eat when we visit Denver. This list definitely grows with each trip so make sure yall remember to check back for updates.

Tocabe, An American Indian Eatery: 3536 W 44th Ave, Denver, CO 80211

We tried Native American food here for the first time and couldn't get enough of it. Eating bison isn't anything new to us, but Tocabe's ribs and ground meat have a unique natural flavor we haven't had anywhere else. Our go-to is the Indian Taco and the Bison Ribs. Even if you're new to Native American food, their 1-2-3-4 menu makes it easy to order and get exactly what you want. Aside from the food tasting good they also partner with Native and Indigenous food producers to ensure their ingredients don’t just make the food but also tell the story behind it.

Illegal Burger: 1512 Larimer St R12, Denver, CO 80202

Okay, so their tagline is BURGERS THIS GOOD GOTTA BE ILLEGAL and that says a lot we knew we had to check them out. We don't care what anyone says-its HARD as hell to find a good burger no matter what state you're in, but luckily Illegal Burger held it down for Denver. We got the Slinger with the Green Chili Cheese Fries. We loved the way these two flavors paired together. Plus.....they have margaritas too if you're not a beer and burger type of person.

Bourbon Grill: 571 E Colfax Ave, Denver, CO 80203

Before we heard about Bourbon Grill we were kinda concerned about Denver lacking solid styrofoam plate spots, but they proved us wrong. Bourbon Grill is best known for their bourbon chicken (obviously), but they also sell blackened and barbeque chicken too. We loved the chicken because it was flavorful and NOT DRY. The chicken plates come with rice and your choice of two sides. We always go for the Macaroni & Cheese and Sauteed Cajun Potatoes, but they also have a lot of other options. Just know that if you get this you'll probably be full for the rest of the day.

5280 Burger Bar: 500 16th St Mall Suite 160, Denver, CO 80202

We actually stumbled across 5280 while checking out the Denver Pavillion, but we're happy we did. Burgers seem to be real popular in Denver especially when you can add interesting toppings to them. There's something for any burger lover or food daredevil on their menu. We're talking Cuban Sandwich inspired burgers and even burgers topped with Feta cheese. When we visited they had a slider option that allowed you to try three different burgers in mini form. If you get more excited about ice cream over burgers, they also have an ice cream shop connected to the restaurant. You can go right over there and get a cone or order a Shaketini for the menu.

Steuben's Uptown: 523 E 17th Ave, Denver, CO 80203

Every time we visit Denver we always hear everyone talking about Steuben's and at first glance it just seems like a trendy diner, but it's more of a Denver must try. The Smothered Burrito is usually the star of the show at this spot, but what really took the cake for us was the Steubie Snacks which are basically cracklins tossed in powdered sugar. We can already see the face you're making, but don't knock it until you try it.

What's your favorite place to eat in Denver, Colorado?