Since I live downtown I eat out a lot. I have breakfast, lunch, and dinners out a number of times each week. When I want to have lunch there are several things that I look for when choosing.
Here are some of my favorite restaurants to eat at. Just click the map link for directions.
Mexican Food
Los Fuentes – Located at Address: 1050 West Colfax Avenue, Denver, CO 80204 Phone: (303) 534-8888 Map to Location
Just south of the Downtown area this restaurant is tucked into a strip shopping center across from the light rail station. Good food fast with great service!
Sam’s #3 – 1500 Curtis St,Denver,CO 80202 (303) 534-1927 Map To Location
Sam’s #3 is has been downtown for ages but still serves an excellant mexican american menu along with daily specials. Within an easy walk of almost all the hotels and downtown area. Just take my advice and avoid sitting in the raised seating area. For some reason the noise level there makes it hard to carry on a conversation.
Japanese Food
Takis – 341 East Colfax Avenue, Denver, CO Map to Location
I’ve been a loyal customer here since it first opened across the street in the smaller space now occupied by a scoop restaurant (DON’T GO THERE!) Ownership changed recently but they still serve good inexpensive Japanese food. You order at the counter and your meal is delivered to your table. Still, good food cheap!
I-Sushi – 801 Santa Fe Drive, Denver, CO Map to Location
This is a new place that just recently opened but has earned its place on my favorites list. Don’t let the name fool you, they serve much more than just sushi. Located on Sante Fe and 8th they are a little out of the downtown but are worth the drive. Excellent service plus a full bar makes this a great spot for lunch or diner.
Tokyo Joes – 1001 16th Street Denver, CO 80265 Map to Location
Okay, as a rule I usually avoid chain restaurants. But this place delivers no matter what location you go to and you can’t beat the prices. Plus it’s located right on the 16th Street Mall.
O-Bento – 709 16th Street, Denver, CO Map to Location
This is a pretty small place but it’s good for a chep quick lunch if you are on the go. Just a few tables inside and a small patio outside makes it hard to get seating but being as it’s located right on the 16th street mall you can always find seating somewhere.
Sandwich Shops
Whether I want Mexican, American, Thai, Chinese, Japanese, or any other type there are dozens of great places. There are quick burger joints, fast sandwich shops, and anything else that I might want.
Some of the places are right in the Central Business District and some are in the areas around it. One of my favorite Mexican Restaurants is in a strip mall along Colfax and is called La Fuentes. An inexpensive and tasty Japanese place that has prospered on Colfax for years is Taki’s. Relatively inexpensive it has consistent good quality and healthy food.
One chain restaurant that has been rated among the healthiest chains in America is Panera. They always have great sandwiches and even better soups. I love Chinese food and there is a place on South Broadway that doesn’t look like that much from the outside but serves some of the best tasting Chinese in Denver. Best of all they have tasty and inexpensive specials every day for lunch that includes soup. I always love a good hot and sour soup and Hung Gate has some of the best. Make sure that you try the Vietnamese egg rolls to for a special treat.
