When it comes to eating out, who doesn’t want great food at an affordable price? The catch is that keyword: affordable. It’s no secret that food costs have soared for both diners and restaurants since the pandemic, making it all the more challenging to eat out on a budget. But there are still great values to be found.
We asked our food writers for their picks when it comes to favorite budget-friendly restaurants in Colorado Springs. Whether you’re looking for an affordable date night, taking the family out for dinner, happy hour deals or just a yummy break for your wallet, these local spots still deliver that elusive blend of great food at a great price.
503W
Westside / Downtown
For the past 12 years, 503W has stood the test of time, offering unique, Asian-inspired dishes and cocktails, using locally sourced ingredients and delivering great bang for your buck. For eats, the Fire Cracker Nachos are ideal for a date-night shareable, and the Korean Tacos with soft, steamed bao buns are the perfect combination of sweet and savory. ($15 each)
If you’re planning a day date, their weekend brunch (Saturday and Sunday, 9 a.m.-2 p.m.) is one of the best in the city, with decadent sweet offerings like Hong Kong French Toast and savory Lucky Belly Hash, which swaps the usual corned beef for tender pork belly. Pair with a mimosa or 503W signature bloody mary!
And there are great deals during happy hour, which runs Tuesday-Friday, 3-6 p.m., and all day Thursday. Then you’ll find $10 house cocktails (try the Toki Old-Fashioned for a Japanese twist on a classic), $5 wells, $4 house wines and $1 off all beers. —Daniela Yockel
Street food and entrees: $14-$25
503 W. Colorado Ave.
Shuga’s
Downtown / New South End
The story of how Shuga’s makes it onto this list begins with it first making our Best Restaurants list — wherein our intrepid writer filed his entry, one which extolled the affordability of Shuga’s “crappy beer” of the moment and recommending the Cuban Mojo sandwich paired with their Spicy Shrimp Soup as the dish of choice of those with really good taste in our fair city. Shortly thereafter, with no small amount of incredulity, our esteemed editor wondered out loud if the prices quoted were entirely accurate. “I know you’ve eaten there,” is how he put it, “but was it 10 years ago?” After expressing dismay and disdain and disbelief (all at once) at being fact-checked in this manner, our writer went back, had the best soup and sandwich in the Springs again, and confirmed that the prices had not stayed the same — they had actually gone down. ’Nuff said. —Steven Hayward
Dinner entrees: $12-$20
702 S. Cascade Ave.
shugas.com
The Chuckwagon
Powers / East Side
We don’t come from places with signature BBQ styles, so we’re not here to argue about the best BBQ. We just know we like meat that’s been near fire and/or smoke. That being said, we also know that BBQ can be $$$. However, The Texas Trinity at The Chuckwagon is a smoking deal (see what we did there?). For $35 you get brisket, pork ribs, sausage, two sides and bread, which easily feeds two hungry adults, and might even leave some leftovers. Their sauces are outstanding, and it’s hard to pick a favorite among those meats and the available sides: potato salad, coleslaw, Chuckwagon beans, mac and cheese or elote. If you hope to score this deal, you’ll need to plan ahead — The Chuckwagon is open noon until they sell out (typically 4 p.m.), Thursday-Sunday. —Laura Eurich and Carrie Simison
Sandwiches: $7.50-$14
6453 Omaha Blvd.
Green Line Grill
Downtown
The speciality here is the El Reno-style Onion “Fried” Burger, a Depression-era dish created, as you may have surmised, in El Reno, Oklahoma, in the 1920s when a restaurant owner was looking for ways to stretch beef to cheaply feed striking railroad workers during the Great Railroad Strike of 1922. The cheap ingredient was onions, and the result was one of the least photogenic but entirely delicious sandwiches to emerge out of the dust bowl. The onions are piled onto the ground beef and then compressed together. The Green Line Drill has hot dogs and grilled cheese and mac and cheese, but you can still get “The Original” for $7.50, which is exactly what you should do. —S.H.
Burger & Fries: $10-$14
230 Pueblo Ave.
Tapateria
Old Colorado City
Overspending on tapas is easy if you’re really hungry. But if you have a curious palate, there’s no better way to taste your way across a menu without breaking the bank. At Tapateria, the options are plentiful, and you can maximize your budget by strategically ordering with a friend. And with an entirely gluten-free menu, you have more friends to pick from. From the Bocados (snacks), choose the Garlic Bulb with toast points for a bit of extra “filling.” Add the Goat Cheese Salad as a veggie course, followed by the Chorizo & Figs, Albondigas (three meat meatballs) and Bison Carpaccio for your main. Still hungry? You’ve got plenty of budget left to come in under $100. Look for their Weekly Specials to get the most bang for your buck. On Sangria Sunday you can get a glass for $3 or a carafe for $12, and Tasting Tuesday has $10 flights of sherry, port or wine. —L.E. & C.S.
Meats and Seafood: $7-$11
2607 W. Colorado Ave.
Atmosphere Gastropub
North Side / Interquest
For an elevated craft cocktail and food experience in a casual environment, Atmosphere Gastropub is a definite hot spot located on the north end of town (Interquest and Voyager). Its rotating menu of fun and inventive dishes is created by Chef Steven Bailey. There’s a reason it’s hard to find a seat on the weekend: The food and cocktails are always top-notch, and the vibe is effortlessly cool.
You’ll find live music on some nights, and if you love whiskey, don’t miss their various takes on the old-fashioned: house-made Smokin’ Cherry, Peaches & Cream, and the Rising Sun Old Fashioned made with Suntory Japanese whisky.
Sample Chef Bailey’s fan favorites by splitting small plates like the Tuna Tartare, Lobster Tots, and Mussels, Sausage and Beer. Duck Poutine, anyone? —D.Y.
Small plates and entrees: $8-$27
1327 Interquest Parkway
Cerberus Brewing Co.
Westside / Downtown
Looking for upscale pub food for a great deal? Cerberus recently launched a value dinner menu from 3 p.m. to close, seven days a week. Get Korean gochujang fried chicken ($10) or their famous smoked brisket ($15) on mac ‘n cheese, burgers ($10-$12), fish fry ($12), or sandwich options ($15-$17) including chicken parm, cheesesteak and pastrami. The handhelds have pub fries on the side, plus all dinner specials come with a side salad — more food than you can eat without an elastic waistband. Thirsty? Get the Drake High End Lager or Mexican OT Lager for $5, and all other Cerberus beers for $6. Hungry midday? From 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Friday you can score separate lunch specials. —L.E. & C.S.
Entrees: $12-$16
702 W. Colorado Ave.
Susanna’s Comfort Cuisine
Downtown
A mention of Susanna Maestas in the local food scene elicits mad respect. She and husband, Ben, run their restaurant across from City Hall, plus a food truck. Taco Tuesdays highlight unique tacos like Peruvian salmon or roast baby zucchini, plus Mexican beer and margarita specials all night. Wednesdays feature a BOGO half off BFF Burger made with Callicrate beef, cheeses, bacon and roasted Pueblo chiles. And get in on Thursday Family Dinner with larger versions of their pastas and stir fry for two to four people, plus a salad, fresh baked bread and half price bottles of wine for a steal (our Bolognese meal for four was $64 before wine). And you can almost always expect a table visit from the chef herself! —L.E. & C.S.
Entrees: $15-$21
124 N. Nevada Ave.
Abby’s Irish Pub
Briargate
Don’t be fooled by the unassuming, strip mall location. Abby’s is truly a hidden gem and a Briargate neighborhood favorite. If your idea of a perfect date night is cozy dark wood, friendly service, live music and an ice-cold pint, then this is your new favorite spot. This pub buzzes with lively energy every night of the week.
Their drink prices are already very reasonable, but happy hour (3-6 p.m. Monday-Friday) will bring you an extra $1 off drafts, house wine and well liquor.
Enjoy signature seasonal whiskey cocktails, mules and even Irish coffee for chilly Colorado nights. Or stick with pub classic stouts and ales like Guinness, Smithwick’s, Kilkenny and more.
As for the eats, nibble on Irish classics like Scotch Egg, Irish Nachos, Corned Beef, Bangers & Mash and Shepherd’s Pie. Insider’s tip: Don’t skip the Bread Pudding for dessert, created with housemade Irish soda bread. —D.Y.
Entrees: $15-19
9697 Prominent Point
Burrowing Owl
Ivywild
It’s a truth universally acknowledged that, sooner or later, you’re going to have someone in your life tell you they’re vegan. They don’t care where you go to eat, but there needs to be options. This is your place — the vegan restaurant you’ve been looking for your whole life without knowing it. Burrowed unassumingly into an 8th Street strip mall like the small but notably social owls that are its namesake, this place has a seriously affordable menu that seriously won’t make you miss a meal. There’s always a daily special — Mondays are meatless French dips; Saturdays are breakfast burritos –—but it’s also the place where you can get “The Special” (can of beer, shot of whiskey and shot of pickle juice) for 6 bucks, the way that your grandmother and her grandmother did. There are no televisions, no Broncos screaming at you, and after 9 p.m. you can get a gin and tonic for $4. You read that right. And yes, the year is 2026. —S.H.
Dinner Entrees: $14-17
1791 S. 8th St.
