Who says delicious has to be expensive? These 31 dishes from all over the Springs prove otherwise. Most are under $10. Some are during happy hour; some are all the time. All are worth seeking out. From breakfast to late-night, fine dining to food truck fare, go try these local treasures now.
Green Line Grill
Deluxe Burger & Free Fry Friday ($9.25)
Skip the drive-thru. You can never go wrong with Green Line’s onion “fried” burger. But take things over the top with a fried egg, thick-cut bacon and dripping cheddar cheese on the deluxe burger. Go on a Friday for a free one-third order of fries!
230 1/2 Pueblo Ave., greenlinegrill.com —Meagan Thomas
Hatch Cover
60-Cent Wings
Eat your fill of wings all day, every day at Hatch Cover. Choose from eight sauces, mild to fire, or get them “naked” with no sauce. For the mathematically challenged, you can put away 16 for under $10. 252 E. Cheyenne Mountain Blvd., hatchcover.biz —MT
Bonny and Read
Fish and Chips ($5)
One of the few places in town that offers fresh, not-frozen, fish in its fish and chips, Bonny and Read pairs beer-battered Alaskan cod filets with crunchy fries and housemade tartar. It’s part of their half-priced happy hour menu, Monday-Friday, 3-6 p.m. It’s also hard to beat their $3 house wines and beers.
101 N. Tejon St., bonnyandreadseafood.com —Warren Epstein
Indus Modern Kitchen
1 Entree & 1 Side ($8)
This is a modern take on north Indian cuisine, one without hormones, antibiotics, food coloring or MSG. Whether you choose saag paneer with its Indian cheese blend and spices, or the aloo gobi rocking sautéed cauliflower and potato, always pair it with Chef Gayathri Chelvadurai’s housemade chai. Crafted of seven spices, it required four months to initially perfect. Choose two entrees and still stay under $11.
12229 Voyager Pkwy., indusmodernkitchen.com —Micah Redfield
Fat Sully’s
Slice and a Beer ($5)
This may be the best late-night, light-on-the-wallet dinner option in town. The one-topping slice is big, tasty and floppy—classic New York-style pizza. The beer selection includes a hefty selection of local and regional microbrews on draft. Get it 9 p.m. to midnight, Sunday through Thursday.
528 S. Tejon St., fatsullys.com —WE
Rabbit Hole
Pork “Wings” ($6.50)
The quotes are on the menu, reminding you that pigs neither fly, nor have wings. I think these may be ribs. Cooked and sauced perfectly, they’re half-price at happy hour (Monday-Friday, 3-6 p.m.). You can’t order too many. I do anyway.
101 N. Tejon St., rabbitholedinner.com —Steven Hayward
Hafa Adai Fiesta Food
Lunch Plate ($10)
The grilled meats at this Guamanian eatery boast just the right amount of char. And a one-choice lunch plate lets you pick among barbecue chicken, indigenous Chamorro-style short ribs, hot link sausage and more, plus red rice, salad and lumpia (Filipino egg roll). Choose three meats for only $12.
109 E. Pikes Peak Ave., facebook.com/hafaadaifiestafood —Frank Frey
Roll Up Food Truck
Breakfast Burrito ($5)
There are plenty of places to get a cheap breakfast, but Roll-up Food Truck’s breakfast burrito is huge and stuffed with french fries, scrambled eggs, cheese and bacon. For $2 more, you can get it smothered with gravy or green chile. Go ahead and treat yourself.
101 Fontaine Blvd., facebook.com/rollupfoodtruck —MT
Fujiyama
Spider Roll ($6)
Every Monday night, there’s a line down Tejon Street. That’s because of Fujiyama’s happy hour half-priced sushi deal, 5-6 p.m. Our fave is the spider roll: soft-shell crab tempura with tobiko and eel sauce.
22 S. Tejon St., fujiyamasushi.com —WE
Azada Grill
Breakfast Burrito ($5)
You know your day is off to a good start when you watch fresh dough bubble with warmth into the fresh flour tortilla that cradles your scrambled eggs, potatoes, refried beans and chorizo or bacon. Housemade green chile salsa brings just the right kick. A small is satisfying, or go double-fist large for $8.50.
16 E. Bijou St., facebook.com/azadamexicangrillcs —Jeremy Jones
Banh Mi Viet
Banh Mi ($4)
The baguette alone at Bahn Mi Viet is enough reason to visit. Made in-house and stuffed with grilled pork, roast beef, chicken, tofu or more. All sandwiches include pickled daikon, carrots, cilantro and jalapeños for just the right amount of crunch and acidity to tie it all together.
3315 N. Academy Blvd., banhmiincoloradospringsco.com —FF
Drifter’s Hamburgers
Double Cheeseburger ($4.39)
Arguably better than that Cali chain, Drifter’s is the locals’ fast burger pick. Get it wild style with extra dressing, grilled onions, lettuce, tomato and pickle. Ingredients are high quality, featuring local Callicrate beef and real-deal shakes. Flank your burger with a boysenberry shake.
1485 Jamboree Dr., 4455 Mark Dabling Blvd., driftershamburgers.com —MR
Taco Tuesday Everyday Forever
OK, so we have a thing for tacos. Ancient Mexico’s culinary gift to the world is the original and ultimate bargain food. Don’t miss these deals, some on Tuesday, some on any day.
PigLatin Cocina
BLT ($5)
Forget bacon, lettuce and tomato—we’re in love with a different kind of BLT. Pig Latin‘s version is beer, liquor, taco. Available after 9 p.m., you get a beer of the day, shot of house liquor and any taco for just five bucks.
2825 Dublin Blvd., piglatincocina.com —MT
El Chapin Food Truck
Taco Tuesday ($5)
Try and beat three tacos for just $5. These authentic Taco Tuesday standouts come with any meat on the menu, from asada, barbacoa and grilled fish to the intestinal buche and tripas.
1228 E. Fillmore St., facebook.com/elchapintacos —MT
La’au’s Taco Shop
Marinated Steak Tacos ($4.86)
The time to arrive is between 3 and 6 p.m. weekdays, when there are two for $6 margaritas and beers. Tucked away on the edge of CC, this may be the best kept secret in the Springs: half price on Taco Thursdays. Steak is the way to go. Pico de gallo salsa, corn tortilla. Unforgettable.
830 N. Tejon St., laaustacoshop.com —SH
Manitou Brewing Company
Taco Tuesday Deal ($10)
In a region stuffed with great Taco Tuesday deals, this non-Mexican restaurant has one of the best. Three legit soft-shell tacos—veggie, chicken tinga or pulled pork—and a pint of house-brewed beer for $10.
725 Manitou Ave., manitoubrewing.com —WE
Carniceria Leonela
Taco ($4)
In an era of boutique tacos, this authentic taqueria serves legit, affordable Mexican standards. These tacos are straight-up corn tortillas piled with meat only; choose from the likes of carnitas, al pastor or if you’re feeling adventurous, cabeza or tripas. Be sure to grab paleta, Mexican ice pops, from the market on your way out.
736 E. Pikes Peak Ave., bit.ly/36HyWwN —FF
Oskar Blues
Blackened Catfish Taco ($2)
Dinner and drinks at Oskar Blues can get spendy, but happy hour stays thrifty and cheery with some great food and cocktail deals (Monday-Friday, 3-6 p.m.). The blackened catfish taco stands out—a generous helping of fish and veggies on a soft corn tortilla with just the right spicy kick.
118 N. Tejon St., oskarbluesfooderies.com —WE
Urban Steam
Spaghetti Monster Mondays ($12)
Mondays can be rough, but Urban Steam’s Spaghetti Monster Monday (5-8 p.m.) makes everything better. The Italian comfort food is bottomless, plus you get Italian sausage, garlic toast and salad. And you can pair it all with $4 wine and $3 beer.
1025 S. Sierra Madre St., urbansteam.com —MT
Yellow Mountain Tea House
Dumplings ($5)
Traditional dim sum shines at this local, authentic tea house. Homemade chicken or veggie dumplings are tender and flavorful on the inside, while the wrapping is a pleasant balance of crispy and chewy. Pair them with a Chinese tea ceremony for the full experience.
2616 W. Colorado Ave., yellow-mountain-organic-tea.com —FF
Streetcar520
Kimchi Fries ($5)
Word is you’re supposed to eat something fermented every day. Good for digestion. Maybe linked to living indefinitely. Kimchi—salted, fermented, spicy—falls into that category. Put it on fries with melted cheddar and bacon. Eat it forever during happy hour, (Monday-Friday, 3-6 p.m.). Does it still count as health food? Who’s counting?
520 S. Tejon St., streetcar520.com —SH
Slice 420 Pizza
Tuesday Special ($11)
Don’t think a large cheese pizza sounds exciting? Slice420’s New York-style pie is so good, you don’t need toppings. And on Tuesdays, it’s a steal that will feed the whole family.
2501 W. Colorado Ave., slice420.com —MT
3.14 Sweet & Savory Pi
Slice ($10)
Whether it’s amaretto toasted almond cherry, wicked bacon bourbon pecan or any other decadently sweet variety, you can’t go wrong here, especially during Hap-Pi Hour (Tuesday-Saturday, 3:14-6:28 p.m.). But you can also embrace your Francophilia with a slice of the savory Julia’s Child pie (get it?). The American master of French cuisine would be proud of the macédoine vegetables swimming in burgundy-bolstered sauce and enrobed in housemade crust.
5152 Centennial Blvd., 314sweetandsavorypi.com —MR
Cerberus Brewing Company
Colorado Poutine ($7)
Pure comfort in a dish. This bowl of potato wedges, topped with chorizo and cheese curds, smothered in green chili and cheddar ale gravy is one of our favorites on the excellent menu. It’s savory and spicy and filling. Get this discounted half portion of the monster appetizer during weekday happy hours, 3-6 p.m.
1702 W. Colorado Ave., cerberusbrewingco.com —MT
Eim Thai
Panang Curry ($9)
Eim Thai’s panang curry is a delightful bowl of nutty coconut milk goodness, both creamy and light. Eggplant, red bell pepper, kaffir lime leaves and fresh basil all offer fresh, light balance to whatever level of spice you prefer. We prefer chicken, but take your choice of meats or tofu.
1466 Garden of the Gods Rd., eimthai.com —JJ
Vegan Deals
These plant-based bargains are not to be missed—even if you’re not vegan.
The Burrowing Owl
Serious Nachos ($8)
It’s a deal on its own. But take a friend to the vegan-favorite Burrowing Owl and split an overflowing plate of chips, spicy taco mix, nut-based cashew queso and fresh, organic veggies—and you’ll still be able to order two $5 cocktails and walk out for less than $10 per person.
1791 S. 8th St., burrowingowllounge.com —JL Fields
Sweet Elizabeth’s Organics
Parsley Pesto Sandwich ($8.50)
Whole-plant foods, organic, gluten-free and vegan are not words that usually describe budget-friendly food. But this wholesome, veg-forward sandwich is all those and robust. Served on the bakery’s gluten-free roll (choice of plain or rosemary garlic) and thick with vegetables, it even comes with a side salad.
4657 Centennial Blvd., sweetelizabethsorganics.com —JLF
Santana’s Vegan Grill
Sausage, Egg and Cheese Sandwich ($4.29)
Yes, vegans want more than oatmeal or tofu scramble for breakfast. Santana’s Vegan Grill offers 100% vegan dine-in or drive-thru fare, and this handheld breakfast sandwich is filled with plant-based versions of breakfast favorites: sausage, egg and cheese. Really, all made from plants.
3220 Austin Bluffs Blvd., santanasvegangrill.com —JLF
Fine Dining, Finer Pricing
You can spend big at these upscale spots, but you don’t have to.
The Mona Lisa
Cheese Fondue ($11.40)
What’s happier than a pot of cheese? Maybe a pot of chocolate. Mona’s Wine Cellar downstairs offers 40% off cheese or chocolate fondue during daily happy hour, 4:30-6:30 p.m. The Old or New World cheese pot is made for two. Chocolate is $7.20 per person. Bonus: Select glasses of wine are just $5.
733 Manitou Ave., Manitou Springs, monalisafondue.com/wine-cellar —MT
Cowboy Star
Steak and Frites ($20)
Looking for an elevated steak without breaking the bank? Opt for the bar menu at C Star for a 5-ounce, hand-cut prime top sirloin, 2-6 p.m. Monday-Friday and 4-6 p.m. weekends. The bordelaise is luscious, and the $6 happy hour wines are generously poured.
5198 N. Nevada Ave., cowboystarcs.com —JJ
Ristorante Del Lago
Italian Breakfast Buffet ($28)
If $28 sounds pricy for a cheap eat, keep in mind this is The Broadmoor, where on the other side of the pond, the spread of gourmet gluttony goes for more than twice that. Del Lago’s spread includes made-to-order frittata, sausage, bacon, pancakes, granola with all the fixin’s and more. It’s been scaled back to Monday-Saturday only as not to compete with the big brunch. 1 Lake Ave., broadmoor.com —WE
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