Explore 12 Denver restaurants featured on “Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives,” and the delicious dishes that put them on the map.
It’s no secret that Denver has a great food scene. With Michelin-starred restaurants, James Beard Award-winning chefs and nominees, Top Chef finalists, and a consistent lineup of food festivals and pop-ups, it’s no surprise that Denver is a frequent stop for Guy Fieri and his popular show “Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives,” where he travels across the country in search of the best local eateries.
Colorado has been home to more than 50 featured restaurants, and Denver accounts for 20 of them. Eight have since closed—Bang!, Prohibition, Biju’s Little Curry Shop, Axios Estiatorio, Cafe Brazil, Areyto Food Truck, Core Faye’s Cafe, and Il Porcellino Salumi shifted to wholesale business—but that still leaves 12 delicious spots to check out the next time you’re craving an excellent meal.
1. Steuben’s Food Service
523 East 17th Avenue, Denver, CO 80203
Featured in Season 11 “Signature Sandwiches”
Steuben’s has been serving classic comfort food since 2006. This retro-style diner serves humble—yet award-winning—favorites in a restored car garage, a setting that adds to its local charm.
Part of what makes Steuben’s one of Denver’s most iconic dining spots is its wide-ranging menu. There’s something for just about everyone, but a few dishes stand out above the rest: fried chicken in several styles, from classic buttermilk-brined to Nashville hot; chicken and waffles with a spicy bacon-brown sugar glaze; the green chile burger; and lobster rolls. If you’re craving something sweet, Steuben’s is also well known for its rich milkshakes and house-made pies.
2. The Bagel Deli
6439 East Hampden Avenue, Denver, Colorado 80222
Featured in Season 11, Episode “Mozz to Matzo Balls”
The name “The Bagel Deli” is deceptively simple. It sounds like a neighborhood spot slinging bagels and cream cheese, and while their bagels are excellent and the restaurant has a humble beginning as a local spot, that’s only scratching the surface.
Family-owned for three generations, The Bagel Deli has become a true Denver institution. In 2017, then-Governor John Hickenlooper even declared April 1 to be “Bagel Deli Day.”
Beyond the bagels, you’ll find a full menu of authentic Jewish comfort food. Customer favorites include the matzo ball soup, egg salad sandwich, chopped liver, tongue sandwich, brisket knishes, and the towering Reuben.
In addition to its breakfast and lunch offerings, The Bagel Deli also features a bakery stocked with cakes, pastries, and other sweets, along with fresh bagels, breads, and challah.
3. Sam’s No. 3
1500 Curtis Street, Denver, CO 80202
Featured in Season 11, Episode “Porktastic”
If you’ve ever been overwhelmed by the novella-sized menu at The Cheesecake Factory, just wait until you see the one at Sam’s No. 3. Packed with more than a century’s worth of thoughtfully crafted comfort food from Greek to American to Mexican, the menu seems to go on forever.
Even more impressive than its size is the restaurant’s longevity. Sam’s No. 3 dates back to 1927, when it opened as one of five “Coney Island” restaurants in Denver. Since then, it has expanded to multiple locations while remaining family-owned and committed to serving affordable, satisfying meals to regulars and newcomers.
So, with a menu this massive, what should you order? The good news is that it’s hard to go wrong. The bad news is that narrowing down your options can feel nearly impossible.
If you need a place to start, Sam’s is especially known for its green pork chili, juicy burgers, hand-cut fries, and the legendary Kitchen Sink Burrito, a hearty favorite filled with ham, bacon, sausage, gyro meat, onion, tomato, bell pepper, and mushroom.
4. Tocabe American Indian Eatery
3536 W. 44th Ave, Denver, CO 80202
Featured in Season 12, Episode “Grillin’ and Smokin’”
Open since 2008, Tocabe is a one-of-a-kind restaurant in Denver, though after one visit, you’ll probably wish there were more places like it. It is the only American Indian-owned and -operated restaurant in the city (and one of the few in the United States) serving Native American cuisine while also educating foodies about Indigenous food traditions.
The menu combines traditional Osage family recipes with elements of modern American Indian fare in a casual, build-your-own setting. The ordering process is similar to places like Chipotle, Qdoba, and CAVA. You choose a plate, tacos, or a posu bowl, then customize it with your choice of proteins and toppings.
What makes Tocabe different is its commitment to sourcing 100% of its ingredients from Native and local producers. In other words, every item on the menu comes from the land and has a story to tell.
Popular menu items include the made-from-scratch Indian tacos, bison ribs, stuffed fry bread, and Mexican Wheel nachos.
5. Highland Tavern
3400 Navajo St, Denver, CO 80211
Featured in Season 17, Episode “Tacos and Tots”
For the past 20 years, Highland Tavern has been serving delicious and creative pub food. While it modestly describes itself as “a neighborhood bar,” Highland Tavern is much more than that. You can expect a large selection of draft beers, shareable appetizers, burgers and sandwiches, a daily happy hour, and friendly service.
Some of the most popular menu items include the oversized mac and cheese, the Bombshell sandwich (made with house-made pastrami that’s brined for 15 days), tavern tots, famous pork rinds, the El Guapo Burger, Dr. Pepper spare ribs, and buffalo wings.
If you visit on the weekend, be sure to check out their popular brunch menu. Favorites like pig and grits, chicken-fried steak and eggs, and pastrami hash are more than enough reason to get there early.
6. Atomic Cowboy
3237 E. Colfax Ave, Denver, CO 80206
Featured in Season 17, Episode “Dynamic Duos”
In Atomic Cowboy’s own words, they’ve been “creating and curing hangovers since 2004.” It started as a bar, and as many of us know, a couple of drinks often leads to a craving for pizza, followed by biscuits the next morning to help recover. Thus, Atomic Cowboy was born.
Atomic Cowboy is the umbrella name for the concept, but inside you’ll find a pizza joint and a biscuit spot. Fat Sully’s serves giant New York-style pizza slices, juicy burgers, and fried chicken sandwiches. Then there’s Denver Biscuit Company, serving oversized biscuit sandwiches, plates, scratch-made sides, and enormous biscuit cinnamon rolls. Nearly everything is made in-house (even the pickles!)
As for drinks, Atomic Cowboy offers a full bar with craft cocktails, mocktails, Bloody Marys, draft beer, and just about anything else you might want.
While it started as a single neighborhood bar, Atomic Cowboy now has seven locations across the state and an additional location in Kansas City.
7. Hops & Pie
3920 Tennyson St, Denver, CO 80212
Featured in Season 17, Episode “Kings and Queens of Cue”
As previously mentioned, nothing goes quite as well with a crisp craft beer as a slice of pizza, and few places pair the two as well as the husband-and-wife duo behind Hops & Pie.
Since opening in 2010, Hops & Pie has been serving handmade pizzas in Detroit-style sourdough, New York-style sourdough, and gluten-free varieties, alongside a curated selection of craft beers ranging from hoppy IPAs to rich stouts.
You can build your own pizza or opt for the rotating Pizza of the Month, which features creative, seasonal combinations. Beyond pizza, the menu also includes appetizers, sandwiches, salads, and desserts, making Hops & Pie a great spot whether you’re stopping in for a quick slice and a beer or settling in for a full meal.
8. Dae Gee Korean BBQ
Multiple locations across Denver metro
Featured in Season 23, Episode “Taste of Asia”
You’d better come hungry when you arrive at Dae Gee Korean BBQ. It’s a place that enthusiastically encourages you to “pig out,” which is especially fitting since “Dae Gee” means “pig” in Korean.
Their most popular offering is the Unlimited BBQ, available for both lunch and dinner. With it, you get two hours to enjoy unlimited sogogi bulgogi (rib-eye beef), sam gyeob sal (pork belly), daegee bulgogi (pork), dak bulgogi (chicken), chadol (brisket), chicken dumpling, sides, rice, and galbee (short ribs, served once).
If unlimited isn’t your thing, you can order from their full menu of Korean barbecue, including seafood options, as well as a variety of soups and stews. There’s also bee beem bhop, a classic Korean dish with your protein of choice, rice, vegetables, and a sunny-side-up egg. You can order it in a regular bowl or a hot stone pot. There are also plenty of appetizers and Korean side dishes, so no matter what you order, you’re in for a treat.
Note: While the original location that Fieri visited has since closed, diners can still choose from several Dae Gee locations in the Denver Metro area.
9. Maria Empanada
1298 S Broadway, Denver, CO 80210
Featured in Season 23, Episode “By Hand and By Fork”
It’s empanada time, and there’s no better place to go than Maria Empanada. One bite into one of their flaky, hand-crafted empanadas transports you straight to Argentina.
The restaurant is named after owner Lorena Cantarovici’s grandmother, Maria, who taught her how to make empanadas when she was just seven years old in Buenos Aires. Many years later, Lorena followed her passion and moved to Colorado with just $300 in her pocket. Since then, she’s built an empanada empire that now includes five locations across Denver.
The empanada menu covers a variety of flavor profiles, with fillings ranging from Italian and Sweet BBQ to Classic Argentinian, vegetarian, breakfast, and even a unique Miso Chili Crisp Steak.
In addition to empanadas, Maria Empanada also serves españolas, house-made salsas, and an assortment of desserts, such as sweet empanadas, alfajores, Santiago cake, and more.
10. Welton Street Cafe
2736 Welton St, Denver, CO 80205
Featured in Season 31, Episode “Mom and Dad”
At Welton Street Cafe, you’ll fill up on food that’s good for the soul and easy on the palate. Known for its Southern-Caribbean comfort food, Welton Street Cafe has been a beloved spot in Denver’s Five Points neighborhood for more than 40 years.
Some of the most popular dishes include fried chicken, catfish nuggets, macaroni and cheese, candied yams, oxtail stew, smothered pork chops, and wings with wild sauce.
Beyond the lunch and dinner menu, you’ll also find plenty of side dishes, homemade desserts, and a special Sunday brunch menu. And of course, there’s a full drink menu with NA options (like homemade Kool-Aid!), beer, wine, and handcrafted cocktails.
11. Blue Pan Pizza
3934 W 32nd Ave, Denver, CO 80212
Featured in Season 31, Episode “Hometown Inspiration”
A moment for Detroit-style pizza, please. Forget Chicago-style deep-dish and New York slices for a second, and let’s just appreciate the crispy edges and caramelized cheesy crusts that make Detroit-style pizza so good.
Blue Pan Pizza was founded by two friends whose friendship dates back to kindergarten, while the restaurant itself dates back to 2015. Growing up in Detroit, founders Giles Flanagin and Jeff Smokevitch brought their Detroit-style pizza expertise to Denver, which, if you’re unfamiliar, is square-cut pan pizza with airy dough and a caramelized cheesy crust around the edges.
But they’re not just experts in Detroit-style pies. Blue Pan’s four locations (plus a food truck!) also offer New York and Tavern-style pizza, house-made gluten-free crusts, and dairy-free options, making the menu accessible for everyone.
Beyond pizza, there are plenty of appetizers, including their famous eggplant fries and house-made garlic cheese bread. Before you leave, don’t forget their dessert. The cannolis and pizza cookies are two foodie-favorites.
12. Just BE Kitchen
2364 15th Street, Denver, CO 80202
Featured in Season 31, Episode “Down-Home Flavor”
Comfort food, but make it allergy-friendly. Just BE Kitchen is a fast-casual spot that avoids major allergens like gluten, eggs, dairy, and more, making it possible to enjoy comfort food without missing out due to dietary restrictions.
The menu has just about everything, from breakfast and burgers to bone broth, desserts, and drinks, including coffee, cocktails, mocktails, tea, and smoothies. They even offer bulk meals to help with weekly meal prep.
Some customer favorites include the all-day breakfast burrito, the sloppy joe, “The Best” quesadilla, chicken and dumplings, and their rich brownie for dessert.
