11 BEST Lunch Spots In Denver For Food Lovers (UPDATED)
Don’t squander your afternoon on fast food and mediocre fare. Here, I list the absolute best lunch spots in Denver.
Best Lunch In Denver: A Delicious Way To Spend The Day
As a budget traveler, I often find myself eating out for lunch more often than dinner. The lunch scene in Denver is usually, but not always, a cheaper option with plenty of variety around the city.
My wife and I ate our way through countless lunch places in Denver to bring you the absolute best options and our favorite lunchtime meals.
We made this list to help locals and travelers alike to enjoy an amazing lunch in the Mile High City.
Please note that this list only contains restaurants in Denver proper and not the surrounding suburbs. I can only wish to have a stomach big enough to eat at every lunch option available throughout the metro area!
1. Lou’s Italian Specialties – Best Lunch In Denver’s RiNo Neighborhood
Hiding in plain sight on the north side of the Rino district sits Lou’s Italian Specialities, an Italian “restaurant” serving American Italian favorites along with house made side dishes and sliced meats. With only a few tables, Lou’s puts a focus on take away without forgetting about quality.
Lou’s reminds me of the Italian shops I came across in NYC offering artesian olive oils, cured meats, and dried pasta shipped direct from Italy, but still serving the classics like spaghetti and meatballs or chick parm sandwiches with a few tables set up in the center of the store.
In classic Nomadic Foodist fashion, my wife and I ordered way too much food, needing to sample a few items because everything on the menu looked amazing.
We started off with the Porchetta Sandwich, slow roasted pork topped with broccoli rabe, provolone cheese, cooked onion, and a decent smear of aioli. While unwrapping the sandwich, a stream of pork au jus spilled out along the edges of the wax paper, making me smile from ear to ear. I instantly knew this would be an epic sandwich.
Cheesy, porky and literally steaming with flavor, the Porchetta sandwich made my eyes roll to the back of my head in pure delight as I tried to process the rich yet balanced characteristics. The bread felt slightly soft from soaking up the juice, but I still dunked the sandwich in a side of au jus adding more savory soaked goodness.
The difference maker for this sandwich came from the broccoli rabe, giving a fibrous crunch and slight bitterness that rounded out the stronger components.
I’m not sure about you, but I get hard cravings for Spaghetti and Meatballs, and at Lou’s, they rise above the rest. The meatballs tasted phenomenal with a mystery meat blend that hit all the right notes while remaining fork tender.
The spaghetti marinara tasted light with the right amount of herbs and onions to keep the whole dish interesting. Paired together with the meatballs, I found a true match made in heaven.
The Sausage and Pepper Sandwich called to me like an angelic voice and I was rewarded with what might be my favorite sandwich in Denver. The house made sausage came sliced and sautéed with a rainbow of cooked bell peppers and onions, topped with the house marinara sauce.
Bright, unctuous, and addictive, the sausage paired with every component shows a masterwork in building flavor. Everything on the sandwich helped elevate every other component making my taste buds smile with every bite. Unfortunately, my wife stole the rest of the sandwich, so I foresee another visit to Lou’s coming in the near future.
Lou's Italian Specialties 3357 N Downing St, Denver, CO 80205 Website : LousItalianSpecialties.com
2. Hong Kong BBQ – Best Lunch Spot In Denver For Authentic Chinese
I love restaurants like Hong Kong BBQ. A no frills, you get what you see kind of place, serving the good stuff to those who venture inside. As the name suggests, Hong Kong BBQ specializes in roasted meats which come displayed in a glass case at the front counter. Roasted duck, roasted pork with crispy skin, BBQ pork also known as Char Sui, and steamed chicken.
For me, Hong Kong BBQ became a recent addition to my go-to lunch spots in Denver with me returning four times in just over a month.
If you are new to this style of eating, don’t worry, the menu lays out a few options from the BBQ menu and plenty of other Chinese favorites from their normal menu.
My wife and I wanted to try a few different types of meat, so we went with the two meat rice plate and picked the Roasted Pork and the BBQ Pork which came served with rice and a side of Chinese broccoli.
Oh God, yes. Both porky options tasted sublime with the roasted pork crunching beautifully from the crispy skin and the bbq pork giving off a slight sweetness from the marinade.
On their more elaborate full menu, Shrimp Dumpling Noodle Soup stood out and my instincts guided me to a slurptastic bowl of some of the best noodles I’ve eaten in Denver.
The soup itself felt simple and light with Asian style egg noodles cooked to the perfect soft and chewy consistency. Hong Kong BBQ did not skimp on dumplings, giving me six thick dumplings to enjoy throughout the whole meal.
Simple, cheap, and authentic, Hong Kong BBQ is one of the best options for lunch in Denver, Colorado.
Hong Kong BBQ 1048 S Federal Blvd, Denver, CO 80219
3. Tocabe – Best Lunch Spot In Denver For Fried Indian Tacos
Even after years of eating around the city, Tocabe remains one of my absolute favorite lunch spots in Denver for its consistency and over the top deliciousness.
Being the only American Indian owned and operated restaurant in the Metro Denver area, Tocabe specializes in contemporary Native and Indigenous cuisine facilitated in a modern fast casual atmosphere. Think of Tocabe as an American Indian inspired Chipotle, but 100x better.
My wife and I decided to go with the classic Indian tacos: fluffy Indian fry bread loaded up with beans, protein, toppings, and sauces. These tacos definitely need a fork and knife to eat properly.
All Indian tacos are customizable, but I decided on the Triple D. Sound familiar? Guy Fieri visited Tocabe on the show Diners, Drive Ins, and Dives and made this signature menu item. Just look at it. What more could you want?
On the first bites, I tasted the sour cream sauce, then the osage hominy salsa, adding delicious creamy and sweet acidic notes that helped bring out the slight smokiness of the grilled chicken.
The mild roasted green chilies added the right oomph to the dish making my fork and knife go berserk for the next bite. I couldn’t eat fast enough.
My wife ordered a custom Indian Taco adding braised shredded bison, lettuce, sweet corn, cheddar cheese, osage hominy salsa, sour cream, and ancho chipotle sauce. Talk about deep flavors here.
The 13-hour braised shredded bison was a flavor powerhouse with complexity coming from the 10-spice dry rub. Think of the shredded bison as the more successful cousin of beef barbacoa at Chipotle. Combined with the rest of the ingredients, every bite of the Indian taco tasted superb, balanced, and unforgettable.
If you are a fan of Chipotle, Qdoba, or the Colorado favorite Illegal Pete’s, then, Tocabe will be the addition that will have you coming back again and again.
Tocabe 3536 W 44th Ave, Denver, CO 80211 Website : Tocabe.com
4. Bodega – Best Lunch In Denver For Sandwiches and Burgers
I think Bodega is one of the best kept secrets in Denver for lunch, churning out some of the best sandwiches I’ve tasted in the United States. Although I think Bodega is one of the best brunch spots in Denver, they split their focus between a dynamic breakfast/lunch menu that is sure to delight any hungry traveler.
Click below to read more about Bodega and other amazing brunch spots in Denver. BEST Brunch In Denver: 8 BEST Brunch Spots In Denver, CO
For me, Bodega serves my favorite burger in Denver: a double smashed patty with cheese, and caramelized onion on a perfectly toasted bun. A sublime experience, eating this double cheeseburger practically brought tears to my eyes with beef juice rolling down my smiling cheeks.
Bodega 2651 W 38th Ave, Denver, CO 80211 Website : Bodega-Denver.com
5. Ohana Island Kitchen – Best Lunch In Denver’s LoHi Neighborhood
My wife and I felt extremely comfortable at Ohana Island Kitchen. Maybe it was the beach vibes, the pastel blue walls, or the wonderfully friendly staff, but for us, this tiny poke spot on the edge of the Highlands became our new favorite lunch spot in Denver.
We sat on the picnic tables at the center of the restaurant and enjoyed the afternoon sun as it brightened up the room. Perfect conditions for those awesome food pics.
The Poke Combo came lightly dressed and served with half rice and half kale salad; a complete winner all around.
I loved the tuna marinated in a classic Shoyu sauce with nice hints of sesame and ginger. The unexpected kale salad brightened up each mouthful with a mango and lime dressing that added a burst of acid that made the whole poke bowl disappear in minutes.
Then came the Kalua Pork Mix Plate, a wondrous combination of rice, mac salad, mango lime kale, fresh corn salsa, and of course, their famous Kalua Pork.
I mixed my bites and enjoyed the creaminess of the macaroni salad with the tender and oh-so-perfect kalua pork. Succulent, juicy, and exceptionally delicious, the kalua pork tasted far better than most pulled pork I tried all around the American South.
After finishing the last bits of macaroni salad, I can fully understand why Zagat, Westword, and Eater gave Ohana Island Kitchen such intense praise and awarded them with Best Poke In Denver time and time again.
Ohana Island Kitchen 2563 15th St Ste. 105, Denver, CO 80211 Website : OhanaDenver.com
6. Leven Deli Co. – Best Pastrami Sandwich In Denver
Listen to me and don’t skip this. Leven Deli Co. is one of the best pastrami sandwiches in the United States. Yes, you heard correctly. No, I haven’t tried them all, but once you take a bite of this behemoth, you will fully understand.
Leven Deli Co. morphs the conventional Jewish Deli by mixing in inspiration from the Mediterranean, creating eclectic salads and a deli case filled with delicious treats. This modern bakery offers a wide range of cocktails and wine, making it a prime spot for that afternoon buzz.
Although I love some chilled Rose on a warm day, I came to Leven for the sandwiches. And not just any run of the mill deli sando, but a bonafide, made from scratch Pastrami sandwich that will win the heart of any homesick New Yorker.
From aging, curing, and smoking, the pastrami at Leven takes 12 days to perfect into slices of melt in your mouth goodness.
I recommend the Classic Pastrami for a taste of that Jewish Deli style sandwich. But for those with a heftier appetite, I say go for the Pastrami Reuben which can easily feed two people.
The Pastrami Reuben took me on a journey filled with layer upon layer of warm, mouth watering pastrami mixed in with the pickled cabbage slaw adding texture while working as a buffer to the melted Jarlsberg cheese. If you don’t think this is one of the best sandwiches of your life, then we can’t be friends.
If you are looking for a cold sandwich, I suggest the Ham Jam. Far from the soggy white bread ham sandwich you buy at 7-Eleven, this ham sandwich was injected with flavor steroids and turned into a beast of deliciousness.
The layers of shaved ham were perfect, but its everything else that made the sandwich amazingly unique. The herb mayo added the right amount of creaminess that worked perfectly with the tangy mustard. Of course, the star of the show came from the onion jam adding a delectable sweetness that took a normal ham sandwich to the sublime.
Leven Deli Co. 123 W 12th Ave, Denver, CO 80204 Website : EatLeven.com
7. Jamaican Grille – Best Jamaican Food In Denver
If you lived in Denver for any amount of time, you’ve probably driven right past Jamaican Grille on 8th Ave and never noticed this humble restaurant serving authentic Jamaican cuisine in Denver since 2013.
Listen to me. If you love food, Jamaican Grille is a must visit lunch spot in Denver. From the spice mixture on the proteins to the delicious sauces, I know every traveling foodist will be licking up every last drop of sauce on their plate.
Of course, we needed to try the Jerk Chicken. Probably the most famous dish in the Caribbean, jerk chicken combines a peppery spice rub with the char from a hot grill to create a delicious bbq chicken unlike any other.
I NEED more of this jerk chicken in my life. I enjoyed the peppery marinade, which wasn’t spicy, with the taste and aroma of smoke left by the grill. The mild sauce added a touch of sweetness and a little spice making every bite heavenly.
Next came the Brown Stewed Chicken served in a dark ominous gravy over rice. If you know me at all, then you will understand how much I LOVED this dish. Just look at it! You know you want it.
The fall off the bone chicken tasted rich and intense with that precious brown gravy adding a rush of flavor. Super savory and decadent, the gravy stayed well balanced with the chicken and rice, adding the right spice notes without overpowering everything. Well done. Well done.
My wife and I went lightly on the spice level, but if you want it spicy, Jamaican Grille can do it! They add habaneros to their spicy sauce so watch out if you are looking to turn up the heat.
They offer more Jamaican favorites like curry goat, oxtail stew, and Jamaican beef patties, giving me more reasons to return.
Jamaican Grille 709 W 8th Ave, Denver, CO 80204 Website : JamaicanGrill.com
8. Cosmo’s Pizza – Best Pizza Slice In Denver
If you need a quick lunch that’s super cheap, head to Cosmo’s, my favorite pizza spot in Denver. They make the real deal NY style thin crust and sell by the slice or feel free to order a whole pie for takeaway.
Cosmos Pizza is all about quality, focusing on the details to make every slice amazing. They shred their own cheese, chop their own vegetables and make their own dough in house DAILY.
For me, I like going for a classic pepperoni slice when I am dining in, but for a whole pizza I am a huge fan of their sausage. They use real chunks of sausage spread out on the pizza, not those little dried out nuggets you find at other pizza joints.
Eating a slice in house is an event itself. I like grabbing a seat at the counter and watching them make pie after pie as the orders roll in.
I love the pizza at Cosmo’s because it really reminds me of my favorite slices I ate while in NYC. Cosmo’s does it right with a thin, crispy crust with a sweet and savory sauce and cheese so perfect I could eat it by the fistful.
Cosmo's Pizza 550 Grant St, Denver, CO 80203 Website : CosmosPizza.com
9. La Fiesta – Best Place For Lunch In Denver For Tex Mex
I always wanted to stop into La Fiesta with their neon sign in vintage lettering. The old school Mexican restaurant opened in 1964 and proudly served Den-Mex for a faithful following all these years. I came in solo for lunch with the first bites making me a new follower.
The chips and salsa came immediately and, honestly, it had big shoes to fill. My father in law makes my absolute favorite salsa and unfortunately, every single Mexican restaurant in the city comes up short of his artfully crafted bliss.
La Fiesta came a close second with a well blended salsa that balances out sweet and spicy with heavy herb aromatics adding the right amount zing.
For my main, I decided on the Dugan Combination, a plate filled with a fried chile relleno, a chicken enchilada, and a soft beef taco with everything smothered in the house’s signature green chile.
I sliced into the Chile Relleno and a slow moving lava flow of cheese poured out: a true sign of a properly stuffed chile. With the first bites, I was hooked.
The green chile covered everything and tasted phenomenal with a mild heat that still packed huge flavor from the seasoning, pork, and chiles.
Although the beef taco felt a bit dull, the green chile livened up every bite that mixed well with the chicken enchilada.
The chile relleno itself tasted perfect with a crispy exterior that still maintained a slight crunch despite soaking up that beautiful house green chile.
If you are looking for a fast and inexpensive lunch in Denver, look no further than La Fiesta
La Fiesta 2340 Champa St, Denver, CO 80205 Website : LaFiesta.com
10. Corinne – Best Lunch In The Denver Central Business District
Filled to the brim with mediocre chain restaurants, the Denver Central Business District offers limited options for food obsessed travelers. Corinne, situated between Bubba Gump Shrimp and the Le Meridian Hotel remains a beacon of hope for those located close to the Denver Convention Center.
For the best business lunch in Denver, I think Corinne offers an amazing menu that embodies creativity with simple twists to flip an average lunch into a spectacular meal.
Artfully presented with a taste of pure freshness, the Heirloom Tomato Salad felt well balanced and delicious, with hefty chunks of heirloom tomatoes pairing nicely with the cucumber, feta, basil, and watercress.
The Watermelon Gazpacho surprised me the most with a breathtaking combination of watermelon and tomato blended together and topped with chive oil. Slightly sweet, and packed with a unique spice blend, my wife and I couldn’t help but fight over the last spoon full of this marvelous cold soup.
For my main, I chose the Crispy Koji Chicken Sandwich which artfully transforms an ordinary chicken sandwich into a delicious culinary wonder.
Koji is a Japanese fermenting agent used commonly to make sake. Here at Corinne, they marinate the chicken in a Koji solution to make it extra moist and tender. I can attest that the extra time made a delicious final product.
I felt little resistance biting to the chicken sandwich and enjoyed the combination of the kewpie mayo, brussels slaw, and tomato jam. The toppings made every mouthful interesting leaving very little to be desired.
My wife went for the French Dip and although it wasn’t the best French dip she’s ever tried, it remained a solid choice and one I’d definitely recommend. The sandwich tasted delicious with the au jus adding a nice kick of concentrated beefiness to level up each bite.
I particularly enjoyed the horseradish cream which felt mild but became the perfect addition once we slathered it on the whole sandwich.
If you find yourself in Denver’s Business District, look no further than Corinne for an awesome meal.
Corinne 1455 California St, Denver, CO 80202 Website : CorinneDenver.com
11. Roaming Buffalo Barbecue – Best Lunch In Denver For Barbecue
Although Denver isn’t known for its American style Barbecue, The Roaming Buffalo sets a high standard that very few other BBQ joints can attain.
No, I’m not a certified BBQ judge (talk about a dream job), but I spent a fair bit of time traveling the United States sampling regional BBQ from whole hog in North Carolina to buttery brisket in Texas.
In my opinion, Roaming Buffalo Barbecue offers the best and most unique barbecue options in Denver. They open at 11 am and close when the meat sells out, so make sure to get there early to guarantee yourself delicious smoked BBQ.
For this visit, I went face first into Pork Ribs, Lamb, Beef Brisket, Turkey, and Bison Back Ribs.
Trust me here. The pork ribs might just be the best pork ribs I’ve ever tried. That’s right.
One of the secrets to Pork Ribs comes from the use of powdered honey, giving the spice rub a slight sweetness without the need for sauce.
The Turkey really caught me off guard with an extra tender texture and extremely moist interior. I usually shy away from smoked turkey, but with these slices, I became an instant fan. If you need some lean meats on your plate, the turkey is the way to go.
The Lamb surprised me with a delicious twang that only comes when it’s properly slow cooked. The texture and consistency are right on par with minced pork barbecue, so it felt familiar but with a huge flavor twist.
Ultra tender and fall off the bone, the Bison Ribs tasted amazing with a delightful gaminess that I’d come to expect from buffalo. Whatever spice rub or sauce they slather on the ribs made a huge impact on making the ribs amazingly tasty.
I couldn’t, in good conscience, visit a BBQ joint without trying a few slices of Brisket. I asked for “moist” slices, which informs the cutter to slice from the point of the brisket which consists of more marbled fat.
Amazing and everything I hoped for, the sliced brisket was super tender with a delicious bark. Beef juice ran down my face and hands, a clear sign of a properly cooked brisket.
I wish I could write more about the house bbq sauces, the all-too-perfect sides, or the extremely unique desserts, but I must bring this Denver lunch guide to a close.
Roaming Buffalo Barbeque 2387 S Downing St, Denver, CO 80210 Website : RoamingBuffaloBBQ.com
Final Thoughts On The Best Lunch Places In Denver
Trust me, the food scene in Denver has grown to tremendous proportions offering amazing lunch spots all over the city. From the hustle and bustle of downtown to the eclectic neighborhoods offering authentic international cuisine, there is something for everyone in the Mile High City.
Just like any major metropolitan area in the US, fast food chains and mediocre meals await impatient travelers, but the good stuff is often hiding in plain sight. The best lunch in Denver can be a made from scratch sandwich or a fine dining quality seasonal meal. Don’t settle when an amazing lunch is waiting for you in Denver, Colorado.
Chris Kretzer has traveled the world visiting over 35 countries and eating his way through every city. With his wife Tiarra, they explore different food cultures and create food guides, podcasts, and travel articles helping everyone experience the world through food.