In contrast with the fine-dining focus of MICHELIN Stars, the Bib Gourmand recognizes restaurants where the cooking punches above its weight class, guiding diners to places that serve phenomenal meals that don’t break the bank. Here are this year’s inaugural Colorado selections:
Denver
AJ’s Pit Bar-B-Q
Jared and Amanda Leonard have built a mini empire of smoked meat and pizza restaurants in Denver. AJ’s, with its spicy stuffed sausages and custard-filled cornbread, is among the couple’s crown jewels.
Ash’Kara
Unusual, inviting mezze like carrot kibbeh with labneh and watermelon, harissa, and tomato salad star on the menu at chef Reggie Dotson’s Israeli restaurant.
Glo Noodle House
At this charming strip mall restaurant, chef and owner Chris Teigland honors his mother’s memory through fiery bowls of ramen, including a spicy mushroom creation with chili jam.
Hop Alley
This stylish spot serves playful takes on Chinese classics. Think smoked, shredded duck wrapped in a flaky scallion pancake and shrimp toast made with pain de mie and a buttery mustard sauce.
La Diabla Pozole y Mezcal
Chef José Àvila was among the first to have a full-blown pozoleria in Denver with the opening of this restaurant in 2021. He’s still celebrating the comforting Mexican soup in all its glory with several varieties of pozole on the menu.
Mister Oso
Smoked meat tacos are Mister Oso’s bread and butter, but there’s so much more to chef Blake Edmunds’s menu. Sharp Peruvian ceviches, salads bursting with the freshest produce, and over-the-top spicy nachos are just as compelling as the main draw.
Tavernetta
A sibling to Boulder’s beloved Frasca Food and Wine, this Union Station-adjacent spot has an expansive Italian menu of pastas, wines, and an impressive happy hour that runs from 4 pm to 6 pm daily.
The Ginger Pig
Natasha Hess’s time with a family in Beijing led her to become a chef and eventually open this street foods-focused restaurant in Denver that’s been a local favorite since its debut in 2020.
Boulder
Basta
A wood-fired oven in an open kitchen gives diners a close up view of the Basta team slinging pizzas with blistered, crackly crusts and preparing rich lobster risotto—it’s why this Boulder gem has been going strong for 13 years.
To book these MICHELIN Bib Gourmands and explore all the MICHELIN Guide-rated restaurants, download the MICHELIN Guide iOS app.
