From Boulder to Longmont, we've pulled together the top 10 favorite greasy spoon restaurants for Eater readers. From old school diners, to hole-in-the-wall Mexican, to burger joints - all of your greasy food needs are covered.
The Dark Horse has been a Boulder landmark since 1975 and was featured by USA Today as "Places to eat a burger worthy of paradise." Offering burgers, wings, and sandwiches, it's a great spot to enjoy any sporting event alongside your greasy grub and beverage. The interior is a bit dingy and dark, yet it's adorned with unique props from movies and odd, hanging antiques. Special event you don't want to miss? "Trike Night" where you roll around the bar on a tricycle, beer in hand.
Likely the most iconic and well recognized greasy spoon in Boulder, Village Coffee Shop has been in business for more than 40 years and serves up no frills, greasy diner food for breakfast and lunch. With some of the cheapest prices in Boulder, the small space boasts it's motto on the wall and their shirts: 890 square feet of reality surrounded by Boulder. Don't try ordering a latte, they'll yell out, "We've got a Village Virgin." Stick to simple black coffee, the only kind of coffee they've got.
Located in a strip mall on 28th Street (they were once downtown on West Pearl Street), Dot's Diner has been serving simple, greasy breakfast in Boulder for 30 years. Their motto is: "where the folks get their yolks," and it's been a longtime, locals favorite. Almost all their breakfast items are under $10 and you can find every breakfast item you could desire on their varied greasy spoon menu. If you're lucky, you might see one of your servers bring you your bacon, eggs and coffee on roller skates.
With locations in Boulder and Denver, Mustard's Last Stand once was a popular hot dog stand, and they turned it into a mainstay Chicago Style grill. For 35-years they have been serving up hot dogs with all the fixings, Italian beef, fresh, hand-cut fries, charbroiled burgers and more. They argue it's the best Chicago Style dogs you can find, outside of Chicago.
Owned and run by the same family since 1979, Marie's is in North Boulder and is your quintessential greasy spoon breakfast and lunch joint, that is open 7 days a week. Much of the staff are Czech and alongside your eggs and bacon, you can find traditional central European style foods like schnitzel or kolacek. Another bonus? Everything on the menu is under $10.
New to the scene in Boulder, Snarfburger sits on Arapahoe and 20th amongst the university and high school, serving up greasy burgers, hot dogs, fries and custard in a 350-square-foot "shack". Owned and run by famed Jim Seidel of Snarf's Sandwich Shops the food is just the right amount of greasy and they know what they're doing. The menu is small and the food inexpensive. We suggest sitting outside on their picnic tables (there's minimal seating inside) while you enjoy your burger.
On North Main in Longmont, you can find locally owned Aunt Alice's diner and they're always packed with regulars. Breakfast is available all day off their large menu and their specialty are their pies which you can find a plethora of daily. The staff is warm and friendly and most of them have been there for 10+ years. If you're feeling ambitious, try their "Big Daddy" Breakfast Burrito challenge, to land a spot on their wall of fame (or if you lose, wall of shame).
El Taquito in Longmont is owned by a family from the Jalisco region of Mexico. The mother who cooks most of the dishes, brought all the recipes from her mother, so you're sure to find authentic specialties like pork tamales, chile rellenos stuffed with queso fresco or chicken mole. If you're looking for a deal, try their el pastor tacos, which get you 4 tacos for just $5. As a definite hole in the wall, it has just the right amount of grease and flavor to represent your Mexican favorites here in Colorado.
Janie's Cafe in Longmont provides simple, greasy breakfast fare served to you directly by Janie herself. A local favorite includes their larger than life breakfast burrito and their corned beef hash. Locals love seeing gregarious and witty Janie throughout the restaurant as she adds to the warmth and style of the local restaurant. Take note they are closed on Sunday.
Often touted as "Boulder's Best Kept Secret" it's a diner that many Boulderites don't know about. It's in East Boulder on 47th and Pearl but their breakfast is consistent, cheap and delicious. Albeit a bit different, they serve American classics for breakfast and lunch and for entrees you can find Mexican favorites. Dogs are welcome on their patio and it's an undeniably friendly spot that shouldn't be missed for classic breakfast, on the outskirts of Boulder.
The Dark Horse has been a Boulder landmark since 1975 and was featured by USA Today as "Places to eat a burger worthy of paradise." Offering burgers, wings, and sandwiches, it's a great spot to enjoy any sporting event alongside your greasy grub and beverage. The interior is a bit dingy and dark, yet it's adorned with unique props from movies and odd, hanging antiques. Special event you don't want to miss? "Trike Night" where you roll around the bar on a tricycle, beer in hand.
Likely the most iconic and well recognized greasy spoon in Boulder, Village Coffee Shop has been in business for more than 40 years and serves up no frills, greasy diner food for breakfast and lunch. With some of the cheapest prices in Boulder, the small space boasts it's motto on the wall and their shirts: 890 square feet of reality surrounded by Boulder. Don't try ordering a latte, they'll yell out, "We've got a Village Virgin." Stick to simple black coffee, the only kind of coffee they've got.
Located in a strip mall on 28th Street (they were once downtown on West Pearl Street), Dot's Diner has been serving simple, greasy breakfast in Boulder for 30 years. Their motto is: "where the folks get their yolks," and it's been a longtime, locals favorite. Almost all their breakfast items are under $10 and you can find every breakfast item you could desire on their varied greasy spoon menu. If you're lucky, you might see one of your servers bring you your bacon, eggs and coffee on roller skates.
With locations in Boulder and Denver, Mustard's Last Stand once was a popular hot dog stand, and they turned it into a mainstay Chicago Style grill. For 35-years they have been serving up hot dogs with all the fixings, Italian beef, fresh, hand-cut fries, charbroiled burgers and more. They argue it's the best Chicago Style dogs you can find, outside of Chicago.
Owned and run by the same family since 1979, Marie's is in North Boulder and is your quintessential greasy spoon breakfast and lunch joint, that is open 7 days a week. Much of the staff are Czech and alongside your eggs and bacon, you can find traditional central European style foods like schnitzel or kolacek. Another bonus? Everything on the menu is under $10.
New to the scene in Boulder, Snarfburger sits on Arapahoe and 20th amongst the university and high school, serving up greasy burgers, hot dogs, fries and custard in a 350-square-foot "shack". Owned and run by famed Jim Seidel of Snarf's Sandwich Shops the food is just the right amount of greasy and they know what they're doing. The menu is small and the food inexpensive. We suggest sitting outside on their picnic tables (there's minimal seating inside) while you enjoy your burger.
On North Main in Longmont, you can find locally owned Aunt Alice's diner and they're always packed with regulars. Breakfast is available all day off their large menu and their specialty are their pies which you can find a plethora of daily. The staff is warm and friendly and most of them have been there for 10+ years. If you're feeling ambitious, try their "Big Daddy" Breakfast Burrito challenge, to land a spot on their wall of fame (or if you lose, wall of shame).
El Taquito in Longmont is owned by a family from the Jalisco region of Mexico. The mother who cooks most of the dishes, brought all the recipes from her mother, so you're sure to find authentic specialties like pork tamales, chile rellenos stuffed with queso fresco or chicken mole. If you're looking for a deal, try their el pastor tacos, which get you 4 tacos for just $5. As a definite hole in the wall, it has just the right amount of grease and flavor to represent your Mexican favorites here in Colorado.
Janie's Cafe in Longmont provides simple, greasy breakfast fare served to you directly by Janie herself. A local favorite includes their larger than life breakfast burrito and their corned beef hash. Locals love seeing gregarious and witty Janie throughout the restaurant as she adds to the warmth and style of the local restaurant. Take note they are closed on Sunday.
Often touted as "Boulder's Best Kept Secret" it's a diner that many Boulderites don't know about. It's in East Boulder on 47th and Pearl but their breakfast is consistent, cheap and delicious. Albeit a bit different, they serve American classics for breakfast and lunch and for entrees you can find Mexican favorites. Dogs are welcome on their patio and it's an undeniably friendly spot that shouldn't be missed for classic breakfast, on the outskirts of Boulder.
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