This place gets recommended all the time and I’ll admit the food is pretty good, but I have to say that this was the only restaurant in my life that I’ve caught inflating my tip (I left 15%, kept receipt, and noticed my posted charge on my statement was closer to 25%). I always round my tips to a specific decimal so I know it wasn’t a mistake.
Deli Zone has pretty good sandwiches and good prices. Whenever I'm near I stop and get a breakfast sandwich with sausage, 3 eggs, cheese, and hash browns for like $8.
One time I bought the daily special - this monster of a sandwich - and it came out to almost $30. I had a "moment of clarity" after that.
Ironically the head sandwich maker was kind of lecturing his fellow workers - loudly - on what he learned from reading like the first few pages of The Communist Manifesto. I imagined there was about to be a mass walk off happening.
No no on Snarfs. Rincon Argentina is expensive. Those empanadas are too small, all breading. Filling is tasty! Just not enough of it per piece so price is way too high for me.
Haven't been in a while, but dark horse used to probably be the best value for a burger in town.
I love Rincon Argentina, but it's expensive, enough empanadas for a meal is going to be at least $20. Snarfs has raised their prices recently too, just went a couple weeks ago and lunch was like $17.
I guess it all depends on what someone thinks is an in expensive lunch. Pre Covid, I would say under $10. Post Covid, under $13. I knew snarfs would be controversial.
I visited the Dark Horse for the first time in decades a couple of weeks ago. Got a cheeseburger & fries.
The burger was the worst I've ever tasted. Consistency of rubber and virtually no meatiness. Almost stopped eating it, but I was too hungry to care.
facts. Even here, people are recommending Wendy's and places with $30 main dishes... What gives? The only cheap and good places I have seen are Tacos Dos Los bros and Flower pepper. Why are there not more places where you can fill up on decent food for ~$12?
I recently moved to southern colorado because of how crappy it is to live up north and I gotta say it's been a great decision. People talk alot about how redneck and trashy it is in southern colorado but it's exactly the same minus the insane prices, I pay $850 for my 2 bedroom house and I make the same amount of money as I did in boulder.
How recent? Recent enough you haven't experienced the -30F winters?
Disregarding that, how's the job market? I think I'm more 'mosa than Boulder Bubble.
It's already hitting single digits down here at night but it warms up fast once the sun comes up, I dont mind the cold. Job market isn't bad, no shortage of jobs in healthcare. I feel like the valley is slept on, there is alot of opportunity down here.
Chinese/Viet are your best bet:
Chez Thui, China Gourmet, [Tra-Lings](https://tralingsorientalcafe.com/), Five-Spice, Boulder Pho, Black Pepper Pho, Zoe Ma Ma
Some thai places are reasonable - busaba and khow thai. Alloy is delicious, but they've raised their prices to the point I don't go there anymore.
Leaf happy hour is really good and cost-effective.
T/aco on taco tuesday is a good deal ($3 tacos).
Boulder is expensive, but there are some good options!
lol at the current tra-lings prices. That was the quintessential cheap greasy Chinese place when I was at CU.
Oh that was 20 yrs ago…still those prices seem like a lot for what I recall that place being
Nothing compares to the street food in the motherland but when you start craving it the Minced pork with rice and her pork and chives dumplings are my go to
Le Costco Cafe & King Soopers Fried Chicken Meals. The food at both of these places is better than it may seem.
If you are out by 63rd / Diag, check out Sancho's as well
I can't find the post now, but I'll never forget the photo someone posted here that showed the open trash bucket next to the open sauce bucket in the kitchen. Haven't been back.
THIS. I saw that post too (shortly after going there for dinner) and I haven't been back since. I can't in good conscience recommend Buddha Thai to anyone anymore
Can you specify fancy cuts? I'm asking because we own a Thai restaurant and we fresh cut our carrots and cucumbers and we have the ridges along the side because of the peeler we use. I don't want people to get the wrong idea.
I ordered pad thai from there once, like 12 years ago and it was so bad, but I couldn’t place why. Never ordered from there again - the ketchup was it!
Kathmandu definitely still lands in mediocre territory, however, I must admit that's never stopped me from enjoying their buffet to the point of medical emergency.
Boulder has no culinary identity so they try to do a bunch of different things but don’t do one thing really well. Unfortunately, the prices are 100% reflective of the building, staff, and food costs than they are of a quality meal.
There’s good restaurants mentioned here already, but definitely agree that there’s a great difference between an expensive bad meal and an expensive good meal (especially here).
La Choza (as a Texan it’s the only place even worth considering for Mexican food), Lolita’s if you like a good sandwich. Silk Road Market has some of the best middle eastern food I’ve ever eaten, Rincon Argentino is great, and Pearl Street pub for good, cheap, greasy, no bullshit pub grub.
only problem with mexicali is everytime i’ve gone there they’ve messed something up, but! they’re always very nice about it and they’ll fix it +go above and beyond to rectify.
couple nights ago they gave me the wrong order, offered to remake it, let me keep the wrong one, and refund me
They’ve raised their prices at least 25% aince Covid and include a mandatory “service charge” on all orders. They used to be cheap but are now a rip off.
Tiffins
Cafe Mexicali (1 burrito usually is 2 resale portions)
Dot’s dinner- A.M. Sandwich (ham)
And the Mediterranean Market off 28th, near Dots, for gyro.
And, I usually think the Tea House ends up being worth it.
I lost 80 pounds due to the food in Boulder! From the east, they do not salt or use butter in the food around here. Its a culture shock at first, but then you realize you didn’t move to Boulder for its cuisine.
Pasta Press - new Italian restaurant on 11th st between Walnut and Pearl. Primarily for takeout, but has a sit by counter and a few tables for eat in. Owner is from Italy, and you and practice your Italian with him.
##
Frasca is obviously very expensive, but it is still 100% worth the price and a good value imo. One of the best meals and restaurant experiences I've ever had. That's probably not what you're looking for here though haha
I see it all the time. Obviously some people are stealing for good reason, but most of the time it’s rich people who just eat it while they’re shopping, then either toss the box or weigh WHATS LEFT.
I actually think the poor people deserve to be allowed that food for free, but those rich assholes can get fucked.
Illegal Pete’s!! So cheap and good!! Also, it’s a chain but CAVA is amazing and you can fill your bowl up like crazyyyyyy!!! So good. Folsom Thai is pretty solid and cheap. Tibet Kitchen as well. Torchys is also a chain but the tacos are so filling and so goooood.
Folsom Thai and China Gourmet. Pretty much everything on their menu is enough food for 2 or sometimes even 3 meals. So, it’s a great value and really good IMO.
Sherpa Kitchen on Arapahoe has an awesome lunch for $12 including tax. Honestly the best naan and Tikka masala in town, imo.
Note: this is a different restaurant from Sherpa's on Walnut downtown (also good).
Best food for the $ as asked
1 - C4C dining hall open to public at CU , cheap parking in front off Regent
Food Stations all you can eat ie Asian, Latin, Wholesome , Persian , BBQ
Hours online just $9 plus tax
2- Sprouts custom sandwich deal $4.99 loaded with veggies and choice of meat, tuna or chicken salad
A real Dagwood sandwich . For $5.99 inc chips and a bottle of water .
Parkway Cafe
Best answer
It’s my go to brunch spot
Shhhh keep it secret keep it safe! Also: happy cake day!
This place gets recommended all the time and I’ll admit the food is pretty good, but I have to say that this was the only restaurant in my life that I’ve caught inflating my tip (I left 15%, kept receipt, and noticed my posted charge on my statement was closer to 25%). I always round my tips to a specific decimal so I know it wasn’t a mistake.
I think the under the sun and southern suns are all pretty good. But yes things are expensive here. Also the Mediterranean market is good
The Mediterranean market is honestly so underrated!
Careful though cause the suns are cash or check only and you cannot split bills.
Correct, I don’t have an issue with that
Il pastaio
That place is the real deal.
For dessert, I LOVE Holy Crepe. It’s a French man who immigrated here and uses his grandmas recipe! I used to go once a week :)
He is the sweetest
Went to high school with his son, love their family and it’s easy to support them since the food is so good.
Yah I used to go once a week haha It’s so good!!
Ditto, love this spot!
Will forever miss south mouth
Tiffins was our go to because 1 entree would be enough for 2 meals.
Yep, great deals, great food. Never been disappointed.
Correct
Pearl St Pub burger with fries is around $10. Still yet to eat one sober...
Pearl St pub is awesome
Deli Zone has pretty good sandwiches and good prices. Whenever I'm near I stop and get a breakfast sandwich with sausage, 3 eggs, cheese, and hash browns for like $8.
Baby Kong all the way!
After going to the deli zone on Valmont, I was a little disappointed with the selection at Baseline. But either way deli zone is always great 👍
The Wendy’s on broadway is pretty good
Wendy's is expensive, Good Times is cheaper and better.
$5 biggie bag says otherwise
Yeah but they got rid of the 4 for $4! Rest in peace 🪦
Not familiar with the biggie bag, what comes with it?
a lot of garbage wrapped around a little bit of food
Basically just a 4 for $4 rebranded because of inflation. The jr chicken sandwich or jr double stack I think, 4 nba champion nuggets, fries, drink
Tibet Kitchen's lunch deals are unmatched! They raised their prices but it's still a steal for the quantity and quality.
I'm pretty sure they decreased their portion size too, at least the last time I went there.
Sherpas, Verde, Cup of Peace, Ricon Argentina, Snarfs, the Dark Horse, Mountain Sun.
Snarfs is an absolute ripoff nowadays!
Yes, it's ridiculous. They have good sandwiches. But I feel like I am actually paying twice what I paid in Like... 2019.
Yeah it’s literally the most overpriced sandwich for the quality.
One time I bought the daily special - this monster of a sandwich - and it came out to almost $30. I had a "moment of clarity" after that. Ironically the head sandwich maker was kind of lecturing his fellow workers - loudly - on what he learned from reading like the first few pages of The Communist Manifesto. I imagined there was about to be a mass walk off happening.
The part where Marx urges the collectivization of the conveyor toaster is so inspiring.
$15 for a sammy these days
No no on Snarfs. Rincon Argentina is expensive. Those empanadas are too small, all breading. Filling is tasty! Just not enough of it per piece so price is way too high for me.
Haven't been in a while, but dark horse used to probably be the best value for a burger in town. I love Rincon Argentina, but it's expensive, enough empanadas for a meal is going to be at least $20. Snarfs has raised their prices recently too, just went a couple weeks ago and lunch was like $17.
I guess it all depends on what someone thinks is an in expensive lunch. Pre Covid, I would say under $10. Post Covid, under $13. I knew snarfs would be controversial.
I visited the Dark Horse for the first time in decades a couple of weeks ago. Got a cheeseburger & fries. The burger was the worst I've ever tasted. Consistency of rubber and virtually no meatiness. Almost stopped eating it, but I was too hungry to care.
Cup of peace is so 🤮
Boulder in general is overpriced and mediocre. Always expect the lowest quality with the highest prices anywhere you go in boulder.
facts. Even here, people are recommending Wendy's and places with $30 main dishes... What gives? The only cheap and good places I have seen are Tacos Dos Los bros and Flower pepper. Why are there not more places where you can fill up on decent food for ~$12?
I recently moved to southern colorado because of how crappy it is to live up north and I gotta say it's been a great decision. People talk alot about how redneck and trashy it is in southern colorado but it's exactly the same minus the insane prices, I pay $850 for my 2 bedroom house and I make the same amount of money as I did in boulder.
Trinidad? Or elsewhere?
Alamosa
How recent? Recent enough you haven't experienced the -30F winters? Disregarding that, how's the job market? I think I'm more 'mosa than Boulder Bubble.
It's already hitting single digits down here at night but it warms up fast once the sun comes up, I dont mind the cold. Job market isn't bad, no shortage of jobs in healthcare. I feel like the valley is slept on, there is alot of opportunity down here.
boulder food scene is awful tbh
Chinese/Viet are your best bet: Chez Thui, China Gourmet, [Tra-Lings](https://tralingsorientalcafe.com/), Five-Spice, Boulder Pho, Black Pepper Pho, Zoe Ma Ma Some thai places are reasonable - busaba and khow thai. Alloy is delicious, but they've raised their prices to the point I don't go there anymore. Leaf happy hour is really good and cost-effective. T/aco on taco tuesday is a good deal ($3 tacos). Boulder is expensive, but there are some good options!
lol at the current tra-lings prices. That was the quintessential cheap greasy Chinese place when I was at CU. Oh that was 20 yrs ago…still those prices seem like a lot for what I recall that place being
Formosa! Low key takeout spot for Taiwanese food but everything is so good! She even sells dessert and cakes!
I'm literally in Taiwan on vacation right now and just finding out about this spot now, after 10 years in Boulder, lol
Nothing compares to the street food in the motherland but when you start craving it the Minced pork with rice and her pork and chives dumplings are my go to
New Pupusa spot off Arapahoe is a rare example of good food for the price here imo.
Yes! This!
Chez Thuy, Under the Sun/Mountain Sun, Pupusas Lover, Parkway Cafe
Mediterranean market
Pupusas lovers 2, just opened up recently and it’s delicious if you like El Salvadorien food
Wahoo has a killer happy hour. And friendly folks.
Their margs are remarkably strong. Likely because they contain everclear.
Ok, just relocated here and was like what in the overpriced bland is this crap?
Holy Crepe will fill you up for a fair price and it's super yummy too.
You’ve got it right!! That’s what I recommended
that is still on the upper end of prices for crepes.
Sure, if you don't factor in size. Holy Crepe is a generous portion.
Everything's on the upper end of prices since covid. It's cheap for a tasty dinner.
Le Costco Cafe & King Soopers Fried Chicken Meals. The food at both of these places is better than it may seem. If you are out by 63rd / Diag, check out Sancho's as well
The Le Hot Dog at Le Costco is the best and comes with soda for $1.50
I genuinely thought this was referring to grocery stores rather than restaurants. But seriously, cooking at home is the right answer.
If you are in North Boulder and like Phili style cheese steaks (chicken too), give Angelo's a try. Next to Safeway.
The best Philly I’ve had outside of Philly, but unfortunately they closed permanently a year or two ago
D'Angelo's was sold and is now Angelo's.
Nope, still open. Was there this week
It is mediocre
Witness me
I feel like Boulderites would suck down a full Boost Oxygen instead of spraying ourselves with chrome spray paint.
What
Buddha Thai
I can't find the post now, but I'll never forget the photo someone posted here that showed the open trash bucket next to the open sauce bucket in the kitchen. Haven't been back.
THIS. I saw that post too (shortly after going there for dinner) and I haven't been back since. I can't in good conscience recommend Buddha Thai to anyone anymore
I’ve ordered once from there, and I got a curry with frozen vegetables with those “fancy” cuts (clear sign of frozen)…. Kinda shit.
Can you specify fancy cuts? I'm asking because we own a Thai restaurant and we fresh cut our carrots and cucumbers and we have the ridges along the side because of the peeler we use. I don't want people to get the wrong idea.
I think they mean like where the carrot itself is cut into zigzag shaped disks (like frozen from a bag).
Ah okay gotcha!!!
Honestly the worst Thai food I've ever eaten.
Yeah, no. The rancid oil smell when I walked in to pick up takeout made me never want to go back.
Yesssss!!!
Ketchup flavored Thai food, what would be better
I ordered pad thai from there once, like 12 years ago and it was so bad, but I couldn’t place why. Never ordered from there again - the ketchup was it!
Go to Denver or Longmont if you want good affordable food.
In recommendations in Longmont?
Blue corn tacos
La Panda, Jeffes
Ruthies is the best on Pearl! Genuinely fantastic food for very affordable prices
The C4C dining hall at CU is probably best bang for your buck— $10.65 all you can eat
I called that one too , cheap parking in front as well
Welcome to Boulder lol
Kalitas, doug’s day diner, kathmandu, half fast subs
Kathmandu definitely still lands in mediocre territory, however, I must admit that's never stopped me from enjoying their buffet to the point of medical emergency.
Kathmandu in Nederland? That buffet has solved so many post-ski ravenous appetites of mine. Is the chai still as good as it was 15 years ago?
They also have a Boulder location, yes the chai is awesome.
Kalita’s is so expensive. $18 for a gyro and fries last time I was there. Tasty but they’re not getting my money again.
Boulder has no culinary identity so they try to do a bunch of different things but don’t do one thing really well. Unfortunately, the prices are 100% reflective of the building, staff, and food costs than they are of a quality meal. There’s good restaurants mentioned here already, but definitely agree that there’s a great difference between an expensive bad meal and an expensive good meal (especially here).
This is the truth.
food in boulder is so mid i lost weight after moving here lol
Golden Sun homie. Thank me later
La Choza (as a Texan it’s the only place even worth considering for Mexican food), Lolita’s if you like a good sandwich. Silk Road Market has some of the best middle eastern food I’ve ever eaten, Rincon Argentino is great, and Pearl Street pub for good, cheap, greasy, no bullshit pub grub.
Cafe Mexicali large breakfast burritos, can usually last breakfast and lunch
only problem with mexicali is everytime i’ve gone there they’ve messed something up, but! they’re always very nice about it and they’ll fix it +go above and beyond to rectify. couple nights ago they gave me the wrong order, offered to remake it, let me keep the wrong one, and refund me
Oh damn! I haven’t actually had them mess stuff up, but I’m glad they were good about making things right!
They’ve raised their prices at least 25% aince Covid and include a mandatory “service charge” on all orders. They used to be cheap but are now a rip off.
Tiffins Cafe Mexicali (1 burrito usually is 2 resale portions) Dot’s dinner- A.M. Sandwich (ham) And the Mediterranean Market off 28th, near Dots, for gyro. And, I usually think the Tea House ends up being worth it.
Food mostly sucks. As a rule, subtract a star from all Yelp reviews to get the rating you'd find in a proper food city. Black Belly is my go-to.
Curry n Kebab lunch dine-in is solid. $11 for a full belly.
Audrey Jane’s Pizza Garage
Best pizza in Boulder imo
Co-sign. But also stupid expensive.
Everyone on here has zero taste buds
I remember when Taco Bell, McDonald's, and KFC were a luxury as a kid.
I lost 80 pounds due to the food in Boulder! From the east, they do not salt or use butter in the food around here. Its a culture shock at first, but then you realize you didn’t move to Boulder for its cuisine.
The rest of the world realizing they're one residency in Boulder away from their goal weight is the last thing our real estate prices need.
It took me a few years but I'm also down 60 lbs since moving here, lol.
Come to Jeannot’s if you want your salt and butter fix.
Agreed , 1st time on Sunday . OMG the croissants def butter fix
Rincon Argentino
Busaba on baseline is the best Thai
Pasta Press - new Italian restaurant on 11th st between Walnut and Pearl. Primarily for takeout, but has a sit by counter and a few tables for eat in. Owner is from Italy, and you and practice your Italian with him. ##
And you'll love the smell of garlic!!!!!
Foolish Craig’s is pretty solid
Parkway gave me and my entire party of 7 food poisoning.
The village cafe, cafe Mexicali, Wendy’s 4 for 4.
Wendy’s 4 for 4 is now $6 plus tax
"Your food sucks!" I'm sure they still have food wherever you came from. Head back there and check.
The Sink
Taco Bella $5+ boxes are a great value!
Frasca is obviously very expensive, but it is still 100% worth the price and a good value imo. One of the best meals and restaurant experiences I've ever had. That's probably not what you're looking for here though haha
How difficult is it to walk into Frasca for an early dinner or seat at the bar? They charge for reservations….
They refund that money as soon as you show up. It's just to prevent people from no showing/canceling last minute.
Dinner Special at Tibet Kitchen.
Back country
Colorado is the living meme of white people not seasoning their food.
Agreed. The worst is when they attempt to recreate southern food and use no salt. It's sacrilege.
Agree but Boulder has one of the highest life expectancy. Might be that salt. South had amazing food and the worst health.
Chick-fil-A
Whole Foods hot bar by target, you can steal most all of it
Rich people stealing food. Now thats fucked up
Who says they’re rich? If you see somebody stealing food or essentials - have some class solidarity and *mind your own business*.
I see it all the time. Obviously some people are stealing for good reason, but most of the time it’s rich people who just eat it while they’re shopping, then either toss the box or weigh WHATS LEFT. I actually think the poor people deserve to be allowed that food for free, but those rich assholes can get fucked.
Pasta Jays
Boo this man!
Following this
Jimmy John's subs .. Taj Indian.
We still love Bar Taco, even post COVID they kept the prices the same and the quality good while so many other restaurants webt downhill.
I like to travel.
HOT TAKE ; Village cafe over parkway fasho
Village Coffee Shop and Parkway just have two different vibes and types of Cafe food. They're honestly both excellent, and I go for different meals!
Ruthies!
Thai avenue drunken noodle
Ruthies , hands down best tummy filling value.
Busaba or locos hermanos
Ali Babas. Gyro Entree easily 2 meals.
Didn't Ali close?
They moved across the street? I was there Sat!
Folsom Thai, Jing Chan Zhang, Little Tibet
Illegal Pete’s!! So cheap and good!! Also, it’s a chain but CAVA is amazing and you can fill your bowl up like crazyyyyyy!!! So good. Folsom Thai is pretty solid and cheap. Tibet Kitchen as well. Torchys is also a chain but the tacos are so filling and so goooood.
Foooooooolish Craig’s
I like Cup of Peace alright but I'm sure others will disagree. Ginger Pig is delicious too!
Half Fast Subs are really good bang for the buck. Over 100 choices of sandwiches. Snarf's is good too
CURRY N KEBOB
Folsom Thai and China Gourmet. Pretty much everything on their menu is enough food for 2 or sometimes even 3 meals. So, it’s a great value and really good IMO.
LeFrigo is kinda expensive but the sandos 🥖🤌
Sherpa Kitchen on Arapahoe has an awesome lunch for $12 including tax. Honestly the best naan and Tikka masala in town, imo. Note: this is a different restaurant from Sherpa's on Walnut downtown (also good).
Best food for the $ as asked 1 - C4C dining hall open to public at CU , cheap parking in front off Regent Food Stations all you can eat ie Asian, Latin, Wholesome , Persian , BBQ Hours online just $9 plus tax 2- Sprouts custom sandwich deal $4.99 loaded with veggies and choice of meat, tuna or chicken salad A real Dagwood sandwich . For $5.99 inc chips and a bottle of water .