8 of the Best Casual Restaurants in Denver

Denver, Colorado is a beautiful city in central Colorado. There are countless tourist attractions in and around the city. The city has many attractions including some excitement for all the sports fans out there! The Colorado Avalanche, Denver Nuggets, Colorado Rockies, and Denver Broncos all have their home in the Mile-High city. A couple other attractions in the area for tourists and vacationers are nearby Rocky Mountain National Park and ski resort areas. These attractions provide visitors with opportunities for hiking, wildlife viewing, and winter sports activities. 

Most people like to enjoy a fancy dinner in the city when they’re visiting. Whether it's a holiday work party, a date night, or a wedding reception; a formal dinner engagement can bring us closer to our friends or family. 

Although a fancy dinner may feel cozy and inviting, there are other times when you just want to play it cool and grab some dinner before a Friday night football game or after a long day hiking or skiing in the mountains. If you’re spending the day in the area, be sure to check out some of the best casual restaurants in Denver. 

Before you plan your next vacation, be sure to check out the GiftYa blog, where you will find lots of great information about tourism and restaurants across the country. 

1. Supreme Chicken 

Where Mexico and chicken get acquainted! 

📍 5410 E Colfax Hill | Park Hill |

If you think there’s a lot of chicken options on their menu, then you guessed accurately. Supreme Chicken offers a variety of delicious chicken meals and dishes including: charcoal grilled chicken, wings, tacos, tortas, burritos, and many other choices from their full menu. 

Whether you are in the mood for some chicken wings or some great Mexican food, this casual restaurant in Denver will not disappoint. 

“Excellent food, excellent service, and the prices were good! I loved the chicken and fish tacos and my wife enjoyed the taco salad. We will definitely be back.” - Yelp Review 

2. Da Sauce 

Where Chicago and Denver meet! 

📍 2907 Huron Street | Five Points | desaucepizza.com 

At a loss for a casual restaurant in Denver? Come get some sauce at De Sauce Pizza in the Points area. If you are craving some excellent Chicago-style pizza, you have found the right place! Stop by and try one of their thin crust or cauliflower crust pizza.

If you would rather have a sandwich, they have several options including the Italian beef combo, chicken parmesan, and meatball sub. Thinking about dessert to satisfy your sweet tooth? De Sauce also offers delicious homemade ice cream! Their full list of mouthwatering delights can be found on their online menu. 

If you don’t feel like going out for dinner, the restaurant offers delivery services as well. 

“Delicious ice cream with all kinds of unique flavors I’ve never seen anywhere else! Very friendly owners too. We will be back for late night ice cream and some pizza very soon.” - Yelp Review  

3. The Lake House Kitchen and Tavern

Come eat some great-tasting food and enjoy the beauty of the lake!

📍 8026 West Bowles Avenue | Dutch Creek Village | lakehousekt.com 

Looking for a place where you can enjoy the beauty of nature, while you eat your meal? The Lake House Kitchen and Tavern is the perfect place. The restaurant offers private dining, takeout, and outdoor dining options. This casual restaurant in Denver is perhaps one of the most gorgeous places to enjoy a meal with your family or friends because of its location on the north side of Johnson Reservoir.

If you are planning to stop by for a visit, their menu includes options such as: the fillet house burger, filet mignon, walleye lake catch, rotisserie chicken dinner, and much more. You can also choose from a variety of options from their brunch menu, which includes steak and eggs, chorizo breakfast sliders, bread pudding, French toast, and breakfast tacos. If you are planning to visit and want to be certain you have a spot at the restaurant, you can also go to their website and make an online reservation. 

“This is a great place for lunch. Our server, Blake, was a nice guy who took good care of us and brought the food out nice and hot. The chicken pita sandwich was great and the hot squash was tender and tangy.” - Yelp Review 

4. Ash ‘Kara 

Your one stop restaurant to experience the food and culture of the Middle East

📍 2005 W 33rd Street | Northwest | ashkaradenver.com 

Whether you are visiting Denver as a vacationer from the Middle East or just someone who loves Middle Eastern food and culture, this casual restaurant in the Northwest community will not disappoint you. 

Come in and try one of their many plate options including: braised lamb shoulder, New York strip, pan roasted striped bass, roasted sweet potato tagine and much more. Other delicious menu options  include: Za’atar chicken brussel sprouts, and cauliflower tagine. Interested in dessert to finish off your meal? They also offer Baklava, chocolate bar, honey spice cake for a tasty treat to top off your meal. 

You can  book a private event or make a reservation at the restaurant if you are planning an important dinner or event. You can also purchase an Ask'kara gift card on their website. 

While we are on the subject of gift cards, why not also check out the new GiftYa Select offer from GiftYa? This card allows the customer to send a gift card to a friend through text or email. There is also an option for the desired amount to be placed on a credit card for easy access. 

“Our experience was great! I recommend going with a big group so you can try a bit of everything. The hummus is an absolute must! The naan bread is literally bigger than your head. So delicious.” - Yelp Review 

5. Pony Up 

Pony up and come check out what there is to discover inside this classic American restaurant.

📍 1808 Blake Street | Union Station | ponyupdenver.com 

Pony UP provides a fun and hospitable atmosphere where their focus is on providing you with a great dining experience. This casual restaurant in Denver is a great place to relax and grab a sandwich or some wings.

Interested in some of their menu options? Pony Up has many options including specials such as: the pony dog, blta, and veggie wrap. They also have snack options and dips that include: the Alameda Street, the Saigon, the Baravian soft pretzel, buffalo chicken wings, crispy potatoes, and many others. If you’re interested in some leafy greens, they also offer a classic caesar salad to compliment your meal. 

This is an excellent place to hold an upcoming event or your business, or to celebrate a special occasion or milestone. They provide event options including: semi-private and  exclusive buyouts, as well as 60 and 130 guest capacity. After you enjoy your visit, gift someone with a personalized Pony Up gift card. This card can be sent directly to the individual through text or via email. You can also customize the card with the amount of money that you desire to give someone. 

“Found this place, while checking through yelp through yelp for a bite to eat before the Rockies game. The food was fantastic! We had the PB burger and a French dip. Others tried the potatoes, French onion dip, and another sandwich. SO, so good.” - Yelp Review 

Pro tip: It’s February again, which means that Valentine’s Day is quickly approaching!  If you’re tired of the same boring gift ideas, head on over and check out these 10 creative Valentine's Day gift ideas.

6. Blue Pan Pizza 

Check out this casual pizza restaurant in the Congress Park area of Denver.

📍 3509 E 12th Avenue | Congress Park | bluepandenver.com  

Spending an evening in the West Highland or Congress Park area, stop in to Blue Pan Pizza and get some award-winning Detroit-style pizza. The restaurant was started in Detroit during the 1940s and has since expanded to other areas. They offer a wide range of dining options to work around your busy schedule. You can choose to dine-in, get takeout, or order delivery. 

The menu provides pizza options such as the small or large Chicago style or a custom size New York-style pizza. Interested in some appetizers or sides? Blue Pan pizza offers menu options such as: meatballs, sauteed spinach, garlic crostini, arancini, and eggplant parmesan. 

Interested in having Blue Pan Pizza at your next event? The restaurant also offers a food truck that will serve many of their pizza options. Feel free to contact them to schedule an event. 

Their pizza is soooo yummy! The pepperoni and ricotta (house made) is the best! Paired with the crust and the crispy edges of the cheese, their Detroit style pizza is top notch. Delicious! Go try it now! - Yelp Review  

7. The Burns Pub and Restaurant 

Have a burning desire for some great food? Come check out this casual restaurant in Denver!

📍 9009 Metro Airport Avenue | Interlocken | theburnspub.com 

The Burns Pub and Restaurant is a family owned and operated restaurant in the Interlocken area near Broomfield. The restaurant had humble beginnings, starting out as a breakfast cafe in 2001. It wouldn’t take long until the cafe would begin to grow into one of the busiest and most successful family owned and operated businesses on the front range. 

Now that you know a little bit about how the restaurant was started, let's talk about all the delicious food and great service they have to offer you! Some of their lunch menu options include but are not limited to: chicken tenders, corned beef poutine, fish and chips, shepherd’s pie, and tikka masala. If you are in the mood for a sandwich you can try the Bruns Pub Sandwich, Icelandic cod, or Pub Philly sandwich. Other options such as: side plates, soups, and salads are also available! Some dinner choices include: Irish stew, roast dinner, shepherd’s pie and winter Wenberg, among many others. 

Interested in booking a family gathering or a special night out to celebrate with friends? This casual restaurant in Denver will also accommodate group and private party reservations.

“Love this place! My boyfriend and I came in on NYE. We shared a Ruben and beef Wellington. It was amazing! The Ruben was the best I’ve had! Highly recommend this place! We will definitely be back!” - Yelp Review 

8. Cheese Ranch

Take a break from your day, and stop by for a sandwich and enjoy the beautiful view of the Rocky Mountains

📍 601 Sixteenth Street Unit A | Golden | cheeseranch.com 

If you are planning on heading to the mountains for the day and don’t know what to pack for your lunch, stop by the Cheese Ranch and pick up some of their delicious meat and cheese for your trip! 

They provide a wide range of menu options which includes meats, cheeses and sandwiches. Some items on the menu include: the cheese plate, red rocks box, and curd snack. They will also accommodate the order you desire with their Cut to Order option for meat and cheese. 

Interested in a sandwich? They provide several excellent choices such as: National Bird, Diego, Rich Wich, Yeehaw, and many others. If you would rather have a bowl of soup, they also have a soup of the day that changes on a near daily basis. 

“Got a great cheese board that we took to the park. It was very convenient. It came with a lot of nice accoutrements. I would definitely get one of their boards again.” - Yelp Review  

Well Everyone… That’s the conclusion of our guide to the best casual restaurants in Denver!

Thank you for joining us in this guide to casual restaurants in Denver. Regardless of your reason for visiting the mile-high city, you can be sure that there are plenty of restaurants to get some delicious food and keep it cool while you visi