Where to Find Your Hometown Comfort Food Fix in Denver

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Author(s)

Jordyn Reiland

Writer

jordyn.reiland@du.edu

Whether you’re looking for a Chicago dog, Texas BBQ, Portland wings or something else, Denver has the spot to cure your culinary homesickness.

Feature •

DU Field Notes •

September 4, 2024

Leaving your hometown and moving to a new city—be it 100 miles or 1,000 miles—is perhaps the biggest way to get out of your comfort zone.

Every year, thousands of people move to the Mile High City, including new students, faculty and staff who work, teach and study at the University of Denver.

Students in DU’s Class of 2028 hail from 47 states and 35 countries. The top 10 hometowns outside of the state include Chicago, Austin, Portland, Minneapolis, Santa Fe, Houston, St. Louis, St. Paul, Dallas and Albuquerque.

So, if you’re missing your favorite spot for a Chicago dog, craving some Texas BBQ, or longing for a good New York bagel, Denver’s metro area has just the thing to quell those hometown culinary blues.

Have another spot for hometown favorites? Let us know by sending your thoughts to dumag@du.edu.

Chicago: Relish a classic Chicago dog or Italian beef

Located just outside of Denver in nearby Centennial, Chicago Mike’s Beef & Dogs has served the Mile High City for more than two decades. The menu features the popular Italian beef sandwich, the classic Chicago hot dog, Wisconsin brats and much more.

11405 E Briarwood Ave, Centennial

Another great option, located just across the street from DU’s campus, is Mustard’s Last Stand. With locations in Denver and Boulder, diners have enjoyed Mustard’s for more than 40 years. The cozy restaurant also serves up the classic Chicago style hot dog and Italian beef sandwich and touts its use of local suppliers whenever possible.

2081 S. University Blvd., Denver

Austin, Houston and Dallas: Dig into some Texas BBQ

If you’re looking for some down-home BBQ, you can’t go wrong with AJ’s Pit Bar-B-Q or Post Oak Barbecue.

AJ’s Pit Bar-B-Q specializes in Texas style pit-smoked BBQ, using 100% post-oak traditional pits. They offer smoked meat by the pound and sides including custard-filled cornbread, truffle mac and cheese and pork green chili. Owners Jared and Amanda Leonard have four other Denver-area restaurants, including Campfire Lakewood and Campfire Evergreen, which offer BBQ and wood-fired pizza.

2180 S Delaware St, Denver

Owner Nick Prince’s Texas roots helped bring Post Oak Barbecue to life. The restaurant offers meats by the pound, plus spareribs, smoked wings, BBQ sandwiches and tacos, loaded baked taters and dirty mac—smoked meat piled on their homemade jalapeño bacon mac and cheese.

4000 Tennyson St, Denver

Portland: Indulge in a dozen wings and a doughnut or two

Established in Portland in 2005, Fire on the Mountain has expanded to two Denver locations and is more than a spot for delicious wings. The restaurant is committed to sustainability and responsible sourcing, composts all food scraps and uses only compostable to-go boxes, bags and cups. They also have a charity of the month program and have donated more than $500,000 to the Denver community since opening in 2012, according to their website.

300 S Logan St #102, Denver

3801 W 32nd Ave, Denver

“Good things come in pink boxes” declares the website of Portland’s own Voodoo Doughnuts. With multiple Denver locations and 40 doughnut flavors to choose from, Voodoo is known not only for its colorful to-go boxes but also its unconventional options like strawberry lemonade stand, dirty chai and Oh Captain, My Captain—featuring a layer of Captain Crunch cereal. With 10 vegan options, there is something delectably delicious for everyone.

98 South Broadway, Denver

1520 East Colfax, Denver

Minneapolis and St. Paul: Dive into the Juicy Lucy

Lucy’s Burger Bar brought the famous “Juicy Lucy” cheese-stuffed burger to Denver. The establishment also features the Thousand Island dressing-topped “Saucy Sally,” more traditional cheeseburgers and hamburgers, a vegan black bean burger, chicken sandwiches and an all-day breakfast.

4018 Tennyson St, Denver

Santa Fe and Albuquerque: Savor the Southwest

Kachina Cantina’s inspiration lies in the Four Corners region of the Southwest and Mexico’s Baja California Peninsula. The restaurant offers menu items such as pozole, quesabirria, four different salsas and various kinds of tacos, with a choice of corn tortillas, flour tortillas or fry bread—as well as a brunch menu.

1890 Wazee St, Denver

St. Louis: BBQ without the blues

Though located a bit of a distance from Denver in the northern suburb of Westminster, Sugarfire Smoke House is worth the drive. Those missing St. Louis barbecue can enjoy the fried green tomato sandwich, brisket cheesesteak, pulled pork, brisket, ribs, turkey, salmon, burgers, salad and much more.

14375 Orchard Pkwy #100, Westminster