Denver is a city of many facets. It’s both a launching pad for outdoor adventure and a hub of the arts. It’s at once scrappy and sophisticated. It’s home to hundreds of unique lifestyles, cultures, and traditions—and about as many approaches to food. That’s good news for eaters: With this diverse culinary landscape, you never run out of options. And that means you never have to empty your wallet to eat extremely well.

Denver’s budget-friendly eateries run the gamut from upscale brunch diners like The OG to food-hall dessert counters like Cornicello. And there are some more surprising concepts in the mix, too. Take Avanti F & B, an experimental restaurant incubator that’s open to the public and serves cutting-edge food at rock-bottom prices. Or Vital Root, a vegan-friendly bistro that grows its produce on-site. No matter your budget, there’s a life-changing meal to be had in Denver. Try one of these nine spots and immerse yourself in the Mile High City’s affordable food scene.

When a celebrity pastry chef starts a passion project, you know it’s going to be good.
When a celebrity pastry chef starts a passion project, you know it’s going to be good. HOLDEN KUDLA

D Bar

Your sweet tooth’s new favorite spot.

While D Bar does serve savory courses (bacon mac n’ cheese and prime beef sliders, anyone?) no one would blame you for skipping straight to dessert. After all, D Bar is first and foremost a sweets concept, brought to life by celebrity pastry chef and former Food Network Challenge host Keegan Gerhard, along with his wife, fellow chef, and business partner Lisa Bailey. Unlike the cutthroat competitions Gerhard has judged in the past, D Bar takes a relaxed, laid-back approach to dessert. (So do its prices.) Its best dishes put a fun, upscale twist on the familiar. Think: molten lava cake, but with a raspberry compote and pistachio ice cream. Or a classic chocolate cake, but frosted with Madagascar chocolate icing and served alongside a hand-spun milkshake.

Sweet, silky, and indulgent, Cornicello’s Italian gelato is among the city’s finest.
Sweet, silky, and indulgent, Cornicello’s Italian gelato is among the city’s finest. HOLDEN KUDLA

Cornicello

Creamy gelato for every palate.

Cornicello is a hidden gem—and we mean that almost literally. Glittering with hanging lights and metallic accents, this polished-counter ice cream parlor lies tucked within the maze-like halls of Denver’s iconic Milk Market. Varied flavors cater to adults, children—and adults who are children at heart. Vanilla and mint chip grace one end of the spectrum, and spiced rum and tres leches hold down the other. There’s room for customization, too: You can order any flavor as an affogato, or in a custom ice-cream sandwich. All in all, we’d call Cornicello a small but mighty ode to Italian gelato at its finest—and one of the few places in Denver where you can snag a gourmet frozen treat for just $3.

Boozy baking meets pinkies-up catering at Yours Truly Cupcake.
Boozy baking meets pinkies-up catering at Yours Truly Cupcake. HOLDEN KUDLA

Yours Truly Cupcake

A bakery with a buzz.

This RiNo dessert joint does it all: cookies, catering, wedding cakes, the works. But as its name suggests, it’s Yours Truly’s cupcakes that really take center stage. You can’t argue with founder Tiffany Rose Goodyear’s methods: She knows what the people want, and what the people want is dessert and drinks rolled into one. While the menu changes on a monthly basis, she ensures that about half the storefront’s cupcake flavors are booze-infused. (Think: Moscow mule, PBR, cosmopolitan, and Champagne strawberry, but in cupcake format.) Better yet, the daily cupcakes are always baked in miniature—which means you can try as many flavors as you want, (practically) guilt-free.

At Mister Oso, generous portions, fruity cocktails, and loaded nachos make every meal a party.
At Mister Oso, generous portions, fruity cocktails, and loaded nachos make every meal a party. HOLDEN KUDLA

Mister Oso

A riot of color and flavor.

Mister Oso dishes up playful, Latin-inspired cuisine in ridiculously spunky digs. Its name and a few of its menu items come from its acclaimed sister restaurant Señor Bear, but Mister Oso has a vibe all its own. For starters, there’s color everywhere—splashing across the restaurant’s walls, brightening chairs and decor, fizzing through tropical cocktails, and dancing through every dish. Peruvian ceviche and crudo are menu staples, as is a rotating list of punchy street tacos. Order the shrimp or birria for more traditional flavors, or go with the BLT taco for an American twist.

Craveable is the name of the game at Vital Root, where dishes burst with both nutrients and flavor.
Craveable is the name of the game at Vital Root, where dishes burst with both nutrients and flavor. HOLDEN KUDLA

Vital Root

Fast casual and farm-to-table.

Located within a former candy factory, Vital Root has steered its digs in an entirely different direction: Instead of churning out sweets, this fast casual joint crafts nutrient-packed, plant-based dishes. Many—like the bánh mì tacos or dosa waffle—are imaginative mashups of beloved international cuisines. Others, like the cashew queso and root vegetable reuben, are hearty, flavorful interpretations of classic comfort foods. This cozy space is a haven for folks who like to be thoughtful about what they put in their bodies. Vital Root is one of the few restaurants in Colorado that’s 100-percent gluten-free. Many of the menu items are vegan. And the produce can’t get much fresher: Much of it is grown next door at BeatBox Farms, a sustainable hydroponic farm housed in an upcycled shipping container.

You’ll be hard-pressed to find a better stack of pancakes anywhere.
You’ll be hard-pressed to find a better stack of pancakes anywhere. HOLDEN KUDLA

The OG

Denver’s brunch specialists.

We weren’t sure that the brunch experience needed reinventing—until we went to The Original (AKA The OG). Once a full-service, 1950s-style diner, this McGregor Square restaurant found its calling and ran with it. Today, it just does brunch—nothing else—seven days per week. That singular focus has given the OG the time and menu space to really get creative. Executive Chef Stephen Greer is known for experimenting with bold flavors, surprising ingredients, and a healthy dose of nostalgia. Take, for example, the breakfast dog, a breakfast sausage coated in pancake batter and cornflakes, then deep fried. Or the resting spritz face, an innovative twist on the Aperol Spritz that incorporates blueberry, lemon, and a splash of locally brewed sour. It’s not just the drinks that use local ingredients, either. The OG’s sausages and chorizo come from Denver-based Polidori, and all breads hail from Baker’s Way, a local women-owned bakery.

At Avanti, imaginative street tacos, Cuban sandwiches, and savory phở are just the start.
At Avanti, imaginative street tacos, Cuban sandwiches, and savory phở are just the start. HOLDEN KUDLA

Avanti F & B

The culinary think-tank of Colorado.

Avanti F & B is ground zero for the Denver restaurant scene. Chefs and restaurateurs come to this dazzling food hall to test out new menus and experimental concepts—and foodies come from across the city to try them. The result is a bold, creative energy that lends itself to playful cooking and fuels some of the city’s most brilliant fusions. At Avanti, you’ll always find surprising flavors, original dishes, and—thanks to the test-kitchen nature of the place—affordable prices. While much of the venue can feel like a revolving door, a few beloved staples stay put year after year. Quiero Arepas’s traditional Venezuelan fare has amassed a cult following, and Pho King Rapidos consistently earns top marks for its phở bánh mì. Take a lap, grab some grub, and head up to the rooftop, which unfurls unobstructed views across downtown Denver.

Federales might just hold the title for the best burrito in town. And that’s saying something.
Federales might just hold the title for the best burrito in town. And that’s saying something. COURTESY OF FEDERALES

Federales

Tequila and tacos.

Order a round of shots at Federales and you’ll be treated to a surprisingly interactive experience. Your tequila will arrive in a shot glass made of ice, which, once emptied, you can hurl at the massive bell that hangs over the patio fire pit. On busy nights, that triumphant ring sounds a few times an hour. But an extensive tequila list isn’t the only cause for celebration here. In addition to serving top-notch margaritas and cocktails on its industrial-chic patio space, Federales also dishes up some mean Latin-American fare. The wood-fired skirt steak tacos come highly recommended, as do the crisp hatch chile nachos and creamy queso fundido.

For nearly 100 years, Sam’s No. 3 has been Denver’s steadfast go-to for a hearty breakfast.
For nearly 100 years, Sam’s No. 3 has been Denver’s steadfast go-to for a hearty breakfast. HOLDEN KUDLA

Sam’s No 3. Diner

A grassroots neighborhood favorite.

Sam’s No. 3 is famous for a few things. One: its chaotic menu, which unspools seemingly endless options across a hefty three-ring binder. Two: its cozy, no-frills atmosphere. And three: its insanely good food. This delightfully cluttered downtown diner has been a Denver staple since Greek immigrant Sam Armatas first opened its doors in 1927. Since then, Sam’s No. 3 has played host to movie stars, musicians, and politicians alike. Today the restaurant has two locations (the longest-standing is on Curtis Street) and goes through about 22,000 eggs and 420 gallons of chili a week. See what all the fuss is about with an order of the Spero’s Burrito, a hand-held behemoth featuring eggs and homefries smothered in pork green chili. Feeling frisky? Tack on a mango mimosa, another fan favorite.