Is the Casa Bonita in Denver Worth Your Time and Money?
Hi, travelers!
There is so much to do and see when visiting Denver, Colorado, especially for the first time. When we traveled there for the first time in July 2026, we wanted to get a well-rounded view of Denver, so we filled our itinerary with a mixture of nature and touristy spots. One of the places that we visited was the Casa Bonita Mexican Restaurant, made famous by the show South Park. By the end of this, you will know our thoughts on this Denver staple.
BACKGROUND
Casa Bonita has a rich history. Built in 1974, this restaurant has welcomed travelers from around the world to enjoy Mexican Cuisine and over-the-top atmosphere. This restaurant quickly became an iconic location in the Denver area, however it wasn't always sunshine and rainbows for the restaurant. Over the years they faced multiple bankruptcies, challenges, and hardships. It was in 2021 when the last owners were ready to close the doors, but Trey Parker and Matt Stone stepped up and purchased it. You may have heard of Parker and Stone before because they are the creators of popular shows like South Park and the musical The Book of Mormon. The Casa Bonita was featured on an episode of South Park because one of the main characters, Cartman, says it’s his favorite restaurant, so Parker and Stone swooped in, invested over $40 million, updated the menu, renovated it, and, of course, added some features from the South Park episode.
Now, Casa Bonita has a fixed menu and price depending on the seating location and the time of day you dine. This condensed menu allows the very large restaurant to thrive, while still giving some variety to the diners. Your meal includes soft drinks, chips and salsa, an entree, and sopapillas for dessert. The service is speedy, and if you need the attention of your server, you simply raise the flag on the table and they will greet you right away. After an hour of eating, you are free to roam around the premises for however long you want!
FOOD REVIEW
Starters
Each table is welcomed with fresh chips and salsa. These chips were crisp and were slightly seasoned with salt and lime. The salsa had a tiny kick to it, but it was vibrant and smooth. We highly recommend getting a side of guacamole with your chips. It was mild, refreshing, and had chunks of fresh avocado in it. These chips and dips are a Mexican-American staple that you will find at nearly every Mexican restaurant in the United States, so nothing crazy, but solid. We’d give it a two and a half out of five.
Ryan’s meal
I had the Carnitas Nachos made with house-made tortilla chips, carnitas, queso blanco, pico de gallo, queso fresco, guacamole, and sour cream. The nachos were a really good dish. The chicken was flavorful, the chips crispy, and the toppings were great. The quality of the food was very good too, the guac was very refreshing and everything was delicious. I will note that the seasoning on the chicken had a hint of spice to it, but I dislike spicy food and I was perfectly fine eating the nachos. I will give this dish a three and a half out of five.
Lillian’s meal
I had the Betty’s Burrito, a tortilla filled with rice, beans, brisket, and shredded cheddar. The burrito is topped with green chile sauce, pico, queso, and crema with a cabbage salad on the side. I came very hungry, so was happy that this was a larger portion! I’m not going to lie: I was expecting this to be heavy and not the best food, but it ended up being some pretty good Mexican comfort food! It wasn’t too spicy, the cabbage salad was a fresh counterpart, and the green chile gave it a bright flavor. I’d give it a four out of five.
Dessert: Sopapillas
For those who might not be familiar with sopapillas, they are fried flour tortillas topped with cinnamon sugar and honey. These pillows of goodness are so light and airy, but are very sweet. These sopapillas were drenched in honey, making them a little difficult to handle, but they were delicious. I mean, who doesn’t love fried dough with cinnamon sugar? We’d give them a three out of five.
ENVIRONMENT
Along with being a bustling restaurant, the Casa Bonita has many activities to see and do. We kept joking that it felt a bit like going to somewhere in a Disney park; there was a long queue to walk through, a very immersive atmosphere that made you feel like you were in the jungle at sundown, and even a fresh tropical smell that pervaded the restaurant, as if it had just rained. Many activities are geared towards younger audiences, such as face painting, a puppet show, making wishes at a wishing well, balloon animals, and walking through a dark, interactive maze called Black Bart’s Cave.
While we didn’t love Black Bart’s Cave (it’s definitely built for younger people and we felt quite cramped in there!), we greatly enjoyed listening to the live music from a guitar player nearby, having our tarot read, and seeing the main spectacle: cliff diving. In the center of the restaurant, there is a 30-foot waterfall streaming into a 14-foot glowing blue pool. Approximately every half hour, a young man or woman will emerge from the cliff face, perform a dance to music, and plunge into the pool, doing flips midair. We loved watching the acrobatic feats; it’s a very unique dining experience!
One of the last things we visited before leaving the restaurant was their gift shop, full of shirts, hats, postcards, Christmas ornaments, and more. All the merchandise had interesting and cool designs, and the prices were very reasonable. If you’re a fan of South Park or want to have a fun memento from your trip there, we highly recommend stopping by their gift shop.
VERDICT
After a long morning of travel and setting our stuff down in the hotel, we came to the Casa Bonita hungry! We were surprised at the quality of food here. Is it the most authentic Mexican food? No, but it sure was tasty. We will say: the portions of these entrees are quite large. Even on an empty stomach, we could not finish our entire plates of food, so you definitely get your bang for your buck. Food aside, the atmosphere in this restaurant was on another level. The cliff divers, live music, and entertainment at large make this destination worth the price tag. We both agree that our favorite part was the tarot reading! We were hesitant going into it because sometimes tarot can be hokey or unserious, but the reader was very professional, had a great vibe, and was accurate with her reading. We would recommend this restaurant if you are a fan of South Park, enjoy themed dining experiences, or just want a good time.
We hope you enjoyed our full review of the iconic Casa Bonita Restaurant in Denver, Colorado. Make sure to stay tuned for more posts about our trip to Colorado in the upcoming weeks. If you haven’t already, subscribe to our newsletter where you’ll get updates on upcoming trips, our latest posts, and insider tips for your next adventure.
Happy travels,