Casa Bonita means “pretty house” in Spanish, and its exterior is bright pink. This Mexican restaurant opened in 1974 as part of an entertainment restaurant chain that started in Oklahoma City, founded by Bill Waugh. The building once housed a Joslins Department Store and the Jewish Consumptives’ Relief Society (JCRS). It was immediately popular with Denverites although the food was notoriously mediocre.
Gradually, through the decades, the restaurant went in decline and disrepair and temporarily closed in 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2021, the restaurant filed for bankruptcy, and later that year, South Park creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone purchased the building and slowly began renovations. $40 million later and with a new chef, Dana Rodriquez, the restaurant reopened in 2023.
Its newfound popularity has necessitated an online reservation system. Once you get in, you will enjoy improved food from the original fare, and plenty of entertainment. After eating, you can spend an hour or more enjoying cliff divers, a small puppet performance, a haunted tunnel (Black Bart’s Cave), arcades, mariachis, and many other surprises as you explore the many nooks and crannies and themed areas in the 52,000-square-foot space.
The food is basic but improved since reopening. I didn’t go there for a culinary experience. I went for nostalgia, entertainment and simple fun. Remember to try the sopaipillas and visit the gift shop before departing!
