Colorado’s Most Famous Green Chile Comes From Somewhere Unexpected
Sam’s No. 3 in Denver might look like your classic diner at first glance, but its green chile has become the stuff of Colorado legend.
Locals can’t get enough of its spicy kick and comforting flavor poured generously over everything from burritos to hash browns. It’s bold, flavorful, and just the right amount of fiery.
What makes it special isn’t just the heat; it’s the hometown pride packed into every single spoonful.
A Greek Diner Serving Legendary Green Chile? Absolutely.
Walk into Sam’s No. 3 expecting moussaka and you’ll be pleasantly surprised by their famous green chile instead.
This Greek-American diner has become Denver’s go-to spot for seriously spicy, seriously delicious chile that locals can’t stop raving about.
Nobody expects a family-run Greek joint to master New Mexican flavors, but the Armatas family proved everyone wrong. Their chile has earned a cult following that spans generations and neighborhoods.
Nearly a Century of Family Legacy
Sam Armatas opened the original diner back in 1927, serving up hearty meals to hungry Denver workers.
His grandsons breathed new life into the business in the late 1990s, keeping the family recipes alive while adding their own creative twists.
By 2003, they’d brought Sam’s back to its downtown roots at 1500 Curtis Street. The comeback story is as delicious as the food itself, proving that good things really do run in families.
Two Locations, Double the Chile
Craving that green chile fix? You’ve got two chances to score it.
The downtown location at 1500 Curtis Street serves the after-work crowd and late-night revelers, while the Glendale spot at 435 South Cherry Street feeds the south Denver faithful.
Sam’s Aurora outpost closed its doors at the end of 2023, but the remaining two locations keep the green chile dream alive. Both spots dish out the same beloved recipe that’s made Sam’s a household name.
Kickin’ Green Pork Chili Steals the Show
The signature dish goes by “Kickin’ Green Pork Chili,” and boy, does it live up to the name.
Servers ladle this liquid gold over crispy fries, juicy burgers, and the massive Kitchen Sink Burrito that’s basically a meal for three.
Food Network and other TV shows have featured this chile, turning it into a celebrity in its own right. One taste explains why cameras keep showing up; it’s that good.
Hatch Chiles Bring the Heat
Sam’s sources New Mexico Certified Hatch green chiles for their recipe, giving it that unmistakable smoky-sweet flavor profile. Hatch chiles are grown in the Hatch Valley of New Mexico and are famous for their perfect balance of heat and flavor.
Using certified Hatch chiles isn’t just a marketing gimmick. It’s a commitment to authentic taste that keeps people driving across town just to get their fix of the real deal.
A Menu Bigger Than Your Appetite
Sam’s menu sprawls across more than 100 items, from classic diner fare to Greek specialties to Mexican-inspired dishes. You could eat there every week for a year and still not try everything.
But ask any regular what to order, and they’ll point you straight to the green chile bowl. The half-red, half-green option lets indecisive diners have the best of both worlds without committing to just one flavor.
Copycats Can’t Capture the Magic
Sam’s green chile recipe has inspired countless knockoffs floating around the internet and home kitchens across Colorado.
Food bloggers have tried to crack the code, home cooks have experimented with ratios, but nobody quite nails it like the original.
The widespread attempts at replication prove just how beloved this chile really is. When people are willing to spend hours in their kitchen trying to recreate your recipe, you know you’ve made something truly special.