People Travel Colorado Backroads Just To Reach These Down-Home Soul Food Spots
Colorado surprised me with where I found its soul food. I’ve taken wrong turns on purpose and ended up in kitchens where the cast iron pops when cornbread releases and the collards carry just enough smoke to slow your chewing.
Some of these spots sit right in Denver’s daily rush, others hide behind food truck windows on side streets you’d never plan for. What they share is patience, in the seasoning, in the simmer, in the way people linger over plates that feel built for conversation.
I’ve watched strangers become tablemates over shared greens and hot sauce. If you’re willing to drift a few turns off your route and give the meal some time, these kitchens will meet you with something grounded, generous, and hard to forget.
1. CoraFaye’s Cafe
The room hums with regulars who know their orders by heart, and that calm rhythm sets the pace. Checkered floors and family photos tell you the recipes have roots. I notice conversations stretch long after plates are wiped clean.
Smothered pork chops arrive cloaked in glossy gravy, and the candied yams lean warm and cinnamon sweet. Fried chicken crackles without tearing the meat, a neat trick of careful temperature. I chase bites with a square of cornbread that tastes faintly of honey.
Founded by CoraFaye in the 2000s, the cafe preserves East Denver history in every side. Parking can be tight during Sunday rush, so arrive early. You will leave smelling of fry oil and feeling fine about it.
2. Welton Street Cafe
The neon on Welton glows like a small promise, and the doorway keeps swinging with neighborhood traffic. I like the easy banter from the counter, where orders fly in shorthand. There is a groove to the space that nudges you to stay.
Catfish fillets wear a gritty cornmeal coat, fried to a golden rattle. The macaroni and cheese is sturdy and oven baked, with edges that brown just enough. Collards are mellow, kissed with pot liquor and a polite heat.
Run by the Dickerson family, the cafe has anchored Five Points for decades. New location, same spirit, so check for updated hours before driving. Cash or card both work, but patience works best during lunch.
3. Tommy’s Louisiana BBQ
Smoke hangs soft over this Aurora spot, and the pit out back sets the tone. I catch mesquite in the air and a low bustle of folks grabbing weekend plates. The vibe is straightforward and welcoming.
Ribs tug clean from the bone, glazed in a peppery sauce with a molasses tilt. The boudin links carry rice and liver depth that feels true to Acadiana. Sides lean soul, especially the red beans that simmer to a creamy finish.
Tommy hails from Louisiana, and his travel-worn spice blends show he means it. Lines form after church, so aim for late afternoon. Call ahead for whole slabs if you are driving from across town.
4. A&D Jamaican Kitchen
That first breath of allspice and woodsy thyme hits before you reach the counter. A reggae playlist hums along as folks juggle to-go boxes. Spot a steady stream of regulars sharing quick nods.
The oxtails are sticky and plush, with gravy that clings to rice and peas. Curry goat stays tender, the spice blooming instead of shouting. Fried plantains come caramelized at the edges, sweet relief after the savory richness.
Owned by a local family, A&D blends Caribbean comfort with soul food instincts. Weekends sell out fast, especially oxtails, so order early online. Seating is limited, so plan to picnic in the car if needed.
5. Blazing Chicken Shack II
The sign is modest, but inside you can hear that fryer working like a metronome. I like how families spread out trays and swap sides. It feels like a gathering more than a transaction.
Fried chicken is the headline, seasoned to the bone and shatter crisp. Gizzards come hot and peppery, a sleeper order if you want crunch. Cornbread muffins lean savory, perfect with greens that carry smoked turkey depth.
The Shack has lived in North Denver long enough to feel essential. Check daily specials on the board before committing. Parking is easier in the back lot than along the street.
6. Fifth Door BBQ
The trailer setup keeps things simple, and the scent does the advertising. Watch folks tailgate in the lot, trading bites and napkins. There is an easy friendliness here that softens a cold day.
Turkey legs are lacquered and smoky, tearing into strands with a tug. Hot links snap with paprika heat, landing well beside buttery cabbage. Potato salad runs mustard forward, which I happen to crave with pork.
Pitmaster stories circle around competitions and long nights tending coals. They post sell out times on social media, so check before you drive. Bring cash as backup in case the card reader argues with the wind.
7. Rosenberg’s Bagels And Delicatessen (Five Points)
It starts with the line that curls past the door even in snow. I like watching the crew move like a pit crew behind glass. The deli buzz is loud without being rude.
Bagels might sound off topic, but the fried chicken cutlet sandwich with hot honey slides into soul territory fast. Collard green cream cheese pops up as a limited special now and then. Matzo ball soup brings comfort that rhymes with Sunday suppers.
Owner Joshua Pollack rebuilt the water to mimic New York mineral profiles. Go early for best selection, and grab a knish for the road. Street parking gets competitive by 10 a.m.
8. The Blazing Boar Southern Smokehouse
On a windy stretch near the foothills, the sign creaks and the smoker whispers. Notice wood piles stacked like a promise of dinner. The dining room is spare, which suits the plates.
Pulled pork arrives moist with bark that tastes of oak and pepper. The fried okra stays crisp without the usual heaviness. Peach cobbler rotates seasonally, and it is worth saving room.
The owners learned in Texas and borrowed from Mississippi kin, then trimmed recipes for altitude. Weeknight evenings are mellow and best for conversation. Call ahead for family packs if you are road tripping past Golden.
9. Nola Voodoo Tavern & Perks
Beads dangle over the bar and a Saints game usually murmurs in the corner. I appreciate the bartender who remembers hot sauce preferences. The room feels like a postcard from Rampart Street.
Gumbo carries a proper roux, dark as chocolate, with andouille and tender chicken. Jambalaya is loose in the New Orleans style, not gummy, with a bright tomato lift. Beignets dust everything in sugar, including your sleeves.
Colorado ties meet Louisiana recipes thanks to the owner’s Crescent City roots. Happy hour gets lively, so snag a table early. Street parking is decent on weekdays, tricky on parade nights.
10. Steuben’s Uptown
The retro booths and chrome details nod to diners without leaning kitsch.
Fried chicken dinners arrive with gravy, green beans, and a biscuit that steams when opened. Shrimp and grits show restraint, letting smoky bacon and sharp cheddar do the lifting. Collard greens are available as a side, cooked slow and savory.
Named after a Boston spot, Steuben’s adapts classics for Denver without losing comfort. Reservations help on weekends, but the bar seats move fast. Late night service makes it a reliable last stop.
11. Boney’s BBQ
At lunchtime the smoke curls up the alley and the line forms fast. I enjoy the way trays clatter and conversations overlap. It is downtown casual with serious pit focus.
Brisket slices show a gentle smoke ring and supple fat. The hot links carry true snap and enough heat to make lemonade necessary. Sides include tangy slaw and sweet baked beans that feel familiar in the best way.
Owned by the Wright family, Boney’s has fed office crowds and weekend wanderers for years. Order at the counter, then watch for your name over the din. Metered parking keeps you honest on time.
12. The Post Chicken & Beer (Lafayette)
Sunlight spills across the wood tables, and the brewery tanks wink from the back. The place smells like fryer and malt in equal parts.
Fried chicken is pressure cooked then fried, giving that tender plus crisp combination. Gravy likes to sneak under the biscuit, so move fast. Chicken and waffles appear on brunch with maple butter that melts on contact.
Chef Brett Smith built a menu that respects farmhouse comfort. Parking is easy in the lot, and waits are shortest mid afternoon. Grab a crowler if you are headed back to Boulder.
13. Lucile’s Creole Cafe (Longmont)
A porch swing and a burst of yellow paint make this cottage hard to miss. The coffee is served in big mugs that warm both hands. The dining room keeps a gentle buzz even on rainy mornings.
Shrimp and grits arrive with a silky Creole sauce that leans smoky and herbal. House made biscuits are enormous and fluffy, perfect with house jam. Red beans and rice carry Monday tradition but taste great any day.
Founded in Boulder in the 80s, Lucile’s spreads Gulf comfort along the Front Range. Weekends mean a wait, so join the list and stroll the block. Cash is best for tips although cards work for the bill.
14. Jax Fish House & Oyster Bar (LoDo)
The raw bar glints with ice and shell, and the shuckers move fast. I like snagging a seat where you can watch the plates land. The energy skews lively but not rushed.
Fried catfish po boy brings a crackle that plays well with remoulade. Hushpuppies show up crisp with a tender crumb and tiny pops of corn. Collard greens sometimes appear as a special alongside blackened fish.
Founders built a sustainable seafood network that reaches the mountains fresh. LoDo gets busy before Rockies games, so plan your timing. Ask about Gulf flights if you want to taste oysters side by side.
15. Zig Zag Smokin’ Burger
It looks like a roadside roadhouse with license plates and neon, and the patio catches breezes. People linger with shakes long after fries disappear.
The fried chicken sandwich hits with pickle zip and cayenne. Collard greens land as a side more often than you would expect for a burger joint. Sweet potato fries dusted with paprika balance it all.
Local ownership keeps the menu playful and seasonal. Happy hour stretches value if you are covering miles. Order at the counter, grab a number, and watch the grill show.