Feels great to be in Denver

[Retired]

In Denver you have to have dinner at Casa Bonita if it is still in business. The last time I ate there was 1978.

 

[Rich-MLsRV]

In Denver you have to have dinner at Casa Bonita if it is still in business. The last time I ate there was 1978.

Currently closed. Set to open but they have not announced an actual date. Hopefully soon.

 

[osuallen]

In Denver you have to have dinner at Casa Bonita if it is still in business. The last time I ate there was 1978.

They closed over a year ago, but I saw an article that they are re-opening soon.

 

[Joe Hogan]

Casa Bonita.... Interesting history. Last time I was there was in the late 70s back when I was attending a trade school in Lakewood, a little farther west down Colfax Ave.

Was a great place.

Still closed unfortunately due to Covid rules.

The restaurant has changed hands several times since I was there last.

A little history...

Founder Bill Waugh opened the first Casa Bonita restaurant in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, in 1968. By the mid-1970s, the chain had expanded to locations in adjacent states and was known for its "all you can eat" beef or chicken plates and offering sopapillas—small squares of fried bread served with honey—with every meal.

In 1982, the company (including Taco Bueno fast food restaurants) was sold to Unigate (now Uniq plc). In 1992, Unigate sold the restaurants to CKE Restaurants, owners of Carl's Jr.[2] In 1997, the two remaining Casa Bonita restaurants were spun off by CKE as part of Star Buffet.[3] The Tulsa location closed in September 2005,[4] then reopened for a 2-year run under the name Casa Viva, and went out of business in December 2007. Casa Bonita was reopened by Star Buffet under the original name in late July 2008.[5] In March 2015, it was announced that the Lakewood Historical Society decided to make the restaurant a historic landmark of the city.