Back in early 2015, not long after I moved to Colorado, A girlfriend, brimming with excitement, insisted I experience this “Colorado institution,” a “must-go.” with her and her two young kids. I walked in with an open mind, but what I found was… bewildering.
It was cafeteria-style back then – grab a tray, order your food, and navigate to a table. We seat near the iconic cliff divers, which was admittedly cool, but then dug into some of the worst Mexican food I’d ever tasted. Bland and utterly unappetizing Mexican fare. The entire place felt old, dated, and had a pervasive griminess that seemed to cling to the air. My expectations, modest as they were, plummeted. I genuinely wondered, “How could she think anything about this was good? Are we even friend compatible?” The experience felt so far below any reasonable standard that it became almost comically bad.
Fast forward a few years, and the legend of Casa Bonita took a dramatic turn. After closing in 2020 and filing for bankruptcy in April 2021, the restaurant was purchased by “South Park” creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone. They famously declared they wanted to “change nothing, improve everything,” investing a staggering $40 million into restoring it to its 1970s glory. It officially reopened with a soft launch in June 2023, and getting tickets was like winning the lottery.
In early 2025, I had decided to do a few iconic Colorado things — and since Justin had never been to Casa Bonita, we booked a lunch spot on a free weekend between other trips. I wanted the VIP seating (just $4/person more), but never found an opening. For regular reservations, you provide a credit card — cancel more than 24 hours in advance or get charged $10 per person. Fair.
When the day came, we checked in, went through bag check and a metal detector, and entered. No strollers, no bags, no weapons. Inside, it’s massive. You’re immediately hit with that damp chlorinated air — a mix of pool water and nostalgia. After getting ID’d and wrist-banded, a hostess led us to our table on the upper level. Slightly obstructed view of the divers, but close enough.
The setup is strategic: limited menu, fast service, 1-hour table limit. The chips and salsa arrived almost instantly. The salsa was delicious – surprisingly creamy and thick, not chunky, with a good flavor. Our entrees followed just 15 minutes after we were seated. The plates looked appealing. My cheese enchiladas were good, but nothing exceptional. The cheese filling had a thick, somewhat bland texture that reminded me of frozen manicotti, but the red sauce was tasty, and the green was okay (though it tasted remarkably similar to canned Las Palmas green enchilada sauce). My vegetarian refried beans were notably different in texture from Justin’s and were quite good, as was the flavored rice. The small cabbage salad, however, was warm/room temperature and didn’t really add anything to the meal. The queso arrived with our entrees, by which point we’d nearly finished the chips. Justin enjoyed his Palmeo, though he’s usually a margarita fan and might have had a touch of buyer’s remorse there.
Service slowed after our food arrived, even with our table flag up. Eventually we got our sopapillas and the check — 15% gratuity included, Justin added another 5%. Sopapillas is their thing, not really ours, but we had one anyway – they were warm, fluffy, sprinkled with cinnamon sugar and honey.
The restaurant’s size truly comes into play here, with seating on three levels and various themed areas. After walking around, I felt we’d actually lucked out with our original table’s location. We managed to see one cliff dive up close, navigated a small “mine” area near a puppet show, quickly browsed the gift shop, and on our way out, found a small area with interesting history and artifacts about the restaurant’s past. We also spotted face painters, a magician, and five or six costumed characters roaming about. For an extra fee, you could get a caricature or play in the arcade.
In total we were there for 70 minutes. Our total bill: $120 for two entrees, one cocktail, one queso, chips/salsa, sopapillas, and tip. Worth it? For the food alone — no. Have I had better Mexican food for less? Absolutely, countless times. But you don’t go to Casa Bonita for its culinary prowess. You go because it’s a landmark, a truly unique, immersive experience. Where else in Colorado can you watch divers plunge into a pool while you eat? For kids, the appeal is obvious. But there were many tables filled solely with adults, and I found myself wondering, “Why are they here?” Perhaps like us, just to say they’ve been there, to see what all the fuss is about, to relive a childhood memory, or to finally experience the legend.
Would I go again? I don’t see the appeal. Then again, I didn’t grow up with it. Maybe with out-of-towners who heard about it, or with kids who get a lot of joy out of little things, or if a friend wanted to go for their first time – I’d be open to that. Justin more or less agreed. He said it was like a restaurant at a theme park – Mediocre food, a lot of people, over priced. But we are both happy that Matt & Trey restored it and other people are getting joy from it.
Quick history recap:
Casa Bonita’s story began with Bill Waugh’s vision in 1968, combining immersive dining with his love for Mexican culture. The Colorado location, opened in 1974, is now the sole survivor of the chain. Matt and Trey’s $40 million restoration aimed to take people back to those opening days of the 1970s, by “Change nothing. Improve everything.” Mission mostly accomplished. They’ve cleaned it up, made it run like a well-oiled machine, and preserved its essential, bizarre charm. The food was better, more organized and clean, and certainly an experience. It’s a place you have to see to believe, even if the food remains firmly in the “good enough for the experience” category.