My family has been going to Casa Bonita (300 miles from our home)at least annually for over thirty years. We never miss it when we go through the Denver area. Sometimes we eat there twice on a trip because the kids love it so much. We usually plan half a day for our visit, because there is so much to see and do inside. Sometimes there are really long lines, but the fun and food are worth the wait.

I do have one grandson who appeared to not like Casa Bonita; he used to close his eyes and refuse to eat when we were there. It took me a couple of years to figure out why. His older brother and I had told him how much he was going to like Casa Bonita, and he would get to see a puppet show, break a pinata, play video games, hear a mariachi band, and see a guy dive. He kept his eyes closed because he did NOT want to see a guy DIE!

Everyone who enters must buy a meal (around $10 per adult and $5 per kid). Although most people order the all-you-can-eat plates, I don't think I have ever seen anyone who could eat a second helping. With your entree, you get rice and beans, and every table gets unlimited chips and salsa. Every table also gets the best part of Casa Bonita: unlimited, fresh, hot sopaipillas.

I usually order the gorditas. They are made with seasoned, shredded beef, wrapped in dough, deep-fried, and smothered in cheese sauce. And, yes, they are worth the bazillion calories each. I am always surprised when I see a bad review of the food, because I think it's great and I do not eat at fast-food Mexican restaurants. Especially if you have kids (babies to teenagers), try this place.

I remembered going to Casa Bonita when I was a teen. Took my children there and it was fun, food ok. Took Grandaugthers food was poor, no flavor, they either need a new cook or better menu. Entertainment fun, music, cliff divers, caves to play in, kids had fun.

The food at Casa Bonita was terrible. I had never had "bad" tortilla chips and salsa until my lunch at Casa Bonita. The taco salad came with some kind of mystery meat that was supposed to be shredded chicken. I would not recommend this restaurant to my worst enemy. The entertainment is hilarious but you are better to do without than to subject yourself to the disgusting food.

Yup, I saw it on South Park, too. On a trip to Vail, had to stop here. It's on the way from the Denver airport.

A few notes on the bad:
1) The food was TERRIBLE. You basically walk in and they ask you "Chicken or Beef"? Then you walk to this cafeteria style food line. Our tray of food was basically thrown through the little slit in the wall to us. It was SO NASTY LOOKING!

2) The place is in the GHETTO. There were more check cashing places then I've ever seen before. And Casa Bonita is in a shopping plaza with fabulous stores like the Penny Store. Ouch.

The good:
1) The place WAS rediculous. MORE rediculous then in South Park. Once you go inside, you should absolutely go in every nook & cranny in the place - it's never ending and there is so much strange stuff

2) Blackbart's cave is stupidly funny

3) The cliff jumpers are funny - make sure you sit near the waterfall

The mediocre:
1) The whole Gorilla thing was pretty lame.

2) The gift shop was rediculous


All in all it was worth the trip... once. :-) I bought a Casa Bonita T-Shirt to boot!