Fare-ly cheap

It’s no secret that Boulder has a reputation as a damn pricey place to dine. Sticker shock is nothing new, but lately the cost of dining has skyrocketed, even at fast food and fast-casual restaurants. 

To save us all a few hard-earned bucks, Boulder Weekly crowd-sourced great dining deals available at local restaurants. We asked readers, social media followers, friends and staff members — all of them known bargain hunters — for suggestions. 

Our culinary criteria were simple: The recommended meals had to be great food, not just cheap and filling. They had to be available sitting down at a restaurant, not gobbled in a car (not that there’s anything wrong with that). These good deals had to be available from local independent restaurants and bars, not national chains. The items had to be available on a regular menu, or a happy hour, lunch or bar menu, not a one-time or short-term item.   

When our list of good food at a good price was done, it was clear that bargains abound locally if you poke around a little bit and are willing to dine early.  

The following menu is just an appetizer — a select list of always available money-saving options. 

Send your nominations for other great Boulder County dining deals to nibbles@boulderweekly.com and we’ll add them to the online version of this story. 

Boulder

The Attic Bar & Bistro
949 Walnut St. Suite 200
$3.50 sliders (including cheeseburger, French dip, buffalo chicken) during happy hour, 3-6 p.m. Monday-Saturday.  

Gemini
1115 Pearl St.
$5 all-day tapas Tuesday: Selected tapas including patatas bravas, meatballs, croquetas de chorizo, fried artichoke hearts, boquerones, pan con tomate and mixed olives.

Dot’s Diner
2716 28th St.
$5.95 early bird breakfast (before 8 a.m.): Two eggs, hashbrowns and a buttermilk biscuit with butter and raspberry jam.

Brasserie Ten Ten 
1011 Walnut St.
$6 or less: Happy hour, 3-5:30 p.m. Tuesday-Sunday. Items $6 or less include: pommes frites with aioli, fried anchovy olives, tomato-baked focaccia with prosciutto, two East Coast oysters and steamed mussels. 

Eat Well Cafe at West Age Well Center
909 Arapahoe Ave.
$7.99 lunch 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Monday-Friday: Includes entrée, salad or soup, dessert and beverage. Entrée options (which change daily) include chicken parmesan, chicken tacos, beef bourguignon, cornmeal catfish, roasted adobo pork and mushroom risotto.

Fuji Cafe & Bar
2018 Broadway
$7.99 onigiri (rice ball) with miso soup and pickled vegetables. Onigiri fillings include freshwater eel, salmon, wild albacore with Japanese mayo and ginger-soy ribeye.

Fringe
2900 Valmont Road
$7-$12: Happy hour 3-5 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday. Orders of bruschetta and saffron risotto arancini for $7 each; blistered shishitos and crispy brussels for $8 each; charcuterie platter for $12.

Zoe Ma Ma
2010 10th St.
$9.50 bowls of bone-in chicken, potatoes and rice in broth with green onions and cilantro are always available.

Curry ‘n’ Kebob
3050 28th St.
$9.95 daily lunch special: Eight entrée options such as chicken masala, beef kofta or tofu saag with Basmati rice, naan, onion baji and dessert.

Tierra y Fuego Taqueria
4550 Broadway Unit C-3A
$10 breakfast migas (8 a.m.-2 p.m.): Fresh tortilla chips cooked with scrambled eggs, topped with queso fresco, crema and pico de gallo, with black or pork pinto beans.

The Sophomore
1043 Pearl St.
$20 weekday meal deal: Three sliders, fries and a tap beer. Slider varieties include The Boulder, The Bird in the Buff and the Bahn Mi.

Lafayette

The Post Chicken & Beer
105 W Emma St.
$1.50-$10: Happy hour, 4-6 p.m. Monday-Friday: Deviled eggs with bacon for $1.50 each; crispy chicken biscuit sliders, two for $10. Also available at Longmont and Boulder locations.

Ghost Box
103 S Public Road
$2: Happy hour, 4-6 p.m. Monday-Friday. Meatballs with marinara, Parmesan and basil, $2 each; pepperoni mozzarella rolls with marinara, $6 for three rolls.

Niwot

Niwot Tavern
7960 Niwot Road Unit D12
$6.95: Happy hour, 2-5 p.m. daily: Small plates including chips, salsa and guacamole, pork carnitas tacos with avocado salsa, beer-battered mushrooms and warm pretzels with beer cheese.

Farow
7196 Niwot Road
$10: Happy hour, 4:30-5:30 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday. Happy Burger with Longmont’s Buckner Ranch beef, Sawatch-aged cheddar, housemade pickles, onion and special sauce on a bun. 

Louisville

Moxie Bread Co.
641 Main St.
$3 toasted sesame seed bagel (made with house-milled organic heirloom flour) with cream cheese. Louisville location only.

Mr. Sake Sushi & Grill
1387 E. South Boulder Road, Unit G
$12.95 lunch special: Two sushi rolls with soup or salad. Choices include chicken tempura, tuna, eel cucumber and salmon mango rolls.

Verde
640 Main St.
$12.95 daily lunch special: Two tacos with rice and beans. Choices include coconut citrus fish taco, al pastor taco and chorizo sausage taco. Also available at the Boulder location.

Longmont

Jefe’s Tacos & Tequila
246 Main St.
$2-$2.50: Happy hour, 3-5 p.m. Monday-Friday: Chips and salsa $2; street tacos (carne asada, carnitas, al pastor, chorizo, barbacoa, chicken tinga or squash) $2.50 each.

Lucile’s Creole Cafe
518 Kimbark St.
$13 shrimp and grits: Shrimp and andouille sausage served over creamy cheese grits. Also available at the Boulder location. 

Flavor of India
370 Main St.
$15 lunch combo plate. Available Tuesday-Sunday. An entrée and two sides with basmati rice, naan, salad, appetizer, fruit and dessert. Options include vegetable korma, saag paneer, tandoori chicken and meatball curry. 

Nederland

Busey Brews
70 E 1st St.
$20: Happy hour, 3-5 p.m. Monday-Friday: Busey Buffet includes two smoked ribs, six smoked wings, two sliders and a half-order of nachos.