Colorado's Over-The-Top Restaurant Is Part Theme Park, Part Taco Joint

Just west of Denver, Colorado is the town of Lakewood, where West Colfax Avenue is home to an unassuming strip mall. It contains gyms, a Dollar General, and other local businesses, but your eyes can't help but rest upon a giant, bubble gum-pink hacienda that boasts an 85-foot tower rising above all the other shops. This is Casa Bonita, which can loosely be described as a Mexican restaurant, but, honestly, that description pales against the full experience that the eatery offers.

Many have described Casa Bonita as "the Disneyland of Mexican restaurants," and it gained even more notoriety thanks to a 2003 episode of "South Park" in which Cartman runs amuck in the restaurant. Before, during, and after your meal, you can stroll through the 52,000 square foot structure to see live mariachi musicians, a wishing well, an arcade, a puppet show, interactive exhibits, a museum, a magic show, and — the piece de resistance — cliff divers who sail over a 30-foot waterfall into a pool.

Patrons must make reservations for the restaurant that sits an astounding 1,000 people, and they pay one price for a meal that includes chips and salsa, a non-alcoholic drink, your choice of a Mexican-style entrée, and a basket of sopapillas. You can order alcoholic drinks, such as spicy margaritas, and desserts at additional costs. Whether you arrive for lunch or dinner, you'll see that it's perpetually night time inside Casa Bonita, which is just one element that helps diners feel like they're in a lively Mexican village after sunset.

The Denver-based Casa Bonita opened in 1974, but it wasn't actually the first location for this restaurant. Previously, founder Bill Waugh had opened Casa Bonitas in Arkansas, Oklahoma, and Texas, but it was the Colorado spot that boasted an over-the-top atmosphere and proved to be successful despite lackluster reviews for its food. Waugh sold Casa Bonita in 1982, kicking off a long string of owners over the next few decades.

Like so many restaurants, Casa Bonita struggled during the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic and its owners ultimately declared bankruptcy, closing its doors in 2021. Just when it seemed like this iconic pink palace might have become a fond memory, an unlikely duo swooped in, paying $8 million to take over. "South Park" creators and long-time fans of the restaurant, Trey Parker and Matt Stone, purchased Casa Bonita and ended up spending around $40 million in renovations, including improving the menu. 

In May of 2026, Parker and Stone claimed that about 12,000 people visited Casa Bonita in any given week, suggesting that business is good. Still, the co-owners have been plagued by complaints from the staff since workers there unionized in 2024, so the next task may be focusing on the in-house issues so that guests can continue to experience this very unique tourist attraction.