Chuy’s Opens in Lakewood Colorado

After college I lived for a few years in Dallas where while I couldn’t stand the humidity, I fell in love with TexMex. I could easily eat Mexican food 7 days a week and there are plenty of days when I will happily eat it three meals in one day (Breakfast burrito, lunch burrito, tacos). While I was in Texas I’d heard about how amazing Chuy’s was, but I’d personally never experienced it because I didn’t spend a lot of time outside of Dallas.

When I heard Chuy’s was opening in Colorado, I knew I needed to check it out. With two locations, one in Westminster and another in Lakewood, there are now plenty of options to get my TexMex fix without heading back down to the Lone Star State. 

Last month I was invited to a preview night for the Belmar (Lakewood) location and headed out for a girls night with my Mom and Aunts. 

First up we tried the Special Nachos. With freshly made chips topped with with beans, jalapeños, guacamole and pico de gallo this app is perfect for starting off the evening. Its light enough that you will still be able to enjoy your meal but has a lot of flavor profiles perfect for letting you sample the best of Chuys.

An evening with TexMex isn’t complete if you don’t have at least one margarita! These frozen sangria margs were the perfect way to start off the evening. 

We each ordered something different so we could sample a bit of the menu and decide what we liked best. 

First up, the Chile Rellenos. Chile Rellenos are my all time favorite food so I’m a bit of a relleno snob. The perfect relleno is lightly fried and filled to the brim with meat or cheese. No one wants a relleno drippin with grease. This relleno can definitely be called the perfect relleno! I chose the shredded chicken filling which was flavorful and the perfect compliment to the green chili sauce. 

This beauty is the Elvis Memorial combo and Pricilla platter (always served together). This dish is both dinner and lunch for tomorrow! With a trio of enchiladas, crispy taco and fresh made tostada chips this meal is perfect for hungry appetites. 

My favorite meal of the night was the fajitas. Served for either one or two, these steaming hot strips of steak are full of flavor and served on top of a bed of fresh roasted bell peppers. Getting to mix up my own portions is one of my favorite things about fajitas! 

After dinner plates were cleared away we made just enough room for a single dessert. Our pick was the Tres Leches Cake. Tres Leches cake is a sponge cake, soaked in three kinds of milk (evaporated, condensed and heavy cream), creating a sweet and rich medley you’ll crave days later. Chuy’s version is topped with caramel and strawberries to add even more sweetness. 

One of Chuy’s trademarks is their fun decor and this new Colorado location did not disappoint. When the first location opened in Austin, the owners were strapped for cash and used whatever decorations they could come upon to spice up the new restaurant. Today, that pieced together decor has inspired a creative and fun backdrop perfect for a family outing. 

Every location even includes a shrine to Elvis, on homage to the Velvet Elvis painting that hung in the original restaurant and here in Lakewood there is a whole wall of ‘Elvis’ impersonators including Einstein, Willie Nelson and even Arnold Schwarzenegger. 

One of my favorite elements are the wooden fish hanging in the bar. Each fish is handmade by an artist in Mexico and every location features hundreds of these colorful fins! 

I can’t wait to head back over to Chuys for a rooftop evening and enjoy the mountain skyline during one of our summer nights! 

Looking for more Denver Restaurant Reviews? Check out my Review of Marcella’s!

Disclaimer: I was hosted by Chuy’s during their preopening preview night. All opinions and writing are my own.