Illegal Pete’s

If you're familiar with Colorado fast casual restaurant history, you already know that Chipotle, Qdoba, Quiznos, Noodles and Company, Tokyo Joes, and Snooze all had their start in the Centennial State. Illegal Pete's is a fresh and exciting addition to this list, with 11 locations in Colorado and Arizona with more presumably on the way. Pete's serves burritos and tacos in the same way as Chipotle and Qdoba do, but what sets it apart is its irrepressible attitude of fun, generosity, and inclusivity, as well as a commitment to supporting artists. The Starving Artists initiative allows musicians touring through cities with Illegal Pete's restaurants to stop in and dine for free.

Pete's even started its own record company, which has published records by local musicians and comedians. In addition, the chain makes an attempt to offer time, money, and other resources to causes in the communities where its stores are located. Pete himself, yep, he's a real person, came to Lyons, Colorado in 2013 to assist the town after flooding destroyed the area. Pete's is a renowned Colorado culinary classic, with restaurants that everyone from punks to investment bankers want to eat, drink, and hang out in, despite occasional controversies over the restaurant's name. Illegal Pete's can offer considerably superior food for a comparable price since it has expanded at a slower rate than competitors like Qdoba and Chipotle.

Apart from the simple awesomeness of mixing your burrito's ingredients together before rolling it up (to ensure consistency in every bite...unlike Chiotole or Qdoba), another characteristic that makes it a popular among hungry Coloradans is that it serves real green chile. However, it is unknown if the restaurant's chile comes from New Mexico or Pueblo, putting it at risk of becoming a victim of the destructive and wholly unfounded "chile war" and the focus of future controversies.

Address: Boulder, Colorado, United States
Phone:+1 720-287-5233
Website: https://www.illegalpetes.com/