Applewood Hills may be best known for leafy streets, foothill views, and easy access to Golden, but locals know another reason to linger: the neighborhood’s surprisingly varied food scene. Along Youngfield Street, especially near 20th Avenue, 32nd Avenue, and the Applewood Village shopping areas, you can eat your way through Cuban comfort food, Italian classics, Vietnamese noodles, breakfast burritos, pizza, craft beer, and polished American fare without traveling far.
The area is not a formal restaurant district with rows of packed patios. Instead, Applewood Hills rewards curious diners who know where to look. Some of the best spots are tucked into shopping centers, golf-course facilities, or modest storefronts. Here are the places worth adding to your regular rotation.
Start With Breakfast Burritos and Coffee
For a quick, filling Colorado breakfast, head to Pablito’s Burritos at 2200 Youngfield Street. Operating from the Abrusci’s Fire & Vine location, this food-truck-style breakfast operation specializes in substantial burritos and bowls built around potatoes, eggs, cheese, meats, vegetables, and chile. The menu includes favorites such as the “Best Damn Burrito…Period,” The Pit, and the vegetarian-friendly Tree Hugger. Most regular burritos are around $8–$10, while larger versions and bowls cost more.
Pablito’s is especially useful for commuters, golfers, and anyone who believes breakfast should keep them full until dinner. It is a grab-and-go stop rather than a linger-over-coffee café, so check hours before heading over; morning service is the main event.
For a more leisurely start, Teller’s Taproom & Kitchen at 1990 Youngfield Street serves breakfast on weekends and transitions into an all-day neighborhood bar and grill. Expect familiar American comfort food, burgers, sandwiches, salads, brunch plates, and a substantial beverage list. Prices generally fall in the $12–$25 range, depending on whether you are ordering a sandwich or a full entrée.
Teller’s strength is its easygoing atmosphere. It feels equally appropriate for a family lunch, a casual business meal, or a beer after errands. The restaurant describes itself as a neighborhood gathering place, and that is exactly the appeal: no special occasion required.
Youngfield Street Is Applewood’s Main Food Corridor
If you are planning a casual food crawl, Youngfield Street is the place to begin. The stretch around 20th Avenue and the I-70 area brings several independent restaurants within a short drive of one another.
One of the neighborhood’s best hidden gems is El Bohio Cuban Cuisine, at 2080 Youngfield Street. This modest, family-oriented restaurant serves Cuban and Caribbean comfort food, including pressed Cuban sandwiches, roast pork, ropa vieja, plantains, yuca with mojo, rice and beans, and house-style desserts. Entrées generally run $12–$22, making it a strong value for hearty portions.
The Cuban sandwich is an obvious starting point, but regulars also seek out the tender roast pork, savory shredded beef, fried yuca, and sweet plantains. Add a Cuban coffee if you need an afternoon boost. El Bohio is the kind of place that can be easy to miss from the road but quickly becomes a go-to once discovered.
A few storefronts away, Blue Nest at 2050 Youngfield Street offers a more polished bar-and-bistro experience. The setting is suited to drinks, shared plates, and a relaxed dinner, with pricing typically in the $15–$30 range. It is a good choice when you want something more atmospheric than takeout but less formal than a special-occasion restaurant.
Italian, Pizza, and Family Dinner Favorites
For classic Italian-American dining, Abrusci’s Fire & Vine is one of the most established names in the Applewood area. Located at 2200 Youngfield Street, it is known for wood-fired pizza, pasta, salads, and an inviting neighborhood dining room. Expect most pizzas and entrées to land in the $15–$30 range.
The restaurant works well for families because the menu has broad appeal, but it also makes a comfortable date-night stop. Order a pizza for the table, add a salad, and save room for something sweet. The connection between Abrusci’s and Pablito’s also gives the address a unique breakfast-to-dinner rhythm: burritos in the morning, pizza and pasta later in the day.
For a more focused pizza outing, Pizzeria Forte brings calzones, pizza, and Italian-inspired comfort food to the Lakewood-Applewood area. Budget approximately $12–$25 per person, depending on whether you are grabbing a slice, sharing a pie, or ordering several sides. It is a practical choice for takeout nights, casual group meals, and families who want something reliably satisfying.
Vietnamese Food With a Local Following
At Applewood Grove Shopping Center, near Youngfield Street and the western edge of the neighborhood, Applewood Vietnamese Restaurant offers pho, rice plates, noodle bowls, stir-fries, and other Vietnamese favorites. The restaurant is located at 1901 Youngfield Street, Unit 106, in Golden, though it is a convenient dining option for Applewood Hills residents. Prices generally sit around $12–$22.
The menu is especially useful when you want a lighter but still satisfying meal. Try a steaming bowl of pho on a cold evening, or choose a grilled chicken or steak rice-noodle bowl when you want freshness, herbs, vegetables, and a little char. It is also a solid takeout option, with delivery and pickup available.
A Golf-Course Meal With a View
On the southern side of the neighborhood, Bunker’s Taproom at Applewood Golf Course, 14001 West 32nd Avenue, offers classic dishes, beer, cocktails, and a relaxed setting. Prices are generally $12–$25.
This is a particularly enjoyable stop when you want lunch with a little breathing room. Golf-course restaurants can sometimes feel like afterthoughts, but Bunker’s works as a casual destination in its own right. Come for a burger, sandwich, salad, or drink, and stay for the mountain-facing atmosphere and laid-back pace.
Bakeries, Sweet Stops, and Local Food Traditions
Applewood Hills does not have a huge concentration of traditional bakeries, but the neighborhood’s food traditions are still easy to spot. Breakfast burritos with green chile, weekend brunch, pizza nights, patio drinks, and casual family dinners are the local staples. In summer, outdoor seating and golf-course dining become especially appealing, while colder months call for pho, Cuban roast pork, pasta, and comfort-food breakfasts.
For dessert, many residents make a short drive toward Golden, Wheat Ridge, or central Lakewood for ice cream, pastries, and specialty cakes. The broader west-side food scene also includes rotating food trucks at breweries, community events, and seasonal gatherings. These mobile vendors often add tacos, barbecue, loaded fries, dessert churros, and other casual fare to the neighborhood’s restaurant mix.
The best way to experience Applewood Hills dining is to build your own route: start with a Pablito’s breakfast burrito, return to Youngfield for Cuban food or Vietnamese noodles at lunch, and finish with pizza, pasta, or a drink at Abrusci’s, Blue Nest, or Teller’s. Applewood may not shout about its food scene, but that is part of its charm. The best meals here feel discovered rather than advertised—and once you find your favorites, you will understand why locals keep coming back.