Red meat in general—beef, lamb—but game meat in Denver is particularly big here: This was once a frontier town, after all. Elk and buffalo are the local stars, but several restaurants will also carry reindeer, Cornish game hen, quail, pheasant, even ostrich and rattlesnake. Preparations for these meats might range from prime rib to sliders to—our personal favorite—gourmet hot dogs.
Where: At Biker Jim’s Gourmet Dogs (multiple locations of storefronts and food carts), you get hot dogs and brats, with one small twist: The wieners are made of meats like elk, buffalo, reindeer, wild boar, pheasant, yak, duck (plus usually a few beef). Not only that, but most of them get a schmear of cream cheese from a caulking gun, adding an unusual creaminess we found totally addicting. Owned by a former repo man (and biker) turned tubed-meat genius, Biker Jim’s is the only street stand of its kind in Denver, an unfortunate truth that’s usually reflected in the lunchtime lines.
Editor’s note: Sadly, after almost 20 years in business, Biker Jim’s closed for good in 2024 when founder Jim Pittenger exited the company (following pandemic losses and the apparently bad decision to take on a new business partner).
Order: Of the usual suspects on hand here, the elk and buffalo are always from Colorado and raised or prepared locally. So we encourage you to start there, with the excellent elk jalapeño-cheddar brat and/or the meaty “Southwest buffalo” brat, made with green chile, chipotle, cumin, and other spices (both are pictured)—both were juicy and a bit spicy, making them especially good matches for the cooling cream cheese. However, most of the meats are additive-free and sustainably sourced, so feel free to also try the smoky-earthy Alaskan reindeer brat or porky-sweet wild boar sausage. All meat tubes are generous in size, split down the middle, grilled to perfection, and served in locally baked rolls. Besides cream cheese—yes, you must—there’s sweet caramelized onions on the grill (cooked in Coca-Cola, for the record) and a varied condiment tray offering plenty of pickles, hot peppers, raw onions, mustard, BBQ sauce, Sriracha hot sauce, and more.
Alternatively: There’s nothing else like Biker Jim’s; this business will be sorely missed in Denver. But should you want a more full-on game experience—down to the taxidermy-plastered walls—consider Lincoln Park’s Old West-themed Buckhorn Exchange (1000 Osage St., map), established in 1893 and claiming Colorado’s first liquor license. On the menu is slow-roasted buffalo prime rib, farm-raised elk medallions, roasted Cornish game hen, fried alligator tail, marinated rattlesnake, a buffalo Reuben sandwich, Rocky Mountain oysters (aka deep-fried bull testicles)…and lots more.
You can also easily find lots of buffalo on menus in Denver, including at some restaurants we highlight elsewhere in this guide: Check out popular downtown breakfast-lunch spot Sam’s No. 3 (multiple locations including 1500 Curtis St., map) for buffalo burgers, burritos, and more; and fast-casual Native American eatery Tocabe in North Denver (3536 West 44th Ave., map), where bison ribs are cured for 24 hours and braised shredded bison is a recommended add-in for posu (grain) bowls and more.
Last updated: January 31, 2025
