Written by Emily Ng
Without a doubt, dive restaurants produce some of the most unexpectedly delicious food in creation; the scarier the alleyway, the more jaded the seat cushions, and the greasier the plate, the better. While, admittedly, the search for such esteemed shabby eateries remains sparse amongst the corporate suburban mecca of Colorado Springs, several dive restaurants remain local staples and are a must to check out, operating cumulatively 24 hours a day. No matter the occasion or the time, these dive restaurants will continue to amaze and satisfy all of your cheap, greasy needs. Over the course of this block I will be writing a countdown to the number one best dive restaurant in Colorado Springs.
5. The Sheldon Club
Out of all of the times I have dined at Sheldon’s Luncheonette over the past 10 years, I have yet to walk in and not see senior citizens casually dining and playing chess, checkers, mahjong, or the like. Sheldon’s Luncheonette, open 6 a.m. to 2 a.m., Monday through Saturday, holds a tight-knit community of Colorado Springs blue collar workers, senior citizens, and sparse outsiders privileged enough to know of its existence.
A family-run eatery, Sheldon’s houses homemade comfort food specials made daily, as well as sandwiches, soups, and an array of breakfast items. According to locals, Sheldon’s special roast beef has the best mashed potatoes you’ll ever come by. Sheldon’s prices for a meal range from $6 to $11; however, the owners ensure that you get your money’s worth by supplying massive portions, like a breakfast burrito that is about 1.5 forearms in girth. So whether you’re sick of Rastall brunch or you’re dying for a home-cooked meal and some banter with local senior citizens, 204 Mount View Lane, an 11-minute Uber drive away, is the place for you.
4. Wok on the Wild Side
Open 10:30 a.m. to 9 a.m. most days, 2000 Wok (referred to by locals like myself as Wok 2000) can satisfy all greasy Chinese food needs at a fraction of the cost of a traditional eatery. The assembly-line style restaurant has yet to renovate its interior from the early 1990s, but the teal, faux-leather dining chairs and animated LED waterfall paintings add a certain vital identity to the restaurant itself. Wok 2000’s options range on a daily basis; however, what they lack in consistency they make up for in authenticity, as the restaurant is run by first-generation Chinese immigrants and their daughter.
The options at Wok 2000 are endless and remain cheaper than a traditional Chinese fast-food restaurant at only $2.15 per item. The possibilities of Chinese food combinations are endless, ranging from traditional pepper steak and sesame chicken, to Chinese donuts. A 15-minute bike ride away and seven-minute Uber, the restaurant is a staple to any Chinese food enthusiast living on a budget—especially college students.
Check back next week for the revealing of the second and third best dive restaurants in the Springs.