After a grueling trek up the Manitou Incline, there is no better sight to see than a text from your friends asking if you want to go out to dinner later that day. Why, yes, of course I do! Exhausted but freshly showered, my roommate and I piled into a car with three of our other friends and made our way downtown to Monse’s Pupuseria.
The original Monse’s opened in Old Colorado City in 2018, but they opened a second location in downtown Colorado Springs this past summer. Having never been to either location, I entered the establishment with zero expectations.
First impressions of the restaurant were overwhelmingly positive. The interior was modern, with light wood and white decor, yet felt very communal. There were woven armchairs in the entryway and many large, amorphous tables scattered throughout the room, creating a very welcoming environment.
Interior design aside, we were ravenous and could not wait to eat. The menu was a bit overwhelming with numerous specialty pupusas all filled and adorned with different sauces, meats and vegetables. I kept my order simple with one birria pupusa, a side of sweet plantains (my absolute favorite!) and a Salvadoran horchata.
Let me just say, Monse’s did not disappoint. The masa was perfectly soft with a slight crisp on the edges and the birria in the middle was tender and full of flavor.
Everyone I was with ordered something different, from veggies and beef to chicken and cheese. It was all a hit. The two sauces served with each pupusa featured varying levels of spice and the pickled cabbage provided the right amount of crunch and acidity to balance out the rest of the pupusa.
I may be biased because I will eat any plantain put in front of me, but the sweet plantains were my favorite part of the meal. They were soft, sweet and melt-in-your-mouth delicious. The perfect sweet treat to end the night. The horchata, however, served in what was essentially a personal pitcher, was too sweet for my liking and so rich that it took away from my enjoyment of the rest of the meal.
Monse’s is also a great bang for your buck. The single plate (one pupusa and one side) was just under $10 ($17 total with the horchata). And these pupusas are massive. Mine was about the size of my head, leaving me with leftovers to take home for the next day and as a girl with very little Gold Card money, this was very exciting.
Monse’s Pupuseria is the kind of restaurant that fills your stomach and your soul. Good conversations with friends and even better food immediately put it near the top of my favorite places to eat in Colorado Springs. I will certainly be returning to their downtown location (and possibly their Old Colorado City one too) to try the different pupusas on their menus. Whether in need of a hangover cure, some post-hike grub or just some really good comfort food, Monse’s is definitely the place to be!
Rating: 9/10