A burger built from Colorado-raised bison, ground with chuck or brisket trim, formed into a thick patty and grilled medium-rare on a brioche bun with charred onions and Tillamook cheddar.
Bison returned to Colorado restaurants in the 1980s through Ted Turner's ranches in the San Luis Valley and the Rocky Mountain Bison Co-op. The bison burger replaced the elk burger as the city's go-to lean-game patty by the 2000s. The Buckhorn Exchange on Osage Street, holding Colorado liquor license number one, served bison from its 1893 opening; modern versions at Linger, Ace Eat Serve and the Cherry Creek hotel grills run leaner builds with brioche buns and brown-sugar bacon. Highland Tap and Burger keeps a Colorado-bison patty on the menu year-round.
3 editor picks for Colorado bison burger in Denver, ranked by editorial score. All Denver signature dishes · Colorado bison burger across every city.
My Brother's Bar ★ 4.5
2376 15th St, Denver, CO 80202
My Brother's Bar in Denver is the city's oldest continuously-operating bar since 1873, a 15th Street institution with Jack Kerouac history and a cheeseburger-and-beer ritual.
Linger ★ 4.3
highland · 2030 W 30th Ave, Denver, CO 80211
Linger in Denver is Justin Cucci's rooftop global street food room in the old Olinger Mortuary in Highland, with a 360-degree city view and a small-plates menu spanning Asia, Mexico and Mediterranean.
Highland Tap and Burger ★ 4.1
highland · 2219 W 32nd Ave, Denver, CO 80211
Highland Tap and Burger in Denver is Cory and Robbie Bonneau's Highland gastropub since 2011, a neighborhood beer bar with Colorado-bison burgers and 40 craft taps.