When I tell people I cover arts, entertainment, breweries and restaurants for the Coloradoan, they almost always light up at the mention of food.
“I bet you get to eat at a lot of good restaurants,” they typically say. “Which one’s your favorite?”
I hate that question. It’s not that it isn’t a great question — it’s one I’d probably ask me, too.
The problem is two-pronged. On one hand, food preferences are so subjective. How can I be sure that my taste in fast-casual Tex-Mex is the same as yours? I can’t. Secondly, there are just so many restaurants in Fort Collins. There are my favorite quick takeout spots, fancy sit-down options and go-to greasy breakfast joints. How can I possibly choose just one?
The USA TODAY Network asked me to do just that as part of our national roundup of the USA TODAY Restaurants of the Year 2024 list. I chose one of my favorites — Beijing Noodle.
But I couldn’t stop there. Instead, I rounded up the top 15 restaurants I typically recommend to out-of-towners, new friends and now, you. Dig in.