South restaurants 

American

Flatiron's American Bar & Grill

2540 Tenderfoot Hill St., 576-2540, flatirons.biz

Having graduated from Best New Restaurant to Best American eatery in our readers' poll, this restaurant dishes everything from Sunday brunch and great daily happy-hour deals ($3 items from 3 to 6) to pastas, pizzas, burgers and steaks. — $$

Burgers & Sandwiches

Bingo Burger

101 Central Plaza, Pueblo, 719/225-8363, bingoburger.com

One of our favorite restaurants anywhere. It's a sustainable, gourmet version of a fast-food joint, complete with grass-fed Colorado beef, locally grown produce and a great drink selection. The Pueblo chile-stuffed Bingo Burger stars, but the lamb and specialty burgers are powerhouses, too. — $

Feelin' A-Little Philly

2750 S. Academy Blvd., #110, 392-5004, feelinalittlephillycs.com

Inspired by, but separate from, two like-named locations in Pueblo, Feelin' is obviously another Philly tribute, with super-affordable subs and great French fries. Beyond hot and cold hoagie options are six Philly cheese steak renditions, including one that subs chicken for steak. — $

Café

Olde World Bagels & Deli

1670 E. Cheyenne Mountain Blvd., 527-9651, oldeworldbagel.com

A testament to their quality: Olde World Bagels are served at 40-plus other eateries in the area, places that appreciate high-quality bagels, made from scratch. Stop in for 20-plus varieties, breakfast bagels, pastries, sandwiches, coffee drinks and more. — $

Ski Barista

124 E. Cheyenne Mountain Blvd., 576-7542

This ski lodge-themed spot makes its own soups, quiches, salads and some baked goods, with a sweets assist from Boonzaaijer's Dutch Bakery. Fridays bring a cheese and/or chocolate fondue in the evenings; the coffee hails from Pittsburgh-based roaster Kiva Han. — $

Chinese

Chopsticks Asian Bistro

120 E. Cheyenne Mountain Blvd., 579-9111, chopsticksasianbistro.com

Promoting "a twist on Asian fusion," Chopsticks is slightly upscale and pleasantly minimalist, with food that's clean and bright with distinct flavor and presentation. Example: The orange flavored chicken ($9) in a tangy brown sauce with orange rinds and fiery Japones peppers. — $$

Diner

Dad's Kwik Inn Diner

385 Main St., Security, 392-5063, dadskwikinn.com

Here you can find the best of two worlds: gut-bombing diner food and smoky barbecue, the result of one business absorbing the 50-year legacy of another. House-smoked brisket with house Death Metal sauce, alongside heaping burgers and all the greasy egg-stuffs that coffee complements. — $

Fine Dining

The Broadmoor dining properties

1 Lake Ave., 577-5771, broadmoordining.com

The five-diamond Penrose Room is the priciest pinnacle, and simply incredible. Summit sports the same chef in a more relaxed, contemporary setting known for killer cocktails. Lake Terrace Dining Room is the superlative spot for a 100-item Sunday brunch buffet. Charles Court boasts truly local Colorado cuisine, and serves fantastic small plates at the adjacent West Lobby Bar. The more relaxed Tavern does delightful things with steak, seafood and a wide menu. And most relaxed, the Golden Bee is styled as a 19th-century English pub, complete with ales by the yard. — $$$

Restaurant Fifteen Twentyone

123 N. Main St., Pueblo, 719/542-9999, restaurant1521.com

At the pinnacle of Pueblo's fine-dining scene, ex-Denver chef Duy Pham builds delicious contemporary plates with classic French influences. It's dinner only, with five-course chef's tables by advance request, seasonal farm-to-table events and beauties like Duck Two Ways (breast and confit). — $$$

Walter's Bistro

146 E. Cheyenne Mountain Blvd., 630-0201, waltersbistrocs.com

Many people start with a cup of Walter's locally famous Maine lobster bisque, and you should too. It's fabulous. After that, cut into a fancy entrée such as a pumpkin-seed-and-crab-crusted Colorado striped bass with horseradish cream sauce. You get the idea how good this is. — $$$

Greater Asian

Julie's Bar and Grill

1863 S. Academy Blvd., 596-4019

Year-old Julie's is (to our knowledge) the Springs' only Filipino eatery, and it's quite good. Catch a daily hot line, three items with rice for $6.95, that also features Hawaiian dishes like Kalua pork from Maui native chef Romeo Arruiza. Plus an answer to our quiz: What are afritada, tocino and pinakbet? — $

Little Nepal

1747 S. Eighth St., 477-6997, lnepal.com

Bestsellers at this Best Of victor, according to co-owner Muku Bhandari: the masalas, kormas and curries, all with lamb, chicken, shrimp, and salmon options and lovely, intoxicating sauces. Catch monthly belly dances, a daily lunch buffet and a Thursday dinner buffet. — $$

TK's Mongolian Grill

1817 S. Nevada Ave., 328-1000

It's like HuHot Mongolian Grill, but local. Grab a bowl and choose between proteins (steak, shrimp, tofu, etc.), then noodles and vegetables (from an array of 20-something options), and 15 homemade sauces. Turn it in and they wok-fry it for you; everyone walks away happy. — $

International

Jamaican Flavor

3016 S. Academy Blvd., 391-0142

A tiny, 15-seat eatery under Jamaican-born owner Hugh Davis, a cook since age 9. His jerk chicken is awesome, with allspice and nutmeg joining the scotch bonnets. For milder spice, get the aromatic coconut milk curry chicken. Adventurous eaters: goat or oxtail. — $

Sabores del Peru

3071 S. Academy Blvd., 447-9646

Laying sole claim to Peruvian and Puerto Rican service in the Springs, Sabores is a welcome departure from the abundance of Tex-Mex, with true, vibrant flavors of South America and the Caribbean. Everything from ceviche and seafood with yucca fries to pork and plantains. — $$

Korean

Seoul Tofu Grill

296 S. Academy Blvd., Suite F, 550-2000, seoultofugrill.com

Check out the photo menu online; the colorful dishes speak for themselves. This is excellent Korean food brought to you by the Moon family, who ran a popular south-end eatery years ago. Challenge yourself with blood sausages, bone-broth soups and more. A great lunch bento deal. — $$

Pub Food

Gray's Coors Tavern

515 W. Fourth St., Pueblo, 719/544-0455

Made more famous after 75 years by a recent appearance on Travel Channel's Food Wars, Gray's is a legendary spot to try a slopper: two cheeseburgers topped in red and/or green chile, fries and chopped raw white onions. Messy, heavy, gut-bomb bliss. — $

The Hatch Cover

252 E. Cheyenne Mountain Blvd., 576-5223, hatchcover.biz

If you need to know more than all-hour 50-cent wings with house sauces like spicy plum and Thai chile, here's this: a 40-selection beer menu and a huge, diverse food list that includes a giant, popular nacho plate ($9) with all the fixins. Go for sports viewing, video karaoke and DJs. — $

Southern/Barbecue/Cajun

Colorado Smokehouse

6679 Camden Blvd., Fountain, 651-1453, coloradosmokehouse.net

Colorado Smokehouse may be the size of a large shed, but its plates are larger than life, merging sauce and barbecue styles to perfection. The thick, chili-rubbed, sweet-sauce-slathered ribs see mesquite, then applewood smoke, then the bottom of a very pleased stomach. The tender and moist pulled pork enjoys a similar ending but starts with a a great, spicy, vinegar-laden sauce. — $

Culpepper's Cajun Kitchen

6502 S. Academy Blvd., 282-8479, culpeppers.net

"Bite the Bayou," invites the website. Jambalaya, crawfish tails, "Crabilicious Crab Balls," spicy smoked sausage or alligator po-boys, gumbo, boudin, maque choux, and of course, beignets. Good Southern food by good Southern people. — $$

Glad's Original Bar-B-Q

3750 Astrozon Blvd., #110, 392-4156; 1510 Chiles Ave. (Fort Carson), 576-1851; gladsbbq.com

Alabama representing again, this time via military-friendly Glad's. This is traditional Southern comfort food, like whole catfish, Southern smothered chicken, pig feet, pork steaks, ribs, brisket, black-eyed peas, dirty rice, 7-UP cake and sweet potato pie. — $

Sushi/Japanese

Sushi Ring

1861 S. Nevada Ave., 635-5550, sushiring.com

It's another earlier-to-town, all-you-can-eat model, but lunches are $21.95, dinners $27.95. Again, you can murder the quantities for what would cost you much more at the regular sushi joints. Part of the draw here is spirited owner Takashi Kishimoto, a former Elvis impersonator. — $$

Thai

Taste of Thai Spice

1609 Lashelle Way, 226-1999, yellowbook.com/profile/taste-of-thai-spice

The reason this Thai eatery has enjoyed a quiet, loyal following outside of Fort Carson soldiers for many years now, is the authentic cooking of Bangkok native Sumitra Kennedy. From Panang to Pad Thai, nothing is Americanized. Her homemade coconut ice cream is simply divine. — $$

Thai Satay

821 Cheyenne Meadows Road, 540-8288

An expanded menu is coming soon, but what's available now is beyond adequate; it's fantastic. A superior, perfectly textured pad Thai version rivals the simply incredible, honey-sweetened, peanutty Panang curry. Awesome fried bananas. — $

Other eateries with South locations:

Bird Dog BBQ, 6965 Mesa Ridge Pkwy., Fountain

Borriello Brothers, 5180 Fontaine Blvd., Building 1532, Fort Carson

Carlos Miguel's, 110 E. Cheyenne Mountain Blvd., 527-0500

El Super Taco, 2890 S. Academy Blvd.

Fat Boys Pizza, 2049 B St., 576-7070

Jorge's Sombrero, 1319 E. Evans Ave., Pueblo

Panino's Restaurant, 1721 S. Eighth St.

Sushi Ai, 6552 S. Academy Blvd.

Taste of Jerusalem Café, 2810 S. Academy Blvd.