Pupusas Sabor Hispano: In Boulder at lunchtime? Skip the mall and head north to Pupusas Sabor Hispano, a tiny eatery tucked into a north Boulder strip mall for a cheap, tasty meal of pork pupusas (a Salvadoran empanada-like favorite) and a Coke. Also open for dinner and, better yet, breakfast, when they’ll top your pupusa with an egg. | 4457 Broadway, Boulder; 303-444-1729 | Tucker Shaw
Rainbow Restaurant: Nothing is more annoying to a vegetarian than knowing the only option on a menu is a salad. Fortunately, the Rainbow Cafe hasn’t forgotten about its veggie-loving diners, offering a variety of meat-free appetizers, entrees and salads. My favorite is the Mandarin salad, topped with itty-bitty orange sections, extra- firm tofu, cashews, noodles and avocado with a side of miso dressing. The tofu absorbs the flavors of the fruit and miso dressing. This extra-large salad will keep your tank filled with the protein from the tofu and the fats from the cashew and avocado. | 212 W. Laurel St., Fort Collins; 970-221-2664 | Desiree Belmarez
Tempranillo: Basalt, an up-and-coming community apparently tired of resting in Aspen’s culinary shadow, has awakened with the recently opened Tempranillo, offering a little bit of Italy and a serious touch of Spain with its hot and cold small plates, known as tapas. With more than 25 options, it is possible to make a meal from them. It’s hard to go wrong with any of the salads, and the albondigas (meatballs) are divine. If you like mussels, you’ll love their mejillones al limon (mussels in spicy lemon cream). | 165 Midland Ave., Basalt; 970-927-3342, | Ellen Sweets
