Taste of Pikes Peak 2025
The Pikes Peak Region’s largest food event.

The Taste of Pikes Peak event is back for 2025, now in its 28th year! And this time around not only were there over 80 different vendors, but the VIP area now includes a selection of vendors exclusive to that area. Smart move, TOPP. 

I hadn’t necessarily planned to attend, but Bailey is one lucky bitch and won a pair of tickets (go follow her at @eat.drink.bay) and was kind enough to invite me to attend. Taste of Pikes Peak 2025, here we go!

First thing I noticed was how… empty? it seemed? Granted, we pulled up to the parking lot at about 5:20, and general admission didn’t open until 6:00 (Unless you purchased VIP [$125] or Early Entry [$85]. But still, I remember last year’s event – which had considerably more rain – and there were waaaaaay more people. Pero como dicen en mi tierra: Entre menos burros, mas olotes.

Personally, I was better prepared than last year – an umbrella, cute tee, and linen pants with a very elastic waistband were my trusty companions. I should stop carrying my camera, though 😂 

Far be it for me to complain about the abundance of alcohol available, but if math and memory serve me right, there was almost a 1:1 ratio of food stands to booze stands, and only a few NA options. I was a tad disappointed given how many great drinks could have been served – especially if you consider the number of Mexican restaurants that participated. An horchata? Agua de jamaica? Hell, even a soda would have been nice to have. And several coffee shops participated, but cold brew to accompany my mac & cheese doesn’t sound the most appetizing. I will take a latte with my donut, though, thankyouverymuch.

There’s definitely an area of opportunity for more non-alcoholic drinks and whatnot.

*cough* Pikes Peak Lemonade *cough* Kochi Boba *cough*

In the meantime, shout out to Raising Cane’s for the Iced Tea and Lemonade, and Colorado Springs Utilities for water 😂

But enough with the drink rant! What about everything we ate? Well dear Forkers, as has become the norm with posts like these, I’ll be assigning a ✨rating on a scale of 1 to 5 to each bite (which you can find in the caption) and shouting out the most notable ones after the gallery. Onward! 

(If I haven’t said this before, though, keep in mind that I rate food within its context, so just because something is 5✨ doesn’t mean it’s the best forking bite of your life, and if it’s 1✨ it doesn’t necessarily mean it is horrendous and inedible)

Red Adobo Chicken Nachos with Pickled Green Papaya from Baon Supper Club ✨✨✨

The Experience Roll from Rock N Roll Sushi ✨✨

Chimichurri Steak from Picnic Basket ✨✨✨✨

Beef Quesadilla from Dos Santos ✨✨✨✨

Mango Sorbet with Chamoy from The Meltdown ✨✨✨✨

Brownie and Cajun Sausage from Golden Corral ✨✨✨

Carne Asada Pupusa with Pickled Onions and a Fried Plantain (from Taste of Pikes Peak)

Biscuits and Gravy from Urban Egg ✨✨✨✨✨

Steak & Ale Pie from The Brit Pub ✨✨

Mediterranean Salad from Salad or Bust ✨✨✨

Mac & Cheese with Crispy Onions from Voodoo Brewing Co. ✨✨✨

Mustard Ice Cream from Colonel Mustard✨✨✨

Bison Carpaccio from Oro ✨✨✨✨✨

Scallop and Shrimp Ceviche from Salsa Brava ✨✨✨

Olive Oil Bagel with Plain Cream Cheese from Bella’s Bagels ✨✨✨

Polpette Al Forno from Pizzeria Rustica ✨✨✨✨

Mojito Posset, Scone, and Strawberry Jam from Tea and Tidbits ✨✨✨✨

Beef Barbacoa Tostada from Nacho Matrix ✨✨

Brisket Crostini Cerberus Brewing ✨✨✨

Red Chile Braised Pork Taco from The Warehouse Restaurant✨✨✨

Dulce de Leche & Choco Banana Lattes from The Best Coffee & Lounge ✨✨✨ 1/2

Sopapilla with Honey, Whipped Cream, and Chocolate Drizzle from LaCasita Mexican Grill ✨✨✨

Carnitas Taco with Mango Salsa from Amanda’s Fonda ✨✨

Chocolate Chip Bread Pudding from Jack Quinn’s ✨✨✨✨

Cowboy Cold Brew from Third Space Coffee ✨✨✨

Selection of Breads from Provision Bread & Bakery ✨✨✨✨

Peaches & Cream Cocktail from Edna’s Midwest Eats & Daiquiris ✨✨

Sparkling Riesling from Uva Cava Bar ✨✨✨

Hot Italian, Hot Polish, Cajun, and Bratwurst Sausages from Sara Sausage ✨✨✨

My absolute favorite bites, in order: the Carne Asada Pupusa from Monse’s Pupusería, the Bison Carpaccio from Oro, and my biggest surprise – the Biscuits & Gravy from Urban Egg. All three were not only solid bites for the event, but they would 100% stand out in their own environments.

All in all, it was a great event. The music was great, the people were fantastic, food and drink were solid (did I mention it’s unlimited bites and sips?) and the weather ended up being really nice once it stopped raining. Plus, I love the location, which is right in front of the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Museum. It’s one of the areas of downtown that has had a lot of love and work put into it and it definitely shows.

That being said, I don’t know that I would necessarily pay $65 to go again next year. Not because the event in itself isn’t worth it but I personally feel like I’ve seen enough of it? idk, maybe it’s just me.

But, I’m also the type of person who’ll only go to their favorite artists’ concert once and be satisfied, so take it with a grain of smoked salt.

Taste of Pikes Peak takes place at 200 S Sierra Madre St, Colorado Springs, CO, USA, on the third Thursday of July.