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🌶️ The Green Chile Issue

Good morning, Colorado Springs. ☕

There are two kinds of people in this town: people who order their breakfast burrito smothered, and people who haven't tried it yet. Mornings are getting crisp, so this week we're doing a full lap of the local green chile and breakfast burrito scene.

Onto this week's Scoop:

• 🌯 4 spots (+ a bonus) where the green chile is the main event
• 🎃 Halloween weekend: costumes at the zoo, the farm and the football game
• 👀 On our radar: Día de Muertos and the Veterans Day Parade

Let's get into it.
— The COS Scoop crew

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🌯 Where to Get Smothered

1. King's Chef Diner: Downtown

📍 131 E. Bijou St. (across from Acacia Park) · Open every day, "7 a.m.-ish till 2 p.m.-ish"
➜ View details

The lavender-hued diner across from Acacia Park is a Springs institution, and its green chili has a serious reputation. Their house sauces come in Hot and Medium, and they mean it: start with medium if you're new to their heat. Breakfast and lunch are served all day.
Pro tip: The Costilla Street "castle" location is private-events only now. For breakfast, head to Bijou & Nevada. Hooked? You can order their green chili to take home.

2. Western Omelette: Downtown

📍 16 S. Walnut St. · Daily 7 a.m.–2:30 p.m.
➜ View details

A Colorado Springs breakfast staple since 1992, with Hatch green chili slow-cooked in pork or vegetarian versions (meat-free friends, rejoice). The classic order is the breakfast burrito: scrambled eggs, chorizo and cheese, smothered in green chili with melted cheese on top.
Pro tip: Their Breakfast Burrito & Coffee special is $15, Monday–Friday through Fri., Oct. 30. Weekends are busy, and they don't take to-go orders Saturdays and Sundays from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

3. Omelets Etc.: Five Locations

📍 1616 S. 8th St. · 2850 S. Academy Blvd. · 1337 Interquest Pkwy. · 11910 Tourmaline Dr. (Peyton) · 6970 Mesa Ridge Pkwy. (Fountain) · Daily 6 a.m.–3 p.m.
➜ View details

A family-run local success story. Juan and Robin Madera opened the first one on 8th Street in 2010, and it's grown from there. Juan's homemade green chile is the headliner, and the colossal sausage links from a local farm have their own fan club. With spots in the Westside, the southeast, the north end, Falcon/Peyton and Fountain, there's likely one near you.

4. Monica's Taco Shop: East Side

📍 5829 Palmer Park Blvd. · Mon–Sat 5 a.m.–10 p.m. · Sun 7 a.m.–8 p.m.
➜ View details

When you want maximum burrito for minimum fuss. Monica's has been a Colorado Springs fixture for decades, with no-frills counter service, hefty breakfast burritos and a salsa verde regulars won't stop talking about. It opens at 5 a.m. on weekdays, so it can be your pre-shift or pre-hike fuel stop.

Bonus: Western Omelette 2: Fountain

📍 311 N. Santa Fe Ave., Fountain · ➜ View details

South-siders and Fort Carson folks: the sister restaurant to #2 serves the same generous, homestyle breakfast without the drive downtown.

Your turn: Who did we miss? Hit reply with your favorite smothered burrito. The best reader picks make a future Scoop. 🌶️

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🎃 Halloween Weekend

Boo at the Zoo: Cheyenne Mountain Zoo

🗓️ Fri., Oct. 30 & Sat., Oct. 31 · 4–8:30 p.m. · 4250 Cheyenne Mountain Zoo Rd.
➜ View details

The final two nights of trick-or-treating at 25+ treat stations around the zoo. Advance timed tickets required (no walk-ups).

Costume Party & Pup-kin Fest: Venetucci Farm

🗓️ Fri., Oct. 30 (9:30 a.m.–2 p.m.) & Sat., Oct. 31 (9:30 a.m.–4 p.m.) · 5210 S. U.S. Hwy. 85 · $8 admission
➜ View details

The last weekend of Pumpkin Fest and the only weekend dogs are allowed on the farm. Trick-or-treating for kids and pups, costumes encouraged for both.

Air Force vs. UConn: Falcon Stadium

🗓️ Sat., Oct. 31 · 1 p.m. MT
➜ View schedule

Halloween kickoff at the Academy. Then home in time for trick-or-treaters.

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👀 On Our Radar

Día de Muertos at the Fine Arts Center: Sun., Nov. 1 (12:30–4:30 p.m.) & Mon., Nov. 2 (4–8 p.m.) · 30 W. Dale St. · Free. Community ofrendas, live music and art activities. ➜ Details

In Their Honor Veterans Day Parade: Sat., Nov. 7 · 11 a.m. · Tejon Street, from St. Vrain south to Vermijo. ➜ Details

Colorado Country Christmas Gift Show: Nov. 13–15 · Colorado Springs Event Center · Fri & Sat 10 a.m.–7 p.m., Sun 10 a.m.–5 p.m. · Adults $12 at the box office. ➜ Details

Heads up: Garden of the Gods switches to winter hours (5 a.m.–9 p.m.) on Nov. 1.

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🍦 SCOOP Hub

🎃 Last week: Coffins, Pumpkins & a Zoo Full of Costumes
🚲 Next week: Easy Walks + Bike Trails Before the Snow
📣 Advertise with COS Scoop

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📬 Before You Go

If you only try one place on this list this weekend, make it the one closest to your house, and order it smothered. Then send this to the friend who still puts ketchup on their hash browns. 😉

Happy Halloween, Springs. 🎃

Until next Thursday,
— The COS Scoop crew

Springs Resources
🦁 Cheyenne Mountain Zoo events · 🏛️ Garden of the Gods hours · 🏈 Air Force football schedule