Back in 2003, my life was dominated by midterms, finals, and the questionable dining options at Purdue. But Wednesday nights? Those were sacred. That was South Park night. I had a friend in the dorms who had two things going for him: a TV and a steady supply of beer from a local fraternity. I’d bring my girlfriend and we’d all huddle in his room, crack open a cold one, and soak up whatever Trey Parker and Matt Stone had cooked up for the week.
On November 12th, 2003, they outdid themselves. Casa Bonita. I didn’t know what hit me. I’d never spent time in Denver—unless you count driving through it once—and I had no idea the place was real. But even without context, I knew this episode was special. Once I found out Casa Bonita actually existed, it immediately landed on my bucket list.
A few years later, my sister and her husband beat me to visiting it. They got to experience the original pre-South Park-redemption version, while I kept it on my list, dreaming. Then COVID came along, nearly taking Casa Bonita with it. But Matt Stone and Trey Parker saved the day—buying the restaurant, pouring millions into it, and promising the world a revitalized, “better-than-new” Casa Bonita. (I’d recommend you check out the ¡Casa Bonita Mi Amor! documentary prior to going, as I think this adds a good background to the experience and gives you some ideas on what to look for.)
As soon as reservations opened, I pounced. After months of waiting and more anticipation than a kid on Christmas Eve, I finally stepped through the doors of Casa Bonita in early November 2024. This is my review of that unforgettable experience. So–let’s “raise the flag” and dive in!
Table of Contents
Reservations
Getting into the new Casa Bonita is a bit like winning the lottery. The reservation system opens up once a month, usually on a Monday early in the month. For example, February 2025 reservations will open on Monday, December 9th, 2024.
Here’s how it works: an hour before reservations officially open, you join the wait list. When the floodgates open, you’re assigned a random spot in line. Once you’re in line, expect to wait another hour or so. It’s a hassle, yes, but the system does function—kind of like a slow, online Rube Goldberg machine.
If patience isn’t your strong suit, there’s an alternative. A dedicated subreddit exists for reselling Casa Bonita reservations. I haven’t had to resort to this yet, but it’s good to know there’s a potential backup plan.
For me, the official reservation system has worked well enough. Sure, waiting isn’t fun, but when the payoff involves cliff divers, mariachi bands, and more sopapillas than medically advisable, it’s worth the hassle. Your mileage may vary, but as far as I’m concerned, the journey to Casa Bonita is all part of your adventure.
Venue
Stepping into Casa Bonita is like wandering into the Mexico pavilion at Epcot, only with way more interactive fun, but sadly, zero boat rides. Walking in, you’ll find a, multi-level restaurant/entertainment extravaganza packed with unique areas to explore for adults and kids alike. You’ll probably want to experience everything here after eating your meal.
Here’s your ultimate checklist for conquering Casa Bonita:
The Diving Pool
This is the crown jewel of Casa Bonita, where cliff divers put on jaw-dropping performances throughout your meal. You can’t help but pause mid-bite as someone leaps 30′ into the turquoise water like it’s no big deal. Pro tip: If you’re seated elsewhere, get up and position yourself somewhere near the cliff divers. There’s performances every 20 minutes. (Also: the Casa Bonita soundtrack is pretty much Elvis’ “Fun in Acapulco” album. Specifically, at least “Vino, Dinero y Amor” and “Mexico” off the album are specifically featured.)
Black Bart’s Cave
Marked by ominous skeletons guarding the entrance (voiced by Matt and Trey–and they’re hilarious), the cave has a mix of eerie fun and classic Casa Bonita quirkiness. Inside, you’ll navigate dimly lit pathways filled with surprises. The cave is just the right balance of spooky, funny, and playful, making it a must-do for kids and adults alike.
The Theater
There’s a small theater near the pool beneath the cliff diving waterfall. This is home to the magic show at the top of the hour, hosted by the “insanely mysterious” luchador Sorsoro. The show lasts for 15 minutes and is great fun. Get there early, and try to get a good seat. (Pro tip: make sure you can see the whole stage, including the TV on the left side of the stage. It’s easy to sit in the back and get an obstructed view. Just make sure there aren’t any pillars in your way.) Also note that during the show, you aren’t permitted to take photographs or video.
The Puppet Theater
This one’s a hit with kids (and, let’s be honest, most adults too). The puppet shows are delightfully cheesy and worth a stop, especially if you’re looking for something lighthearted while digesting your enchiladas. There’s a bunch of adult humor baked into this show, and it’s a lot of fun. (It’s also very popular, so arrive early to get a seat.) Like at the Sorsoro theater, pictures and videos aren’t allowed during the show.
The Museum
Yes, Casa Bonita has a museum, and yes, it’s as random as it sounds. Featuring a mix of quirky artifacts and Casa Bonita history, this area feels like the restaurant’s version of a roadside attraction. It’s a fun detour while exploring the venue. Some of the original artifacts from the restaurant are on display here.
The Gold & Silver Mine
This is a themed dining area within the restaurant. The main things to see here are the fun blasting machine (which the kids love to play with) and the Assayer Joe machine, where Assayer Joe (voiced by Trey Parker, I think) will sell you “gold” and “silver” coins and talk about “life in his day.” (His day is the 70’s–that’d be the 1970’s, not the 1870’s–so he tells tales about cereal box characters while sporting his Farah Fawcett t-shirt. And yes, it’s as awesome as it sounds.)
The Arcade, Root Beer Bar, and Shooting Gallery
Take a break from the action and head to the arcade, where you can blow some quarters on classic games and the shooting gallery. Bonus: the root beer bar, because what’s more fun than sipping a frosty mug of nostalgia while trying to beat your high score? (Also–you get to keep the mug, of course.)
Cartman Selfie Opportunity
For fans of South Park, this one’s a no-brainer. Snap a selfie with Cartman, posed with his food. (He’s no longer at the “Cartman” table location, featured in the episode, due to the fact that it’s now the location for face painting.) Snapping a selfie here is one of the most quintessential locations to nab a picture in the new Casa Bonita. It’s kitschy, it’s iconic, and yes, it’s totally worth a stop.
The Treasure Room (Cueva del Tesoro)
This is a nice little room with nautical items on the walls which make you feel like you’re in a submarine. If you look up, you can see mermaids swimming atop of you. There’s a button that you can press on one of the walls that ejects a big pearl into a big oyster. In the pearl is a free little toy. (The volcano which periodically ‘erupts’ is right above this treasure room.)
Retail Locations: Main Store & Exit Gift Shop
Save some room in your budget because the merchandise here is fantastic. From quirky souvenirs to surprisingly high-quality keepsakes, there’s something for everyone. (Confession: I spent close to $200 on goodies for myself and the family, and I have no regrets. Don’t judge me.)
Those are most of the more major locations throughout the restaurant. There’s plenty more things to see and do–but those are the main ones. (One thing I hope to see on our next trip is the fortune telling bird. Unfortunately, he was out of order when we were there.)
Food
It was okay. (Though, it’s not as bad as everyone makes it out to be.) Everyone has to get something, and I was stuffed leaving. It took a while to get our food, and as such, I filled up on chips. We got the carnita nachos (very good), the green chili burrito (okay, but cold), and the kids got chicken tenders (not very good). We also purchased a queso which was good but honestly unnecessary with all of the other food. We also split a margarita which was decent.
Characters
There’s a lot of entertainers here, and you should probably treat this like a checklist–they’re easy to miss. Frankly, you could spend all day here and not see everything. I think this is everyone though.
- Cliff Divers – You won’t talk to them, but they’ll come out and jump on the top of the hour, on the :20s and :40s.
- Amazon Ani – This quirky adventurer can be found roaming around. I ran into her in a small cave in the bottom of the restaurant.
- Captain Isabella – She’s a pirate captain. I ran into her near the treasure room.
- Black Bart – He’s the character whose hideout is in the cave. He’s kind of the “villain” of the set.
- Sorsoro – The mysterious luchador who puts on the magic show in the theater room, mentioned above.
- Sheriff – I didn’t get to talk to him much, as he was in hot pursuit of the…
- Gorilla – Who had just messed with our table flag. I didn’t get a good luck at him, but I’m pretty sure that the Gorilla is now the same as…
- ManBearPig – Yes–ManBearPig is real–and he’s spectacular. (See above.)
Conclusion
Casa Bonita isn’t just a restaurant—it’s an experience, and one that lives up to the hype. Sure, it’s not the cheapest night out, but for what you get—the cliff divers, the quirky entertainment, the endless sopapillas—it’s totally worth every penny. My kids had an absolute blast, and seeing their faces light up made the whole experience even better. We’re already counting down the days until we can go back, and if all goes according to plan, we’ll be diving back into the magic as soon as January 2025.
Casa Bonita is one for the books, and if you get the chance, don’t miss it!
