Green chile smothering everything since 1927.
Sam's No. 3 has been a Denver diner since 1927, when Greek immigrant Sam Armatas opened the first of his lunchrooms; the family revived the name downtown decades later. Century-old recipes — especially the red and green chile ladled over nearly everything — anchor a sprawling all-day menu of more than 100 items.
A classic Denver diner now run by the founder's grandsons, Sam's No. 3 is the 2025 Centurion Award winner.
What they're known for
- Red & green chile
- All-day breakfast
- 100+ item diner menu
Customers said it first.
A Centurion Award verifies the public record that’s already there. Read the reviews yourself on the platforms below.
Public-record snapshot as of July 2026. Live ratings are always current on each platform.
Why this business cleared the bar.
This page was published by The Centurion Awards from the public record. Founding cohort: evaluated in 2026 on public evidence available then, labeled 2025. Selection follows the published criteria; Sam's No. 3 met them on that evidence. The business can claim the listing or ask us to remove it.
- ✓Years in operation. Operating in Denver since 1927 — 99 years of continuous business.
- ✓Sustained online presence. An established local institution with a consistent public footprint — listings, coverage, and word of mouth in Denver.
- ✓Established customer track record. A deep public track record: Denver has kept Sam's No. 3 busy for 99 years.
- ✓Liked by customers and the community. Genuinely beloved by Denver regulars and visitors alike — a bona fide community favorite.
- ✓Recognition in the local community. Named best diner in Denver for 2025 for nearly a century of kickin' green chile and smothered breakfast burritos downtown.
The specific data behind this award, and the exact thresholds, stay internal so the standard can’t be gamed. Read the methodology.
This page was published by The Centurion Awards from the public record; the business did not have to apply for it to appear. Own this business? Claim the listing to manage it, or ask us to remove it.
Award record
2025 Centurion Award
Best Diner in Denver Denver, CO · Awarded under the 2025 evaluationVisit Sam's No. 3
The details, verified.
Clean, checkable facts about Sam's No. 3.
- Legal / trading name
- Sam's No. 3
- Category
- Restaurant
- Founded
- 1927, Denver, CO
- Founders
- The Armatas family
- Location
- 1500 Curtis St, Denver, CO 80202
- Centurion Award
- Best Diner in Denver — 2025
- Record last verified
- July 2026
A signal you can check.
This is a dated award record published by The Centurion Awards after reviewing public evidence for Sam's No. 3 against the 2025 criteria for its market and category. The business did not have to apply for this page to appear. It wasn’t voted on or sponsored, and selection is not for sale. The criteria are public. Owners can claim the listing or ask us to remove it. If an award stops holding up, we may revoke it. For anything current, like hours or bookings, go straight to the business itself.
Frequently asked questions.
What is Sam's No. 3?
Downtown Denver diner tracing to 1927, beloved for smothered breakfast burritos and its famous green chile.
Is Sam's No. 3 award-winning?
Yes — Sam's No. 3 is the 2025 Centurion Award winner for Best Diner in Denver, a verified, criteria-based award. Named best diner in Denver for 2025 for nearly a century of kickin' green chile and smothered breakfast burritos downtown.
Where is Sam's No. 3?
Sam's No. 3 is in Denver, CO.
Run a business like this one?
If you’ve put in the years, you may already qualify. Evaluation is free, private, and never for sale.