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 record was published by The Centurion Awards from the public record. 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.
The details, verified.
- 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
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.
Every award, on the record.
Each Centurion Award is its own dated annual record, and staying current means clearing the bar again each new year. The verification above is from the latest published award. Open a year for that year’s citation.
2025 Centurion Award
Best Diner in Denver Denver, CO · Awarded under the 2025 evaluation View the 2025 award →Awards run one calendar year and renew only if the business clears the bar again. Selection is by published criteria, never for sale.
Visit Sam's No. 3
A signal you can check.
This page is the standing record for Sam's No. 3 (2025). It was published by The Centurion Awards from the public record; the business did not have to apply for it to appear. It wasn’t voted on or sponsored, and selection is not for sale. Owners can claim the listing or ask us to remove it. For hours, bookings, and live reviews, go straight to the business itself.
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 for free to manage it, correct it, or remove it. If you want the award kit (badge, certificate, and announcement), you pay after you claim. Through December 31, 2026, publishing is $99. The evaluation itself is free. The $99 covers the first year only. Renewals are $199/year. That fee never buys selection.
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.