Bud's Cafe and Bar

4.0 star rating
36 reviews Rating Details

Categories: Bars, Restaurants  [Edit]

5453 Manhart St
Sedalia, CO 80135
(303) 688-9967
Price Range:
$
Accepts Credit Cards:
No
Parking:
Street
Attire:
Casual
Good for Groups:
Yes
Good for Kids:
Yes
Takes Reservations:
No
Delivery:
No
Take-out:
Yes
Waiter Service:
Yes
Outdoor Seating:
No
Good For:
Lunch
Music:
Juke Box
Best Nights:
Fri, Thu, Sat
Alcohol:
Full Bar
Smoking:
No
Coat Check:
No
Noise Level:
Average
Good For Dancing:
No
Has TV:
Yes
Caters:
No

Review Highlights   

  • user photo
    "By far the best Burger for the $ anywhere." In 7 reviews
  • user photo
    "...when cruising between Littleton and Castle Rock via SH-85." In 4 reviews
  • user photo
    "...mentions of the no nonsense menu and awesome burgers to my..." In 1 review
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36 reviews in English

  • Review from Chris L.

    Dallas, TX

    4.0 star rating
    3/22/2012

    I was really skeptical about this place.  We're here in denver for the drupalcon conference and my coworker recommended this place so we ended up driving here.

    This bar is very small and nested in the sedelia main street.

    As you enter, you'll notice the random things on the wall and 70s wood panels that ridden the place. The first thing you see here is the cash only sign.

    When we got here we sat down at the small round table and i was expecting a menu. And their menu is really simple just cheap hamburgers and no fries!

    This is the perfect place for a burger and a beer.

    I ordered a double cheese burger. It was everything a man could want. It was just oozing with delicious cheese.

    The meat is well seasoned on the outside but a little overcooked. the inside is juicy and the outside has a nice crust. you can taste the sweet cheese melting.

    The waitress here was pretty friendly. She told us a short story about the place. She mentioned that the place started as a garage.

    Overall a must visit this place is the quintessential dive restaurant with great food and great value. It's tempting to have more than one hamburger.

  • Review from Corey B.

    North Canton, OH

    5.0 star rating
    2/8/2012 1 Check-in Here

    I love when places do what they know they do well and keep things simple.  Here its' a hamburger, cheeseburger or double of either.  No chips.  Nothing else fried.  Side of chips.  Easy peasy and DELICIOUS.  Did I mention reasonable too?  Because they are.

    Go here for: a damn good burger
    Don't go here for: french fries

  • Review from Donald E.

    • 42 friends
    • 2 reviews

    Chino, CA

    5.0 star rating
    1/26/2012

    I am a hairstylist in California and was heading to Denver on vacation.  A client insisted that I come down and get a burger at Bud's.  The experience was exactly what I expected and did not disappoint.  This is a cute little small town bar.  Modest, humble and real.  I am glad I knew what to expect or I might have been a bit confused by it all.  The one and only food item, their hamburger, is served simple and plain.  A steamed bun containing a single or double set of patties, cheese accordingly and onions and pickles on the side.  Don't expect fries here, you can get them at any fast food restaurant, chips are enough.  Dress that burger your way with mustard, ketchup or mayo.  Be sure to wash that bad boy down with a coke from the bar.  Their fountain has one of those great mixes that will leave you wanting more!  Nothing beats a real ice cold Coke.

    The people were so awesome, one table heard that I was visiting from California and they picked up my tab!  I was so touched that when I heard someone having troubles with their computer, I ended up helping them fix it.  If these kind of experiences are what you seek, head down to this bar!

  • Review from Shane E.

    • 13 friends
    • 8 reviews

    Wheat Ridge, CO

    5.0 star rating
    4/22/2012

    If you want a plain jane great burger this is the place.  All the places you go these days are trying to put everything under the sun on a burger and dont get me wrong I'm a burger fanatic and I try them all but this place makes the perfect burger and you cant beat the price either.  Dont pass this place up if you want a great all around burger.

  • Review from Zoe W.

    • 1 friend
    • 14 reviews

    Denver, CO

    4.0 star rating
    4/2/2012

    You have options.  Cheeseburger or a plain hamburger.  And they are delicious.  After a great Sunday afternoon drive we ended up getting amazing burgers, juicy and cooked to perfection.  They came to table steaming even.  No fries... but a bag of Lays chips which was perfect.  Our waitress was really nice.  When she asked if she could turn up the jukebox so they could hear "their song" I realized while the bikers might enjoy the place too, they welcome everyone.  The decor is old towne home.  The bartender smiled the entire time we were there as well.  A great "joint" with great people.

  • Review from Ben H.

    • 5 friends
    • 11 reviews

    Littleton, CO

    4.0 star rating
    5/5/2012

    A burger distilled to it's purest, most historic, this-is-what-I-think-of-when-I-think-of-cheeseburg ers form. I gave this burger my full review treatment on my Denver burger blog,http://theburgerbaron....

  • Review from Clark S.

    • 0 friends
    • 9 reviews

    Castle Rock, CO

    2.0 star rating
    1/16/2012

    Sorry, I just don`t get it. Tried it several times, and I think it is over-rated.

  • Review from David B.

    San Francisco, CA

    4.0 star rating
    7/9/2011

    When I'm out in Denver, this the spot for lunch.  Probably the most unpretentious, down-to-earth spot you can find.  And they serve great burgers to boot!  Service is quick, staff is amiable and the food delicious.

    Don't expect a large selection to choose from (4 items on the menu).  And don't ask for fries (rookie mistake - even says right on their menu).  If you go with a group (larger than 4 people best to hit the end of lunch to avoid a crowd) expect a wait depending on the time of day; the seating area isn't that large.

  • Review from mark p.

    • 1 friend
    • 5 reviews

    Castle Rock, CO

    5.0 star rating
    11/10/2011

    Don't overthink Bud's. It is a great place in a great location. Simple. Old School. Enjoy.

  • Review from Bryan H.

    • 39 friends
    • 124 reviews

    Pine, CO

    4.0 star rating
    2/3/2011 1 Check-in Here

    Best darn burger.

    Seriously what does one need, substance and drink. Thus I give you Bud's Bar.

  • Review from Edie S.

    • 19 friends
    • 2 reviews

    Sedalia, CO

    5.0 star rating
    6/28/2011

    I think Bud's Bar is a FABULOUS place to hang out and enjoy talking with friends!  It's a GREAT place to stay in-between trains - especially if you're stuck in the middle!!  

    I have met many friends there for lunch because it's very easy to find, and the waitresses are always very friendly with smiles on their faces.  The burgers are simple and awesome.  You always know what you're going to get!  

    Some places don't realize that "consistency" is key to a lot of folks.  People around here don't like "change" too much - and Bud's bar is just that.  Very consistent, not too many changes... we LOVE it like that.

    Keep going Bud's Bar!  We don't like change, and we LOVE "YOU"!!!

    - Edith Williams (Scharff)
     ... up Hwy 67 towards Deckers.

  • Review from Jack p.

    • 38 friends
    • 53 reviews

    Denver, CO

    5.0 star rating
    4/30/2011

    If I had a horse.. I would ride it down to Buds for a Jack n coke and a burger.
    I love the jukebox, which always has credits in it for free. Just go pick a song. Do you want Johnny cash or Merle Haggard, cause that is about it.

    By far the best Burger for the $ anywhere. I always get 2 single cheeseburgers, chips and drink. Don't forget to load it up with onions and pickles. The burgers and bun come out Steaming hot!! So moist, So soft, Very basic. Salt and pepper, cheese, standard bun, perfect size.. They are so simple it makes them Original, timeless and delish.

    Great service, Great prices..

    IF there isn't any room, you should wait. Don't settle for some crap burger in the other restaurant near by. Wait it out by going for a walk or something.

    Love you Buds. Don't change.

    Jack

  • Review from Amy R.

    • 62 friends
    • 155 reviews

    Parker, CO

    4.0 star rating
    3/25/2011

    Totally a fan of Bud's, even with only 4 items on their entire food menu(Hamburger, Double Hamburger, Cheeseburger, Double Cheeseburger).  It's fairly small, so I suggest you don't go with a group unless you'd like to wait for a while.  If you wait indoors, you'll be in the way.  If you're one or two people, chances are decent that you can find a place at the bar or share one of the 6-person round tables with others.  Waitresses are friendly and service is quick.  Prices are CHEAP.  No free soda refills but the prices are so low, no biggie.

    Your burger comes with a bag of chips and pickles and onions on the side.  No choice of cheese, no bacon, mushrooms, avocado.  Hell, there's not even lettuce or tomato.  Ketchup and mustard are on the table.  

    The cheese is SO melty and the buns are like little clouds...they are served warm...steamed, I think.

    I am crazy-picky about burgers and this is now my go-to place.  I'd give it 5 stars if it wasn't in the middle of nowhere or such a wild card with waiting.

  • Review from Brandon W.

    Parker, CO

    4.0 star rating
    10/7/2010 1 Check-in Here

    Super cool local joint in the sleepy town of Sedalia.  It's definitely got that "local's bar" vibe going on, but I plopped down at the bar and had quick, friendly service.

    The burger was great and the beers weren't very expensive.  My only gripe would be the lack of choice (no fries dammit!, reads the menu), but all in all, it'll be my stop when cruising between Littleton and Castle Rock via SH-85.

  • Review from James H.

    • 75 friends
    • 89 reviews

    Parker, CO

    4.0 star rating
    2/15/2009 1 photo

    So a few times over the past year I've had the simple pleasure of dining at Bud's Cafe and Bar in Sedalia. Finally, after several mentions of the no nonsense menu and awesome burgers to my wife, we finally made the trip to Sedalia together.

    Prior to walking in my wife was prepped with ample information regarding the small dining area and bar as well as reminded that they, "Don't have fries damnit" and they only take cash. Keepin' it real.

    Simple menu here. Hamburger ($3.25) , cheeseburger ($3.50) , double hamburger ($5.00) or double cheeseburger ($5.50). All burgers are served with pickles, onions and chips, and as the menu reads (See photo), "What more do you want at these prices?!".

    The service is very typical of a locals favorite with very friendly waitstaff and bartenders. They've upgraded recently to what appears to be a 36" LCD flat screen in the back, but this is definitely not a sports bar.

    If you ever find yourself on Highway 85 heading North from Castle Rock or South from, "The Ranch" be sure to give Bud's a try. Oh yeah...as Gregory mentions...don't be fooled by the larger pit stop on 85. Bud's is more like a house converted to a local town hot spot. You won't be mistaken of this place and will never forget it.

  • Review from Mo C.

    Denver, CO

    4.0 star rating
    12/17/2009

    Wow! I think that really may have been the best burger in Denver.

    This place is an experience. Only 5 of us ventured all the way down to Sedalia for the twelve drinking days of christmas, but we had an absolute blast! It's small but there's a bar and plenty of Budweiser in bottles. Cheers to John & Jonathan for cleaning the place out of Fat Tire! There is a random pew in the back (wtf?) and the teeny bathroom through the cattle gates is interesting. But, the service was good, the beer was cold and the burgers fantastic.

    I had the double cheese burger and had a similar reaction to the size of it that some other reviewers have had. I was like, "that's it"? But, I threw on a big, fat slice of raw onion and went to town. It was FANTASTIC! I have always been a fan of the burgers at Hanson's, but now I think I will have to field trip down south to get my burger fix.

    I wouldn't call this place a bar so much. There are tables and people bring their kids and stuff. So, its more like a small restaurant.  But, still pretty awesome. After several rounds, we took off and decided to explore the rest of Sedalia.

    I will most definitely be back!

  • Review from Brian G.

    • 29 friends
    • 53 reviews

    Denver, CO

    3.0 star rating
    5/20/2010

    If buds were a cartoon it would be Popeye and it would simply state "I yam what I yam".

    Is it the best burger around...no

    Is it the best burger for $5.50...maybe.

    The moniker alone would suggest that it is just that.  It's a bar with a flat top and they make burgers.

    My buddy and I made the trip down on Sunday to Sedalia to try the Yelp famed burger.  Not nearly as far as I was planning but a good little jaunt all the same.  We found parking on the rail tracks and walked up to the small bar.  We sat at a booth with with a pop up sporting drinks on one side and the menu on the other.

    We both ordered two Buds and two double cheese burgers.  The burgers were served piping hot with gooey cheese spilling over the sides.  It looked simplistic and delicious.  It tasted what I thought it taste like.  I don't think it warrants much discussion.  It was good.  It was a good burger.  It didn't change the way I see the world or anything but it was a good burger.

    I see complaints about beer only being served in bottles and I say this...It's fucking beer.  Get over it and enjoy it.  It's a bar.  They give you beer, you consume and pay for beer.  It's a good system.  It works.

    I don't know that I would venture down there just to eat this burger again.  It was good, I was not disappointed but I wasn't terribly impressed either.

  • Review from T Michael B.

    • 2 friends
    • 31 reviews

    Denver, CO

    3.0 star rating
    8/16/2009

    Maybe it's just me but I don't understand what the big deal is about Bud's.  Westword gave it "best burger" in 2009.  It was in the Hamburger America book.  Tons of people rave about it...  But why??

    We've heard about it and had wanted to go.  Today we were almost close (not really) so figured we'd head over.  

    First impression: heard it was a biker place and had surly waitresses.  There were two bikes in front but they left as we were walking in.  No bikers inside: a few families, a few older couples, nobody at all bikeresque.  The waitresses weren't at all surly - as a matter of fact they were quite nice and - gasp! - polite!  It wasn't really even a dive - more just a hole in the wall.

    Got our burgers - a single and a double, both with cheese - and was immediately struck by how small they were.  My better half mentioned that her single looked like a happy meal burger.  The buns were steamed and squishy (not sure that's a good thing), and the cheese was nicely dispersed.  Took a bite and they were hot as hell (hence the cheese dispersion) but was left vastly underwhelmed.  The meat was just alright - not particularly flavorful.  Moist yes, but not very tasty.

    People below are right about the important stuff: single/double ham/cheeseburger.  Onion/pickle/ketchup/mustard only condiments.  Bottled beer.  Cash only.

    People say these are the "best burgers"...  Maybe the "best in town" in Sedalia?  Certainly not Denver.  If you're driving past on 85 you might as well stop in and give it a go.  But if you're in Denver or coming up 25 I wouldn't bother.

  • Review from Meghan S.

    • 13 friends
    • 25 reviews

    Denver, CO

    3.0 star rating
    7/26/2009

    Here are some helpful tips about Bud's:
    Their menu has 4 (maybe 5 items):  hamburger, cheeseburger, double hamburger and double cheeseburger. No tomatoes, no lettuce, only pickles and onions.

    They only have bottled beers.  

    They do not accept credit cards, so bring your cash.

    I appreciate the quaintness of Bud's and the feeling that either you "take it or leave it".  But is this the best burger I've ever had?  Nope.  I don't even think it's the best I've had in Colorado.  Will I rush back to have another?  Probably not, but definitely worth the stop if you are in that area.

  • Review from Jamie L.

    Broomfield, CO

    5.0 star rating
    Updated - 8/15/2010 9 photos 2 Check-ins Here

    We went back again last week and I swear... the burgers have somehow gotten even better! They seemed larger, too. Cool remodel, the walls have been repaneled and the the peeling vinyl booths replaced by new, wooden bench booths.

    The waitresses were as friendly as ever.  The place was busy with lunching groups, and the burgers still came out quickly and cooked / steamed to perfection.

    Very cool, Bud's. I'm glad you're still my favorite burger... and I work nearby now, too!

    Listed in: In The KNOW!, Hey, Man... It's Denver, On the Cheap, i can Haz Chezburgr?

    Was this review …?

    1 Previous Review: Show all »

    • 5.0 star rating
      12/6/2009

      I absolutely love their Escargot and Beef Wellington, with a side of Pommes Frites.

      I'm totally… Read more »

  • Review from Kristin S.

    • 63 friends
    • 128 reviews

    Castle Rock, CO

    5.0 star rating
    3/23/2009 6 Check-ins Here

    Bud's has the best burgers, in a simple kind of way.

    Don't go there if you are looking for gourmet toppings with fries and fruity cocktail drinks. This isn't in the same category as the Counter.

    This is a small town bar that serves amazing burgers and that's about it. The beef is very fresh ground in house and the buns are steamed which makes them delicious! The only toppings you get are onion, pickles, mustard, and ketchup. Oh, and they come with a bag of Lay's potato chips...

    But the burgers are great. This place has been featured in a book about burgers called Hamburger America.  http://www.hamburgeram...

    This is the perfect place to stop while out on the Harley on a Sunday afternoon.

    They only take CASH.

  • Review from Doug B.

    • 7 friends
    • 125 reviews

    Castle Rock, CO

    2.0 star rating
    Updated - 9/11/2008

    Overrated, burgers have little to no flavor, all beer is bottled ...  Locals love it but I guess it's more of a habit than a choice.

    If you want a great burger, drive north to the Park Meadows mall and have dinner @ "The Counter" -- that'll make you forget about this forgettable place.

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    1 Previous Review: Show all »

    • 2.0 star rating
      7/8/2007 First to Review

      If you look up over-rated in the dictionary, you'll see  a picture of this establishment.

      Burgers are… Read more »

  • Review from Mike B.

    • 6 friends
    • 6 reviews

    Denver, CO

    4.0 star rating
    11/28/2010

    Bud's is a simple as its namesake, and for good measure. Nestled in the blink-and-you'll-miss-it main street of Sedalia, Bud's facade is basic and parking is street-wise. The bar and dining area are one in the same and are kitschy cool with sassy signs and simplistic tendencies. You're here for the burger, and that's all you can order. The owners found one thing they did very well and that's their sole offering.

    Prices are unbeatable unless you are eating fast food. The difference: in quality, it's immense. I believe the double cheeseburger is a shade over $5. Fresh onions, pickles and jalapenos upon request. It's true, you can't get fries here...but do you really need with every sandwich meal you eat? Focus on the burger...it's perfectly made and the buns are heated on the griddle...forcing the cheesy goodness to ooze from the burger's top.

    Order a Coors or any number of bottled beers at around $3 per and enjoy this destination eatery good for families, single folk or friends. The service is swift and friendly and like everything else at Bud's, no frills.

  • Review from Ben B.

    • 5 friends
    • 21 reviews

    Denver, CO

    4.0 star rating
    4/16/2011 1 Check-in Here

    Some bombs ass burgers, cheap drinks and excellent eavesdropping on the locals.  Great place for a Denver-ite to get lost at on a lazy day-drinking Saturday.

  • Review from Gregory P.

    • 16 friends
    • 43 reviews

    Denver, CO

    5.0 star rating
    3/22/2008

    I had a business meeting in Castle Rock yesterday and decided to make an extra trip out to Sedalia to check out this place I have heard nothing but incredible raves about from my biker buds.  I once thought I was at the right place, only to find out later that I had been fooled by another place.

    If you have never been to Bud's or Sedalia you may have be mislead by the numerous others that try to cash in on the lore. Signs adorn the roadway leading into Sedalia pointing towards inferior establishments reading "worlds best burgers" and, try our "famous burgers".
    Many people who travel far to taste the true American original find themselves trapped in a miserable "preformed and frozen" meal. It is only when one ventures over the railroad tracks to the nondescript hole in the wall called Bud's that the true burger is found. "No Fries Dammit" just a bag of chips and a cold bottled beer is all you'll need to realize that the drive is more than worth it....... it is simply an experience that any true burger lover must have.
    Cheers to Bud's burgers...... do not mistake them (as some of us have in the past) with those served at other, more visible establishments along the way. This is truly one of the best burgers I have ever tasted!
    Can't say I will make the long drive frequently, but I can say that anytime I am going anywhere near that part of town I will get my burger!

  • Review from Kal K.

    • 0 friends
    • 22 reviews

    Amity, PA

    5.0 star rating
    11/13/2009

    It's because it's what burgers always were- american simple, cooked on a griddle, so hot you can't pick it up. Makes your coat shiny to eat one. Has that flavor that makes you think the grease on the griddle is from day one, it's never been cleaned.  Served fast, hot, and simple. Get it, eat it, and move on. Small town bus stop Diner style.
    The place is not for everyone. I like the big huge "garbage can" style burger with exotic add ons as much as anyone, and for those It better be great- meat cooked to perfection and the condiments will be fresh and well presented. Bud's is not that kind of place and does not want to be. It's not a biker bar. It's not a gourmet eatery. it's not fancy. those places are all a stones throw from there, but it's not them. It's a little bar, in a little town ,that makes a great basic hambuger. They are everywhere in the country and damn hard to find a good one. that's the same everytime you go. ( I'm thinking Brownies in Tulsa, but they also have pie)  Now if only they had fries...

  • Review from Lisa M.

    • 13 friends
    • 63 reviews

    Parker, CO

    2.0 star rating
    2/28/2010 1 Check-in Here

    I'm sorry, but I really don't get the hype.  Was it a tasty burger?  Sure.  Did they have Fat Tire in bottles?  Yep.  Is this anything I couldn't have in my own backyard?  Nope.  Don't get me wrong, it was a simple, honest, tasty cheeseburger.  But by no stretch of the imagination is it the best burger in Denver.  Nor is it the big, scary biker bar Westword would have you believe.  It's a small-town watering hole, with a grill in the back serving up cheap cheeseburgers...not much more than that.

  • Review from Jayson L.

    • 1 friend
    • 23 reviews

    Lone Tree, CO

    5.0 star rating
    10/25/2010 1 Check-in Here

    Like it says on the wall, this is not burger king, you don't get it your way. You take it my way or you don't get the s-o-b. Great burgers and cheap beer. Perfect.

  • Review from Jeremy C.

    Lakewood, CO

    4.0 star rating
    3/12/2009

    Over hyped but still a great stop. I used to stop by here on my way to the factory outlet stores in Castle Rock but it has been a little while since going. Good burger and beers im not a beer fan but hey burger and coke are great. If there is a wait or anything like that just move along it isn't worth it and if they are closed or something you aren't missing anything but if you can get in its good times.

  • Review from Scott S.

    Flower Mound, TX

    4.0 star rating
    1/16/2010

    Remember - "No french fries dammit"

  • Review from Scott H.

    • 0 friends
    • 10 reviews

    Medina, OH

    4.0 star rating
    5/20/2011

    A good place for a simple hamburger and a cold beer.  The burgers are good and the locals are entertaining.  Not the best burger in the Denver area but pretty damn close.  Check you self-importance at the door and you will have a good time.

  • Review from Kevin P.

    • 2 friends
    • 4 reviews

    San Diego, CA

    1.0 star rating
    11/23/2009

    This is BS that they state these are the best burgers in CO!! I can make a better one than this and I can't even cook. They use the cheapest buns and there is NOTHING on it! They dnt even have fries n give u Lays chips with it.  Interesting place to see once though..and the pricesr way cheap. We sat in a booth with duct tape all over it:)

  • Review from Jonathan U.

    • 3 friends
    • 176 reviews

    Chicago, IL

    5.0 star rating
    2/10/2011

    A classic.  I know they are famous for not having fries, but I wish they did...

  • Review from erika s.

    Chicago, IL

    4.0 star rating
    11/25/2010

    this totally reminds me of places i'd go as a kid. it's about as local as you can get and totally old school without the cigarette smoke. the menu is so small you might miss it. you most likely won't even have time to look at it if you're with people that have been there before as all that's on it is hamburger. cheeseburger. double burger. double cheeseburger. everything comes with chips (no fries!) but you can upgrade for say doritos if that floats your boat for a small fee. the steamed buns are super good and the onion that comes on the side is very sweet. they apparently freeze them prior to serving--was unawares that this makes a difference but it does. the beer selection isn't vast, but it is cold and cheap. the signage is entertaining. the lighting is odd. people are so nice here you leave feeling like either you're cindy crawford or your shirt is partially see-through.

  • Review from Porter H.

    • 9 friends
    • 12 reviews

    Oakland, CA

    5.0 star rating
    Updated - 3/12/2009 6 photos

    just got back from Denver and I had to stop at Bud's. It was scrumptious as usual.

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    1 Previous Review: Show all »

    • 4.0 star rating
      1/3/2008

      Now, being a urban girl from the Bay Area, I love the authentic-ness of this bar out in the middle… Read more »

  • Review from Rob B.

    • 0 friends
    • 5 reviews

    Portland, OR

    2.0 star rating
    7/27/2007

    It's a cool place, but the burgers are just okay.  We made a special trip for a burger, and we were disappointed.  If we're in the area, we'd definitely stop in again for a burger and beer, but it's nothing special to seek out when you're on a burger quest.

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