Bubu

I have been a big fan of Bubu's for some time, used to be 2-3x a week Republic regular, and have been missing it since working a bit further out from downtown. Finally got to hit up the Larimer Square spot for the first time today though after months of craving it! Bubu gets right what so many places get wrong. First, there is no fear of flavor here. Not only do all of their bowls come packed with it, there are so many options here that it's just hard to go wrong. And yet, the menu doesn't go nuts. It's simple while still allowing for plenty of choices. My favorites include the Thai (with added kimchi) and Mexican bowls both with a half salad/brown rice mix and chicken. You can't go wrong with these! Second, the price. Bubu is a rare place these days that gets value right. They're not overvaluing their outstanding product: you're getting a full and fresh lunch for $10-12. That seems to be a rarity these days where every sandwich you come across is $12-15 and doesn't approach what comes in these bowls. I only wish this place was open more days and beyond lunch. I look forward to finding more ways to make it back often.

It might be easy to miss this place, as it's down the stairs at Larimer Square. If you're looking for a delicious healthy vegetarian/vegan bowl for lunch, this is the place! Great service and very fair prices make this place perfect. Enjoy!

Great, delicious, fresh bowls with a unique taste compared to most other restaurants of this type. Ducked in during the chalk festival because all the vendors lines were so long, what a find! The staff was very friendly and helpful since it was our first time in and overall just an amazing experience for a reasonable price. Will definitely be back

I liked the options for customization in addition to the pre-set bowls if you didn’t want to get creative. Staff was very friendly & patient while I “crafted” my selections. Communal seating mostly so if you’re not into that, there’s limited options. But nice environment - busy lunch spot.

Variety of well designed 'bowls' with a couple of basic options like white or brown rice and protein. Personal favourite is their Thai Bowl with chicken and brown rice, ready in 10min or less.

Super disappointed in Bubu Ordered from Uber Eats. Spent $40.00 for 1 spring roll, cost $9.00 which came in a cup. Loose wrap, old lettuce. Also ordered a bowl with steak. Steak was not fresh and I couldn't finish the bowl. I tried calling and no answer. No doubt you can improve here.

Lots of great ingredients to make your own super healthy bowl! Great for vegans and vegetarians, it's a super easy place to order lots of different things from. Only downfall is the bowls are a little expensive, it depends on the protein you choose, but even when my friends and I ordered, our bowls were left a bit empty and it seemed like someone skimped on what we ordered. I normally would say order one bowl and split with someone with the size of the bowl they give you, but they weren't super full so I'd recommend each person get their own bowl. Also forewarning, this place is apparently super packed at lunch hour, as in the line going out the store and above ground - so go on an off hour!

That was a damned good bowl! I ordered the Paleo because the ingredients sounded good. OMG it was soooo tasty. I can tell this place has an accomplished chef at the helm—the food is clean and the bowls are packed with flavor. Carrot-mustard dressing was a first for me but now I’m addicted. And, if I do say so myself, lunch made me feel a smidge healthier. LOL. P.S. the ginger lemonade is a must

New to Denver, my boyfriend and I took a stroll into town and found this place. A little hidden, but not hard to find. You just need to take a few steps down. We went for a late lunch, so no one was really there. It's pretty simple: pick your bowl, your base, and your protein. Aloha bowl with salad as my base and salmon as my protein. Delish! The portion was really good and the flavor was on point. Although, I don't think I needed the kimchi. That felt a little off since I don't usually have kimchi in any of my poke bowls. Other than that, everything was really yummy. My boyfriend had the Mexican bowl and he devoured that in no time. He loved and wanted to come back soon. Like I said, it was late lunch so no one was there. Plenty of seating even if there were. Self-serve water and utensils. The drink selections were a bit limited, for me. I had the fizzy tea and I had no idea what I was drinking. It tasted like beer to me. Not their fault, it's just what it is. Can't wait to come back for more!

I got the salmon bowl and my friend got the chicken bowl. Everything was well seasoned and fresh! The service was great except that they ran out of certain sauces foe the 6 bowls they offer. So we could only choose from 3. This was at 2pm. The ambiance is more casual and kid friendly. Its a small hole in the was type of place and very reminiscent of a Japanese casual sushi bar.

Bubu has the best customer service. We order here often as it's in our neighborhood. Always fresh food and very customizable bowls. I typically get the Thai bowl because it's great & the dressing is spicy. If you like good tuna or shrimp they are great protein additions

I got the salmon aloha poke bowl, and for $14.50 (plus tax) it's pretty filling and delicious! Generously priced. The kimchi was a bit odd for me in the bowl but the rest of it was pretty good mixed well. I also grabbed myself a tea since I saw that Teakoe is brewed right in Denver, CO. The fizzy tea with hint of pineapple was also refreshing. They have a variety of drink selections

This was a fun lunch spot on a Denver museum day. We were looking for somewhere quick that wasn't fast food, and this hit the spot. The portion was decent (I had the Southern California bowl), and it definitely was flavorful. I think for having the Troy Guard name attached to it, I was expecting maybe a "little" more pizzazz, but for sure a good bowl, and a unique setting that made you feel somewhat hidden away in the middle of the city.

I am addicted to Bubu, I get it every week, sometimes 2 days in a row, and I always order ahead online. Absolute Favorite = Thai Bowl with shrimp and half salad/half rice noodles, and I like jicama and papaya salad. (Also good with tofu) Tied for 2nd Place = Mexican bowl with chicken, half salad/have brown rice and the OG bowl with steak and salad, and I add red peppers. The serving size is awesome for the price!! I'm eating Bubu right now, and was inspired to write this review...keep it up Bubu!!

Lee Jun Fan (Bruce Lee), our daughter and I have seen the "hopes" down in a Chinese bowl with the game to be the one to eat the last grain of rice! Bruce says the last grain is a finish but because the stomach is full there is a new beginning. Energy to seek and mind-body synchronized to accomplish. I say as Chinese wife #2, that the children are happy so the parents are happy and steady! We just loved eating Asian foods in Denver and I love that support of Asian community makes these wonderful recipes possible continuously throughout our years! Bruce Lee (Lee Jun Fan in memorium) Charlene Collins-Lee and our legacy, our daughter

Loved my meal from here. The service was pretty quick and the food was really good. It was kind of poke-ish but had more cooked veggie and protein options, so my bowl was more of a nourish bowl than a poke bowl. They have a really excellent variety of toppings which means you can create a bowl that has a really unique flavor. My favorite element was the kimchi - not sure if they make it there but it was really delicious. We sat outside in larimer square and it was a great vibe.

Delicious Poke Bowl / Fresh Asian Bowl place. Great for lunch. Lower level from sidewalk. I ordered Thai Bowl with Tiger Shrimp and Rice Noodles. Delicious bowl ( cold noodles). Also they have unusual ice tea in a can. Really good. My oder was ready in 5 minutes and I ate inside. Will go again.

Bubu is a great lunch spot right next to my office so we come here to eat often and order food online for the office during meetings. They are always on top of it and get the food out quickly. But most importantly they never mess up our orders for 15 people at my office. The food is healthy and can accommodate people with food allergies and sensitivities. Overall 2 thumbs up for Bubu!

Reliable, fresh, many choices, easy to be vegan or vegetarian. I stop in here once a week - sometimes more. I have had several of their offered dishes. All have bee great! It's in a basement area. No views - unless you are in their covered, outdoor, by the staircase and somewhat plain small dining area. They have several small tables out there and many inside. Check it out. You will love it!

Great service, fresh ingredients and great flavors. Staff is very nice. I got build your own bowl, yum

Just arrived to Denver and chose a place near the hotel, and found Bubu. It was a good choice! Service and food was quick! I had the following: - Thai with steak - Green papaya slaw, crispy shallots, asian herbs, peanuts, toasted rice, thai dressing - the flavors was delicious and had a good heat to it Would recommend!

My boyfriend and I love to stop by here while we're on campus! We had been walking in the walkway and noticed it was packed inside. So we decided to give it a go! That have like Asian fusion food that is super customizable. You can order a "create your own bowl," which lets you pick from different proteins, grains, veggies, sauces, and toppings. The different price points depend on the protein. This is what I love doing becausa I love having the freedom to pick out whatever I want! They also have their own menu that features different combinations of these ingredients, and you just select your protein and base (grain)! You also get your sauce on the side which is super nice. Every time I come it's pretty busy but they have such great service! I have never waited more than like 5 minutes for my food so far. Everything tastes fresh and soooo good!! I also love their ginger lemonade it's super refreshing. Overall their food makes me feel like it's super healthy -- which I'm sure it is! So not only are prices good, food tastes great, but I always feel a little accomplished thinking I made a healthier choice instead of my usual love of fast food...

Good food in a convenient location near work. Service was fast and food was fresh. The raw seafood didn't make anyone sick, so that's always a plus. I also like the different Thai and Cali flavor profiles, so you can truly have a tropical/vacation experience (or at least pretend to for 30 min). It reminds me of Honeygrow for those from the East coast. Good for lunch and small groups.

Awesome little lunch spot! Another Troy Guard concept done well, which sets itself apart from the rest of the downtown lunch game. Open only during the week for lunch, I highly suggest skipping out a little early to beat the rush. Order ahead is an option, which could help, but I did realize that the line was out the door quite a ways as I was leaving. I ordered the Aloha Poke bowl with tuna with was great, but honestly everything on the menu looked amazing. I can't wait to return when the weather has warmed enough for to wait in the cold for a healthy lunch alternative.

Unlike its superb rating, the food was below average and had nothing special. I got the Thai bowl w/ chilled shrimp and rice noodles. I understand the bowl is supposed to be 'cool' in temp, but everything was cold including the noodles which reminded me of those frozen instant noodles. My boyfriend got the OG Colorado bowl (recommended by the server) w/ raw salmon and brown rice. He asked the carrots to be subbed by cucumbers, but they forgot and the many carrots made it seem like he got loads of salmon (when he only got 6 pieces). However, the vegetables were fresh - which made me want a shrimp salad instead. The ambiance is casual, but lighting was pretty dim. Also, it's kinda hard to find. TIP: The restaurant isn't single-standing, but rather w/ other shops & restaurants. However, the menu is easy to follow and the staff was friendly. But, do not recommend unless you want a practically tasteless bowl.

Bubu has a simple yet creative concept and they do it right. I almost always get the same thing at bubu: raw salmon over rice noodles and veggies. The dish is fresh and delicious. The salmon is always chilled and tastes like its sashimi grade. The veggies are fresh and they create tasty combinations with their veggies and sauces. Other dishes I have had have been solid and everyone I go with seems to really like it too. Very vegetarian, pescaterian, and gluten free friendly. Portion size are healthy (read: not small) too.

I could eat at Bubu every single day if my budget allowed me to. I've only tried a couple of their bowls, but I love the freshness of the ingredients and the uniqueness of the dressings and flavor combinations. The tuna and salmon are both extremely fresh and you can tell they are sushi grade. Oh - do yourself a favor and treat yo self to a chocolate chip cookie too. (Or two, they're 2 for $5!) They're gluten free, salted, and amazing. Pro tip: The line can get extremely long during lunch, but you can order online, pass the line and pick up at the counter!

It's fast, casual, healthy and super innovative Asian Fusion. I love it. Well done, Bubu. Be careful not to miss it, as it is located downstairs in Larimer Square. It's a small space, and it is always packed. I would suggest ordering to go and eat elsewhere. The menu easy to understand: choose a base (rice, noodles, or salad), a protein (chicken, steak, salmon, shrimp, tuna or tofu), veggies and a dressing. Or you can always make your own bowl, which may be a problem, as there are a plethora of things to choose from. Make it easy on yourself and try one of the restaurant's suggested options. The OG Colorado is my favorite bowl: roasted carrots, quinoa, green chile, avocado, pumpkin seeds, and house dressing. Pair it with rice and (super fresh) salmon, and you are all set. And let me tell you... those raw salmon chunks are HUGE and well worth the $12 price tag. So super flavorful. Again, well done Bubu. Thank you for creating a healthy and filling lunch bowl that I can't stop thinking about. Yum, yum, and yum.

Bubu. Still trying to figure out where this name comes from, but I'll certainly return time and time again until I figure it out! It's a pretty non-assuming spot downstairs off of Larimer Street. We walked right up to the counter to order and our food arrived in less than ten minutes! Now, I will say the order was wrong, but they corrected it and brought us the correct dish lightning fast. The menu is pretty simple. There are nine different types of bowls, four bases (brown rice, white rice, rice noodles, and salad), six proteins including tofu, and four dressings. You can come back constantly and never get the same thing twice! I went with the OG Colorado on a salad mix with steak. Unlike some other reviewers, I didn't find the portion to be underwhelming, but it actually filled me up quite nicely! To sip, they offered us a sample of ginger lemonade which was appreciated, but I also loved how their normal water was cucumber infused. If I worked around the area, there is no doubt this would be a regular spot for me. Healthy, fresh, filling and flavorful is enough to perk up any afternoon slump.

Got the aloha bowl, filling and yummy. The fish tasted very fresh and as did the other fixings. Would recommend if you're looking for something quick and tasty in Larimer Square.

I've had BuBu for lunch a few times now while at work, and I have yet to be disappointed. So far, I've had the Chinese Bowl and the Thai Bowl and both were so fresh and delicious! The location is also super cool - tucked underground on Larimer Street (just needs to be bigger because it's always so dang crowded). Highly recommend this fast, healthy place for lunch & dinner!

Yum yum yum! I wish this was open every day. Or for dinner. I love the fast casual concept and I don't work anywhere near here. Luckily, they deliver and I was WFH and got to try it! This spot speaks to me with all the options. The flavors are great and I could eat this multiple times a week. I ordered a quinoa based bowl- so much quinoa! I wish they had a half quinoa half salad base as an option. If they extend there hours I'm sure I'll be by in person. :)

Super fresh poke bowls! I have tried several of the bowls and have loved them all.

I'm a nurse at UCHealth in Aurora and just got to have a Bubu bowl for the second week in a row while working on our covid icu. Thank you so much for such a delicious meal that didn't make me feel like I needed a nap. Super delicious! Miss coming to yalls restaurant but this will do for now!

What is all the hype? Hope it's not the setting: I felt like eating underground at a subway station. Bubu is busy, all right. But they pretty much serve Tokyo Joe style food, just fresher. The place is so crowded you don't even get your own table - be prepared to share dining surfaces with others!

Similar to poke, but with some different styles and flavors than you would find at a traditional poke place. I like the mexican bowl with steak, it's filling, tasty, and reasonably good for you. Only downside is that I think it's a little pricey for what you get, but I still think it's worth 5 stars.

Great service dude! The lady took my order for a tuna bowl. It was $25. I signed and went to sit down. Wait, what? $25 for a tuna bowl? I looked up at the sign. It says $14 for tuna (still kind of high). What did I just do? Dude then comes out and presents me my bowl. It's half tuna, half chicken. I now say wait a sec. I explain the order's not right. He offers to make it again with just tuna. I say nope. I am bailing and want a refund. I explain the $25 dollars. He says it's a mistake. He can fix it. He returns. Bowl is now remade with just tuna. Says lady miskeyed double order in one bowl. He's refunded the whole thing. My bowl is free. Really? Yeah says dude. Thank you dude! Customer service gets a A+ (this dude abides) The food? Excellent. Bubu won a loyal customer.

Wow! This place is the bee's knees man. Not only is the food great, but man are the employees great; especially Brice! If there's anything wrong, let him know and he'll have it fixed for you, no problem. I personally like the Mexican bowl the best, the dressing is mad good. Also, if you've ever thought about getting one of those cookies: JUST DO IT. Not only are they on the healthier side (gluten free, with chia & flax seeds), but they taste so good, I don't know what it is. Also it's very flexible, not only can you build your own but you can ask them to substitute anything on their premade bowls. They also have free cucumber water, so great. Somethings I really recommend: their steak is bomb, always add shallots, the red chilis if you're a fan of spicy, and again, the mexican dressing. NOTE: It's kinda hard to find! It's down the stairs on Larimer, a couple doors down from the Market.

I just had the Southern California salad with steak. Probably the best salad I've ever had! Got free lemonade too as a celebration of the Chalk festival. Was hard to choose from the many offerings. I'll bet they're all great. The staff all seemed happy to be there and really cared about the customers' satisfaction.

Great for a quick and healthy lunch! Good quality fish, fresh veggies, and interesting combinations. It took less than 15 minutes to get our food, and if that's too long you can order online and pick it up!

Bubu Bowl in Larimer Square is the best go-to lunch on the block for quick, healthy, delicious bowls. My favorite is the Mexican salad bowl with sushi grade salmon. It's always amazing! The staff is great, the atmosphere is fun and the quality of the ingredients is consistently great.

Do not even bother. I ordered online and asked for an Aloha Poke bowl. What showed up was barely half of the selected items. Shushi-grade tuna...nope, tofu instead. Swap green beans for corn...how about no vegetable at all. And dressing...you didn't really want dressing did you? Nothing! So I got a dry bowl missing the selected protein and 1 of the 5 sides. And I paid how much for this? Waste of time and money.

This place is great. It's like poke bowls meets salad bowls but with 1,000 options! I tried it for the first time today. I'll definitely be back. The ingredients were fresh and delicious, the food was quick, and I don't feel like I walked away hungry. One bowl was the perfect size for me. I'm really impressed with the quality, flavor, and speed.

First time here and we loved the location and the people who work there are FABULOUS and friendly. I got the Hawaii Five-O with chicken and brown rice and my friend got the Thai with chicken and rice noodles. We also each got the Ginger Lemonade. Though tasty I'm not sure it was worth the price. But now we know. We'd come back if we're in the area again and wanted some good fresh food, but we would not go out of our way.

I do not understand the nearly 5 star rating at all. Didn't like much about the food. Got a OG Colorado bowl w brown rice and salmon and the bowl consisted of mostly rice and carrots that made it seem like the actual 6 pieces of salmon to be plentiful. Very stingy w protein servings. Would not recommend.

Bubu is awesome! The food is fresh and the prices are great. You can grab a bowl of your choice and then choose from a bed of rice, noodles, salad mix, etc. to rest it on. My personal favorite is the Paleo bowl, I LOVE avocado and bubu is very generous with it, plus its already included in the price! I'm so glad I found this place, I happened by chance to walk by it when I was getting my eyebrows done at Wax. a few months ago. It's kind of hidden and not immediately visible if you're walking along Larimer, so make sure to keep your eye out for a darling little set of stairs that goes below the sidewalk! This last time I went, there was a little mix up with my beloved avocado, but the guy working there, Peter, was super professional about it and really awesome. I'll be returning many times, Bubu.

I was working in downtown Denver for the week and needed a quick, healthy, satisfying vegetarian lunch. Bubu fit the bill! The cashier ran me through the menu and recommend the Indian curry bowl, which I got. Everything was fresh and delicious. I love salads that combine cold and warm ingredients. It was a ton of food for a reasonable price--the bowl was so heavy my arm actually got tired carrying it back to the office! There are a lot of tables inside and a few outside, but if you're doing takeout, they're very fast. Thanks guys!

I like this as an upgraded alternative to Tokyo Joe's, in the same price range. Compared to Joe's the flavors are more complex, less sickly sweet, and with many more options. It all seems healthier, too, although Joe's does well in this regard too. The menu is limited to bowls, no sushi or soups, so as long as that is what you seek, this is your best option. The ambience is great for lunch, a sort of upbeat-downtempo combination. The chopsticks are nicer too! Owner/Chef Troy Guard knows how to put a concept together!

I have the privilege of working for UCHealth in aurora. It is has been such a wonderful blessing to have lunch provided by vendors/restaurants during this Pandemic. The food provided by Bubu has been an absolute delight! The bowls are amazing! The veggies are fresh and crisp! The combination of the healthy ingredients that are so full of flavor are a blessing to my stomach. Yum yum! The rehab department of OT's, ST's, PT's, and rehab aides love Bubu! Thank you so very much for providing such delectable food during these difficult times as we move into "better days". :)

Went for lunch with coworkers and found a gem! Had the thai bowl and the flavor good, meat tender, veggies fresh and the rice was cooked right. There are surprising number of restaurants who can't get their rice right but they cooked their brown rice perfectly. The Portion was hefty but the Thai bowl was under $9. Definitely replacing chipotle for my work lunch choice.

A great healthy fast-casual restaurant in the heart of Larimer Square! I love the concept of building your own meal (in this case, bowls) that combine what you like into one tasty dish. You start with a bowl, add a base (such as rice or noodles), and end with a protein. The ingredients are fresh and each bowl is made right as you order it. My favorite so far is the Colorado OG with chicken. I really enjoyed the different textures and complex flavors with enough of a serving size that I was delightfully full by the end. The house dressing definitely kicked it up a notch and tied all of the individual ingredients together! This location is open during lunch hours only, but is definitely a great stop for a quick lunch to take with you if need be. Prices are very affordable, with the most expensive bowl sitting at about $15. The staff is friendly and the space is modern; fitting for the concept!

Yikes. The first time I went here I swooned. I was craving the Thai bowl so I went back to treat myself to a $15 delicious lunch. The salmon bowl I got today was a totally different dish. Everything was cut in sloppy chunks, no mint, no cilantro, the salmon had the slightest hint of fish . My bowl looked like and tasted like nothing special. I guess I should give it 2 stars but I'm so disappointed I feel like being mean.

Poke bowl- Chipotle- Qudoba mixture. The location is super cute! The options are okay. The food was 6 stars and the sauces could use improvement, thats if your looking for more "authentic" sauces for the bowls. They just were so...... bland. But I mean the overall concept is great. Oh and the Gluten free/ Sugar free cookie that you may eye ball while you take your order is worth the 2 for $5!! I promise.

My coworker and I come here at least a few times a month and today was a horrible experience. What's up Bubu? Did you get a whole new staff? The rice was very mushy, the chicken tasted like it came from a can and was too salty, I did not ask for extra pickled red chilis but got 4 times the amount that is usually put on and green beans as well as snap peas, which I didn't ask for. I'm giving 2 stars because I've had so many delicious meals here but today I couldn't even finish my meal and am honestly afraid to come back. I hope management has an explanation for this and tells me it was a fluke!! Also, the bench seating was all open with storage exposed which seems like the staff was not ready for customers.

While I was in town I was craving some kind of rice bowl contraption and after looking through some reviews, I knew I had to make a stop at Bubu. The menu options all looked amazing so having to pick only one to eat was difficult lol. I got the Thai bowl and they let me do a half brown rice and half salad mix base, with the steak. The quality and freshness of the ingredients at Bubu were very impressive.

Larimer Square and Lodo needed a fast casual and healthy place, and thankfully Troy Guard realized this and opened Bubu in the spot previously occupied by Tag Raw Bar (I still don't get why the lunch Bento Box there never caught on, it was a gourmet steal.) Other reviews describe the format in great detail so I won't here, but essentially they serve bowls where you choose a protein, a starch (greens for paleo), and other ingredients. You can choose a pre-arranged bowl like the Hawaii-Five-Oh or the Colorado; or you can design your own. I recommend doing the latter. Make sure and add some interesting ingredients you don't tend to enjoy much: "bubu" sprinkled, Pickled Red Chilies, green papaya slaw, flax seeds, etc. It's fun to choose several ingredients that end up tying together harmoniously. Everything and each ingredient is always fresh. Though located in the lower level Larimer Square "tunnel" passage way, it's is closest to Larimer and is designed to allow plenty of natural light. There are community tables and separate seating. One very small issue is portion size. Definitely fair considering the quality of ingredients offered and the price, but sometimes a hungry, large male can feel less than full after enjoying a bowl. A lunch like this for under $10 in Larimer Square just cannot be beat. Local, non-chain restaurant a bonus.

One of the best quick and healthy -if not the best- ever! The Colorado OG is delicious, and it's super cheap for the food and quality! Highly recommended and its started to turn into my every day-go to- place!