Stella Cordova

Original Chubby's now open on Santa Fe Drive

At ten this morning, Julian Cordova's second Original Chubby's restaurant finally opened on Santa Fe Drive -- and business has been brisk. Cordova opened his first Original Chubby's in Thornton in 1987; he insists that his two restaurants -- in addition to the original Chubby's that his grandmother, ... More >>

Thirty years in, these Best of Denver winners are still the best in town

Reader: Bubba Chinos is on a remodel, close, rinse and repeat cycle

The Bubba Chinos that opened last summer in a space near City Hall that has been many, many restaurants over the years has closed, too -- for "renovations," according to a sign on the door that says the place will reopen in ten days. But if it does, it doesn't sound like it will get a warm welcom ... More >>

Bubba Chinos downtown has closed for "remodeling"

The Bubba Chinos that opened downtown last year is currently closed, reportedly for "remodeling." Leonard Cordova, a grandson of Stella Cordova, founder of the original Chubby's , started the homegrown Bubba Chinos chain; this location at 1361 Court Place was a franchise. See also: - Bubba Chinos e ... More >>

Reader: Chubby's should merge with Pasquini's and end the confusion

Confused about which Chubby's is which? Join the club. The Original Chubby's that is slated to open next week at 14th and Kalamath is a second venture by Julian Cordoba, who opened the first Original Chubby's in Thornton in 1987. But the true original Chubby's is still the spot that got its start as ... More >>

Original Chubby's about to open on Kalamath -- but how original is it?

An Original Chubby's is about to open at 14th and Kalamath, and as evidenced by the sign already in the window, it wants you to know that there's no connection between this restaurant and any with similar names -- except at other Original Chubby's up in Thornton. See also: - Original sin: A Chubby' ... More >>

Reader: Is there industrial solvent in the Chubby's green chile?

When Stella Cordova passed away three years ago, did she take her green chile recipe with her? That's what one reader thinks, and another suggest thats no matter which member of the Cordova family is making the green chile, no matter where he or she might be making it, the chile is more mean than gr ... More >>

Reader: I doubt Stella Cordova gave anyone her original green chile recipe

It's prime green chile season, which means things are smokin' at Chubby's-like outlets all over town. But which Chubby's has founder Stella Cordova's original recipe? Back in 1967, Stella noticed a "Cook Wanted" sign at the Chubby Burger Drive Inn at 1231 West 38th Avenue. At the age of 59, she go ... More >>

Original sin: A Chubby's is coming to Santa Fe -- but is it the right Chubby's?

Look closely at that sign in the shadows. Looks like an Original Chubby's is going into the former home of Mercedes Mexican Restaurant at 1385 Santa Fe Drive, doesn't it? Julian Cordova, the same person who owns the Original Chubby's at 8330 Washington Street in Thornton, is opening this new place, ... More >>

Bubba Chinos opens downtown tomorrow

Green chile, meet cheeseburger. Downtown Denver, meet Bubba Chinos. The latest location in the chain started by Leonard Cordova, grandson of the late Stella Cordova of the original Chubby's, will open tomorrow at 1361 Court Place, just steps from City Hall. And first-day customers will receive free ... More >>

Gustavo Arellano on Tim Tebow, Tom Tancredo and the glories of Chubby's Mexican hamburger

"Denver has the most gabacho gabachos in the United States," Gustavo Arellano, author of Ask a Mexican, proclaimed yesterday, name-checking Tim Tebow (briefly), John Elway and Tom Tancredo, with whom he'd debated immigration eighteen months ago on the same Su Teatro stage.

Gustavo Arellano on Chubby's, Tom Tancredo and Den-Mex

Gustavo Arellano, author of Ask a Mexican, returned to the Su Teatro stage last night, where eighteen months ago he'd discussed immigration with Tom Tancredo. Before that debate, Tancredo and Arellano had met across the street for dinner at El Noa Noa. And no matter how he feels about Mexicans, "Tan ... More >>

Bubba Chinos expands into downtown

Bubba Chinos, the burrito chain started by Leonard Cordova, grandson of Stella Cordova, the late and legendary Chubby's founder, will open a new franchise location at 1361 Court Place next month. "We're excited to cater to the downtown crowd. There aren't many lunch options over here," says franchi ... More >>

Chubby's makes the New York Times, thanks to Gustavo Arellano

From northwest Denver, with love. Chubby's has made the New York Times -- and not surprisingly, it's thanks to Gustavo Arellano, author of the weekly column Ask a Mexican as well as the new book Taco USA. In that scholarly tome, which traces the rise of Mexican food in the United States, Arellano ca ... More >>

Why Denver is home to the best Mexican dish in the United States

Also read: Chipotle or Qdoba? Either way, burritos legally stand on their own

Fire forces Bubba Chinos on 38th to close indefinitely

Outposts of Bubbachinos -- the burrito-and-green-chile chain owned by Leonard Cordova, a grandson of the original Chubby's owner, Stella Cordova -- have expanded so quickly in this town over the last few years, we can barely keep up.

Another Bubbachinos opens on 39th and Wadsworth

​Leonard Cordova's Bubbachinos empire has been on an expansion tear this year, with locations opening in Boulder, on East Colfax and at 88th and York (though Cordova says that Bubbachinos franchise is no longer associated with his company). Yesterday, he added another one: the thirteenth Bubb ... More >>

Cordova's Original Recipes moves into MVP's Sports Bar & Grill

Cordova's Original Recipes moves its green chile operation into MVP's Sports Bar & Grill.​Many of Stella Cordova's dozens of grandchildren have attempted to capitalize on the matriarch's iconic recipes introduced at the original Chubby's on West 38th Avenue, creating spin-offs all over the cit ... More >>

Now open: Bubba Chinos on Colfax

Laura Shunk​Plans have been in the works for a Bubba Chinos to move into the old Fanny's flower store on East Colfax since late last year, when Leonard Cordova's expanding empire picked up the lease on the location. After a paint job and patio renovation, the place finally opened this month.

Got the munchies? Stop into one of these Denver restaurants offering 4/20 deals

​Happy 4/20, Denver. We suspect that many of you will be partaking in weed-related activities today, and guess what? A number of restaurants are ready to serve all of your subsequent needs, offering up 4/20 deals to help you stuff your blazed face (or your sober face, for that matter) for chea ... More >>

Bubba Chinos opens two locations today, in Boulder and Thornton

​It's full speed ahead for Leonard Cordova and Bubba Chinos. The restaurateur has four or five more locations in the pipeline for spring, and two new stores just opened today. One is at 88th and York in Thornton. The other is in the University Hill food court in Boulder, a subterranean space ... More >>

Cordova's Original Recipes does right by matriarch Stella

Bubba Chinos serves up authentic "Chicano cuisine"

The colorful Bubba Chinos empire is expanding across Denver and into Boulder

Mark Manger​This week, I reviewed the original Bubba Chinos location at 160 Federal Boulevard, where Leonard Cordova serves up a version of the green chile that his grandmother, Stella Cordova, made legendary at Chubby's. He's used that sauce to turn his own restaurant concept into an expandin ... More >>

Review preview: Bubba Chinos

Mark Manger​Over four decades ago, Stella Cordova took over the Chubby Burger Drive-In from its owner, and she soon turned Chubby's into a Colorado icon, renowned for serving the gravy-like green chile she'd learned to make while growing up in Pueblo. Stella passed away in 2009 at the age o ... More >>

Bubba Chinos will open its newest burrito kitchen on East Colfax

​Leonard Cordova, the grandson of the late and legendary Chubby's founder Stella Cordova, plans to open his ninth Bubba Chino's restaurant this spring at the corner of East Colfax and Franklin Street in the former Fanny's Corner flower shop. The Mexican burrito place will bring the quickly gr ... More >>

The Mexican picks the country's favorite Mexican restaurants

The late Stella Cordova at the Original Chubby's​Gustavo Arellano, author of Ask a Mexican, is working on a book on the history of Mexican food in the United States, and this past summer he invited readers to "tell me your favorite local Mexican restaurant and what makes it so bueno" -- in 25 ... More >>

Former Bubba Chinos in Park Hill goes to pot

This former Bubba Chinos at 28th and Fairfax could become a dispensary.​Would-be medical marijuana dispensary owners are snapping up empty restaurant spaces around town. The former Buca di Beppo at 1400 Market Street is turning into Farmacy, and the space at 5151 East 28th Avenue that formerly ... More >>

Stella Cordova is gone, but Chubby's endures

The List: Denver's top ten green chile spots

​One of my first columns was about the way green chile changes on the way from southern New Mexico to Denver -- from the pure verde kick in Hatch to the thin, soupy sauce of Albuquerque, and the steady thickening as you travel north along the green chile trail until you reach the gelatinous go ... More >>

Rest in peace, Stella Cordova

Stella Cordova, the woman behind Chubby's.Stella Cordova celebrated her hundredth birthday on April 20. But she's the one who gave Denver the gift: Chubby's, the old drive-in at 1231 West 38th Avenue that she turned it into a neighborhood icon, as well as a purveyor of the town's hottest, meanest g ... More >>

Cafe Society: Week in review

What you might have missed this week on Cafe Society:Jason Sheehan was stumped for a restaurant suitable for his mom, but came up with a sweet idea.Vesta is putting locavores in high spirits, literally, with a happy hour featuring cocktails made with Colorado liquids.Jason found his favorite single ... More >>

The Westword.com blog shortcut, June 12 edition

"We're not models! We're real people!" Dig in.... Today in Cafe Society: • Simms Steakhouse update. • Giggling Grizzly clan plan to turn Public House into Lizard's Bar & Grill. • A full weekend of food fun. • In answer to your question, D Bar. • An early peak at the Streets of SouthGlenn ... More >>

Smother love: Happy 100th, Stella Cordova

Back in 1967, Stella Cordova was working as a cook at Chubby Burger Drive-In at 1231 West 38th Avenue when its owner, Bill Gray, asked if she wanted to buy the place. Even though she had a big family and little money, she took him up on his offer, paying on the installment plan. Today, more than fo ... More >>

Chubby's closing a sign of the times

Lori MidsonChubby's thins outFirst, the bad news: The Chubby's at 4460 Morrison Road is the latest victim of a tanking economy.And now the good news: Everything inside is for sale -- cheap -- including a meat grinder that I'm coveting. And the better news: The original Chubby's is still going strong ... More >>

Every party has a pooper, and I'm the one at Denver's birthday celebration

Letters to the Editor

Letters from the week of 12/6/2007

Smothered: The Saga of the Chubby's Empire

Family matriarch Stella Cordova spills the beans on the Chubby's restaurant empire.

The Heat Is On

For the Cordova family, the forecast is always chile.