Yum brochure 2014 by City of Aurora

Ethnic & Independent Eats

YUM: A guide to Auroraâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s ethnic and independent restaurants and markets The city of Aurora and Visit Aurora produced this guide as an introduction to the feast of ethnic and independent restaurants and markets in Aurora. Every effort was made to assure the accuracy of the information. However, because restaurant hours and menus often change, we recommend that you contact the establishment before driving there. If you spot an error, want to recommend another eatery, or provide other feedback, please contact us at communications@auroragov.org. Price Legend

Each $ symbol represents price of one average entrĂŠe $ $10 and under $$ $10-$20 $$$ $20-$30 $$$$ $30 and up

Table of Contents

1 African Restaurants 5 American Restaurants 14 Asian Restaurants 19 Bakeries 21 Breakfast, Brunch & Coffee Shops 23 Brewpubs, Tasting Rooms & Taprooms 27 British Isles Restaurants 28 Chinese Restaurants 31 Eastern European Restaurants 32 Filipino Restaurants 33 German Restaurants 34 Greek Restaurants 35 Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt 36 Indian & Napalese Restaurants 39 Italian Restaurants 42 Japanese Restaurants 45 Korean Restaurants 47 Latin American Restaurants 49 Markets 56 Mexican Restaurants 65 Middle Eastern Restaurants 68 Southern American Restaurants 71 Thai Restaurants 74 Vietnamese Restaurants

See also Middle Eastern Restaurants

Addis Ababa Restaurant 2222 S. Havana St. • 303-368-8021 Lunch, dinner daily • Full bar • $$ Addis Ababa offers all the Ethiopian favorites served atop fresh, spongy injera bread along with salads and stewed greens and vegetables. The awaze tibs is lamb sautéed in a sauce spiced with berbere. Save time to linger over Ethiopian coffee. Silverware optional.

African Grill & Bar 1010 S. Peoria St. • 303-745-3423 10 a.m.-midnight daily • Full bar • $$ The Ghanaian-born owners gladly guide first-timers through the savory world of West African cuisine. Peanut soup and jollof rice with chicken and sweet plantains are bestsellers, as well as fufu with goat. Top it off with ginger beer and cake doughnuts.

Cafe Paprika

13160 E. Mississippi Ave. • 303-755-4150 Lunch, dinner Mon.-Sat. • No alcohol • $$$ Weekend reservations suggested Since 1993 Cafe Paprika has dished classic Moroccan specialties from tagine-stewed lamb or apricot chicken to lamb shanks and shrimp kebob, all with a mound of fluffy couscous. The eatery is known for its chicken bastilla, the savory Moroccan meat pie that arrives at the table in a saffron spice cloud. Within golden filo dough layers dusted with powdered sugar and cinnamon nests a warm melding of ground chicken, eggs, onions and nuts.

Eatopia: Ethiopian Food & Coffee

1074 S. Ironton St. Unit 1 • 303-537-4224 eatopia.wix.com/chef-seble Breakfast, lunch, dinner daily • No alcohol • $$ What’s for breakfast? Start with kinche - that’s oatmeal with butter and berbere spice, or firfir, a spicy beef stew mixed with pieces of sourdough injera bread. One specialty here is kitfo, finely minced beef tossed with butter and spices that is traditionally eaten raw like steak tartare, but can be ordered slightly sauteed. At dinner the elaborate Ethiopian coffee-roasting ceremony is available.

Ifka Cafe

1535 S. Havana St. • 720-535-1017 Breakfast, lunch, dinner daily • No alcohol • $$ This small coffee shop doubles as one of the few places to sample Somali cuisine in the metro area. The menu includes fried treats such as meat and veggie sambusas, sopapilla-like maandazi, bean fritters and light African desserts with dark coffee.

Maandeeq East African Cafe

1535 S. Havana St. Suite H • 303-745-2355 Breakfast, lunch, dinner daily • No alcohol • $$ Somali cuisine is on the menu but the dishes available depend on the day at this small, strip mall destination. Among the regular items are lamb sambusa and roasted goat with injera. Banana comes with every meal, Somalistyle. There’s even a dish that bears a close resemblance to spaghetti and tomato sauce, a leftover from the Italian colonial years.

Meskerem Restaurant

African

1121 S. Peoria St. • 303-369-1569 Lunch, dinner daily • Full bar • $$ Happiness is starting with an Ethiopia-brewed Hakim Stout and jalapeno-spiked, pastry-wrapped, veggie sambusas. Sample the “other“ African bread, hambasha, a yeasted wheat loaf served with awaze, an amazing smoky-fiery dipping sauce. Utensil-free platters are lined with dark, thin flatbread topped with vegetable, lentil and beef stews.

Nile Ethiopian Restaurant

1951 S. Havana St. • 720-748-0239 nileethiorestaurant.com • Lunch, dinner daily Full bar • $$ • Ethiopian coffee ceremony In Aurora, the hub of African cuisine in Colorado, The Nile is regarded as one of the best Ethiopian restaurants. Fans love the stewed chicken with berbere sauce and hardboiled egg. Vegetarians like the many traditionally meatfree preparations: red lentil puree, yellow split peas, greens and chickpeas. You eat with your hands using spongy injera bread to grab bites of food served communally. The round tray is lined with injera to soak up the wonderful juices. Yes, everybody eats from the same plate.

Sudan Cafe

10375 E. Iliff Ave. • 303-337-7409 sudancafedenver.com • Lunch, dinner daily No alcohol • $$ The sunny Sudan Cafe takes a fresh approach to African cookery emphasizing vegetarian and organic ingredients. Sudanese fare has elements of Ethiopian and Egyptian cuisine in dishes such as koshari, a comfy mix of macaroni, lentils and brown rice topped with fried onions. Foul, the traditional bean dish, comes dressed with olive oil, tomatoes and chopped fresh jalapenos. The shop makes its own injera bread from teff grain flour. Pita wraps can be loaded with felafel or goat liver. Digest with a pot of strong mint tea, sugar-coated cookies and basbousa, a syrup-drenched coconut cake.

See also Breakfast, Brunch & Coffee Shops, Southern American Restaurants, and Brewpubs, Tasting Rooms & Taprooms

A-Town Pizza

17060 E. Quincy Ave. • 720-363-9663 a-townpizza.com • Lunch, dinner daily Beer, wine available • $$ Free Wi-Fi and outlets at each table Don’t order your pizza at A-Town until you’re really ready to eat it. The 700-degree Stefano Ferrara oven fired with oak and pecan bakes an 11-inch, Neapolitan-style pizza in less then two minutes. A-Town uses only scratch-made dough, San Marzano tomatoes and fresh mozzarella. The Missy is layered with sauce, garlic, cheese and basil and named after the owner‘s daughter. The Real Italian loads up on pesto, mozzarella, pancetta, ricotta and pine nuts. Added garlic is free! The taps are devoted to Dry Dock beers in full pours or three-ounce samplers. For dessert: pizza crust spread with Nutella.

Bent Fork Grill

12191 E. Iliff Ave. • 303-337-6600 bentforkgrill.com • Lunch, dinner daily Full bar • $$$ • Reservations available The Colorado-inspired contemporary fare starts with house-made sauces, soups and dressings. Popular starters include barbecue carnitas quesadillas or a tossed Cobb salad. Entrees range from grilled salmon BLT with smoked bacon and lemon aioli to buffalo pot roast with butternut squash. On the side: green chile mac-n-cheese.

Cinema Grill

13682 E. Alameda Ave. • 303-344-3456 cinemagrill.com • Lunch, dinner, late night daily Full bar • $$$ • Reservations recommended Dinner and a film is nicer when you don’t have to drive to the theater after the meal and stand in line and find a comfortable seat with a view. The screens are booked with current and recent feature films at this locally run destination, and the large menu leans toward the family crowd pleasers. Start with chicken wings or a house salad. Munch on burgers, chicken fettucini Alfredo, pizza or a halibut sandwich. The full bar is available throughout the film as are the ice cream sundaes.

Dad and Dude’s Breweria

6730 S. Cornerstar Way Suite D 303-400-5699 • breweria.com Lunch, dinner, late night daily • Full bar • SS The totally laid-back atmosphere at this father and son enterprise goes well with house-brewed beer and the house-baked pizzas. A changing lineup of brews include Diggity Dank IPA and Sleep When You’re Dead coffee stout. Spent grain from the brewing process is incorporated in the chewy pizza dough. Combinations include the 420 Pizza with pepperoni, sausage, red onions and kalamata olives. The signature sandwich is Jamaican Me Hungry layered with jerk chicken, caramelized pineapple, habanero and mayo, served with baked rosemary fries.

Emerald Isle

4385 S. Parker Rd. • 303-690-3722 the-emerald-isle.com • Lunch, dinner daily Full bar • $$ Outdoor dining (and the sipping of adult beverages) goes on almost all year in Aurora, especially at the place Aurora Sentinel voters deemed the top al fresco destination in the city. The Emerald Isle’s multi-level patio is lauded for its ”view of Cherry Creek” and picture-postcard vistas as well as “the margaritas.” The kitchen for this gathering spot cranks out beer-friendly fare ranging from jalapeno poppers and club sandwiches to the half-pound Mexican burger in a flour tortilla with cheese, refried beans and green chile.

Etai’s Bakery Café

American

12700 E. 19th Ave. Building P-15 (Anschutz Medical Campus) • 303-340-3388 etaiscafe.com • Breakfast, lunch Mon.-Fri. No alcohol • $$ When a menu starts with Bakery Café artisan breads, you know that everything from the Southwester breakfast sandwich to classic pastrami and cheese will be winners. Morning fare at this busy medical campus spot includes Udi’s famous extra-crunchy granola and coffee drinks. Gluten-free options are available and healthy entrees include the Power Salad: coconut, charred kale, arugula, hazelnut cranberry quinoa and preserved lemon vinaigrette with crusty bread.

Havana Street Station

1911 S. Havana St. • 303-752-0553 havanastreetstation.com Breakfast, lunch, dinner daily • Full bar • $$ Separate bar area Comfy, modern Havana Street Station boasts a giant breakfast-through-dinner menu. Mornings feature pecan waffles, eggs Benedict, a Philly steak omelet, and pancakes. The something-for-everyone approach means there is warm roasted chicken salad with cherries and walnuts for lighter appetites, crab and bacon mac-’n’cheese for those needing comfort, and a Monte Cristo sandwich for everyone else. For dessert, ask about “The Elvis.”

Jus’ Grill

17200 E. Iliff Ave. • 303-751-0166 jusgrillaurora.com Breakfast, lunch, dinner Mon.-Sat. • Full bar • $$ Prime rib on Friday nights An all-star team of comfort food classics fills the lineup at this unpretentious Aurora institution. Try fall-apart pot roast with mashers and gravy, warm navy bean and ham soup, chicken-fried steak and a vegetarian green chile worth bragging about. Last, and far from least: homemade pies a la mode.

L & L Hawaiian BBQ

14221 E. Cedar Ave. Unit C • 303-340-8824 hawaiianbarbecueaurora.com Lunch, dinner daily • No alcohol • $ This small Hawaiian chain has established an outpost in Aurora featuring island “plate lunch”: two scoops of rice, a scoop of macaroni salad, and meat choices from chicken katsu (breaded boneless bird) to smoked kalua pork and lau lau (steamed pork wrapped in a taro leaf). SPAM is served in the form of musubi. Warm sushi rice is topped with a teriyakiseasoned slice of griddled SPAM and wrapped with dried seaweed. The salty pork-y, ham-y meat makes a warm, appealing hand-held snack. Sausage or barbecue chicken can be substituted for the SPAM.

McDonough’s Pub

American

10395 E. Iliff Ave. • 303-369-9819 mcdonoughspub.com 2 p.m.-2 a.m. Mon.-Fri., 12:30 p.m.-2 a.m. Sat., 10:30 a.m.-2 a.m. Sun. • Full bar • $ Pool tables, darts, live music Everybody may not know your name the first time you visit McDonough’s but they just might after your second. It’s that kind of unfussy bar and grill. The family-run neighborhood spot is known for affordable drinks and easy-to-love fare. Iconic pub grub to fill up on? How about buffalo-style wings, burgers, cheese and bacon fries and Philly cheesesteak sandwiches? Look out for happy hour, poker nights and ladies’ nights.

The Movie Tavern

18605 E. Hampden Ave. • 303-680-9915 movietavern.com • Lunch, dinner daily Full bar • $$ • Reservations recommended Kick back in a leather executive rocker and push the call button that alerts your server that you need more quesadillas and chardonnay. The Movie Tavern is like watching a flick at home but with much better service. Each seat has a table and clear sight lines to the big screen. The menu is as varied as the feature films with sliders, main dish salads and pizzas. Preview cinemathemed eats such as the “Perfect Storm” appetizer platter, “My Big Fat Greek” pita sandwich and “Porky’s Revenge” burger topped with pulled pork. Skip the overpriced movie candy and sweeten up with red velvet cake, apple crisp or strawberry frozen lemonade.

Red Kitchen 10

23955 E. Plaza Ave. (AMC Southlands 16) 303-627-5430• amctheatres.com Lunch, dinner daily • Full bar $$$ (including movie) • Reservations suggested Red Kitchen is a new dine-in theater concept featuring a menu developed by noted New York chef Danny Meyer. Guests choose their food and beverages before heading into the theater to adjust their power recliners. Servers deliver the orders and touch screen devices allows patrons to call for a chicken artichoke panini, roasted vegetable skewers, chicken sausages with chutney, and mushroom truffle pizza.

The Rock Restaurant

22934 E. Smoky Hill Rd. • 303-800-3205 therockrestaurantandbar.com • Breakfast, lunch, dinner daily • Full bar • $$ • Patio with a view There’s a bar side and a restaurant side at The Rock. On the bar side, the focus is on sports with many big screen TVs, cold beer and Taco Tuesday featuring shredded chicken soft tacos. The buffalo-style chicken wings come bathed in mild, hot, extra hot, barbecue, Asian or honey barbecue sauces. Folks dining on the restaurant side can opt for burgers, prime rib sandwiches and club sandwiches with onion rings. Lighter fare includes main dish salads and chicken tortilla soup. Folks on both sides of The Rock love the warm caramel apple chimichanga with cinnamon ice cream.

Rosie’s Diner

American

14061 E. Iliff Ave. • 303-752-3663 • rosiesdiner.com Breakfast, lunch, dinner daily • Full bar • $$ Classic American candies fill the front counter Rosie’s is a genuine shiny, brightly lit diner that speeds eaters back to the ’50s with hit-filled jukeboxes at each table. The all-day menu spans the golden oldies like Denver omelets, chili and cheese fries, meatloaf, fajitas, Greek salad, liver and onions, and chile rellenos. Some trek to Rosie’s just for the peanut butter shakes. For Wednesday’s “cruise-in,” folks show up in classic cars, some dressed for the era with slicked back hair a la Fonz.

Rumbi Island Grill

23973 E. Prospect Ave. • 303-766-2235 rumbi.com • Lunch, dinner daily No alcohol • $$ • Many vegetarian choices Rumbi Island is a tiki bar-themed fast casual chain so you order at the counter and your meal is delivered to the table. Build your own rice or noodle bowl. Start by choosing a topping of grilled sirloin, roast pork, organic tofu or shrimp. Next, pick from teriyaki, honey orange and other sauces. The Jamaican jerk salad tosses grilled marinated chicken with croutons, tomatoes and parmesan cheese in Caesar dressing. The tiniest diners get to choose between a teriyaki chicken bowl with brown rice or Kraft Macaroni and Cheese.

Sam’s No. 3

2580 S. Havana St. • 303-751-0347 samsno3.com • Breakfast, lunch, dinner daily Full bar • $$ This modern family-run diner feels familiar from the moment you walk in. The menu includes a Greek influence (pork souvlakia) and an American diner tradition (biscuits and gravy). On the Mexican side are huevos rancheros plus 22 colossal breakfast burritos with “killer” green chile. Westword weekly has named Sam’s veggie green chile the best in Denver. Hot dogs are smothered with the eatery’s famous red Coney Island chili sauce.

Stampede

2430 S. Havana St. • 303-696-7686 stampedeclub.net • Dinner-late night Wed.-Sat. Full bar • $$ After working up a sweat line-dancing to the hits and twirling to country swing on the wide dance floor, head upstairs to the Mesquite Grill at Aurora’s signature country music bar. The Stampede’s menu doesn’t mess around. It’s all about traditional feel-good party food like batterfried stuffed jalapenos, onion rings and fries, wings and brew-friendly burgers. Remedial boot scootin’ classes are recommended for guys before going to a Wednesday ladies night. Jeans, cowboy hats and boots are optional, but highly recommended.

Summit Steakhouse

2700 S. Havana St. • 303-751-2112 thesummitsteakhouse.com Dinner daily, lunch Mon.-Fri., brunch Sunday Full bar • $$$$ • Reservations recommended Several generations of local diners knew it as the Aurora Summit, the special occasion destination in the area. The new Summit has been modernized but remains THE steak and seafood choice. The filet mignon, New York strip and juicy prime rib remain the bestsellers, and diners still crave the au gratin and twice-baked potatoes. The wine book (by the glass and bottle) is among the largest in the city.

Wine Experience Cafe & World Cellar

American

6240 S. Main St. (Southlands) • 303-690-1025 wineexperiencecafe.com Dinner daily, lunch Tue.-Sat. • Full bar • $$$$ Reservations available Start with grilled parmesan polenta with garlic cream or duck confit with chutney. Center your meal around Colorado lamb sirloin, bison osso buco or grilled chicken pot pie. Whatever you choose you can match it with diverse reds, whites, pink and bubbles on a huge wine menu and then walk next door and buy a bottle at the World Cellar. The decor in the cafe is contemporary and the chairs are comfortable for relaxed dining.

See also Chinese, Filipino, Korean, Thai and Vietnamese restaurants.

Bangkok-Tokyo Asian Fusion

6020 S. Gun Club Rd. Unit E-5 • 303-627-6328 bangkok-tokyo.us • Lunch, dinner Tue.-Sun. Full bar • $$ • Kids bento boxes available Bangkok-Tokyo serves the greatest hits of Thai and Japanese cookery from masaman curry and pad Thai to California rolls and chicken tempura. Be sure to check out some wonderful house specialties: garlic fatty white tuna, roasted crispy duck, a durian boba drink and the sushi roll filled with coconut shrimp, fresh mango and avocado wrapped in soy paper with mango sauce.

Blue Lagoon Asian Bistro 14

1695 Peoria St. • 303-360-6688 bluelagoonasianbistro.com • Lunch, dinner daily Full bar • $$ • Reservations accepted Fans of Chinese food will be pleased by the kung pao chicken, pork in garlic sauce, sesame tofu and combo fried rice. Spicy tom yum soup, pad Thai, and pineapple curry are just the ticket for Thai aficionados. Japan is represented by sushi, seaweed salad, teriyaki chicken, calamari tempura rolls and seafood udon.

Dragon Boat Sushi and Asian Cuisine

13697 E. Iliff Ave. Suite 10 • 303-752-1050 dragonboataurora.com • Lunch, dinner Mon.-Sat. Full bar • $$ • All-you-can-eat sushi available The Dragon Boat is a pan-Asian eatery, not a “fusion” restaurant, serving dishes combining elements of various cuisines. This menu involves the most craved dishes of the region from Thai peanut curry and Vietnamese noodle plates to California rolls and Chinese crispy chicken with garlic sauce. Dragon Boat’s roll call includes the Rockies Roll with tuna, avocado, spicy tuna and spicy mayo. Fans rave about the green-lipped mussels in black bean sauce and sweet sesame chicken.

East China Asian Cuisine

15510 E. Centretech Parkway • 303-363-6689 eastchinaco.com • Lunch, dinner Mon.-Sat. Full bar • $$ • Reservations accepted When Dad craves Hunan duck, Mom needs chicken pad Thai and Junior will only eat a grilled pork rice noodle bowl, this eatery makes each of them happy. Besides the moo shu, the pu pu and kung pao, the eatery’s roll call of specialties is topped by an earthy steamed whole fish Szechuan-style and a grilled T-bone steak with house sauce.

Egg Roll King East

Asian

4217 S. Buckley Rd. • 303-699-2880 chinesemenu.com • Lunch, dinner Mon.-Sat., dinner only Sun. • Full bar • $$ The namesake menu item comes in several forms: deepfried pork and vegetarian egg rolls, finger-thin Vietnamese egg rolls and cool spring rolls with peanut dipping sauce. Regulars appreciate the generous portions of Thai, Chinese and Vietnamese dishes big enough to share or save for another meal. They can choose from pad Thai, sesame chicken, grilled teriyaki salmon, cashew shrimp, ham fried rice and pan-fried beef lo mein noodles. Besides beer and wine, the beverage roster includes Thai iced tea, Vietnamese coffee and Shirley Temples.

Formosa Garden

16645 E. Smoky Hill Rd. • 303-693-6290 auroraformosagarden.com • Lunch, dinner daily Full bar • $$ Formosa Garden is a mom and pop eatery that notes its multi-national identity right on the menu with the “Pan Asian Rice Noodle Bowl.” That’s rice noodles topped with a thin egg roll, grilled chicken, beef, pork or shrimp plus ground peanuts and lime-chile sauce. The ChineseAmerican, Vietnamese and Thai attractions include lemongrass shrimp, chicken and broccoli and shrimp egg foo young. Cantonese wonton soup crowds a saucer of broth and noodles with barbecue pork, shrimp and chicken. The most popular starters here are the scallion pancakes and pan-fried pork potstickers. 16

Fortune Kitchen

12120 E. Mississippi Ave. • 303-369-2675 fortunekitchenonline.com • Lunch, dinner daily No alcohol • $$ Chinese-American mainstays such as crab cheese wontons and sweet sesame beef will always be popular, but Fortune Kitchen has also grown a following for Mongolian pork and Thai basil chicken. Out of the ordinary preparations include stir-fried shrimp in tart tamarind sauce. The menu also spotlights a bevy of vegetarian and gluten-free options.

Golden Phoenix

15181 E. Hampden Ave. • 303-693-2506 Lunch, dinner daily • Full bar • $$ The 20-year-old Golden Phoenix is an affordable place to feed a family and get together with friends over plates of everybody’s favorite Chinese, Japanese and Thai dishes. Selections include twice-cooked pork, spicy orange chicken, and moo shu vegetables and tofu rolled thin crepes spread with savory sweet hoisin sauce. Fans swear by the Thai tom kha coconut soup seasoned with lemongrass, gingery galangal and kaffir lime leaves.

Hiro Japanese Buffet

2797 S. Parker Rd. • 303-873-9999 hirojapanesebuffet.com • Lunch, dinner daily Full bar • $$ • Free dinner on your birthday This big eatery near H-Mart is made for affordable gatherings with a crowd of family and friends. The Japanese approach here means that Chinese entrees are joined by tempura vegetables, kimchi, gyoza dumplings and udon noodles. One station is devoted to sushi and sushi rolls, another to seafood including head-on sautéed shrimp and chilled crab legs. Finally, there are the expected sweets from fruit to mini-cream puffs and ice cream.

Joy Asian Cuisine

1250 S. Buckley Rd. Unit G • 303-695-8318 Lunch, dinner daily • No alcohol • $$ People get happy watching the flaming woks in Joy’s open kitchen. The food gets cooked fast at this low-key neighborhood eatery. Beyond a handful of Thai curry and Japanese teriyaki items, the fare is straightforward Chinese-American. You start with egg rolls and egg drop soup and move on to batter-fried sweet and sour chicken, Mongolian beef and shrimp fried rice. The wide noodle menu covers pad Thai, Cantonese chow mein and Singaporean rice curry noodles.

New Ya Ting Asian Cuisine

Asian

15622 E. 6th Ave. • 303-360-898 newyatingaurora.com Lunch, dinner Tue.-Sat., dinner only Mon. No alcohol • $$ Egg rolls four ways opens the menu at New Ya Ting. Besides traditional fried pork and vegetable egg rolls with zippy coconut dipping sauce, diners can try cool, paperwrapped Thai spring rolls with peanut sauce or translucent Vietnamese pork spring rolls with lime chile sauce. Must-try dishes at this small, quiet cafe include sweet sesame scallops, roasted pork ribs with curry sauce and tofu pineapple curry. Health-conscious steamed chicken, shrimp and vegetable entrees come with light garlic sauce on the side.

Paradise Asian Cafe

6180 S. Gun Club Rd. Unit L1 • 720-876-1808 paradiseasiancafeco.com • Lunch, dinner daily Full bar • $$ Settle in for pineapple chicken and kung pao beef at this quiet suburban shop. The roster of reasonably priced Chinese-American entrees has room for both the fried and sweet (sesame chicken) and the light, fresh choices (asparagus chicken with black bean sauce). Wok-cooked preparations include big sea scallops and beef, and vegetarian stir-fried bok choy. 18

Pho Cafe Asian Cuisine

12405 E. Mississippi Ave. • 303-344-1968 phocafeasian.com • Lunch, dinner Tue.-Sat. No alcohol • $$ The No. 9 pho tai nam is a bowl of rice noodles in rich broth with rare steak and well-done flank steak sided by bean sprouts, Thai basil leaves, jalapeno and fresh lime. Beyond the classic Vietnamese soups, Pho Cafe covers the Pan-Asian favorites such as banh mi sandwiches, lemongrass mussels, Thai curries and Singapore-style noodles. Favorite dessert: sesame balls and a cup of Vietnamese coffee.

Thai Garden Asian Fusion

16911 E. Quincy Ave. A-7 • 303-400-1173 thaigardenasianfusion.com • Lunch, dinner daily Beer, wine • $$ Start with chicken satay or grilled beef salad. Warm your palate with seafood favorites from sesame scallops to Vietnamese garlic butter shrimp. Don’t miss Thai Garden’s impressive noodle roster: shrimp pad Thai, chicken drunken noodles, Hong Kong noodles, veggie lo mein and tofu snow white noodles. When it’s in season, finish up with juicy fresh mango and sweet sticky rice.

See also Markets

Coffee Place

5580 S. Parker Rd. • 303-699-1122 coffeeplacecafe.com • Breakfast, lunch daily Breakfast and lunch fare is served at this relaxed, sunny cafe, but that may just be an excuse used by regulars to visit the in-house bakery. It’s hard to leave without getting at least one chocolate croissant, bear claw, Copenhagen cookie, whole grain Danish or macaroon.

Cuba Bakery & Cafe

15028 E. Mississippi Ave. • 303-752-2822 Breakfast, lunch, dinner Mon.-Sat. Closes 4 p.m. Sundays • No alcohol • $$ Limited seating This freshly opened Cuban spot serves the real thing. The Miami-style menu boasts papa rellenas (fried potato and beef fritter), chicken empanadas, and lechon (roast pork) with fried plantains. The sandwiches are served on freshly baked Cubano loaves. Classic desserts jam-pack a glass case. Try the guava and cheese pastries, rice pudding and flan accompanied by sweet, dark-roast Cuban coffee.

Daniel’s of Paris Bakery

12253 E. Iliff Ave. • 303-751-6084 danielsofparis.com • Breakfast, lunch Tue.-Sat. Limited seating for pastries and coffee Since 1992 this bakery has provided satisfaction for lovers of real French pastries and cakes. Among the best-sellers in the morning are sticky pecan rolls and Danish. For pain au chocolat, buttery croissant dough is wrapped around sticks of semi-sweet chocolate. House tortes include the “Elodie:” chocolate genoise cake, Grand Marnier syrup, chocolate ganache, and raspberry mousse coated in more ganache. Other winners: vanilla éclairs and butter-crusted quiche.

The Donut House

3124 S. Parker Rd. • 303-337-2771 thedonuthouse.com • 5 a.m.-9 p.m. Mon.-Fri., 6 a.m.-9 p.m. Sat.-Sun. Whether cake, glazed, raised or buttermilk, Omar Dieyleh and his family have satisfied locals and visitors need for scratch-made doughnuts and muffins since 2009. The shelves are also stocked with cream-filled bars, three flavors of sugar-glazed fritters and four varieties of cinnamon rolls. You can’t miss with an applesauce doughnut and a cup of joe.

Goochie Cakes

23955 E. Plaza Ave. (Southlands) • 303-974-6440 blisscupcakes.com 10 a.m.-9 p.m. Mon.-Sat., 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Sun. The larger new location for the former Bliss Cupcakes now offers a range of custom-designed special occasion cakes plus pastries and coffee. The cupcakes still come in three sizes with flavors ranging from red velvet to chai. Bliss has been praised as the favorite cupcake bakery in town by Aurora Sentinel readers.

Panaderia La Guatemalteca

10329 E. Colfax Ave. • 303-343-2838 8 a.m.-7 p.m. Mon.-Fri., 7 a.m.-7 p.m. Sat.-Sun. Take-out only Blink and you’ll miss this modest little storefront tucked off the street as you drive down Colfax. The main attraction here besides the sweets and grocery items from Central America are the Guatemalan baked goods. The sweets are similar to Mexican cookies although considerably less frosted and sugared and ideal for dunking. The bakery also produces soft and chewy white sandwich buns and serves Guatemalan fare on weekends.

Panaderia Tlaquepaque

Bakeries

2300 S. Chambers Rd. • 720-748-3967 8 a.m.-9 p.m. Mon.-Fri., 8 a.m.-8 p.m. Sat.-Sun. This tiny storefront offers the usual Mexican bakery setup with a stack of trays and tongs customers use to pick cookies, pastries, soft rolls for tortas, and other fried and baked goodies. Don’t miss the gordita de maiz, a moist corn muffin-like scone with a distinctly Mexican taste. It’s best served warm with butter and jam. Also worth a bite: sugar-dusted cajeta empanadas full of caramel.

& See also American Restaurants and Bakeries

Beantree Coffee

12101 E. Iliff Ave. • 303-396-6178 beantreecoffee.com • Breakfast through late night $$ • Waffles and free wi-fi From espresso drinks made with Silver Canyon coffee to slushy drinks adrift in chewy boba, this made-for-Aurora coffee shop offers a little of everything. Nutella and whipped cream crepes coexist on the menu with Korean bibimbob. That’s a rice bowl topped with bulgogi (grilled beef), stir-fried vegetables and a chile-fired sauce.

Coffee Place

5580 S. Parker Rd. • 303-699-1122 coffeeplacecafe.com • Breakfast, lunch daily • $ Turkish coffee and espresso drinks made with fresh, locally roasted beans are the focus at this modern, European-style cafe. The must-try drink is “dirty chai” spiced milky tea with a shot of espresso. The offerings span the day with breakfast sandwiches, pressed panini, flaky spinach pie and quiche. The “red” Rueben places sliced corned beef, red cabbage and Swiss on sliced house-made bread. The bakery crafts croissants, cinnamon rolls and scones.

Dozens Restaurant

French Press Cafe

Breakfast

2180 S. Havana St. • 303-337-6627 dozensrestaurant.com • Breakfast, lunch daily Full bar • $$ • Sunday brunch served Dozens had a scratch-made brunch menu long before brunch became cool. Aurora Sentinel readers have repeatedly voted this menu of omelets, French toast, Benedicts, waffles and biscuits as the best weekend offering in Aurora. Lunch includes soups and big sandwiches with locally themed names. Cinnamon roll, teriyaki chicken salad and a mimosa anyone?

15290 E. Iliff Ave. • 303-369-3111 myfrenchpress.com • Breakfast, lunch daily • $ Folks wake-up here with well-made coffee drinks espresso and French press - made from organic, fair trade beans. An expansive a.m. menu ranges from corned beef hash Benedicts to pineapple coconut pancakes and stuffed French toast with raspberry syrup. On the lunch roster: lox salad, a pulled pork sandwich, a pear and brie panini and a burger with caramelized onions. Don’t miss the veggie Reuben: sauteed beets, butternut squash and sweet potatoes with sauerkraut, Thousand-island dressing and Swiss.

Cedar Creek Pub

2100 N. Ursula St. • 303-537-4210 cedarcreekpub.com • Lunch, dinner daily Full bar • $$ • Reservations available At happy hour you’ll see more blue scrubs than threepiece suits at the only independent full service restaurant on Aurora’s sprawling medical and research campus. Doctors, students and visitors alike are drawn by a tap and bottle roster that’s strong on local breweries including Odell’s, New Belgium, and Avery, as well as Colorado wines, spirits ranging from gin to rum, and even local sodas. The comfort food menu ranges from happy hour meatballs on a stick and pierogis, to Colorado elk cheeseburgers and cod fried in a light Dale’s Pale Ale batter. Find out which brew goes best with bangers and mash, a medium-rare tuna steak sandwich or green chile and cheese-drenched, fresh cut, skin-on fries.

Coda Brewing Co.

2101 N. Ursula St. Unit 10 • 720-324-8529 Lunch, dinner, late night daily • $$ Patio open in season Coda is a new brewery co-owned by Scott Procop who operates the craft beer-centric Cedar Creek Pub just across the street. The initial brews are Dogcatcher Red Ale, Belgian Wheat with lemongrass and Chocolate Java Porter, with smaller batches of seasonal beers. Coda sippers can order fare from a special menu from pulled pork sandwiches to hummus and chips delivered from Cedar Creek. The beers aren’t being bottled or canned yet, but visitors can take home a growler that looks like an antique medicine bottle, appropriate for this apothecarythemed establishment. Look for live acoustic music on weekends.

Dad and Dude’s Breweria 24

6730 S. Cornerstar Way Suite D • 303-400-5699 breweria.com • Lunch, dinner, late night daily Full bar • $$ The totally laid-back atmosphere at this father and son enterprise goes well with house-brewed beer and the house-baked pizzas. A changing lineup of brews include Diggity Dank IPA and Sleep When You’re Dead coffee stout. Spent grain from the brewing process is incorporated in the chewy pizza dough. Combinations include the 420 Pizza with pepperoni, sausage, red onions and kalamata olives. The signature sandwich is Jamaican Me Hungry layered with jerk chicken, caramelized pineapple, habanero and mayo, served with baked rosemary fries.

Dry Dock Brewing Co.

15120 E. Hampden Ave. • 303-400-5606 drydockbrewing.com • Afternoon to late night daily $ • Attached Brew Hut offers beer and winemaking supplies A national reputation for exceptional ales means that the tasting room at Aurora’s flagship craft brewery is always jammed with serious beer fans. Camaraderie comes easy in Dry Dock’s industrial-but-homey atmosphere with communal seating around long wooden tables. Many fans order the sampler of six in-house brews ranging from briskly bitter Hop Abomination, best-selling Apricot Blonde and Hefeweizen to Double IPA or Coffee Milk Stout. See if you can discern the fruity, citrus-y, chocolate and honey notes and carry home a gallon “growler” of your favorite. No food is served at this tasting room (versus a brewpub), but beer fans can bring in food or get it delivered from local eateries.

Mu Brewing Co.

Brewpubs

9735 E. Colfax Ave. • 720-446-8273 brewbymu.com 10 a.m.-10 p.m. Thu.-Sun., closed Mon.-Wed. $ • Located in Aurora Cultural Arts District In a landmark hardware store space on Aurora’s main street, Nathan Flatland has opened an urban craft brewery and tasting room. His initial brews include Aurora Town Brown, Boone’s Maple Cream Porter, Colorado Bastard IPA and R&R Raspberry Red. Special seasonal brews will also make their appearance.

Royal Hilltop Tap Room

18581 E. Hampden Ave. No. 134 • 303-690-7738 royalhilltop.com • Lunch, dinner Wed.-Sun., dinner only Mon.-Tue. • Full bar • $$ Children’s menu features real food Taps pouring the best brews from everywhere, all served properly, and fare with a strong English accent gives this tavern a truly cozy feeling. The pub classics are drawn here, along with craft ales from Aurora (Dry Dock) to Hawaii (Maui Coconut Porter). There’s also a spotlight here on serious Belgian beers, a passion for owners Jim and Tina Pachorek who also operate three metro locations of their Cheeky Monk Belgian Beer Café. Menu best-sellers include beer-battered fish and chips, burgers, and bangers and mash. Try the comfy shepherd’s pie matched with Chimay White.

Brewpubs

The English Teacup

1930 S. Havana St. No. 5 • 303-751-3032 englishteacup.com Tea room 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Tue.-Sat. No alcohol • $$ • Store sells British groceries, bone china, teas and sweets The genuine, scratch-made scones served for lunch and tea are a wonderful discovery. The rounds (ranging from plain to cherry mango) are presented warm on a china plate accompanied calmly by rich clotted cream and imported seedless raspberry jam. A properly made pot of tea is chosen from dozens of loose leaf varieties. High tea, including finger sandwiches and petits four, is available by reservation. 27

McCabe’s Bistro & Pub

6100 S. Main St. (Southlands) • 303-627-6234 mccabesbistroandpub.com Lunch, dinner, late night daily • Full bar • $$ Weekend brunch served Besides standard bar items including burgers, wings and main dish salads, the menu features classic Irish pub delights: potato and leek soup, cod fish and chips (Bass Ale in the batter), corned beef and cabbage, and sirloin shepherd’s pie. Entertainment options abound whether you like billiards, live music or televised soccer matches. Needless to say the taps pour Bass Ale, Guinness Stout and other liquid necessities.

See also Asian Restaurants

Chef Liu’s Authentic Chinese Cuisine

562 S. Chambers Rd. • 303-369-2220 Lunch, dinner Wed.-Mon. • Full bar • $$$ If you love sesame chicken, Bejing-trained chef Zeng Qun Liu will make you the best sesame chicken you’ve ever tasted. Regulars travel here for his Szechuan specialties enjoyed in a subdued white-tablecloth setting. For sheer exhilaration choose “Sliced Beef in Numbing Chili Oil” with broth dotted with beef and cilantro ignited by chiles and peppercorns. It does numb a bit but the dish is memorable for its sour, salty, earthy and sweet flavors. Don’t miss the dan dan noodles, thin rice noodles tumbled with tiny chunks of beef, baby bok choy and peanuts. Chef Liu’s is often named as one of the region’s best Chinese eateries by local publications. 28

China Jade

12203 E. Iliff Ave. Suite D • 303-755-8518 Lunch, dinner daily • Beer • $$ Skip the same old sweet-and-sour pork and focus instead on the real Chinese items from tofu with preserved egg to Tianjin-style pork buns. The Szechuan-style wontons are not your father’s cream cheese and “krab”-filled things. The rather delicate pasta envelopes filled with ground pork are drenched in red chile-infused oil. It tastes benign at first but warmth spreads rapidly across your face. Also memorable is the ziran-flavored lamb, which tastes more Middle Eastern than Asian.

Golden Wok Asian Restaurant

15282 E. Hampden Ave. • 303-766-1489 goldenwokasian.com Lunch, dinner Mon.-Fri., dinner only Sat.-Sun. Full bar • $$$ Folks like to dress up a little to dine on white tablecloths at the Golden Wok. A warm contemporary dining room is centered around a large salt water aquarium. Despite the eatery’s name, the repertoire concentrates on well-made Chinese-American favorites with dishes like sweet and sour shrimp, beef with black bean sauce and Hunanstyle sliced duck. Vegetarian selections include five spice tofu seasoned with fennel, cloves, cinnamon, star anise and Szechuan peppercorns. Golden Wok maintains a surprisingly large wine list to match special occasion treats like the lobster Cantonese.

Lucky China

New Canton BBQ

Chinese

2000 S. Havana St. • 303-745-1373 luckychinaaurora.com • Lunch, dinner daily No alcohol • $$ Sure, they’ve got the Chinese-American crowd pleasers: moo shu pork, sesame chicken and six varieties of egg foo yung and chow mein. Ask for the “real” Chinese sheet when you dine here and you’ll luck into sampling authentic stuff from garlic greens to whole fish braised in brown sauce.

2751 S. Parker Rd. (next to H-Mart) • 303-369-7500 Lunch, dinner daily • No alcohol • $$ Feast your eyes on the glistening whole smoked ducks and racks of ribs hanging in the glass display case as you listen to the rapid-fire percussion of a sharp cleaver cutting up a carcass. The menu includes beef chow fun dry-style, duck congee, pork brisket noodles and smoked chicken wings. The tiny storefront’s tables are cramped but it’s worth sipping a bowl of soup here to soak in the multicultural, high-energy atmosphere.

Tea Station

545 Sable Blvd. • 303-343-0330 teastation.webs.com Lunch, dinner Mon.-Sat. No alcohol • $ Boba rules at the Tea Station! Boba are tiny, chewy pearls made from tapioca. Here there are 34 flavors of build-your-own boba drinks which can come as a tea, a creamy shake, an icy snow or slush, or a milk tea flavored with watermelon, mango and even avocado. By the way, boba isn’t some ancient Chinese culinary tradition. It was created in Taiwan in the ‘80s. Pork fried rice, wok-fried lo mein and other Chinese-American must-haves fill the rest of the menu.

Tsai Shen Garden

15200 E. 6th Ave. Unit 2E • 303-366-8818 chinesemenu.com Lunch, dinner Mon.-Sat., dinner only Sun. Beer, wine • $$ Tsai Shen Garden is exactly the kind of neighborhood eatery that families love. A complimentary pot of tea comes with every meal. For large groups, complete dinners kick off with a pupu platter of appetizers and entrée choices range from orange beef to pork chow fun noodles. Tsai Shen Garden is so affordable that one can “splurge” on dessert: fried sesame-coated orbs middled with sugar-fortified red bean puree.

Wan’s Mandarin House

Chinese

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13710 E. Quincy Ave. • 303-693-0825 wansmandarinhouse.com Lunch, dinner daily • Full bar • $$ Several generations of families have flocked to Wan’s since 1982 for its menu of Chinese-American must-haves such as moo goo gai pan. Change of pace dishes include Wan’s Special Sizzling Rice - that‘s wok-fried chicken, shrimp, pork, scallops and veggies dished over hot “crackling” rice. Vegetarian choices include sesame tofu and eggplant in garlic sauce. Can’t decide soup-wise? Try the “mixed” hot and sour soup with wontons.

See also Markets

Mirage Steak and Seafood

13250 E. Mississippi Ave. • 303-750-4920 miragesteakandseafood.com Dinner Tue.-Sat. (unless closed for private events) Full bar • $$$ • Weekend reservations recommended On Saturday nights the Mirage turns into a Russian nightclub with live music and dancing. There’s even a dress code: business casual strictly enforced. The menu is mainly steak and seafood with a few Russian and Eastern European specialties such as lamb shanks and beef stroganoff. The bar pours Russian beers and a wide variety of imported vodkas.

Royal Meat and Deli

15413 E. Hampden Ave. • 303-766-9291 10 a.m.-8 p.m. Mon.-Sat., until 6 p.m. Sun. No alcohol • $$ • Deli does not have seating Besides imported groceries, the largest Eastern European market in Aurora also boasts an impressive counter of ready-to-eat takeout fare. Favorites include piroshki, kebobs, cooked sausage, stuffed cabbage rolls, pilaf, beet salad, and blintzes. The meat counter is stocked with hard-to-find Eastern European cold cuts, cheeses and dense chewy breads. For a sweet treat pick from the aisle devoted to imported chocolates.

See also Markets

Sunburst Grill

2295 S. Chambers Rd. Suite M • 303-752-6389 Lunch, dinner Wed.-Sun. • No alcohol • $$ Weekend reservations recommended Filipino cuisine is a glorious mashup of Asian and Western flavors, and this is the only restaurant in the metro area where you‘ll find it. Favorites include satay-like barbecue chicken, craveable lumpiang (fried spring rolls), and lechon (roasted suckling pig). Take a chance on sisig. Think fried pork cheeks and pig ears chopped and sauteed with vinegar, onions and peppers on a sizzling fajita platter topped by a raw egg. Table condiments include fermented fish sauce and vinegar with onions. The must-have side dish is buttery rice absolutely blasted with garlic. On a warm day enjoy an ice-cold calamansi, the sweet-tart Filipino limeade. Finally, take in a halo halo, a dessert adventure involving coconut milk, crushed ice, gelatin cubes, tapioca pearls and purple yam ice cream.

See also Markets

Bender’s Brat Haus

700 S. Buckley Rd. Suite A • 303-872-3569 Lunch, dinner Mon.-Sat. • Beer, wine available • $ Sometimes we just want a brat and the best place to get one in the metro area is at Bender’s, Aurora’s unpretentious bastion of Wisconsin comfort fare. They start it right by grinding pork and filling their own Sheboygan-style links. Flame-grilled and split on a fresh white bun, the link is topped with onions, sauerkraut and brown mustard. On the side: warm German potato salad. Also on the menu: burgers, Italian sausage sandwiches, and the hard-to-find krautburger, a pastry filled with beef, cabbage and onions.

Helga’s German Restaurant and Deli

14197 E. Exposition Ave. • 303-344-5488 helgasdeli.com • Lunch, dinner daily Full bar • $$ • Reservations available German-style comfort fare here starts with thin-pounded pork schnitzel crisply fried and covered in warm brown sauce. On the side are buttery spaetzle, kroketten (fried potato dumplings) or soft red cabbage. The finish is a slice of apple strudel with real schlag (whipped cream). Fans also flock in for bacon-stuffed rouladen, sauerbraten, and smoked veal brats. It’s Aurora’s most popular place for a polka and a tall stein of German pilsner every October.

See also Asian Restaurants

Hana Sushi

16911 E. Quincy Ave. Unit A-4 • 303-680-6099 aurorasushi.com Lunch, dinner Mon.-Sat., dinner only Sun. Beer, wine • $$$ • Mobile app: isushi Adventurous eaters will find a lot to love at Hana from the agedashi tofu and sashimi to spicy scallop handrolls and salmon skin tempura. Most palates will appreciate the lunch bento boxes, New York steak teriyaki and chicken curry. Favorite rolls include the Fuji with shrimp tempura, cucumber, masago eggs and mayo on the inside and orange, strawberry and mango sauces outside. The dessert list includes green tea cheesecake.

Mt. Fuji Sushi and Hibachi 42

6100 S. Main St. H-101 (Southlands) 303-699-9388 • mtfujico.com Lunch, dinner daily • Full bar • $$$ Reservations available Mt. Fuji’s roster of rolls stars the Super Dragon which combines eel, crab, tuna, salmon, yellowtail and avocado. Appetizers from soft-shell crab tempura to grilled yellowtail collar can be matched to a serious sake list. In addition to classic teriyaki, tempura, udon and tonkatsu dinners, full meals are available cooked entertainingly on a flat hibachi grill surrounded by community-style seating.

Shinjuku Japanese Steakhouse

14045 E. Evans Ave. • 303-750-7979 shinjukuus.com • Dinner daily, lunch Sat.-Sun. Full bar • $$$ • Private rooms available At Shinjuku you pick your protein (chicken breast, steak and lobster) and sit back and watch the show. To the sound effects produced by pounding peppermills and sharp knives, the toque-topped teppan chef sizzles meat, fish and vegetables on a flat griddle. Watch out for the flying shrimp. This is an especially fun dinner to experience with the kids.

Sonoda’s Sushi

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Japanese

3108 S. Parker Rd. D-1 • 303-337-3800 sonodassushiaurora.com Lunch, dinner Mon.-Sat., dinner only Sun. Full bar • $$ • Extensive sake list The Sonoda’s name has been associated with sushi since the first shop opened in Aurora in 1988, long before most diners knew the difference between tobiko (flying fish roe) and tamago (sweet omelet). The eatery’s extensive Japanese menu details sushi rolls and grilled dishes such as teriyaki yellowtail collar. For lunch, choose tuna donburi: a bowl of sushi rice topped with tuna sashimi sided with salad and miso soup. Try the traditional ramen with roast pork, spinach, nori, hardboiled egg and noodles in your choice of broths.

Sushi Katsu

2222 S. Havana St. No. H • 303-368-8778 denver-sushi.com Lunch, dinner Mon.-Sat., dinner only Sun. Full bar • $$ Sushi Katsu may be an all-you-can-eat restaurant but it’s definitely not a buffet. Everything including the 65 varieties of sushi rolls is made to order by an army of chefs. Fans love it because the order sheets also itemize non-sushi treats such as pan-fried gyoza, octopus salad, shrimp tempura, salmon teriyaki, barbecue ribs and chicken yakisoba. Remember please: No doggie bags and you’ll be charged extra for ordering food you don’t eat.

Teriyaki Chicken No. 6

Tokyoya Bowl & Bowl

Japanese

2271 S. Peoria St. • 303-337-1921 Lunch, dinner Mon.-Sat. • No alcohol • $ The polyrhythmic “chop-chop” of a sharp cleaver and pungent soy perfume welcome fans to the tiny, 10-yearold ma-and-pa place. The offerings focus on the nonsushi tradition of Japanese fast food including chicken and beef teriyaki, sesame chicken, yakisoba, ramen, fried rice, gyoza, and katsu (deep-fried cutlets). Start with a warm bowl of miso soup. Enjoy char-grilled teriyaki chicken atop wok-fried green cabbage, or a dish of flash-fried vegetable tempura with dipping sauce.

2210 S. Chambers Rd. • 303-368-1668 Lunch, dinner Mon.-Sat. • No alcohol • $ Drive-up window Fans don’t flock here for the ambience, but because they need some Japanese-style fried chicken and they want it fast. The birds come out crispy skinned but still juicy. Tokyoya’s regulars also talk about the tonkatsu (chicken cutlet) and beef noodle bowls.

See also Asian Restaurants

Dah Won Rice Cake

2222 S. Havana St. • 303-369-7890 8 a.m.-5 p.m. daily • $ Brightly-hued sweet “cakes” filled with sweetened bean paste or nuts catch the eye at this tiny, one-product shop operated by a Korean family. Dah Won Rice Cake specializes in tteok, the Korean glutinous rice product which closely resembles dumplings. The soft, chewy cakes are cut in discs and added to soups and stir fries. Whether it is sweet or savory, tteok is best eaten fresh.

Han Kang Korean Restaurant

1910 S. Havana St. • 303-873-6800 hankangkoreancuisine.com Breakfast, lunch, dinner daily • Full bar $$$ • Reservations available Han Kang is a classic Korean BBQ restaurant where guests cook bites of meat on a tabletop grill. Choices include galbi (beef short ribs) and bulgogi (marinated beef). The meal always comes with a wide array of banchan: shared side dishes such as kimchi, chive onion pancakes, seaweed in vinegar, cucumber with chile paste and sweet radish. For a change of pace, order samgyetang - that’s boiled chicken with ginseng and sweet rice.

New York Bakery

10720 E. Iliff Ave. • 303-743-0001 9 a.m.-7 p.m. Mon.-Sat., 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Sun. • $ Do not come here looking for salt bagels or deli rye from Brooklyn. This small, mom-and-pop bakery offers traditional Korean items including butter cookies, buns filled with sweet red bean or custard, dinner rolls and Swiss rolls filled with mocha frosting.

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O Bok Korean Rice Cake

2720 S. Havana St. • 303-369-3333 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Tue.-Sun. • $ This is not the rice cake dieters crunch upon. Dah Won Rice Cake specializes in one essential ingredient: rice that is ground cooked, and turned into a soft tube. The savory ones are sliced into soup as easy dumplings or stir-fried with veggies. The sweet cakes are colored, flavored, filled with sweet bean paste or nuts and coated in chestnut flour.

Seoul Korean BBQ

Silla Korean Barbecue

Korean

2080 S. Havana St. • 303-632-7576 seoulkoreanbbq.com • Lunch, dinner daily Beer, wine • $$$ Weekend reservations recommended It may say “BBQ” on the sign but the many fans of Seoul know that it really means grilling - not smoking - beef, pork, beef tongue and other treats over a cooker set in the table. Dinners at this upscale, modern eatery are accompanied by steamed rice and banchan such as kimchi (fermented chile-infused cabbage), roasted yams, seaweed and pickled veggies. Another favorite participatory dish is shabu shabu: meat and veggies cooked in a pot of bubbling broth.

3005 S. Peoria St. • 303-338-5070 sillabbq.com • Lunch, dinner daily Beer, wine • $$$ • Reservations available Silla specializes in traditional Korean cuisine including the famous tabletop BBQ but many return for the restaurant’s other regional specialties. In summer savor buckwheat noodles in cool broth with vegetables, beef and a hardboiled egg. Surprise your taste buds with broiled mackerel. In the worth-the-drive category are the spicy kimchi dumplings and oyster pancakes.

See also Bakeries, Markets and Mexican Restaurants

Cuba Bakery & Cafe

El Alamo Grande

1708 S. Chambers Rd. • 303-614-9806 denvermexicanfood.com • Lunch, dinner daily Full bar • $$ Besides being home to classic Mexican dishes such as pork ribs baked in tomatillo sauce, El Alamo is the place in Aurora to sample Peruvian fare. Traditional dishes range from ceviche (citrus-cooked seafood) to lomo saltado (beef sauteed with onions and tomatoes). A favorite is perihelia, a stew incorporating shrimp, squid, clams, mussels, crab and fish. As is traditional in Peru, many of the dishes are served with both white rice and French fries. For dessert: sweet purple corn pudding.

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The Jamaican Cafe

Panaderia La Guatemalteca

Latin American

12128 E. 14th Ave. • 720-435-7935 Lunch, dinner Mon.-Sat. • No alcohol • $$ Beverages include spicy Jamaican ginger beer One of few Jamaican restaurants in the metro area is hidden in a former beauty salon off a quiet street. Depending on the day of the week the island-born owner features jerk pork, fried dumplings, patties, curry chicken, oxtails and ackee salt fish. The plates come with rice and red beans and fried plantains. When you visit, try to be on “island“ time and go with the reggae music. This is a one-person operation but the authentic flavors are worth chillin’ for.

10329 E. Colfax Ave. • 303-343-2838 8 a.m.-7 p.m. Mon.-Fri., 7 a.m.-7 p.m. Sat.-Sun. Take-out only Blink and you’ll miss this modest little storefront tucked in an alcove as you drive down Colfax. The main attraction here besides the candy and grocery items from Central America are the Guatemalan baked goods. The sweets are similar to Mexican cookies although considerably less frosted and sugared, ideal for dunking. The bakery also produces soft, chewy sandwich buns. On weekends the bakery offers take-out meals including Guatemalan-style chicken and pork tamales and chiles rellenos.

Tacos Y Salsas

9103 E. Colfax Ave. • 303-212-5718 Lunch, dinner daily • No alcohol • $ The treats to try here are Salvadoran pupusas, those tasty white corn griddle cakes middled with beans and cheese and topped with curtido (spicy cole slaw). The shop also specializes in tacos, gorditas, burritos and tortas filled with tender chopped meats in various styles. Visit the bar for six types of salsas, sliced radishes and onions, chopped cilantro and lime wedges.

See also Asian Restaurants

Pearl of Siam

18660 E. Hampden Ave. • 303-617-7408 pearlofsiam.net • Lunch, dinner Tue.-Sat. No alcohol • $$ Pearl of Siam is famous for its seven types of curry starting with the mild panang curry and moving up to a complexly spiced duck curry with red curry paste, coconut milk, bell pepper, pineapple and fresh basil. If you like pad Thai you’ll love “drunken noodles” - wide flat noodles stir-fried with peppers, eggplant, basil leaves and chile sauce. Live it up by pairing a fried banana with house-made coconut ice cream. The creamy, terra cottacolored iced tea is almost a dessert by itself.

Sue of Siam

106 Del Mar Circle • 720-949-1980 sueofsiam.com • Lunch, dinner Tue.-Sun. No alcohol • $$ • Thai tea ice cream Low-key Sue of Siam offers seriously authentic fare beyond the standard dozen Thai dishes common on local Asian menus. Branch out with the crunchy, earthy green papaya salad or ground pork larb salad spiked with fresh Thai chiles. Kuay tiew nahm is a classic noodle dish with tiny meatballs, green onions, mung bean sprouts and cilantro. Sue’s regulars come for the soft shell crab sautéed with black pepper and garlic. Potent condiments are set on every table.

Thai Flavor

1014 S. Peoria St. • 720-859-7648 Lunch, dinner daily • Beer, wine • $$ The chunky curries, zesty salads and diverse stir-frys all have their fans at Thai Flavor, but it’s the noodle dishes that shine including the signature pad Thai loaded with fresh veggies. Order it less than “hot” to enjoy the spices and flavors. For those who like it fiery, start with the tom yum soup with galangal and catfish and move on to whole fish simmered in curry. Cool your mouth with sweet sticky rice with coconut milk and fresh mango.

Thai Landing

1984 Nome St. • 303-340-1350 thailandingcafe.com • Lunch, dinner daily No alcohol • $$ If your taste buds have been dulled by too many generic noodle bowls, wake them back up at this affordable, low-key oasis. Take Thai Landing’s yummy yum pla mek: grilled calamari tossed with earthy lime dressing and fresh mint. Order the pad Thai hot and mounded with shrimp, chicken, egg, tofu and sweet radishes. Kids will have fun with the boba drinks. The chewy tapioca balls are available in iced milk tea, hot milk tea or slush bubble tea flavored with everything from cappuccino to green tea.

Thai Street Food

11650 Montview Blvd. • 303-587-2293 thaistreetfooddenver.com • Lunch, dinner Tue.-Sat. No alcohol • $$ • Cash only Never order the wonderful Pad Kee Mao “Thai hot” or owner Utumporn Killoran will smile a little and melt your taste buds. Go for medium (of the eight grades of heat from baby spice to fire) so you can really taste the rice noodles wok-fried with vegetables, egg, rice wine, lots of shrimp and a few whole Thai peppers. You can also set the “juiciness” level from broth-y to almost dry. You will deeply appreciate (and need) that huge mug (and refills) of Thai iced tea. Thai Street Food is small, noisy and busy but it is often cited as the best Thai restaurant in the metro area.

Tumrup Thai Restaurant

Thai

10890 Dartmouth Ave. Unit C • 303-369-0266 tumrupthai.net • Lunch, dinner Mon.-Sat. No alcohol • $$ This recently opened Thai eatery, like most good familyrun ethnic restaurants, is tucked away in a small strip mall. It’s worth finding for some memorable tastes such as curried chicken and potatoes inside fried puff pastry. Equally craveable are the shrimp in a blanket: a whole large crustacean and ground chicken fried inside a thin eggroll skin. Deep-fried whole tilapia in a peppery sweet and sour sauce is a perfect dish to share.

See also Asian Restaurants

Golden Saigon Vietnamese Grill

2648 S. Parker Rd. Unit 2 • 303-671-7100 goldensaigon.com • Lunch, dinner Wed.-Mon. Full bar • $$ Golden Saigon is a cozy, family-owned institution with familiar roll-your-own lettuce wraps, curry seafood and rice plates with grilled pork. The soup list starts with the comfy asparagus crabmeat soup, continues with various types of pho (pronounced fuh), and gets earthy with bun bo Hue, a peppery beef and noodle soup. Breakfast here is grilled pork, chicken and shrimp with steamed rice and a fried egg with a side of eye-opening Vietnamese coffee.

Kim Ba Vietnamese Cuisine 74

2495 S. Havana St. F-31 • 303-745-1637 kimbavietnamese.com • Lunch, dinner Mon.-Sat. Beer, wine • $$ Long before most diners knew the difference between spring rolls and egg rolls, Ba Forde was turning on Aurorans to the food she tasted as a kid in Vietnam. That’s a lot of pho and lettuce-wrapped appetizers in 30 years of cooking. Popular house specials range from shredded ginger and tofu in spicy coconut and bean sauce, and the crispy fried egg noodles with vegetables, pork and shrimp. Summertime calls for goi bo, an invigorating grilled beef salad with mint, tiny hot peppers and lemon juice.

New Orient

10203 E. Iliff Ave. • 303-751-1288 neworientdining.com • Lunch, dinner Tue.-Sun. Beer, wine • $$ This is the place to sip a cold Tsing Tao, “33” Export or Tiger beer and munch on goi cuon, the special rice paperwrapped rolls of barbecue pork, cucumber and noodles. While the appetizers, entrees and noodle dishes are strictly Vietnamese, New Orient freshens them up. One summer favorite is bo luc lac or “French steak.” Marinated grilled sirloin comes sliced atop tomato, lettuce and onions with soy dipping sauce. Seafood Vietnamese-style comes in the form of piquant lemongrass shrimp and pork and shrimp kebobs. Ask about some of the chef’s inventive specials such as halibut with spicy cranberry sauce.

Pho 75

Pho 79

Vietnamese

13736 E. Quincy Ave. • 303-699-7777 Lunch, dinner daily • No alcohol • $$ Second location at 2050 S. Havana St. Pho is done right here with huge bowls of broth and rice noodles topped with rare steak, brisket, tendon, tripe and meatballs. Each bowl gets personalized from a plate of fresh bean sprouts, Thai basil, lime wedges, jalapeno and herbs. Bottles of sriracha and hoisin are on the table to tweak individual bites. Chopsticks and a soup spoon are the preferred implements, but forks are available.

1080 S. Havana St. • 303-344-0752 pho79restaurant.com • Lunch, dinner daily No alcohol • $$ The meat, noodles, greenery and condiments are merely window dressing for a bowl of this iconic dish. It’s the broth that draws regulars to the Aurora location of this local Pho chain. Slow-simmered from bones with the right seasonings including star anise, the liquid adds a satisfying backbone for the rare steak, brisket, meatballs, tendon and crunchy vegetables. For a change of taste try the Gatorade-like salty, tart and sweet Vietnamese lemonade.

Pho 888

539 N. Sable Blvd. • 303-367-4180 lovepho888.com • Lunch, dinner daily No alcohol • $$ This constantly busy shop rapidly dishes the Vietnamese grill essentials: brisket and steak pho with a classic broth and vermicelli noodle bowls with grilled chicken and all the greenery. Regulars always get the big rice paper-wrapped spring rolls with peanut dipping sauce. Pho 888 has a huge menu of cool drinks with or without boba. Expand your flavor world with an avocado boba drink, or stick with the espresso-dark drip coffee with a spoonful of sweetened condensed milk.

Pho Duy II

Vietnamese

680 Peoria St. • 303-367-9884 Breakfast, lunch, dinner daily • No alcohol • $ Pho Duy II is the Aurora outpost of the local chain responsible for initiating innumerable locals and visitors into the joy of Vietnamese soup. Except for a few other plates and traditional spring rolls with peanut sauce, big white bowls of steaming noodles in broth fill the entire menu. You choose the meats you’d like added and make it your own with the addition of sriracha, hoisin sauce and a plate of jalapenos, herbs, and mung bean sprouts.

Index of Restaurants and Markets

5 , 39 A-Town Pizza 1 Addis Ababa Restaurant 1 African Grill & Bar 56 Ajuua Mexican Restaurant 65 Alforat Market 49 Ananada International Groceries 49 Arash International Market 65 Ariana Kabob Cafe 39 Armando’s Ristorante 34 The Athenian Restaurant

2 Cafe Paprika 40, 50 Carmine Lonardo’s Meat Market & Italian Deli 57 Casa Vallarta Mexican Restaurant 23 Cedar Creek Pub 36, 66 Chai and Chai Ethnic Kitchen 28 Chef Liu’s Authentic Chinese Cuisine 35 Chill Yogurt 28 China Jade 6 Cinema Grill 24 Coda Brewing Co. 19, 21 Coffee Place 51 Colorado Ranch Market 19, 47 Cuba Bakery & Cafe

B 14 Bangkok-Tokyo Asian Fusion 68 Bayou Café 21 Beantree Coffee 33 Bender’s Brat Haus 36 Benghal Buffet 6 Bent Fork Grill 40 The Bent Noodle 14 Blue Lagoon Asian Bistro 49 Bombay Bazaar 56 Brewery Bar IV 50 Brew Hut 68 Brooks Smokehouse BBQ

6 , 24 Dad and Dude’s Breweria 45 Dah Won Rice Cake 19 Daniel’s of Paris Bakery 66 Darya Persian Restaurant 20 The Donut House 57 Dora’s Mexican Restaurant 22 Dozens Restaurant 15 Dragon Boat Sushi and Asian Cuisine 25 Dry Dock Brewing Co.

69 16 16 22

51 E Mart Asian Foods 15 East China Asian Cuisine 2 Eatopia: Ethiopian Food & Coffee 15 Egg Roll King East 47 El Alamo Grande 57 El Camaron Loco 2 58 El Costeno 58 El Lucerito 2 59 El Pelicano Mexican Seafood Restaurant 7 Emerald Isle 27, 52 The English Teacup 7 Etai’s Bakery Café 52 Europa Grocery

Flava Formosa Garden Fortune Kitchen French Press Cafe

G 16 Golden Phoenix 74 Golden Saigon Vietnamese Grill 29 Golden Wok Asian Restaurant 20 Goochie Cakes 59 Guadalajara 59 Guadalajara Authentic Mexican Buffet 67 Gyros King 67 Gyroz

H 45 Han Kang Korean Restaurant 42 Hana Sushi 8 Havana Street Station 33 Helga’s German Restaurant and Deli 17 Hiro Japanese Buffet 52 H-Mart

3 Ifka Cafe 37 India’s Cuisine

3 Maandeeq East African Cafe 41 Mama Alvino’s Pizzeria 38 Masalaa Vegetarian Indian Cuisine 41 Massino’s Italian Restaurant 27 McCabe’s Bistro & Pub 9 McDonough’s Pub 3 Meskerem Restaurant 53 Mi Pueblo Market 31 Mirage Steak and Seafood 53 M-Mart (Midopa Oriental Market) 38 Monsoon Fine Indian Cuisine 10 The Movie Tavern 42 Mt. Fuji Sushi and Hibachi 25 Mu Brewing Co.

J 48 69 17 8

The Jamaican Cafe Jim ’N Nick’s Bar-B-Q Joy Asian Cuisine Jus’ Grill

K 37 74 69 53

Kathmandu Kitchen Kim Ba Vietnamese Cuisine Kirk’s Soul Food Kitchen Korean Kim Chi & Foods

L 9 L & L Hawaiian BBQ 60 La Cueva 60 Las Fajitas Mexican Restaurant 61 Las Hadas 61 Las Tortugas 61 Los Farolitos 62 Los Pastes Mexican Empanadas 62 Los Toritos 29 Lucky China 62 Lupita’s Restaurant

N 54 35 29 75 17 45 4

Nejashi Textiles and Gifts Neveria Sabor Latino New Canton BBQ New Orient New Ya Ting Asian Cuisine New York Bakery Nile Ethiopian Restaurant

O 46 O Bok Korean Rice Cake

P 54 Pacific Ocean Marketplace 20, 48 Panaderia La Guatemalteca 20 Panaderia Tlaquepaque 18 Paradise Asian Cafe 71 Pearl of Siam 75 Pho 75 75 Pho 79 76 Pho 888 18 Pho Cafe Asian Cuisine 76 Pho Duy II 35 Pho-Yo

R 80

63 Real De Minas Mexican Grill 10 Red Kitchen 11 The Rock Restaurant 11 Rosie’s Diner 26 Royal Hilltop Tap Room 31, 54 Royal Meat and Deli 12 Rumbi Island Grill

S 55 Sam’s Meats 12 Sam’s No. 3 55 Savory Spice Shop 63 Senor Miguel’s 63 Senor Ric’s 46 Seoul Korean BBQ 70 Shead’s BBQ & Fish Hut 43 Shinjuku Japanese Steakhouse 46 Silla Korean Barbecue 55 Solomon’s Grocery and European Deli 43 Sonoda’s Sushi 12 Stampede 38 Star of India Restaurant 70 StevO’s Pizza and Ribs

4 71 13 32 44

Sudan Cafe Sue of Siam Summit Steakhouse Sunburst Grill Sushi Katsu

T 4 8, 64 Tacos Y Salsas 30 Tea Station 64 Tequila’s Family Mexican Restaurant 44 Teriyaki Chicken No. 6 72 Thai Flavor 18 Thai Garden Asian Fusion 72 Thai Landing 73 Thai Street Food 44 Tokyoya Bowl & Bowl 30 Tsai Shen Garden 73 Tumrup Thai Restaurant

W 30 41 13

Wan’s Mandarin House Wholly Cannoli Cafe Wine Experience Cafe & World Cellar

visitaurora.com

City of Aurora auroragov.org

About the Writer John Lehndorff is an award-winning Colorado food journalist. He is the former food editor of the Aurora Sentinel and Boulder Daily Camera, dining critic for the Rocky Mountain News, and chief judge at the National Pie Championships. He wrote â&#x20AC;&#x153;Denver Dinesâ&#x20AC;? (Johnson), a guide to more than 400 Denver-area dining spots. His writing has appeared in the Washington Post, USA Today, Town & Country and the Denver Post. He hosts the weekly Radio Nibbles on KGNU (88.5 FM, kgnu.org).

Published 2014