Yum 2016 web by sandykaunisto

YAurora UM Ethnic & Independent

Eats 1

YUM

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 heading there. If you spot an error, want to recommend another eatery, or have 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 4 American Restaurants 13 Asian Restaurants 20 Bakeries 23 Breakfast, Brunches & Coffee Shops 26 Brewpubs, Tasting Rooms and Taprooms 29 British Isles Restaurantsx 30 Chinese Restaurants 33 Eastern European Restaurants 34 Filipino Restaurants 35 German Restaurants 36 Greek Restaurants 37 Hawaiian Restaurants 38 Ice Cream Parlors 39 Indian & Nepalese Restaurants 42 Italian & Pizzerias Restaurants 46 Japanese Restaurants 49 Korean Restaurants 52 Latin American Restaurants 53 Markets 60 Mexican Restaurants 70 Middle Eastern Restaurants 72 Southern American Restaurants 74 Thai Restaurants 76 Vietnamese Restaurants

yum

African 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.

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.

yum

EATOPIA: ETHIOPIAN FOOD & COFFEE

1074 S. Ironton St., Unit C • 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 coffeeroasting ceremony is available.

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, Somali-style. There’s even a dish that bears a close resemblance to spaghetti and tomato sauce, a leftover from the Italian colonial years.

yum

NILE ETHIOPIAN RESTAURANT

1951 S. Havana St. • 720.748.0239 nileethiorestaurant.com Lunch, dinner daily • Full bar • $$

In Aurora, The Nile is regarded as one of the best Ethiopian restaurants. Fans love the stewed chicken with berbere sauce and hard-boiled egg. Vegetarians like the many traditionally meat-free 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. Enjoy the Ethiopian coffee ceremony.

SUDAN CAFÉ & KHAIRAT INJERA BAKERY

10375 E. Iliff Ave. 9:30 a.m.-9 p.m. daily • $

Sudan Cafe menu is focused on using fresh ingredients that deliver a fullness of flavor which can only come from foods produced and prepared in a conscientious way. For the dinner, that means a menu featuring seasonal foods, grown locally, and picked fresh to ensure their fullest flavor. All their food is natural and organic.

yum

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

BACKSTREET TAVERN AND GRILL

1150 S. Galena St. • 303.745.4003 backstreettavernandgrill.com Lunch, dinner daily • Full bar • $ Half-price wine Tuesday

Backstreet Tavern & Grill is a new establishment in a classic location with deep history, featuring great drinks and a creative menu. Enjoy the fully remodeled interior or one of the outdoor patios. Try the signature Backstreet Burger, topped with jalapeño cream cheese and applewood bacon.

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.

yum

BISTRO ELAIA

12348 Montview Blvd. (Anschutz Medical Campus) • 303.724.9218 6 a.m.-3 p.m. Mon.-Fri. • $$ Bistro Elaia is proud to serve great tasting, nutritious food using only the highest quality, fresh ingredients. This healthy kitchen offers a wide range of foods low in sugar, fat and salt, and high in whole grains, fruits and vegetables. “State of Slim” meals are also now available. Try the Bistro’s full menu to see just how wholesome and healthy food can be.

DAD AND DUDE’S BREWERIA

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 house-baked pizzas. A changing lineup of brews includes 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.

yum

ETAI’S BAKERY CAFÉ

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 Southwestern 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.”

yum

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.

MCDONOUGH’S PUB

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.

yum

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.

NGL BURGERS

382 S. Chambers Road • 303.752.2521 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily • $ Don’t be misled by the name. This place is more than big burgers at an affordable price. NGL Burgers offers the best of two worlds for fans of quick, comforting American and Mexican food at a mom-and-pop restaurant. Although the quarter-pound burger deluxe is one of the favorites for lunch, its breakfast burritos and breakfast specials are equally appealing. And for those looking for other than burgers, the list of traditional American sandwiches is large, next to about a dozen Mexican dishes including the carne asada plate, and even gyros and salads.

yum

PARKWAY BAR AND GRILL

22775 E. Aurora Parkway • 303.693.6200 parkwaybarandgrill.com • Breakfast, brunch (weekends only), lunch, dinner daily • $$ If you are wondering where to take a large group of friends or family members with such different appetites, Parkway Bar and Grill is an excellent option with its extensive menu selection from different cuisines under one roof. From lobster raviolis, St. Louis Ribs and Creole Tilapia, to Mexican pork carnitas platter, tuna melt and hand-tossed pizzas, and everything in between. All dishes, according to the owner, are made with the finest ingredients to ensure great flavor and freshness. It also offers a full bar and a game room, which can be reserved for private parties.

RED KITCHEN

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 orders such as a chicken artichoke panini, roasted vegetable skewers, chicken sausages with chutney, and mushroom truffle pizza.

yum

THE ROCK RESTAURANT

22934 E. Smoky Hill Road • 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

14061 E. Iliff Ave. • 303.752.3663 rosiesdiner.com Breakfast, lunch, dinner daily Full bar • $$ 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. Classic American candies fill the front counter. 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.

yum

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 souvlakii) 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 batter-fried 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.

yum

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

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.

yum

Asian RESTAURANTS See also Chinese, Filipino, Korean, Thai and Vietnamese Restaurants

BANGKOK-TOKYO ASIAN FUSION

6020 S. Gun Club Road, 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 massaman 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

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.

yum

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.

DRAGONFLY ASIAN BISTRO

6790 S. Cornerstar Way • 303.680.2284 dragonflyasian.com • Lunch, dinner daily • Limited bar • $$ • Reservations and delivery With nearly 70 different varieties on the menu, Dragonfly Asian Bistro is a sushi lover’s dream. Start with an appetizer, soup or salad, and move on to a wide selection of authentic Japanese and Chinese dishes. Order online for delivery, carryout or express dine-in.

yum

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.

EAST DYNASTY RESTAURANT

2942 E. Smoky Hill Road 303.627.1502 • eastdynasty.biz 11 a.m.-9:30 p.m. Mon.-Sat. Noon-9 p.m. Sun. • Full bar • $$

This friendly family-run restaurant established in 2001 has outstanding Asian cuisine featuring an extensive menu of classic dishes from Thailand, China and Vietnam. Try a crispy appetizer like scallion pancakes, followed by a rich, thick and spicy hot and sour soup. Share a variety of entrees like garlic chicken, pad Thai chicken and kung pao beef filled with colorful fresh and crunchy veggies and steamed rice. For healthconscious visitors, vegetarian, low-fat and gluten-free choices are available and no MSG is used. Call ahead, pick up your order and bring it home to the family after work.

EGG ROLL KING EAST

4217 S. Buckley Road • 303.699.2880 chinesemenu.com • Lunch, dinner Mon.-Sat., dinner only Sun. • Full bar • $$ The namesake menu item comes in several forms: deep-fried 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.

yum

FORMOSA GARDEN

16645 E. Smoky Hill Road • 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 Chinese-American, 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.

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.

yum

HONEY BEE ASIAN BISTRO

18541 E. Hampden Ave. • 303.400.6117 honeybeeasianbistro.com Lunch, dinner Wed.-Mon. • Full bar • $$ Free Wi-Fi This neighborhood favorite is a terrific take-out option, but the warm and inviting atmosphere beckons diners to stay for a wide variety of authentic Asian dishes. Classic Chinese dishes, Vietnamese or Korean noodle bowls, Thai curries and more join chef specialties such as walnut shrimp with sweet coconut mayonnaise sauce and salt & pepper pork chops. Don’t miss the fresh-made Asian specialty drinks such as Boba milk teas and slushies.

JOY ASIAN CUISINE

1250 S. Buckley Road, 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.

yum

PARADISE ASIAN CAFE

6180 S. Gun Club Road, 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.

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.

yum

SUNRISE ASIAN CUISINE

7450 S. Gartrell Road, Unit A2-A4 303.617.8880 • sunriseasiancuisine.com Lunch, dinner daily • Full bar • $-$$ A large aquarium creates an impressive entryway at this contemporary Asian restaurant. An extensive menu of predominately Chinese selections also features Hibachi-style dinners, sushi and chef’s specialties like the Hawaii Five “O” (chicken, beef, shrimp, scallop and crab mixed with vegetables in a white sauce). On the midday menu, try a lunch box with Katsu, Teriyaki or tempura, miso soup, house salad, cheese wontons, California rolls and rice.

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.

yum

Bakeries

See also Markets

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, oneproduct 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.

THE DONUT HOUSE

3124 S. Parker Road • 303.337.2771 360 S. Chambers Road • 303.632.7832 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 creamfilled 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.

yum

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. • $ Don’t 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.

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.

yum

PANADERIA TLAQUEPAQUE

2300 S. Chambers Road • 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.

YUM YUM CAKES & PASTRIES

2680 S. Havana St. • 303.353.8266 $ 9 a.m.-8 p.m. Mon.-Sat. 8 a.m.-7 p.m. Sun. • $

Yum Yum Cakes & Pastries offers a delicious variety of bread, cakes, pastries and macaroons all baked with love daily. You will have a hard time deciding between all of the beautifully decorated delights, so why not try a few, and add some boba to go along with the sweet treats.

yum

Breakfast

Brunches & Coffee

SHOPS

See also American Restaurants and Bakeries

BEANTREE COFFEE

12101 E. Iliff Ave. • 303.396.6178 beantreecoffee.com 6 a.m.-10 p.m. daily $$ • Waffles and free Wi-Fi From espresso drinks made with Silver Canyon coffee to slushy drinks adrift in chewy boba, this made-forAurora 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 chilefired sauce.

COFFEE CANAAN

9898 E. Colfax Ave. (inside the library) 720.857.9434 • coffeecanaan.com 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Mon-Sat. • $ Visit Coffee Canaan for gourmet flavored coffee beverages, and a cozy environment to hang with the special people in your life. With more than 12 years of coffee house experience, count on this locally owned and operated company to provide friendly customer service, and a wide selection of gourmet bakery offerings. Coffee Canaan, has many tables to just sit with friends, so come on by today and enjoy a break from the daily grind. Book clubs to social events are welcome!

yum

DOZENS RESTAURANT

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?

FRENCH PRESS CAFE

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.

yum

JUBILEE ROASTING COMPANY

1452 Kenton St. • 303.519.4817 Jubileeroastingco.com 6:30 a.m.-3 p.m. Mon.-Fri. • $

Jubilee Roasting Company is a craft coffee roastery combined with creative space. Jubilee sells coffee, fosters collaboration, and does their best to help the community flourish. Stop in for some great coffee and nice conversation, and enjoy the resident artists.

THREE LITTLE GRIDDLES

6040 S. Gun Club Road, F2 • 303.693.4100 threelittlegriddles.com 6 a.m.-2 p.m. daily • $ Modern and stylish, this family owned eatery takes breakfast to a new level. Those with a sweet tooth might try the Ebelskivers (Danish-style pancake holes) filled with fudge, lemon curd or other seasonal flavors, the Nutella swirl griddle cakes, or the bananas foster griddle toast. Savory fans will gravitate to the corned pork hash with home fries and eggs or the classic Benedicts, omelets and biscuits and gravy. A handful of lunch items like the TLG Reuben and Mac n’ Cheese topped with a bacon crumble round out the menu.

yum

Brewpubs,

Tasting Rooms and Taprooms CEDAR CREEK PUB

2100 Ursula St. • 303.537.4210 cedarcreekpub.com • Lunch, dinner daily Full bar • $$ • Reservations available At happy hour you’ll see more blue scrubs than three-piece 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.

CODA BREWING CO.

2101 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 delivered from Cedar Creek. Visitors can take home a growler that looks like an antique medicine bottle, appropriate for this apothecary-themed establishment.

yum

DAD AND DUDES BREWERIA

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 includes Diggity Dank IPA and Sleep When You’re Dead coffee stout. Spent grain from the brewing process is incorporated in the chewy pizza dough. 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.

South Dock • 15120 E. Hampden Ave. 303.400.5606 • drydockbrewing.com Afternoon to late night daily • $ Attached Brew Hut offers beer and winemaking supplies North Dock • 2801 Tower Road 2-8 p.m. Thu., Noon-8 p.m. Fri. & Sat. A national reputation for exceptional ales means that the tasting room at Aurora’s flagship craft brewery is jammed with serious beer fans. Many 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. No food is served but beer fans can bring in food or get it delivered from local eateries.

LAUNCH PAD BREWING

884 S. Buckley Road • 303.745.4599 launchpadbrewery.com • 3-9 p.m. Wed. & Thu. Noon-10 p.m. Fri.-Sat., Noon-9 p.m. Sun. • $ Launch Pad is a neighborhood nano brewery producing unique, hand-crafted ales with the highest quality of ingredients. Selections on tap change regularly so frequent visits are a must.

MU BREWING CO.

9735 E. Colfax Ave. 720.446.8273 • brewbymu.com 3-9 p.m. Mon.-Thu., 3-11 p.m. Fri. 2-11 p.m. Sat., 2-7 p.m. Sun. • $ In a landmark hardware store space on Aurora’s main street, Nathan Flatland has opened an urban craft brewery and tasting room. His brews include Aurora Town Brown, Boone’s Maple Cream Porter, Colorado Bastard IPA and R&R Raspberry Red. Special seasonal brews also make an appearance.

yum

PEAK TO PEAK TAP ROOM

16701 E. Iliff Ave. • 720.446.8714 Peaktopeaktaproom.com 3-10 p.m. Mon.-Thu., Noon-11 p.m. Fri. & Sat. Noon-8 p.m. Sun. • $ Try Colorado’s top 20 craft beers on tap, in one place. Peak to Peak Tap Room is “on a mission” to find and serve Colorado’s best brews. It offers assorted options to satisfy newbies into to those who are true connoisseurs. Peak to Peak rotates its selections often. Download their app to stay current. For food, it has a partnership with Pride of Philly, serving an assorted variety of cheesesteaks and other sandwiches.

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 • $$ 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). Menu bestsellers include beer-battered fish and chips, burgers, and bangers and mash. Try the comfy shepherd’s pie matched with Chimay White.

STAMPEDE

2430 S. Havana St. • 303.696.7686 stampedeclub.net Dinner-late night Wed.-Sat. • Full bar • $$ Not only is the Stampede Colorado’s premier country bar and dance club, but they’ve got a great menu also. Why not plan to do a little dancing and dine on juicy burgers, bone in pork wings or tempting tacos. They’ve also got great lighter fare. Think of the Stampede to plan your next party or gathering and ask about their buffet service.

yum

British Isles RESTAURANTS 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.

yum

Chinese RESTAURANTS See also Asian Restaurants

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 Hunan-style 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.

ra Eat in Auro yum

yum

LUCKY CHINA

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.

NEW CANTON BBQ

2751 S. Parker Road • 303.369.7500 10 a.m.-9 p.m. daily • $ New Canton BBQ is the place for those who want tasty Chinese BBQ, and also for the more adventurous palate looking to try something like roast duck, pig ears or chicken feet. The authentic food and flavors will keep you coming back for more, and soon you will be a regular known to the staff on a first name basis.

TEA STATION

545 Sable Blvd. • 303.343.0330 teastation247.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 that 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 ChineseAmerican must-haves fill the rest of the menu.

yum

TSAI SHEN GARDEN

15200 E. Sixth 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

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 musthaves 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.

YONG GUNG DRAGON PALACE

2040 S. Havana St. • 303.751.0014 Lunch, dinner daily • $$

A fusion of Korean and Chinese cuisines, Yong Gung Dragon Palace is all about noodles, including cold noodles–typical in Korea during the summer. It is wellknown for its Jajangmyeon, black bean sauce noodles, and Jjamppong, a hot and spicy seafood noodle soup. Because of the many nuances in each dish on the menu it is worth it to spend some time with the menu. But if you like Chinese and Korean, you probably can’t go wrong with your selection. It offers summer and lunch specials.

yum

European

Eastern

RESTAURANTS 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.

yum

Filipino RESTAURANTS CHOW SUN

830 S. Buckley Road • 720.410.2135 chowsun.com • Breakfast, lunch, dinner daily No alcohol • $ • Bobas and frosted smoothies Enjoy quality dishes without a long wait at Chow Sun. Family owned and operated, Chow Sun features Thai and Filipino recipes that have been handed down for generations. Call in an order for pickup, or dine in with dumplings, adobo, fried rice, soups, dessert and more.

SUNBURST GRILL

2295 S. Chambers Road, 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. 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.

yum

German RESTAURANTS BENDER’S BRAT HAUS

700 S. Buckley Road, 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 thinpounded 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 baconstuffed 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.

yum

Greek RESTAURANTS THE ATHENIAN RESTAURANT

15350 E. Iliff Ave. • 720.449.0224 Breakfast, lunch daily, dinner Mon.-Sat. Full bar • $$$ • Reservations available It’s a diner by day where American, Mexican and Greek dishes rule the menu. At night The Athenian becomes a Greek bistro complete with flaming saganaki cheese, free shots of licorice-y ouzo, and shouts of “opah!” among the faux statues, columns and urns. If you can’t decide what to order, go with the Statnopoulos family’s best-selling Zorba, a big fat platter for four loaded with pastisio, mousaka, tiropitas, spanakopitas, gyros, dolmades, olives, feta and creamy tzatziki.

yum

Hawaiian RESTAURANTS 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 teriyaki-seasoned 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.

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 noodles or Kraft Macaroni and Cheese.

yum

Ice Cream PARLORS CHILL YOGURT

2275 S. Peoria St. • 303.632.7076 chillyogurtco.com • 8 a.m.-8 p.m. daily • $ Chill out at a local, family run frozen dessert destination. The creamy, probiotic frozen natural yogurt comes in serious flavors ranging from apple pie to butter pecan and blueberry tart. For those who want the cool pleasure without the guilt, there is also a frozen dessert with only eight calories an ounce (as long as you ignore the 50 yummy toppings).

NEVERIA SABOR LATINO

1462 Iola St. • 303.577.0039 Lunch, dinner daily • $

A neveria is an ice cream parlor with a Mexican and Central American twist. Along with scoop-able flavors (including a great mango ice cream), the menu board offers paletas–the multi-flavored fruit and milk popsicles, and cooling aguas frescas. Raspados are cups of shaved ice with a choice of syrups; sweetened condensed milk on top is optional.

PHO-YO

2719 S. Parker Road • 303.735.3007 pho-yo.com • Lunch, dinner daily • $ This is another of Aurora’s two-for-one culinary experiences: an authentic Vietnamese soup joint that also sells frozen yogurt and boba drinks. After a steaming bowl of broth with rice noodles and rare steak, flank, brisket, tendon and tripe, what could taste better than pomegranate fro-yo with hot fudge?

yum

Indian & Nepalese

RESTAURANTS BENGAL BUFFET

2648 S. Parker Road, Suite 11 • 303.750.2102 bengalbuffet.webs.com • Lunch, dinner daily No alcohol • $$ • Halal meat When it’s a buffet you can start with dessert (gulab jamun) and finish with fried vegetable pakoras and chutneys. This all-you-can-eat restaurant offers warm naan with various chutneys in the salad bar. Pick among cardamom-spiced chicken biryani, goat curry, tandoori chicken, beef kebobs and saag paneer.

CHAI AND CHAI ETHNIC KITCHEN

12501 E. 17th Ave. • 720.588.0343 chaiandchai.com • Lunch, dinner daily No alcohol • $$ Public parking garage behind restaurant

Two culinary realities co-exist at this small eatery tucked in a row of fast casual restaurants on Aurora’s medical campus. One side of the counter offers traditional, home-style Middle Eastern fare including beef-stuffed squash, sambusek and felafel. They serve chai, a soothing minty tea. The other side dishes Indian fare including masala dosas (potato-stuffed crepes) and offers chai, a milky, spicy invigorating tea.

INDIA’S CUISINE

yum

INDIA’S CUISINE

15311 E. Alameda Parkway • 303.344.8622 indiascuisine.com • Lunch, dinner daily No alcohol • $$ Classic Indian tikka masala and Nepali favorites including momo, those little chicken-filled steamed dumplings, mingle on the menu. The restaurant’s lunch buffet typically features tandoori chicken, various vegetable and meat curries, pakora (veggie fritters), smooth spinach saag with cubes of paneer cheese, and puffy naan bread straight from the tandoor oven. You can adjust the flavor intensity with achar hot pickles, mango chutney and bright green tamarind chutney. Don’t miss the eatery’s signature smoky chile chicken with lime, tomato and onion.

MASALAA VEGETARIAN INDIAN CUISINE

3140 S. Parker Road, No. 8 • 303.755.6272 masalaausa.com • Lunch, dinner daily Beer, wine available • $$ Reservations available The masala dosa is a comfort food marvel. A huge pliable-but-crispy crepe made from rice and lentil flour cooked on a griddle is wrapped around spiced mashed potatoes. Masalaa’s other Southern Indian vegetarian dishes including vada (savory doughnut), uthappam (vegetable pancake), and idly (steamed rice cake) are unfamiliar to many diners but easy to love. For kids, a junior meal combines an idli and a mini dosa. The oddities are the Chinese-accented entrees such as Szechuan fried rice. Thursday’s vegetarian and vegan buffet attracts crowds as do the menus of gluten-free dishes.

yum

MONSOON FINE INDIAN CUISINE

24107 E. Commons Ave. (Southlands) 303.627.5444 • monsoonsouthlands.com Lunch, dinner daily • Full bar • $$$ Many allergy-sensitive entrees

There’s no buffet in sight at Monsoon, a modern Indian eatery and bar in southern Aurora. Lamb vindaloo and saag paneer are standards, but this kitchen’s fresh approach almost reinvents them. Try the naan stuffed with minced jalapeno and chewy paneer and brushed with ghee (clarified butter). Among many tandoor-roasted meats and seafood items is almond tikka–boneless chicken cooked with ginger, garlic and nuts. Meatless options abound including buttered black lentils with garlic, ginger, tomato and pepper. Digestion is aided by a cup of house chai tea with a nice hint of anise.

STAR OF INDIA RESTAURANT

3102 S. Parker Road, A-10 • 303.755.1921 starofindiadenver.com • Lunch, dinner daily Full bar • $$$ • Reservations available This family owned eatery has won multiple awards for the world’s most popular Indian preparation: chicken tikka masala. Known for its lunch buffet featuring tandoori chicken, saag paneer, chicken curry, chutneys and rice pudding, Star of India also serves a Wednesday vegetarian buffet and Saturday dinner buffet. Stuffed naan breads, lamb biryani, tandoori shrimp and a roster of curries fill the regular dinner choices.

TAZ INDIAN RESTAURANT

10731 E. Alameda Ave., Unit G 303.366.3011• tazindianrestaurant.com Lunch, dinner daily • Wine, beer • $-$$ Fresh and complex Indian flavors abound in classic tandoor dishes, curry, masala, Korma, vindaloo, Bhuna and Biryani. For something a little different, try the Chicken MoMo (Nepali-style homemade chicken and vegetarian dumplings served with special sesame chutney) or Chicken Jahingir (marinated chicken breast and jumbo prawns with sautéed bell peppers and onions in special masala). The vegetarian menu is extensive for those looking for a meatless option.

yum

Italian & Pizzerias

RESTAURANTS ARMANDO’S RISTORANTE

5428 S. Parker Road • 303.690.6660 armandospizzabar.com Lunch, dinner Mon.-Sat. • Full bar • $$$ Weekend reservations recommended Armando Sarlo has been dishing Italian fare in Aurora for a quarter century at his comfortable, contemporary eatery. The expansive menu starts with pizza including his award-winning pesto pie and squaresliced Sicilian pizza. Pasta selections include tortellini, baked manicotti, spinach and cheese ravioli, and an impeccable version of that Italian-American icon: spaghetti and meatballs. Sarlo’s famous cioppino is packed with fresh fish and seafood including clams and lobster in a steaming, fragrant broth.

yum

A-TOWN PIZZA

17060 E. Quincy Ave. • 303.693.9663 10600 E. Iliff Ave. • Full bar • Patio 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, Neapolitanstyle 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.

THE BENT NOODLE

3055 S. Parker Road • 303.337.2733 bentnoodle.com • Lunch, dinner Mon.-Fri. Dinner only Sat.-Sun. • Full bar • $$$ For those from the northeastern part of the U.S., the Bent Noodle will feel comfortable immediately with its devotion to the all-time Italian-American necessities. Starters include Italian sausage links with peppers and onions. The pasta roster ranges from fettuccine Alfredo to linguini with clams in broth with tomatoes, lemon, wine and butter. Bigger appetites can dig into chicken piccata with capers and polenta or steamed pesto salmon.

yum

MAMA ALVINO’S PIZZERIA

15179 E. Colfax Ave. • 303.364.1894 Lunch, dinner daily • Beer, wine • $$ The first thing devotees exclaim when you mention this small Aurora storefront is “calzones!” We’re talking about enormous crusted wonders that are bursting with meatballs, pepperoni, mozzarella cheese and peppers. They come with a warning about the dangerously molten contents. That’s the way it is at Mama Alvino’s.

MA MA OLIVIA’S PIZZERIA

477 Sable Blvd. • 303.366.1605 mamaoliviaspizzeria.com Lunch, dinner daily • $-$$

Classic, hand-tossed dough provides the foundation for a variety of traditional toppings, but it’s the sauce selections that really stand out: pizza, sweet, BBQ, buffalo, Alfredo and picante. In fact, the picante takes center stage on the Taco pizza while the Philly steak pizza also strays from the ordinary. But pizza isn’t their only specialty, with calzones, jalapeno bread, pasta and wings completing the menu.

MASSINO’S I’’

MASSINO’S ITALIAN RESTAURANT

1250 S. Buckley Road • 303.364.9916 10731 E. Alameda Ave. • massinospizza.com Lunch, dinner daily • No alcohol • $$ The specialty at this low-key shopping mall eatery is New York-style thin crust pizza in all its beautiful variations. Start by choosing a base of sauce: pizza sauce, spicy sauce, Alfredo sauce, garlic sauce, or barbecue sauce. Crusted possibilities include rolled stromboli, the double-stuffed version or square Sicilian-style pizza. Then there are the hot-from-theoven spinach calzones with marinara, that is unless you opt for cheesy baked pasta.

yum

UNCLE MADDIO’S PIZZA JOINT

10601 E. Garden Drive, Suite 105 303.369.9075 • unclemaddios.com Lunch, dinner daily • $

This pizza joint is defined by two words: fresh and options. The dough is made daily and locally grown vegetables are delivered daily. It offers a great selection for signature pizzas, house salads and toasted sandwiches but its featured dish is the one you make. Choose from three different doughs, six different sauces and more than 45 topping ingredients. With so many options to choose from, build-yourown pizza is a must here. And every time you come back you can try something new. It offers gluten-free options as well as vegan wheat dough.

WHOLLY CANNOLI CAFE

22691 E. Aurora Parkway • 303.400.4110 whollycannolicafe.com Breakfast, lunch, dinner daily No alcohol • $$ With a name like THAT you’d better serve an exceptional rendition of the namesake product. Luckily, this Italian-accented spot on the southern edge of Aurora dishes a nearly perfect cannoli. One bite of the crisp tubular shell and lightly sweetened ricotta dotted with tiny chocolate chips and you’re ready to sing “O Sole Mio” and have an espresso. Don’t miss the soft-chewy pignoli (pine nut) and other traditional bakery cookies. There are a few tables but folks carry out an eggplant parmesan grinder, some chicken piccata or a quart of meat sauce.

yum yum yum

Japanese RESTAURANTS See also Asian Restaurants

HANA SUSHI

16911 E. Quincy Ave. Unit A-4 303.680.6099 • auro,rasushi.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.

HIRO JAPANESE BUFFET

2797 S. Parker Road • 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 minicream puffs and ice cream.

yum

KATSU RAMEN

1930 S. Havana St., #4 • 303.751.2222 ramendenver.com Dinner daily, lunch Mon.-Sat. Beer, wine, sake • $ This small eatery suggests authenticity inside and out. Plastic food replicas line the two exterior windows—a Japanese restaurant custom—while the neutral woods inside imply an Asian simplicity. The restaurant’s chef hails from Osaka, Japan, providing diners with bowls filled with fresh-made ramen noodles and steamy, rich broth. Other entrees include beef curry and Katsu Don (deep-fried pork cutlet over rice with egg and onion). A menu for kids age 8 and under includes pint-sized portions of fried rice, beef bowl, Katsu Don and more.

MT. FUJI SUSHI AND HIBACHI

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.

yum

SONODA’S SUSHI

3108 S. Parker Road, 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

2225 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-year-old ma-and-pa place. The offerings focus on the non-sushi 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.

yum

Korean RESTAURANTS

See also Asian Restaurants

HAN KANG KOREAN RESTAURANT

1910 S. Havana St. • 303.873.6800 hankangkoreancuisine.com 8 a.m.-10 p.m. Mon.-Sat. 8 a.m.-9 p.m. Sun. • $

Han Kang Korean Restaurant is a family-owned-andoperated restaurant with 20 years of experience cooking homemade family recipes. Freshness is everything. You taste the raw, bare, spicy flavors you get only when something is brought straight from the stovetop to the table. You’re sure to enjoy the delicious homemade family recipes.

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.

yum

SAE JONG KWAN KOREAN BBQ

2680 S. Havana St., #B • 303.751.7787 saejongkwan.com • Lunch, dinner daily Full bar • $$ • Reservations accepted When you have a craving for delicious, authentic Korean food, the menu at Sae Jong Kwan Korean BBQ Restaurant can’t be beat. Come and try mouthwatering Korean BBQ (Bulgogi or Galbi), healthy and flavorful soups, and bibimbop.

SEOUL KOREAN BBQ

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.

yum

SILLA KOREAN BARBECUE

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-thedrive category are the spicy kimchi dumplings and oyster pancakes.

TOFU HOUSE KOREAN RESTAURANT

2353 S. Havana St. • 303.751.2840 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Tue.-Sun., Closed Mon. • $ Enjoy authentic Korean fare at the Tofu House. This neighborhood spot specializes in soups and stews, but also offers a variety of other options. Try the soft tofu soup (sundubu jjigae). Enjoy a variety of sides with your entrée including fried fish filet, kimchi and pickled radish.

YONG GUNG DRAGON PALACE

2040 S. Havana St. • 303.751.0014 Lunch, dinner daily • $$

A fusion of Korean and Chinese cuisines, Yong Gung Dragon Palace is all about noodles, including cold noodles–typical in Korea during the summer. It is well-known for its Jajangmyeon, black bean sauce noodles, and Jjamppong, a hot and spicy seafood noodle soup. Because of the many nuances in each dish on the menu. It is worth it to spend some time with the menu. But if you like Chinese and Korean, you probably can’t go wrong with your selection. The restaurant offers summer and lunch specials.

yum

American RESTAURANTS

Latin

EL ALAMO GRANDE

1708 S. Chambers Road • 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.

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 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 takeout meals including Guatemalan-style chicken and pork tamales and chiles rellenos.

yum

Markets ANANADA INTERNATIONAL GROCERIES

3102 S. Parker Road, Unit A-6 303.750.3180 • anandabazaarus.com 9 a.m.-9 p.m. daily Ananada focuses on Indian, Bangladeshi, Pakistani and Nepalese grocery and household items. Besides the bulk oils, rice and beans on the shelf, there’s a long freezer packed with ready-to-heat breads (chapati, roti, naan), curries and idli (steamed rice cakes). At the meat counter: fresh halal goat and chicken.

ARASH INTERNATIONAL MARKET

2720 S. Parker Road • 303.752.9272 9:30 a.m.-8 p.m. daily

Westword has named Arash the best place to buy goat meat. Others flock here for the feta (Bulgarian, Greek or French) in brine. It seems like the whole world shops at Arash on weekends for Persian, Middle Eastern and Eastern European groceries and great deals on produce. The halal meat counter offers cuts of fresh Colorado lamb. The bakery boasts the largest selection of flatbreads (from lavosh to pita) that shoppers will find in the metro area. Be sure to grab some dried apricots, pistachios and a yogurt soda for the road.

yum

BOMBAY BAZAAR

3140 S. Parker Road No. 4 • 303.369.1010 9 a.m.-7 p.m. daily Do you need ready-to-eat naan flatbread and exotic spices? Satnam Bagga has them. Wish you could find Indian crunchy snacks, idli (steamed rice dumpling) makers and fresh long green squashes? Bagga has the best selection. In fact, if it comes from India, chances are this Bombay native stocks it in his 20-year-old store festooned with photos of Bollywood stars. The shop nestled next to the award-winning Masalaa Indian Restaurant has a huge selection of movies organized by region across the subcontinent.

BREW HUT

15108 E. Hampden Ave. • 303.680.8898 thebrewhut.com 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Mon.-Wed. and Fri., 10 a.m.- 8 p.m. Thu., 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Sat., 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Sun. The Brew Hut is a sister business to the Dry Dock Brewery tasting room next door. After enjoying an IPA or porter (or both), amble through the shop’s collection of beer and winemaking gear, including hops, barrels and tools. Home brewing geeks and craft brewers are usually on hand in the store or tasting room to lend advice and troubleshoot your ailing IPA.

yum

COLORADO RANCH MARKET

11505 E. Colfax Ave. • 720.858.8472 8 a.m.-8 p.m. daily • Piñatas available A small storefront opens up into a surprisingly large subterranean Mexican supermarket packed with the staples from fresh masa to bulk hibiscus. The produce area features diverse tropical fruits and veggies. Pick up ready-to-eat chicken mole at the cafe and bollilo buns and empanadas at the bakery counter. Tacos Junior, a brightly decorated Mexican fast-casual spot, fills the front of the store facing Colfax Avenue. They plate traditional regional Mexican delights like sopes with beef and nopales (cactus strips) with a melon liquado. Expect limited parking all around this busy market.

E MART ASIAN FOODS

14301 E. Exposition Ave. • 303.367.0626 9 a.m.-8 p.m. daily E Mart is known as the go-to source for Korean produce and grocery items including lots of kimchi, but much of the store is devoted to the essential ingredients for Filipino, Thai and Chinese cuisine. The in-store butcher cuts meat that is ready to use for Korean BBQ. The small restaurant here does a booming takeout business in spicy squid and beef fried rice.

EUROPA GROCERY

13728 E. Quincy Ave. • 303.699.1530 europaworlddeli.com 10 a.m.-8 p.m. Mon.-Sat. 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Sun. • No seating Jams, pickles, dumplings and chocolates from Ukraine, Lithuania and most of Eastern Europe line this tightly packed shop. The deli carries good, crusty rye breads and a huge selection of imported cheeses and salamis. Many of the signs are written in Cyrillic, but the folks behind the counter are quick to offer samples and advice.

yum

KOREAN KIM CHI & FOODS

2648 S. Parker Road • 303.368.8800 9 a.m.-7 p.m. Tue.-Sat., until 5 p.m. Sun. If the name of this store doesn’t make it clear then the wonderful pungent aroma when you walk in will do the trick. Healthful Kimchi in its fermented, chilecoated variations is all that is sold here in gallon and smaller sizes. Other banchan–the many side dishes accompanying Korean BBQ–fill one counter with fullflavored seaweed salad, pickled radish, and some premarinated meats ready for the grill.

MI PUEBLO MARKET

15585 E. Colfax Ave. • 303.361.6123 mipueblomarketco.com • 7 a.m.-9 p.m. daily Some picnic table seating inside Within the narrow aisles of this bustling market are the hard-to-find vegetables, meat cuts, cheeses and other ingredients essential to Mexican regional cooking, and Salvadoran, Honduran and Jamaican fare. The in-house taqueria is a great place for take-out Latin American dishes: quesadillas, jalapeno pupusas, tortas, enchiladas, tamales and chile verde. Don’t miss the large Mexican bakery racks stocked with rolls, empanadas, doughnuts, elephant ears, cookies and cakes.

yum

M-MART (MIDOPA ORIENTAL MARKET)

2000 S. Havana St. • 303.695.4803 9 a.m.-9 p.m. Mon.-Sat., 9 a.m.-8 p.m. Sun. In-house Korean bakery M-Mart squeezes a considerable selection of Korean and Japanese essentials into a moderately-sized space. Deal-seeking shoppers find themselves shoulder to shoulder with immense bags of dried mushrooms, diverse types of rice noodles, soy sauces and tea. Of course, the kim chi and tofu sections are quite large.

NEJASHI TEXTILES AND GIFTS

10307 E. Iliff Ave. • 303.337.2616 10 a.m.-8 p.m. daily

Vibrant swatches of color greet you when you stop in at Aklu Mudesirs’ small shop specializing in goods from North Africa and the Middle East. Open since 2007, the shop’s walls are lined with a multitude of scarves woven in every hue and pattern. Racks are hung with blankets, rugs and women’s clothing from jeans to long skirts. Nejashi’s shelves are filled with gifts, Islamic toys, cosmetics, jewelry, and ornately decorated pots and cups for serving tea to guests.

yum

PACIFIC OCEAN MARKETPLACE

12203 E. Mississippi Ave. • 720.858.8818 pacificoceanmarket.com • 9 a.m.-9 p.m. daily Aurora’s shopping universe expanded with the opening of Pacific Ocean Marketplace, a 40,000-square-foot Asian supermarket filled with ingredients for Chinese, Vietnamese, Korean and Japanese cooking. The store is a magnet for seafood lovers with diverse fish species and tanks of live lobster, Dungeness crab and oysters. There is seating at an in-house deli that supplies dim sum items, noodle plates and sandwiches.

ROYAL MEAT AND DELI

15413 E. Hampden Ave. • 303.766.9291 10 a.m.-8 p.m. Mon.-Sat. 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Sun. Make your first stop at the deli in Aurora’s largest Eastern European market. Order a big wedge of mildly sweet sunflower seed halvah. While you’re there, buy freshly sliced, hard-to-find (and harder-to-pronounce) European cold cuts, cheeses and dense crusty breads. It’s worth stopping by early in the day for a full selection of ready-to-eat old country dishes including piroshki, kebobs, cooked sausage, stuffed cabbage rolls, pilaf, beet salad and blintzes. The small produce department is balanced by boxes of individually wrapped Eastern European candies.

yum

SAM’S MEATS

15445 E. Iliff Ave., No. F • 303.696.6146 samsmeats.com 9 a.m.-6:30 p.m. Tue.-Fri., 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Sat. Knife-sharpening available This carnivore’s destination is hard to find but worth it if you appreciate dealing personally with a butcher and you need some grass-fed beef, elk ribeye, wild boar, pheasant, quail, goat or rabbit. Sam’s produces fresh hot links, liguica, andouille and other sausages along with various smoked meats. Besides wild game, the freezer is stocked with ready-to-cook items such as rattlesnake cakes ready to pan-fry and sliced, breaded Rocky Mountain “oysters.”

SAVORY SPICE SHOP

6295 S. Main St., #105-B (Southlands) 303.680.2117 • savoryspiceshop.com 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Mon.-Sat. 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Sun. • Classes available Give your sense of smell a vacation at the cozy Aurora location of this Colorado-born chain. Stop and smell the rose petals and a planet’s-worth of herbs, spices, peppers, extracts, salts, oils and sugars. The shop stocks many convenience ingredients that help cooks quickly add flavor, not artificial ingredients, to everyday meals. Try the dried, powdered roasted green chile in stews and the dried blue cheese in salad dressings. Freeze-dried sweet corn is made for snacking and enhancing cornbread.

yum

Mexican RESTAURANTS AJUUA MEXICAN RESTAURANT

14150 E. Illiff Ave. • 720.747.0764 6020 S. Gun Club Road, Suite E-3 • ajuua.com Lunch, dinner daily • Full bar • $$ Huevos lovers rejoice because it’s always breakfast time at Ajuua (pronounced a-huu-a). That means customers can order huevos rancheros and smothered breakfast burritos for dinner or fajitas and chimichangas in the late morning. Fans of this small local chain love the properly made tacos. Small warm corn tortillas filled with meat and maybe cheese arrive with cilantro, onions, a lime wedge and hot sauce.

BREWERY BAR IV

6482 S. Parker Road • 303.669.1544 brewerybar3.com • Lunch, dinner daily Full bar • $$ Brewery Bar is a repeat award winner in local publications for its green chile sauce. The Aurora location of this small family operated restaurant group opened in 2006 offering crispy chile rellenos, Tex-Mex burgers and pizza and multiple fillings for chimichangas, tostadas, enchiladas and tacos. Fans love the sports bar ambience as well as the pitchers of frozen prickly pear margaritas made with top shelf tequila.

yum

CASA GUTIÉRREZ MEXICAN FOOD

12131 E. Iliff Ave., Unit D • 303.755.1822 CasaGutierrezMexicanFood.com Breakfast, lunch, dinner daily • $

With so many options in town for Mexican food, a valid question one might have is what’s different about each place. Casa Gutiérrez strives to serve fresh ingredients as well some signature dishes made from scratch, such the crispy chiles rellenos, homemade chorizo and carnitas. Some of the other hard-to-find signature dishes are the salpicón tostada (a good vegetarian option) and the chicken milanesa. Customers come for the food but stay for dessert. Familia Gutiérrez (owners) claim to have the best flan in town, homemade, of course. Affordable lunch specials.

CASA VALLARTA MEXICAN RESTAURANT

4002 S. Parker Road • 303.617.4957 casavallartadining.com • Lunch, dinner daily Full bar • $$ • Sunday brunch served All your Mexican-American classics are available: enchiladas, tacos, smothered burritos, chimichangas and fajitas. House specialties include pork carnitas and tacos al carbon. On weekends, try a bowl of menudo or a big plate of huevos rancheros. Revive yourself with a Cocktail Juarez: beer and tomato juice, chopped clams, shrimp, garlic, ginseng and a celery stick. For dessert, choose the churros, those cruller-like doughnuts with honey and whipped cream.

yum

EL CAMARON LOCO

513 Havana St. • 303.326.6644 Lunch, dinner daily • No alcohol • $ Sit amidst nautical murals and decorations as you feast on delicious Mexican seafood dishes with numerous platos de mariscos including ceviche, stew and enchiladas. Top it all off with some chips, salsa verde and homemade tortillas.

EL CAMINO

15355 E. Colfax Ave., Unit G • 303.340.1496 Breakfast, lunch, dinner Mon.-Sat. Lunch specials • No alcohol • $ El Camino is a family owned and operated restaurant featuring homestyle recipes from Mexico and other regions of Latin America. Complimentary chips come with two kinds of salsa, and specialties include smothered burritos, tamales and chiles rellenos.

EL PELICANO MEXICAN SEAFOOD RESTAURANT

15355 E. Colfax Ave., Unit E-2 303.344.0488 • pelicanoco.com Lunch, dinner daily • Full bar • $$

It’s the seafood preparations - ceviche, cold seafood platter, grilled tilapia with garlic and seafood tacos - that make El Pelicano memorable. Just the name of one destination dish, the camarones a la diabla, sounds exciting. We’re talking about shrimp cooked in sauce thickened with chipotles (smoked jalapeno peppers). The first, pleasantly warm taste gives way to a profound fire, especially if you are silly enough to order it “hot.” The only thing to do is cool it with warm corn tortillas, rice and cervezas in El Pelicano’s laidback, beach atmosphere.

yum

FRITANGAS MEXICAN RESTAURANT

15099 E. Hampden Ave. • 303.766.0859 www.fritangas.net • Breakfast, lunch, dinner 7 a.m.-9 p.m. daily • $

If you think you know Mexican food, think again. Fritangas—named after one of the many slang words to refer to street food in Mexico—offers an extensive menu for breakfast, lunch and dinner, from the popular burritos, combination plates and tacos, to a more traditional cuisine from central Mexico with dishes such as pambazos, huaraches and tlacoyos. For breakfast on the go, Fritangas offers at least 15 different breakfast burritos options. For dine-in breakfast, they offer some unique combinations such as Huevos Divorciados (divorced eggs), fried tortillas topped with eggs, red and green salsa, beans and a sope.

GUADALAJARA

1001 S. Abilene St. • 303.696.0903 Lunch, dinner daily • Full bar • $$ Guadalajara is known for its soft chiles rellenos. Rather than the usual long green peppers, the kitchen fills large roasted poblano peppers with cheese and pan-fries them omelet-like in an egg batter. They are plated with salsa, rice, creamy, fully larded refried beans and tart cabbage slaw. The modest Aurora cantina has kept regulars satisfied with chicken stewed in chocolate-laced mole sauce and similar authentic dishes.

yum

HACIENDA CAMINO REAL MEXICAN RESTAURANT

1050 S. Havana St. • 720.858.8888 9 a.m.-10 p.m. Mon.-Thu. & Sun. 9 a.m.-midnight Fri. & Sat. • $ Featuring parrilladas, molcajetes and fajitas, you’re sure to enjoy authentic Mexican food at Hacienda Camino Real Mexican Restaurant. Whether you like traditional dishes like enchiladas or more bold tastes like the seafood soup, the generous portions will leave you feeling happy and satisfied. Come back for Karaoke night.

JABANERO’S MEXICAN GRILL

5584 S. Parker Road • 303.400.0235 jabaneros.com Breakfast, lunch, dinner Tue.-Sun. Beers, margaritas • Loyalty program • $ Jabanero’s Mexican Grill offers a wide variety of fresh entrees such as breakfast burritos, tamales, chiles rellenos, crispy and soft tacos, sopapillas, churros, homemade tortilla soup, and grilled chicken salad. Jabanero’s also offers catering.

yum

LA CUEVA

9742 E. Colfax Ave. • 303.367.1422 lacueva.net • Lunch, dinner Mon.-Sat. Full bar • $$ Weekend reservations suggested The Nunez family has satisfied several generations of locals and visitors on Colfax Avenue with its homestyle Mexican recipes since 1974. One house specialty is the red chile sauce that tops enchiladas, tamales and just about anything else. There’s no big secret to La Cueva’s famous guacamole: It’s made fresh from ripe avocados.

LA MORENA MEXICAN RESTAURANT

9650 E. Colfax Ave. • 720.324.8435 lamorenamexrest.com Breakfast, lunch, dinner daily • Full bar Live mariachi Fri. and Sun. • $$ La Morena Mexican Restaurant features a variety of traditional, authentic Mexican dishes, including tamales, chiles rellenos, carne asada and pozole. With karaoke nightly, live mariachi and a restaurant and bar open until at least 2 a.m. nightly, there’s always an atmosphere of fun in the air.

LAS FAJITAS MEXICAN RESTAURANT

2680 S. Havana St. • 303.755.3366 lasfajitascolorado.com Breakfast, lunch, dinner daily • Full bar • $$ Whether steak, chicken, vegetarian, shrimp or carnitas, the namesake dish at this family-owned eatery is delivered on a properly sizzling platter with guacamole, sour cream and tortillas. Other must-taste items include chiles rellenos (crisp or soft), chicharron (deep-fried pork bits) burritos, butter-sauteed camarones a la diabla, and grilled pollo azado.

yum

LAS TORTUGAS

712 Peoria St. • 303.367.1123 Breakfast, lunch, dinner • No alcohol • $ What’s not to love about the panini-like tortas that Las Tortugas puts out in just a few minutes? The cooks take one of those pointy Mexican white buns, split it and swab both sides with mayo. For the Hawaiiano, roast pork, pineapple and cheese are layered with veggies and guacamole. Then the whole thing is pressed in a griddle until crisped and the insides are molten and yummy. In lieu of beer, sip a pineapple agua fresca (fruit syrup blended with ice).

LOS CARBONCITOS MEXICAN FOOD

15210 E. Sixth Ave. • 303.364.2606 9 a.m.-11 p.m. Sun.-Thu. 9 a.m.-12 a.m. Fri. & Sat. • $$

Prepare to savor the traditional flavors of authentic Mexican cuisine. We recommend trying the huaraches, long, thick slabs of masa topped with steak, hot dogs, bacon, cactus, chicken, mushrooms and more. Or savor another of their specialties, the alambre, a Mexican stir-fry with your choice of tortilla, meat, cheese and vegetables. Los Carboncitas delights with everything from tacos to soups, and don’t forget the real Mexican Coca-Cola.

LOS PASTES MEXICAN EMPANADAS

3140 S. Parker Road Unit 13 • 720.535.8153 lospastes.com Breakfast, lunch, dinner daily closes 4 p.m. Sun. No alcohol • $ • Tortilla soup available

At a small shop near the Nine Mile light rail station, Celina Reyes crafts sweet and savory empanadas. The half-moon pastries range from the El Hawaiiano (ham, pineapple and cheese) to the El Veggie (potatoes, peas and onions). One breakfast empanada is stuffed with eggs, tomatoes, onion and jalapeno served with a side of salsa. Dessert versions are filled with comfy rice pudding or sweet pineapple. Each pastry is only a few bites so you’ll need several to make a meal.

yum

LOS TORITOS

9405 E. Colfax Ave. • 303.366.6381 304 Havana St. and 12131 E. Iliff Ave. Breakfast, lunch, dinner daily • Full bar • $ Like any good neighborhood taco joint, Los Toritos draws loyal customers for its coolers of cold Mexican beers and affordable plates of cheese-capped TexMex goodness. That means carnitas tacos, chicken chimichangas and beef enchiladas in red chile sauce. Most folks leave with more than enough food to take care of tomorrow’s lunch.

LUPITA’S RESTAURANT

11809 E. Colfax Ave. • 303.344.0020 lupitasinc.com Breakfast, lunch, dinner daily • Full bar • $$ Live music on weekends A warm Peruvian-born family tees up a big menu of Mexican and American fare three meals a day. Breakfast burritos are made with house-made chorizo sausage and red potatoes and smothered in green chile. Lunch and dinner call for a chile relleno burrito, carne asada or a steak torta. For special occasions, mojarra al mojo de ajo is a fried whole tilapia with garlic sauce and caldo siete mares is a soup brimming with fish and seafood. Lupita’s Christmas-all-year decorations give the place a certain kitsch appeal.

yum

SENOR RIC’S

13200 E. Mississippi Ave. • 303.750.9000 senorrics.net • Lunch, dinner daily Full bar • $$ The cerveza-friendly menu topper at Senor Ric’s is “Pollo Magnifico.” Just imagine a chicken and cheese burrito deep fried and doused in molten green chile and cheddar. The Aurora favorite since 1986 is known for party-sized margaritas and Tex-Mex choices like beef flautas dressed with sour cream and guacamole. Entrees come with a choice of whole black beans or refried beans. The separate gluten-free roster features shrimp fajitas, pork tamales and taco salad with flan for dessert.

TACOS AND TORTAS SELENE

15343 E. Sixth Ave. Suite A • 303.343.7879 Lunch, dinner daily • 10 a.m.-9 p.m. daily $ Taco connoisseurs would say a good, firm tortilla is key to a good taco. That’s what you get at Tacos and Tortas Selene, good tacos at an affordable price. Tortillas at Selene are the traditional taco size in Mexico, which mean they are smaller than those you buy for home. Some of the most popular tacos are asada, al pastor, barbacoa and lengua. These meat selections and others are also used to prepare tortas, sincronizadas (flour with cheese and one of the meat selections) burritos and sopes –think tortilla topped with favorite meat.) It also offers a good selection of salsas and reliable free Wi-Fi connection.

yum

TAQUERIA LOS GORDOS

1034 S. Sable Blvd. • 303.750.0502 Breakfast, lunch, dinner daily • Full bar Karaoke • $$ Taqueria Los Gordos offers a variety of Mexican fare, including street tacos, tortas, fajitas and combo plates, served in a festive atmosphere. With generous portions and complimentary chips and salsa, you are certain to leave with a satisfied appetite.

TEQUILA’S FAMILY MEXICAN RESTAURANT

2790 S. Havana St. • 720.748.1260 tequilasmexrest.com • Lunch, dinner daily Full bar • $$ • Reservations available Colorful Tequila’s provides a seaside fiesta scene for friends and family to linger over cervezas and authentic Mexican dishes beyond burritos. Try the simple but tasty pork carnitas done Michoacan-style or chile Colorado with lean beef and ground red chiles. Pollo a la cazuela surrounds a sauteed chicken breast in a sour cream and mushroom sauce. Morning choices include eggs scrambled with fresh chunky pico de gallo. Tequila’s offers a long list of Mexican spirits and mixed drinks.

yum

Middle EASTERN

RESTAURANTS AFIA GRILL

2353 S. Havana St., Unit D15A 303.369.1998 • Lunch, dinner daily No alcohol • Catering • $$ Start with the hummus, finish with the Turkish coffee, and in between, explore all that Mediterranean cuisine has to offer at Afia Grill. Specialties incude rotisserie chicken, shawarma, falafel and kababs.

ARIANA KABOB CAFE

2767 S. Parker Road • 303.745.6262 Lunch, dinner daily • No alcohol • $$ The fare at Aurora’s only Afghan restaurant will be familiar to any fan of Middle Eastern food with its gyros, chicken, lamb and beef kabobs and honey-ed baklava. One delicious variation is the mantoo. These pasta-wrapped beef bundles are topped with thick tomato sauce and chaka (garlic-laced yogurt). The generous slick of chile oil is a wake-up call to your palate. Match lamb curry with naan flatbread and the great green chutney, a potent blur of mint, cilantro, jalapeno and vinegar. The sweetest treat is jalabee, the Afghani equivalent of a funnel cake.

yum

CHAI AND CHAI ETHNIC KITCHEN

12501 E. 17th Ave. (Anschutz Medical Campus) 720.588.0343 • chaiandchai.com Lunch Mon.-Sat., dinner Tue.-Sun. No alcohol • $$ Public parking garage behind restaurant

One half of this two-for-one fast casual cafe on Aurora’s medical campus offers bona fide Middle Eastern fare from beef-stuffed squash and sambusek to falafel. They serve chai, a soothing minty tea. The other side dishes Indian fare including masala dosas (potato-stuffed crepes) and milky spicy chai.

GYROS KING

15102 E. Hampden Ave., Suite B 303.627.6070 Lunch, dinner Mon.-Sat. • No alcohol • $$ For fast food that’s just a little healthier, try the sandwiches and plates at this modest, family-run kitchen. Favorites include warm pita bread bursting with hot falafel, cool tzatziki sauce and chopped onions, lettuce and tomato. The shwarma plate comes with rice, salad and silky smooth hummus. This eatery is popular with the patrons at the nearby Dry Dock tasting room.

GYROZ

13698 E. Iliff Ave. • 720.748.7650 Lunch, dinner daily • No alcohol • $$ Combine the best-of Greek and Middle Eastern food and a drive-thru window and you have a popular destination, especially for folks weary of fast food burgers. The minimalist menu sticks to beef and lamb gyros, as well as grilled chicken or falafel sandwiches with thick, tart tzatziki on lightly toasted pita loaves.

yum

Southern AMERICAN

RESTAURANTS JIM ‘N NICK’S BAR-B-Q

24153 E. Prospect Ave. • 720.274.5300 jimnnicks.com • Lunch, dinner daily Full bar • $$$ Start with a wedge of peanut butter pie a-la-mode with vanilla ice cream. That way you’ll have room to enjoy it before working through plates stacked with fried catfish filets and slow-smoked pork and brisket. Ribs can be mopped with regular or habanero-spiked barbecue sauce. The Alabama-born chain of barbecue joints is known for its porcine decor, iced tea so syrupy it drawls, and all our favorite sidekicks: cabbage slaw, beans and greens. One perennial attraction: Jim ‘N Nick’s buttered cheese biscuits.

yum

KIRK’S SOUL FOOD KITCHEN

14107 E. Colfax Ave. • 720.474.1996 kirkssoulkitchen.com • Lunch, dinner daily No alcohol • $$ The gumbo, the smothered bone-in chicken and the greens come from the Louisiana side of Jay Berry’s family. The fried-to-order catfish and chicken arrived with his Alabama kin. Everybody gets along at this Colfax Avenue eatery, especially with scratch-made cabbage with bacon, mashed potatoes and candied yams. The dessert list features Berry’s mom’s peach cobbler and chocolate-frosted yellow “desire” cake. Kirk’s gumbo is packed with shrimp, fish, sausage, okra, crab and chicken well-seasoned with filé powder and red pepper.

STEVO’S PIZZA AND RIBS

800 S. Havana St. • 303.366.1080 stevospizza.com • Lunch, dinner daily No alcohol • $$ • Serves and delivers until 3 a.m. You can get almost everything you want at StevO’s. Besides good smoke-soaked ribs, pulled pork and hot links, the eatery delivers pizzas headlined by a whopping 28-inch pie. The address is also home to El Costeno with a separate menu of steamed tacos and Mexican Coke in bottles. Don’t miss the fried corn on the cob.

yum

Thai 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 cotta-colored 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.

yum

THAI BASIL AURORA

2710 S. Havana St. thaibasilaurora.com • 303.369.8889 Lunch, dinner daily • $ Start with a chili lime edamame or satay chicken then take the route you prefer, the curries, the noodles or rice bowls. You can’t go wrong. For more traditional flavors, Thai Basil also offers Vietnamese rice noodle bowls as well some of the popular Chinese dishes. It could be good option for a couple’s night with its featured five-course meal for two including appetizer, soup, entrée, desert and beverage. Make sure to check its website for different ongoing promotions. Glutenfree menu available.

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 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.

yum

Vietnamese RESTAURANTS GOLDEN SAIGON VIETNAMESE GRILL

2648 S. Parker Road, 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

12303 E. Mississippi Ave., #145 303.745.1637 • 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.

yum

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 paper-wrapped 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 79

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.

yum

PHO 97 SOUTHLANDS

23955 E. Plaza Ave. 303.627.5718 • pho97southlands.com Lunch, dinner daily • $ Before or after a movie next door, Pho 97 is there to satisfy your crave for a good-old bowl of Vietnamese noodles. The selection of beef and chicken noodle Pho and Bun bowls is extensive. But the menu also includes rice platters, vegetarian options and the specials, such the special noodle soup, edamame, and the Pho 97 Trio. The boba smoothies include all sorts of flavors, from avocado to kiwi and coconut, to rose and red bean. Good selection of other traditional Vietnamese beverages.

PHO 888

539 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

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.

yum

Yum RESTAURANTS Index of Restaurants and Markets

1 Addis Ababa Restaurant 70 Afia Grill 60 Ajuua Mexican Restaurant 53 Ananada International Groceries 53 Arash International Market 70 Ariana Kabob Café 42 Armando’s Ristorante 36 The Athenian Restaurant 43 A-Town Pizza

4 Backstreet Tavern & Grill 13 Bangkok-Tokyo Asian Fusion 23 Beantree Coffee 35 Bender’s Brat Haus 39 Bengal Buffet 4 Bent Fork Grill 43 The Bent Noodle 5 Bistro Elaia 13 Blue Lagoon Asian Bistro 54 Bombay Bazaar 54 Brew Hut 60 Brewery Bar IV

1 Café Paprika 61 Casa Gutiérrez Mexican Food 61 Casa Vallarta Mexican Restaurant 26 Cedar Creek Pub 39, 71 Chai and Chai Ethnic Kitchen 38 Chill Yogurt 30 China Jade 34 Chow Sun 26 Coda Brewing Co. 23 Coffee Canaan 55 Colorado Ranch Market

5, 27 Dad and Dude’s Breweria 20 Dah Won Rice Cake 20 The Donut House 24 Dozens Restaurant 14 Dragon Boat Sushi and Asian Cuisine 14 Dragonfly Asian Bistro 27 Dry Dock Brewing Co.

55 E Mart Asian Foods 15 East China Asian Cuisine 15 East Dynasty Restaurant 2 Eatopia: Ethiopian Food & Coffee

yum

15 Egg Roll King East 52 El Alamo Grande 62 El Camaron Loco 62 El Camino 62 El Pelicano Mexican Seafood Restaurant 29 The English Teacup 6 Etai’s Bakery Café 55 Europa Grocery

1 6 Formosa Garden 16 Fortune Kitchen 24 French Press Café 63 Fritangas Mexican Restaurant

76 Golden Saigon Vietnamese Grill 30 Golden Wok Asian Restaurant 63 Guadalajara 71 Gyros King 71 Gyroz

64 Hacienda Camino Real Mexican Restaurant 49 Han Kang Korean Restaurant 46 Hana Sushi 6 Havana Street Station 35 Helga’s German Restaurant and Deli 46 Hiro Japanese Buffet 17 Honey Bee Asian Bistro

37 L&L Hawaiian BBQ 65 La Cueva 65 La Morena Mexican Restaurant 65 Las Fajitas Mexican Restaurant 66 Las Tortugas 27 Launch Pad Brewing 66 Los Carboncitos Mexican Food 66 Los Pastes Mexican Empanadas 67 Los Toritos 31 Lucky China 67 Lupita’s Restaurant

44 Ma Ma Olivia’s Pizzeria 2 Maandeeq East African Café 44 Mama Alvino’s Pizzeria 40 Masalaa Vegetarian Indian Cuisine 44 Massino’s Italian Restaurant 29 McCabe’s Bistro & Pub 7 McDonough’s Pub 56 Mi Pueblo Market 33 Mirage Steak and Seafood 57 M-Mart (Midopa Oriental Market) 41 Monsoon Fine Indian Cuisine 8 The Movie Tavern 47 Mt. Fuji Sushi and Hibachi 27 Mu Brewing Co.

40 India’s Cuisine

64 Jabanero’s Mexican Grill 72 Jim ‘n Nick’s Bar-B-Q 17 Joy Asian Cuisine 25 Jubilee Roasting Company 7 Jus’ Grill

47 Katsu Ramen 76 Kim Ba Vietnamese Cuisine 73 Kirk’s Soul Food Kitchen 56 Korean Kim Chi & Foods

yum

57 38 31 77 21 8 3

Nejashi Textiles and Gifts Neveria Sabor Latino New Canton BBQ New Orient New York Bakery NGL Burgers Nile Ethiopian Restaurant

49 O Bok Korean Rice Cake

58 Pacific Ocean Marketplace 21, 52 Panaderia La Guatemalteca 22 Panaderia Tlaquepaque 18 Paradise Asian Café 9 Parkway Bar and Grill 28 Peak to Peak Tap Room 74 Pearl of Siam 77 Pho 79 78 Pho 888 78 Pho 97 Southlands 18 Pho Café Asian Cuisine 78 Pho Duy II 38 Pho-Yo

9 Red Kitchen 10 The Rock Restaurant 10 Rosie’s Diner 28 Royal Hilltop Tap Room 33, 58 Royal Meat and Deli 37 Rumbi Island Grill

50 Sae Jong Kwan Korean BBQ 59 Sam’s Meats 11 Sam’s No. 3 59 Savory Spice Shop 68 Senor Ric’s

50 Seoul Korean BBQ 51 Silla Korean Barbecue 48 Sonoda’s Sushi 11, 28 Stampede 41 Star of India Restaurant 73 StevO’s Pizza and Ribs 3 Sudan Café & Khairat Injera Bakery 74 Sue of Siam 12 Summit Steakhouse 34 Sunburst Grill 19 Sunrise Asian Cuisine 48 Sushi Katsu

68 Tacos and Tortas Selene 69 Taqueria Los Gordos 41 Taz Indian Restaurant 31 Tea Station 69 Tequila’s Family Mexican Restaurant 48 Teriyaki Chicken No. 6 75 Thai Basil Aurora 75 Thai Flavor 19 Thai Garden Asian Fusion 75 Thai Street Food 25 Three Little Griddles 51 Tofu House Korean Restaurant 32 Tsai Shen Garden

45 Uncle Maddio’s Pizza Joint

W 32 45 12

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

32, 51 Yong Gung Dragon Palace 22 Yum Yum Cakes & Pastries

visitaurora.com

Worth Discovering auroragov.org yum yum yum yum yum yum

81 3

yum yum yum yum yum yum

YAurora UM

Published 2016