2024 FAVORITES: Top 10 Restaurants In Denver, Colorado
The Best Restaurants In Denver Have Something For Everyone
From my 13 years living in Denver, I’ve probably eaten at just about every place imaginable, so I made this list of my top 10 restaurants in Denver. Some of these are new spots and others are ones I return to again and again.
From creative sushi dinners to authentic Southeast Asian dishes, I cover a wide range of cuisines that hit the right flavors at the right price points.
My wife and I personally ate at all these restaurants and want you to experience the great food at our favorite spots.
1. Sushi Sasa – Best Sushi In Denver
Overpriced and overhyped sushi spots riddle Denver leaving the newcomers and tourists wolfing down mediocre tuna rolls with $10 Sapporos.
TRUST ME. I’ve eaten at just about every sushi place in Denver and Sushi Sasa is the best. They offer sushi specials that change daily depending on what’s fresh and what’s available, choosing only the best fish. If you want to impress a date, then Sushi Sasa will do the trick.
Despite this amazing selection, they still offer a normal menu with exceptional choices that stay the same every day.
Today, we ordered the Copper River King Salmon, Live Hokkaido Scallops, Snow Crab with Caviar, and Seared Tuna.
The nigiri tasted special. The real surprise came from the Live Hokkaido Scallops which tasted fresh like the ocean and almost nothing else.
The most amazing part of eating at Sushi Sasa lies with the rolls. Delicious, delicious rolls.
My favorite roll is the Dragon Roll which takes a shrimp tempura roll and topped it with eel, avocado, and thinly sliced strawberries. Oh my goodness. The strawberries added a touch of sweetness that helped elevate the savoriness of the whole roll. Amazing.
Sushi Sasa 2401 15th St #80, Denver, CO 80202 Website: SushiSasa.com
2. Steuben’s – Modern American Diner Food
Since I first moved to Denver, Steuben’s has been a favorite eatery of mine serving modern diner food in the best possible ways. The decor resembles mid-century modern with earth tones and classic flare. No matter the occasion, every meal I’ve eaten at Steubens is always amazing.
On this night, I ordered the Nashville Hot Chicken that came drenched in a spicy brown sugar glaze. Yes, it was hot. And yes, I was sweating, but the heat tasted so great! Savor, spicy, and crunchy, the Nashville hot chicken pays respect to the originals with tender juicy fried chicken, and enough spice to keep me eating.
For a special tonight, they served a Chicken Pot Pie that was deconstructed with a proper chicken filling topped with two flaky pieces of baked puff pastry.
A creative spin on a classic, this sort of dish is what makes Steuben special. The chicken and gravy tasted deep with a concentrated chicken flavor. The puff pastry soaked up the sauce and had a delicate crunch that was perfect for the dish.
I also recommend the deviled eggs, gravy fries, patty melt, chicken and waffles, and any of their signature cocktails.
Steuben's 523 E 17th Ave, Denver, CO 80203 Website: Steubens.com
3. Potager – Creative Seasonal Menu
Meaning “kitchen garden” in French, Potager expresses their culinary mastery with a focus on locally sourced produce served tapas-style on shareable small plates. Despite the name, they do not follow a set cuisine or style of cooking. They make what they find to be delicious and satisfying based on the season and what is available.
My type of place.
My wife loved the Roasted Carrots which came dressed in a mixture of beets and garbanzo beans. I love it when vegetables have a nice, rich char. The smokiness mingled nicely with the sweetness of the carrot and the earthiness from the beets tasted wonderful.
My favorite dish of the night was the Gouda Soufflé. Yes. you read that correctly. The ultra giggly soufflé felt super light and delicate with a slight hint of the Gouda.
It tasted like a savory cheesecake that felt like a fluffy cloud. A wild dish I’ve never seen before anywhere.
Potager 1109 Ogden St, Denver, CO 80218 Website: PotagerRestaurant.com
4. Leven Deli Co. – Best Sandwiches In Denver
Freshly baked bread, house-made pastrami, and Mediterranean-style sides all mark why I love Leven Bakery and why it’s on my list of top 10 restaurants in Denver, Colorado. More than your average sandwich shop, Leven takes homemade to a new level with incomprehensible dedication to quality.
The pastrami takes 12 days to make with an intricate process of curing and dry aging the meat before getting smoked. The result is a super tender and extremely flavorful pastrami that any homesick New Yorker in Denver would love.
I highly recommend the Pastrami Reuben which takes their homemade rye bread, pastrami, Jarlsberb, pickled cabbage, and Russian dressing all on one signature sandwich.
This juicy sandwich took me on a real journey. I can’t help but recreate the notable scene from When Harry Met Sally with noises too intense for most audiences. Yes, it is that good.
They aren’t just an amazing place for lunch, they serve their food throughout the day offering plenty of inexpensive wines and drinks.
All of their sandwiches are amazing from the Ham Jam or Smashed Chickpea, you will find your new favorite sandwich at Leven.
Leven Deli Co. 123 W 12th Ave, Denver, CO 80204 Website: EatLeven.com
5. Sera’s Ramen Enclave – Japanese Style Ramen and More
I am picky when it comes to ramen and I believe I found a spot that’s on par with what I ate in Japan.
The Sesame Pork Belly Ramen, known as Tonkotsu, took me straight back to Tokyo with a decadent broth that projects the best possible pork flavors imaginable. The sesame infused with the broth stands out with an extra bit of savoriness to make every slurp of noodles better than the last.
For a different type of ramen, I loved the Saigon Curry Ramen that combined lemongrass, yellow coconut curry with chicken broth. Unusual in the best possible ways, the coconut came through nicely adding that signature creamy element while the fried taro ball, quail egg, and mushroom all worked together for an unforgettable ramen experience.
Sera's Ramen Enclave 3472 W 32nd Ave, Denver, CO 80211
6. Suvipa – Best Place In Denver For Authentic Thai Cuisine
My absolute favorite Thai restaurant in Denver is Suvipa. Located in a strip mall off Federal and Mississippi, just walking in smells like a step into Southeast Asia.
Trust me on this, order the Pineapple Fried Rice. Get it. Eat it. Enjoy It. This is the most authentic Thai dish I’ve tasted outside of Thailand with a distinct caramelized flavor coming from the seasoned wok.
The pineapples are sweet and tart and melt their sugary goodness into the rice. We like adding tofu for its ability to soak up the flavors from all the ingredients to make impactful bites.
I can’t help but always order the Crispy Holy Basil Chicken With Noodle. Ground chicken and basil mixed with a heavenly sauce covering a bed of crispy rice noodles. The unique part about the dish is how the sauce soaks into the fried noodles and creates a crunchy yet densely flavored noodle. Order it spicy for the full experience.
Suvipa 1015 S Federal Blvd, Denver, CO 80219 Website: SupivaThaiFood.com
7. Adobo – My Favorite Tacos In Denver
Not your run-of-the-mill spot for tacos in Denver, Adobo serves a Latin American and Southeast Asian fusion menu that celebrates eclectic flavors from both sides. Starting as a food truck, Adobo’s success grew into a brick and mortar restaurant serving my favorite tacos in the city.
We ordered one of every taco they had on the menu… and a few that were secret menu items. My favorites were the Pork Belly and The Papi Chili.
The Pork Belly surprised me with a long slice of smoked pork belly sitting on corn tortillas. When I took a bite, the meat fell apart and I loved how the fatty, juicy meat mixed with the avocado and cotija.
An intense flavor train came rolling in from the Papi Chili, a vegetarian taco made from melted cheese, filled with smoked potato, green chili, cilantro, and lime crema. An unusual taco that packed a punch, I enjoyed the smoked potato and lime crema working together. This taco was heavy, so I recommend only getting one per person.
Adobo 3109 N Federal Blvd, Denver, CO 80211 Website: AdoboXO.com
For a dynamic change from the Denver food scene, Work and Class fuses American and Latin American cuisine to approachable yet creative dishes that everyone will love.
Most of the dishes were small and shareable with the table, so as usual, my wife and I ordered way too much but enjoyed everything we ate.
The Chickpea Croquettes stood out with a creative approach. The long rectangular croquettes came crispy on the outside and soft on the inside with that familiar taste of lovely chickpeas.
I needed to try the Spice Fried Sweet Plantains after recently returning from a delicious trip in Bogota, Colombia. Tasting like the real deal, the plantains tasted elegant from the special spice blend.
This is a place to eat in Denver with friends and groups gathered around amazing food and drinks.
Work And Class 2500 Larimer St, Denver, CO 80205 Website: WorkandClassDenver.com
9. Chook – AMAZING Rotisserie Chicken And Sides
The food at Chook centers around Australian-style rotisserie chicken with amazing sides to match. At Chook, they pride themselves on sustainable practices, sourcing their chickens and produce from reputable farms and never adding artificial ingredients or preservatives to anything they serve.
The result is fall off the bone chicken that’s too juicy to fathom. I have to admit that Chook won me over and I’ve visited too many times. I do recommend the regular rotisserie chicken, but I love the sandwiches.
The Avocado Chicken Sandwich was next level amazing with rotisserie chicken, avocado, cucumber, cilantro, and mint creating a powerhouse of flavor in a single sandwich. Everything tasted fresh and it gave me ideas about how I can make my version at home.
I say go for the Chook Sliders that come with one of three sauces, Spice Macha, Mum’s Gravy, or Big A’s BBQ. For me, I say go for Mum’s Gravy because it tasted like a complete chicken dinner in a single bite. The celery apple slaw added a nice contrast with the Pacific Rolls adding their delicious yeast goodness.
Chook 1300 S Pearl St, Denver, CO 80210 Website: ChookChicken.com
10. Columbine Steak House – Affordable Steak Dinner In Denver
No, this isn’t a romantic dinner spot with sommelier and specialty cuts. Columbine Steak House has always been and will remain a place of nourishment and pride, feeding the Westwood neighborhood with delicious steak dinners since 1961.
Of course, we needed to try the big boy Porterhouse weighing about two pounds. Thick cut and cooked to a perfect medium rare, I enjoyed the gristly goodness and sliced my way through bite by bite.
The steak tasted AMAZING with a slight smokiness from the grill. Every bite made me smile because I knew the taste outweighed the cost.
For dessert, we ordered a grilled cheese sandwich. No really, we were still hungry after the meal and we wanted something extra unctuous to finish off our taste buds. This $5 grilled cheese sandwich tasted better than any other grilled cheese in the history of grilled cheese.
Extra buttered Texas toast with two slices of melted American cheese sounds great, but the cook caramelized the edges of the sandwich creating a legendary snack of superb epicness.
Please understand where I am going here. The steaks aren’t the absolute best you will try in Denver, but they are pretty darn close. Remember, it’s about value and taste here. Also, it’s CASH ONLY, so come prepared.
Columbine Steakhouse 300 Federal Blvd, Denver, CO 80219 Website: ColumbineSteakhouseandLounge.com
Honorable Mention: KoBa – All You Can Eat Korean BBQ
I love All You Can Eat Korean BBQ, and currently, the newly opened KoBa is my favorite in the city. With the graffiti-style art on the walls and K-Pop thumping over the speakers, Koba takes Korean BBQ to a new level.
Their meats are high quality, and the marinades stick with traditional Korean flavors without being overly sweet.
Their all you can eat also includes plenty of Korean banchan (side dishes), appetizers, soups, veggies, beef, pork, chicken, seafood, rice, and noodle dishes.
I recommend sticking to the meats as much as possible and only sample a few of the extras. Get your money’s worth.
They bring out the meat you request, and you are free to grill away. They also have Korean beer, soju (Korean liquor) for the real deal BBQ experience.
KoBa 1225 S Federal Blvd, Denver, CO 80219 Website: AYCEKoba.com
You Should Try Some Of My Favorite Restaurants
These top restaurants in Denver are more than just places to eat, they help me create memories with my wife, family, and friends. Although I am never guaranteed a great meal, I love trying new places to explore how the Denver food scene changes year after year.
I hope this list helps you decide on a few new places to eat around the city. You can go inexpensive or blow the budget. No matter your choice, these best restaurants in Denver showcase more than just hyped up food, but real innovative cooking made with care.
Chris Kretzer has traveled the world visiting over 35 countries and eating his way through every city. With his wife Tiarra, they explore different food cultures and create food guides, podcasts, and travel articles helping everyone experience the world through food.