Ethnic and Regional Cuisines

Little bundles of joy at Gio Cha Cali

In A Federal Case, I'll be eating my way up Federal Boulevard -- south to north -- within Denver city limits. I'll be skipping the national chains and per-scoop Chinese joints, but otherwise I'll report from every vinyl booth, walk-up window and bar stool where food is served. Here's the report on t ... More >>

Little Anita's New Mexican Cafe is firmly entenched in red and green

I had one of my first real New Mexican meals in New Mexico, at the Little Anita's location in Albuquerque...and I hated it. I was astounded that people would dump alternating layers of boiling hot green pepper sauce and equally steaming, nose-running-hot red pepper sauce on everything, and suck this ... More >>

Ondo's welcomes spring with a new menu, paella special tonight

Ondo's Spanish Tapas Bar, 250 Steele Street, is introducing a new spring menu this evening, and hosting a special paella night beginning at 4 p.m. today. For $28, patrons can choose up to four ingredients to create a customized paella dish, which feeds two to four people; call 303-975-6514 for reser ... More >>

Golden Pho & Grill is a newcomer, but fits right in on Federal

In A Federal Case, I'll be eating my way up Federal Boulevard -- south to north -- within Denver city limits. I'll be skipping the national chains and per-scoop Chinese joints, but otherwise I'll report from every vinyl booth, walk-up window and bar stool where food is served. Here's the report on t ... More >>

Pho Lee: So pho, so good for this Greenwood Village restaurant

See also: A closer look at Pho Lee

Vietnam Grill serves up a surprising culinary lesson on Vietnamese cuisine

In A Federal Case, I'll be eating my way up Federal Boulevard -- south to north -- within Denver city limits. I'll be skipping the national chains and per-scoop Chinese joints, but otherwise I'll report from every vinyl booth, walk-up window and bar stool where food is served. Here's the report on t ... More >>

Denver's ten best spots for pho

Vietnamese soup is good food any time of the year, and always fun to accessorize with fresh vegetables and spicy sauces -- but on a cold day like today, a great bowl of pho is enough to bowl you over. Fortunately, in Denver our cup runneth over with pho spots. Here, in no particular order (until th ... More >>

Pho and ramen: The differences will bowl you over

In last week's fantastic ode, former Westword food critic Laura Shunk joined the chorus of raves for Uncle. If you haven't been to this tiny noodle shop in Highland, by all means try it; we named it 2013's Best New Restaurant for a reason. But on nights when you don't feel like waiting for a table ... More >>

Amerigo Delicatus: Iain Chisholm woos wows with his new-world Italian cuisine

See also: Behind the Scenes at Amerigo Delicatus

Wahoo's Fish Taco: No meat, no gluten, no problem

I have great sympathy for folks who can't digest gluten (as opposed to fakers who affect gluten allergies for attention), as well as those who can't or don't eat meat -- because they face very limited menu options if they dare to dine out. That makes Wahoo's Fish Taco a rare fish in the fast-food s ... More >>

Colorado-based Tokyo Joe's is a fast-food chain that needs to slow down

Fast-casual Japanese food like rice bowls, udon noodles and simple sushi rolls at cheap prices, served in a compact bistro environment that encourages come-as-you-are, quick-service dine-in or even faster carry-out: That's a golden dragon of a concept. But the unfortunate reality I saw while recentl ... More >>

Variety's not the spice at Pho 555 on Federal

In A Federal Case, I'll be eating my way up Federal Boulevard -- south to north -- within Denver city limits. I'll be skipping the national chains and per-scoop Chinese joints, but otherwise I'll report from every vinyl booth, walk-up window and bar stool where food is served. Here's the report on t ... More >>

Pho 96 keeps it warm and simple

In A Federal Case, I'll be eating my way up Federal Boulevard -- south to north -- within Denver city limits. I'll be skipping the national chains and per-scoop Chinese joints, but otherwise I'll report from every vinyl booth, walk-up window and bar stool where food is served. Here's the report on t ... More >>

Celebrate National Paella Day at Ondo's today

It's National Paella Day! And Ondo's Spanish Tapas Bar, 250 Steele Street, is celebrating with a deal on made-to-order versions of the traditional Spanish dish. See also: - Reader: Before you judge a dish like paella, see if it tastes good - Cooking with Pete and Barb Marczyk: Paella - Ondo's Spani ... More >>

Bop & Gogi: A fast-casual Korean concept takes off in Centennial

See also: A closer look at Bop & Gogi

Pho Le: So pho, so good (and porky)

In A Federal Case, I'll be eating my way up Federal Boulevard -- south to north -- within Denver city limits. I'll be skipping the national chains and per-scoop Chinese joints, but otherwise I'll report from every vinyl booth, walk-up window and bar stool where food is served. Here's the report on t ... More >>

Kimchi and roast chicken in Centennial -- and soon in my kitchen

My kitchen hasn't gotten a lot of use lately -- unless you count the refrigerator. That appliance has been running full-tilt, stuffed with leftovers from meals eaten in preparation for our annual Best of Denver issue, which comes out next week. But as soon as I start cooking again, I know just wha ... More >>

Easy vegan enchiladas for a quick dinner on Meatless Monday

Sometimes you want nothing more than a quick, easy dinner -- but for vegans, this isn't always an easy task. But if you're willing to spend a little extra cash for store-made meat-replacement taco mix, pico de gallo and guacamole, you can throw together a pan of mouth-watering enchiladas and have di ... More >>

Check, please! Keeping tabs on Denver's restaurant-inspection policy

Spice is nice in Indian food -- and so is tradition

See also: Scenes from the kitchen at Azitra

Spice rack: What gives Indian food its flavor?

In this week's review of Azitra, I write about dishes with names you might not never have heard of, such as kaali mirch ka murg or chicken hariyali lazzatdar. But even if you know your chana from paneer, you still might need help pinpointing the spices that give your favorite Indian dish its flavor. ... More >>

At Pho 95, warmth and familiarity slow down the rush on a cold night

In A Federal Case, I'll be eating my way up Federal Boulevard -- south to north -- within Denver city limits. I'll be skipping the national chains and per-scoop Chinese joints, but otherwise I'll report from every vinyl booth, walk-up window and bar stool where food is served. Here's the report on t ... More >>

Damascus Grill offers a spread of Moroccan (plant-based) favorites, old and new

There are a lot of good Mediterranean restaurants in town -- places with great falafel, hummus or baba ghanouj. But for a good Mediterranean restaurant to rise to great, it should not not only execute the staples well, but also offer dishes that go beyond the basics. And for vegetarian and vegan din ... More >>

Indian food: Heat-and-eat is no substitute for the real thing

I know better than to shop when hungry. That's when I end up with stuff I don't really want, like canned soup or a frozen dinner, or stuff my kids want that I normally say no to, like Cocoa Krispies. On this particular night, I managed to resist their call for chocolaty snap, crackle and pop, but I ... More >>

A quick trip to a land of sunshine and bright Mediterranean tastes

See also: In the kitchen at Cafe Byblos

Celebrate Mardi Gras in Denver today

Happy Fat Tuesday! Here are a couple of culinary specials to help you get into the Carnival spirit today. And if you know of any others, feel free to toss them in the comments sections below. See also: - Slideshow: Denver Mardi Gras Party 2013 - Ten restaurants that will bowl you over with New Orle ... More >>

Round two with Jagdish Singh, exec chef of India's Castle: expansion into downtown Denver

Jagdish Singh India's Castle 9555 East Arapahoe Road, Greenwood Village 303-782-9700 www.indiascastle.com This is part two of my interview with Jagdish Singh, exec chef of India's Castle; part one of our interview ran yesterday. Favorite Denver/Boulder restaurant other than your own: Tuk Tuk. Wha ... More >>

Jagdish Singh, exec chef of India's Castle, on passing the ginger test

Jagdish Singh India's Castle 9555 East Arapahoe Road, Greenwood Village 303-782-9700 www.indiascastle.com Jagdish Singh is prepping himself for a photo shoot, and he's not happy with the ski cap pulled down over his dark hair. He leaps up from the table, hurries to the kitchen and returns donning ... More >>

Cooking with Pete and Barb Marczyk: Coconut-curried chicken soup

Pete Marczyk and Barbara Macfarlane do not leave their work behind when they leave Marczyk Fine Foods and head for their great old Denver house with the big, new kitchen. They often bring some of their market's choicest ingredients home with them and cook up a feast. Pete and Barb have exactly one ... More >>

Ten restaurants that will bowl you over with New Orleans fare on Super Bowl weekend

Super Bowl Sunday is this weekend, which means everyone will be turning their attention to New Orleans, where the annual championship game will be played. If you weren't able to make it to the Big Easy, it's still easy to get your Cajun food fix right here in Denver at one of these traditional (and ... More >>

Tacos Junior deserves senior status on Federal

In A Federal Case, I'll be eating my way up Federal Boulevard - south to north - within Denver city limits. I'll be skipping the national chains and per-scoop Chinese joints, but otherwise I'll report from every vinyl booth, walk-up window and bar stool where food is served. Here's the report on thi ... More >>

Pho Duy warms up Federal with plant-based noodle soup

Winter finally settled in again yesterday, making pho the perfect pick-me-up, warming you from the inside and, if you're suffering from the season, clearing up your sinuses (if you add plenty of jalapenos and sriracha). There are lots of pho places to choose from on Federal, but Pho Duy has somethin ... More >>

At Il Posto, the risotto is worth the wait

Hours before a restaurant's doors open, cooks are already at their stations, chopping onions, simmering stocks, breaking down chickens, and so on. As much as possible is done in advance -- which is good, because long waits make for cranky guests. Efficiency and quality, however, don't always go hand ... More >>

100 Favorite Dishes: Foie gras oysters from Sushi Sasa

Suffice it to say that I eat out more than the general population, unless, of course, the general population can catalog more than 450 restaurant meals in a year -- which is about the number of breakfasts, lunches and dinners that I stomached in 2012. Pathetic, isn't it? But all those food dates are ... More >>

Tarasco's New Latin Cuisine is hot for veggies, too

It's not that easy to find vegetarian-friendly (let alone vegan-friendly) Mexican food; between lard in refried beans and chicken stock in the rice or green chile, there's no telling what animal products might be lurking in the foods you order. That's why we just love places like Tarasco's New Latin ... More >>

Ondo's Spanish Tapas Bar celebrates its third birthday tonight

Ondo's Spanish Tapas Bar, 250 Steele Street, is commemorating three years in business this evening with drink specials -- including $3 Basque cider and $5 house wines -- throughout the night. There will also be a traditional, Basque-style Pintxos bar featuring a variety of tapas for $2 each. See a ... More >>

Guess where I'm eating a cashew chicken curry?

You can get chicken tikka masala here, as well as vindaloo and biryani, but this is a restaurant -- Indian, obviously -- that offers so much more, including a delicious cashew chicken curry strewn with cilantro. Can you guess where I'm eating? Special bonus: Anyone who gives the first correct ans ... More >>

Is a meal at the revamped Gaetano's an offer you can't refuse?

Photos: Behind the Scenes at Gaetano's

Reader: Westword's marijuana cover is perverted and debauched

Curtis Park Creamery serves up Mexican comfort food in endless combinations

Photos: A Closer Look at Curtis Park Creamery

Get in line for Saj Mediterranean Grill's falafel plate

Places like Saj Mediterranean Grill, at 6955 South York Street in the Streets at Southglenn, can seem intimidating to the uninitiated. Anytime you have to line up to place an order, there's the potential of an extensive, awkward interaction with the person behind the counter to determine exactly wha ... More >>

Reader: Schnitzel is my number-one comfort food

Do people care about schnitzel? You're darn Teuton! As a side to her review of Cafe Berlin, Gretchen Kurtz served up the five best restaurants for a schnitzel fix -- and her list has taken a pounding. Where is Cafe Prague? Sobo 151? And where's that umlaut? See also: - Five best restaurants for a ... More >>

The teenage Cafe Berlin is in need of an intervention

Photos: Behind the scenes at Cafe Berlin

Hapa Sushi -- sexy rolls, raw fish and edamame

I made my first foray into sushi at the relatively ripe age of twenty (I don't count the gobs of bad California rolls that I squished down before that), and it was an instant, passionate love affair akin to the greatest romances of all time. Romeo and Juliet, Bogey and Bacall, Robert Pattinson and K ... More >>

Five best restaurants for a schnitzel fix

With seventeen years and three homes under its belt, Café Berlin (which I review this week) has become synonymous with German food in Denver (the jagerschnitzel is particularly noteworthy). But this restaurant is not the only place in town serving spaetzle and sauerkraut. Here are several more op ... More >>

Shish Kabob Grill skillfully embraces both tradition and change

Photos: Behind the Scenes at Shish Kabob Grill

Gumbo's delivers a delectable happy hour experience

Happy Place: Gumbo's Louisiana Style Café, 1033 East Seventeenth Avenue, 720-266-5300. The Hours: Tuesday through Friday from 4 to 6:30 p.m. The Deals: $2 off specialty cocktails; $3.50 beer specials; $4 wines by the glass and martinis; $3-$4 small plates. Were we happy? Flip the page to find ou ... More >>

Contest alert: Win two seats to tonight's Hooves & Hops dinner at Osteria Marco (updated with winner)

Update: We have a winner! Congrats to Alison Nishi, who was the first commenter to hit the right weight -- 95 pounds -- on the nose. The Great American Beer Festival barrels into town tomorrow, but the crew at Osteria Marco, Frank Bonnano's popular pig-, pizza- and salumi-centric gathering spot in ... More >>

What's the difference between Southern and soul food? Ask Adrian Miller

Adrian Miller has a lot on his plate these days. The lawyer-turned-politico is running Stephen Ludwig's re-election bid for University of Colorado regent, and he's also finishing up a book for the University of North Carolina Press called Flavor: Soul Food History by the Plateful. In it, the Denver ... More >>

Dylan Moore closing Delite and reopening as Juanita's, a Mexican joint with a familiar name

Here's a little tidbit about Dylan Moore, the exec chef-owner of Deluxe and Delite that you likely didn't know: Throughout high school, Moore cooked -- and served -- at the long-defunct Juanita's in Uptown, as well as Juanita's in Boulder, which stood for nearly thirty years on the Pearl Street Mall ... More >>