Suvipa Thai hasn't been open long, but the kitchen is already going strong, serving up some of the brightest and most flavorful Thai dishes we've dug into recently. While the standards — pungent pad Thai that's not the typical overly sweet mess, and rich, complex curries — stand out, there are also less familiar dishes, like shrimp paste fried rice, that show off the layers of flavors that make Thai cuisine so enticing.
See also: 100 Favorite Dishes of 2014
Our favorites are the tender, slightly sweet curry puffs on the appetizer list. Flaky, layered pastry dough surrounds a spoonful of diced potato seasoned with a curry blend that leans toward Indian flavors — tumeric, cumin and garlic — more than Thai curry spices like tamanind, galangal or chile peppers. Some Thai restaurants use wonton wrappers or other doughs that result in a crispy shell when the curry puffs are fried, but Suvipa's version is more akin to a thin layer of puff pastry or croissant. And a plate of four puffs rings in at a mere $5 — a perfect start to the rest of the menu's bargain-priced plates.
You may need to ask for a condiment caddy, since these little pockets don't come with their own dipping sauce, but the garlic-chile paste that Suvipa provides on request adds a nice punch of heat. While the dining room at this Federal Boulevard Thai stop is as austere as the plating of the curry puffs, the staff is friendly and eager to make sure you enjoy every bite.
In advance of the Best of Denver 2015, we're already loading our plates with contenders for the best dishes in the city. And over the next nine months, we'll be sharing many of them with you, counting down (in no particular order) one hundred of our favorite dishes before the the Best of Denver 2015 hits the streets on March 26. In the meantime, if there's a dish you think we need to try, tell us about it in the comments section below, or shoot us an e-mail at [email protected].Hungry for more? All the dishes in our 2014 countdown are linked below.
No. 100: Chile Relleno at La Fiesta No. 99: Gurage Kitfo at Megenagna Ethiopian Restaurant No. 98: Cochinita Pibil at Work & Class No. 97: The Greggers Tongue Sandwich at Olive & Finch No 96: Baum Cakes at Glaze by Sasa No. 95: Goat hot pot from Viet's No 94: Head cheese from Beast + Bottle No. 93: Kettle Chips from Amerigo Delicatus No. 92: Pork Belly Confit at Solera Restaurant and Wine Bar No. 91: Tacos Campechanos from La Calle Taqueria No. 90: Biscuits from Denver Biscuit Co. No. 89: Clams and Chorizo at Gozo No. 88: Aburi Sushi at Sushi Den and Izakaya Den No. 87: Kimchi and Sausage Torta at City, O' City No. 86: Mar y Tierra Molcajete at Paxia No. 85: Crispy Pork Spare Ribs at Table Top No. 84: Chips and Dip at Euclid Hall No. 83: Chile Relleno Burrito at El Taco de Mexico No. 82: Scallop Crudo at Stoic & Genuine No. 81: Ceylon Curry Dosa at Khazana No. 80: The Lambada Torta at La Torteria No. 79: Pork Bulgogi at Dae Gee No. 78: the Pulled Pork Pig Pen Sandwich at Boney's No. 77: IPA Mac & Cheese at Hops & Pie No. 76: Chiles en Nogada at Chili Verde No. 75: Udon Noodle Bowl at Bones No. 74: Cinnamon Rolls at the Duffeyroll Cafe No. 73: Smoked Turkey Croque-Madame at Acorn No. 72: Pickled Lake Michigan Perch at Trillium No. 71: Oysters at Jax Fish House Glendale No. 70: Venezuelan Tostadas at Empanada Express Grill No. 69: Tahini Cauliflower from Biker Jim's Gourmet Dogs No. 68: The Ham and Cheese Tartita from Maria Empanada No. 67: Ronnie's Favorite from Rosenberg's Bagels and Deli No. 66: Shoo-fly Pie from the Long i Pie Shop No. 65: Czech Potato Pancakes at Sobo 151 No. 64: Fried Chicken at the Post Brewing Co. No. 63: Braised Brisket Sandwich at Masterpiece Delicatessen No. 62: The Scotch Egg from Argyll Whisky Beer No. 61: Butternut Squash Ravioli at DiFranco's No. 60: Sesame Balls at Vinh Xuong Bakery
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