The Six Best Bites We Had in November

While there was a lot of home cooking going on in November (including making a big batch of green chile when temps finally dropped last weekend), I ventured out for what proved to be tasty meals at spots old and new.

When it was announced that Uncle/Hop Alley owner Tommy Lee and chef Michael Diaz de Leon were teaming up for a Stanley Marketplace taqueria, I had high expectations. Molino Chido, which debuted last month, may still be tweaking its service style, but the food certainly aligns with the level of talent in the kitchen. Tacos are, rightfully, the star, built on a foundation of stellar corn tortillas made fresh on-site daily.

While starting with familiar options like carnitas or al pastor is a safe bet, my favorite from a media tasting was the bison tongue sourced locally from Rock River Ranch. It’s served in one large chunk that’s tender yet maintains a bit of bite, and comes topped with crispy frites.

Sure, the $11.85 prime strip loin taco with the optional $2 cheese crust is an indulgence worth trying — but the $4.85 take on lengua here is the kind of thing I’d eat on a regular basis.

The upper level of the Source Hotel was long home to the Woods, a spot known for its rooftop views but not much else. This year, the Woods moved out and at the end of October, Cimera officially debuted in the space. Now, the food, drinks and service are as much a draw as the sweeping scenery.

Hop Alley’s former executive chef, Geoff Cox, is leading the team at this pan-Latin spot, along with consulting Peruvian chef Diego Muñoz. Bright murals cover the walls in a space that’s hardly recognizable to anyone who was here during the Woods run. I popped in for a meal a few weeks after opening and had solid dishes from start to finish, including the bright and texturally fun tuna tiradito with soy-chili sauce, cucumber radish and toasted peanuts; the papa rellena, a stuffed potato croquette with braised beef; and the salmon adobo.

My favorite on the seafood and meat-heavy lineup was the pork belly skewer, which seems like a steal at $13 for two hefty portions of the perfectly cooked meat glazed with a Japanese-Peruvian Nkkei glaze and served with sesame scallion dressing. Next up to try: the sirloin and chicken teriyaki skewers.

When the 2025 Colorado Michelin Guide was announced in September, three new spots earned stars, including Kizaki, which had opened just five months earlier. But chef Toshi Kizaki’s career has been long, and this omakase-style sushi counter is his crowning jewel. After experiencing the two-ish hour-long meal last month, it’s clear that Kizaki is certainly deserving of its star status.

The food is, of course, exceptional, and it’s nearly impossible to choose a favorite bite among the over two dozen courses. From a bite of black and white marbled tofu to a fatty tuna and caviar hand roll to seared wild scallops, sea urchin and eel, each course is crafted with care. Still, the tastiest part is hearing chef Kizaki and his team share insights on what makes these ingredients and preparations so special.

Even with more tasting-menu spots in town than ever before, Kizaki is worth the splurge (the meal is currently priced at $225 per person, with optional beverages available à la carte or as pairings).

In October, the family that had operated the now-closed Hungry Wolf BBQ in Aurora opened a new spot, Catfish King, in a former Popeye’s location on Colfax. During a recent visit, we saw a steady stream of people placing and picking up to-go orders. While there is a dining room, the place still feels very much like a fast-food spot and service can be pretty slow (though also very friendly). I’d recommend sticking to takeout here for now, and placing your order ahead of time. While the fried chicken and fried okra were both solid, the standout was the catfish — not surprisingly. It’s a thing of simple beauty, with a well-seasoned cornmeal crust and served over slices of white bread with tartar sauce and lemon wedges on the side.

This city’s still lacking in soul-food spots, save for a handful of exceptions such as Blazing Chicken Shack II, Welton Street Cafe and Randall’s, so I’m happy to have Catfish King as another option when the craving hits.

In case you missed it, we took on a greasy mission last month: comparing the original Jim’s Burger Haven in Thornton with Grandpa’s Burger Haven (which was once a Jim’s) on Federal. The good news: both spots are nostalgic throwbacks still worth visiting. But the bad news — for Jim’s, anyway — was that I found the Grandpa’s burger to be superior. While both have pretty standard, thin patties, the quality of the bun and the freshness of the veggies at Grandpa’s gave it the win. But I’d encourage everyone to give this friendly burger competition a go on their own, ’cause there really aren’t any losers here.

I spent a lot of time over the past few months eating sandwiches to find the best in the metro area, which I compiled into a list last month. The whole thing has left me…craving sandwiches. I can’t get enough, and one of my favorites that was not included in the original guide is Banh Mi Station, which opened near DU right around the same time I started this gig as Westword‘s food and drink editor. Writing about its opening, and its subsequent name change a few weeks later, were among my first stories in this role, and more than four years later, the lemongrass grilled pork banh mi here is as good as ever.