Molly Martin
Audio By Carbonatix
When Szechuan Tasty House opened at 1000 West Evans Avenue in 2017, it was one of only a handful of spots serving the cuisine in the Mile High City. It was also the only restaurant on that stretch of West Evans, where it occupied an unassuming building that often looked closed, even when the open sign was on.
But a visit was always rewarding, thanks to dishes that didn’t skimp on the tongue-numbing Sichuan peppercorns and offered hard-to-find options, such as chilled tofu with century egg and lion’s head meatballs. Last year, the restaurant made some menu adjustments in response to rising food costs, moving away from some of those lesser-known — and less ordered — options. However, even as new apartments were built around it, the place struggled to consistently draw crowds.
Molly Martin
Over the years, its fluctuating hours and tendency to not be open even when its website or Google said it would be often led to rumors of its demise. This time, though, the rumors are true.
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Szechuan Tasty House recently closed for good, but the space will not sit empty for long. First-time restaurant owner Xirong Liao is hoping to debut his Chinese and Vietnamese concept, Foreign Wok, there next month.
While the loss is a sad one for fans, at least there are now other Szechuan spots in the area. Our favorite: Wok Spicy, which debuted in Englewood last year. Another solid option is Noodles Express on South Colorado Boulevard. That’s one to visit sooner rather than later, as it will be forced to close in the near future when Belcaro shopping center is redeveloped.
Further south, Sunflower Asian Cafe in Littleton offers a traditional Chinese lineup alongside its Americanized options, and that extensive menu is worth exploring.
Hong Kong Station is another spot to find Szechuan dishes, such as fish or beef boiled with plenty of that signature spice. Its original location is in Centennial, but it also has an outpost on East Yale Avenue and a brand-new third location on East Colfax Avenue.
