Every Opening and Closing This Week: Three New Spots on Federal and More

Federal Boulevard has long been one of our favorite dining destinations, with a wealth of diverse, affordable food options. Now, there are three new restaurants on the street to check out.

Over a decade ago, Da Lat was serving an extensive selection of Vietnamese fare on South Federal; by 2016, it had shut down and Cowboba’s, a steak house/boba shop, had moved in. The swap was just made again, in reverse: Cowboba’s moved out last year and as of this week, Da Lat has been resurrected by its original owner, who had retired.

Nearby, MR Patron is the latest Mexican restaurant to open on the street. The upscale spot has a full bar pouring Instagrammable drinks and a menu that emphasizes seafood and Mexican sushi.

Further north on Federal is another new Mexican spot, DGO Cocina Cantina, from the owners of DGO Mexican Grill in Commerce City, Encanto Cocina Cantina on Larimer Street, and Ocho’s Mexican Cocina in DTC. It has a wide-ranging menu, but its specialty is gorditas, available in corn or flour varieties and stuffed with various fillings — try the La Duranguense with asada, chicharrón, queso and rajas (roasted chile strips).

Other new additions to the scene this week include the latest location of D.C.-born bagel chain Call Your Mother, which continues to expand its presence in the metro area; the first Colorado location of California-born fast food chain Starbird Chicken; and the brick-and-mortar Westminster location of White Rabbit Coffee, which previously operated as a mobile coffee truck.

Harbor Dim Sum & Cuisine has taken over the home of Super Star Asian Cuisine on West Alameda, just off Federal. It comes from the owners of the Happy Cafe, who closed their small spot on South Federal to focus on this new, bigger venture.

The former home of East Tao Ramen on Lincoln Street has been cleared out after the landlord posted a sign about unpaid rent, marking the end of its run.

This week, we also celebrated the return of two spots: Highland favorite Pizza Alley and the Etai’s Bakery Café location on East 70th Avenue.

In other openings and closings news:

• One of the best breweries in Denver, Call to Arms, will shutter in December.
• The last day of service for Tennyson Street diner Wendell’s is this Sunday, September 21.
• Colfax favorite Q House is also closing; its final day is set for October 4.
• There’s also a new restaurant coming to Colfax: dim sum and noodles spot Ma’s Kitchen.
• Get hungry for the most anticipated openings of fall 2025.

Here’s the complete list of restaurants and bars that opened and closed this week*:

Openings

Call Your Mother, 1650 28th Street, Boulder
Da Lat, 940 South Federal Boulevard
DGO Cocina Cantina, 1703 Federal Boulevard
Harbor Dim Sum & Cuisine, 2200 West Alameda Avenue
MR Patron, 555 South Federal Boulevard
Starbird Chicken, 965 South Colorado Boulevard
White Rabbit Coffee, 11187 North Sheridan Boulevard, Westminster

Reopenings

Etai’s Bakery Café, 101 East 70th Avenue
Pizza Alley, 3499 West 32nd Avenue

Closures

East Tao Ramen, 955 Lincoln Street
Happy Cafe, 945 South Federal Boulevard
Super Star Asian Cuisine, 2200 West Alameda Avenue

*Or earlier and not previously reported.

Know of something we missed? Email cafe@westword.com.