The Bronze Empire

Tian Xia and Jing Wang, a pair of University of Denver students who moved to Denver from Beijing, brought Chinese hot pot to a South Colorado Boulevard shopping center in 2016, and it quickly became a go-to for anyone craving bubbling broths loaded with meats and veggies. In 2017, it became part of the growing […]

Chef Liu’s Authentic Chinese Cuisine

“Do you like whole fish?” “How about fatty pork?” These are the questions you’ll get when you start asking your server about the non-translated menu at Chef Liu’s; ultimately, it might just be easier to ask that server to put together a feast for you and not to skimp on the Szechuan specialties. Liu Zeng […]

China Jade

China Jade occupies a little space in a forgettable east Aurora strip mall, surrounded by French bakeries, barbecue restaurants, Eastern European groceries, nail salons and coffee shops. From the outside, it isn’t much to look at. Inside, it’s small, with ten tables, a register, a Buddha here, a good luck cat there, and one of […]

China Jade Seafood Restaurant

Don’t mistake the China Jade on the south side of the Far East Center with the China Jade in Aurora. This smallish version of the standard dim sum hall lacks the point-and-serve push carts, opting instead for sushi-style menus so that guests can check off their favorites in Chinese, English or Vietnamese. (A standard menu […]

Chopstix Fusion

The word ‘fusion’ can be a red flag for diners looking for pure flavors undiluted by American or European tastes, but in the case of Chopstix, which opened in May, it’s simply an indication that you’ll find a smattering of Thai dishes on a menu that otherwise offers a deep taste of Hong Kong – […]

East China

Looking for good Chinese takeout? Then look no further than this small, family-owned Aurora restaurant, which offers dine-in, takeout and delivery service within a five-mile radius. There really is nothing better than settling in for a Netflix marathon with waxy white boxes filled with fried rice and crab-cheese wontons. East China has an impressively large […]

The Empress Seafood Restaurant

The Empress Seafood Restaurant is a classic dim sum joint. It’s huge and always bustling, with first dates tentatively bumping chopsticks over Singapore noodles, family gatherings at big round tables, sometimes even a karaoke setup left over from last night’s sweet-sixteen party. Although you can order almost every Chinese dish (American-style) imaginable off the big […]

The Ginger Pig

Natascha Hess, who runs the Ginger Pig food truck with her husband, Steve, lived in China for a year while in college; her “Chinese mom” taught her the ins and outs of traditional cooking during that time. The result of her immersion is obvious in the food at the Ginger Pig, especially Hess’s Chinese fried […]

The Ginger Pig

Former hockey player and lawyer Natascha Hess spent time living in China when she was younger and fell in love with the food. She started the Ginger Pig as a food truck specializing in Asian fare, and in 2020, she debuted her first brick-and-mortar, adding a second takeout spot in Boulder in 2023. Now with […]

Honey Basil Asian Grill

This fast Thai/Chinese spot that also offers a smattering of Vietnamese and Japanese dishes has settled into a steady, confident track since it opened in 2003 (it was originally named Spicy Basil until a 2024 name change, though management remains the same). The kitchen produces all the standards of urban Amerasian cuisine and occasionally reaches […]

Hong Kong Barbecue

Hong Kong is famous for its siu mei, a blanket term that covers many roasted meats. Although siu mei is easy to find in many American cities with a vibrant Chinatown, it’s a rarer treat in Denver, where Chinese restaurants tend to offer a mishmash of specialties from all over the country. And Hong Kong […]

Hop Alley

It’s been nearly a decade since chef Tommy Lee made a splash in RiNo with the opening of Hop Alley, but dining here still feels as fresh and fun as it did when the place was a buzzy new addition. Some things have stayed the same: The bone marrow fried rice and la ji zi […]

Imperial Chinese Restaurant

Man cannot live on soy paste and pig intestines alone. Although the Imperial’s dining room is red-dragon-and-white-tablecloth elegant, it attracts a casual crowd of diners looking for the tame thrills that only Chinese food done Colorado-style can provide. All of the American-Chinese favorites are represented — the sesame chickens, sweet-and-sour porks and mu shu everything […]

JJ Chinese Seafood Restaurant

Fish tanks flank the walls of this Alameda joint, from which the kitchen plucks specimens — like lobster — to turn into dinner. And to be sure, JJ’s turns out some excellent seafood dishes, employing jellyfish, razor clams, squid, shrimp and scallops, all specialties of the Cantonese chef. But the massive menu at JJ’s goes […]