Japanese in Denver
Showing 1 - 22 of 70
There’s not much atmosphere here, but the sushi’s fresh, so skip the cooked dishes and eat it raw. And be sure to peruse the menu, because reading the names of Banzai’s innovative rolls is half the fun. With dishes like the Chernobyl, the Shake-N-Bake, the ever-popular Drum Roll, and both the Tighty Whitey and the […]
Benihana is the Barnum & Bailey of Japanese food, an unabashedly corny and often embarrassing centerfold of eye-rolling wisecracks, theatrics and occasional mishaps from the knife-wielding teppenyaki chefs who elevate (some would say disintegrate) food into an entertainment form. But guess what? The food here is nothing to sneer at, and the fried rice – […]
Gaku Homma opened his homestyle Japanese restaurant with an unlikely farmhouse setting, complete with a Japanese garden, in an urban neighborhood in 1996. It had a loyal legion of fans for years, but a viral TikTok video nearly led to its demise after crowds descended on the typically quiet space. After taking some time off […]
Denver doesn’t do weird – at least not when it comes to restaurants (Casa Bonita is the exception that proves the rule). So fans of offbeat dining should head to this Lakewood sushi bar, which is a wonderland of weird decor: miniature fairy gardens populated with tiny cartoon animals; plush, smiling nigiri; colorful balloons randomly […]
advertisement
Brothers Quiang and Sky Chen own this Fontana Sushi, the only link in a chain otherwise belonging to Kevin Lin. Wanting a place where they could offer both the authentic Japanese gyoza, soba, katsu and tempura that form the street-food backbone of their native cuisine as well as a spread of Tokyo new-wave dishes, the […]
Heather Alcott’s Glaze in Congress Park is known for circular cakes called baumkuchen that bake one layer at a time on a horizontal rod. The place opens at 9 a.m. every morning as a bakery cafe featuring tarts, macarons, coffee drinks and of course, baumkuchen — a Japanese-German hybrid that requires a special oven (Alcott […]
Go Fish is an outgrowth of the Spicy Basil a couple of doors down, which means you can now get Thai-Chinese on one corner, Japanese-American on the other. This is a simple and uncomplicated sushi bar and Japanese restaurant for neighbors, for anyone looking for a little miso soup, a couple of handrolls and a […]
Hapa Sushi is essentially a fusion restaurant, offering sliders, nachos and Fuji-apple-and-bleu-cheese salads on the one hand, poke don, kanpyo maki and a small spread of sashimi on the other. It caters quite deliberately to rookies, actually naming a section of the menu “Beginner Sushi Rolls,” which is followed by “Intermediate” and then flows right […]
Izakaya Amu is the yin to the yang of the rest of the restaurants in this small empire. It shares a wall with the raucous Sushi Zanmai, but it’s a tiny oasis, an authentic izakaya. You won’t find sushi here; instead, the gracious staff serves you classic Japanese country food and shabu shabu, which you […]
More than two decades passed before Sushi Den owners Yasu and Toshi Kizaki decided to expand upon their successful sushi business, but when they did, they went big. While the word “izakaya” means little more than “bar and grill” in Japan, in Denver it has become synonymous with the same style, service and dedication to […]
advertisement
Japango flies in fish daily to ensure that your meal includes the freshest catch available. The gorgeously decorated, lush interior and rich, delicious food are reflected in the price tag — but all things considered, you get what you pay for at Japango. The wine and sake lists are dynamic and affordable (and the sake […]
The 1000 block of South Gaylord Street is swimming in dining options, but if you’re in the mood for sushi, you can’t beat Japon. Located right next door to the old Japon (which closed in 2005), Japon 2.0 has vaulted ceilings, an open kitchen and plenty of space where you can enjoy an intimate meal […]
Jason’s Thai Asian Bistro is a clean, updated space in an otherwise seedy South University strip mall. The comprehensive eatery offers dine-in, carry-out and delivery service, beer and wine, and an Asian fusion menu of dishes from Thailand, Japan, China and Vietnam. Starters include summer rolls and edamame, seaweed salad and miso soup, while entrees […]
When Katsu Ramen opened in early 2015 in Aurora, it was greeted by long lines of ramen lovers. They found was milky-white tonkotsu ramen, cloudy with pork bones boiled for the better part of a day; sweet, nutty miso ramen; lighter shoyu, with a soy-flavored blend of chicken and pork stock; spicy chicken ramen, with […]
advertisement
Inspired by Japanese izakayas, chef/restaurateur Bill Taibe founded the original Kawa Ni in Westport, Connecticut, in 2014. Nearly a decade – and many dumplings, bao buns and inventive plates – later, he debuted the second Kawa Ni in LoHi after falling in love with the neighborhood, which has embraced it right back. The buzzy dining […]
Filled with knickknacks, Kiki’s is cluttered in the way your favorite aunt’s house might be – but that just adds to the homey vibes of this casual, under-the-radar eatery that specializes in authentic country-style Japanese food. There is an entire ramen menu to explore as well as sushi offerings, but Kiki’s also serves up dishes […]
Some people consider cooking a chore, but if the activity at Kobe An Shabu Shabu, a niche Japanese restaurant that opened in Highland in summer 2014, is any indication, people are not only willing to cook, they’ll pay good money to do so