Sonoda’s Sushi

Come for the Midwestern Benihana-style decor, stay for the sushi — because Sonoda’s prepares some of the finest, freshest fish in the city. At any of this local mini-chain’s four locations, you can be sure of getting the good stuff, assembled by a kitchen that’s spent years trying to get a virtually changeless menu exactly […]

The Soul Kitchen

Jay Berry opened Kirk’s Soul Kitchen in 2012, adding another option in the area’s slim soul-food scene. The restaurant is dedicated to his stepfather, Kirk, who told him, “Stay focused because you could do anything you put your mind to.” What Berry does at Kirk’s is serve great homemade food, including fried chicken, collard greens […]

Stampede

A longtime country-Western club, bar and restaurant, Stampede began branching out into the Latin market in 2018 after Bluebird Theater and Goosetown Tavern owner Chris Swank took over the 2000-person venue and made interior and exterior renovations. While Stampede still brings in occasional country acts, it also books big names in Banda and Tejano music.

Stanley Beer Hall

Stanley Marketplace resolutely refuses to refer to itself as a mall, and while the idea of many different merchants under one roof certainly brings to mind the “m” word, this complex has a few very important tenants that differentiate it from the pink-and-teal edifices of the ’80s. One of those is the Stanley Beer Hall, […]

Star of India

Of the many Indian restaurants in town, Star of India is one of the best – and definitely boasts the best mango lassi. The dining room is comfortable; guests will enjoy the desert-colored walls and cultural artifacts, as well as the beautiful copper bowls in which the food arrives. The menu is broad, with all […]

Sudan Cafe & Khairat Injera Bakery

The designation “Middle Eastern” is a vague and shifting notion that doesn’t exactly encapsulate the spectrum of cuisine cooked from Morocco to Pakistan, from Turkey to eastern Africa. So forgive us if Sudan Cafe doesn’t fit neatly into standard notions of where the Middle East begins and ends; you’ll understand once you try the kitchen’s […]

The Summit Steakhouse

For nearly four decades, the Summit Steakhouse in Aurora has catered to a meat-and-potatoes-loving crowd. In some ways, not a lot has changed over the years. Tablecloths and tea lights are still de rigueur. Red roses are given to female guests, and on many nights, a pianist tickles the ivories in the lounge. Entrees such […]

Sushi Katsu

The sushi here is excellent, the service friendly and inviting. And the restaurant is justly famed for its all-you-can-eat lunch and dinner, a screaming deal served every day. But the best thing about Sushi Katsu is that it has the feel of a place where it’s easy to become a regular – a sushi bar […]

Sweet Cow

You really haven’t had ice cream until you’ve had Sweet Cow’s. Spike-haired Drew Honness, a young DIY-style entrepreneur who got his start in the ice cream business scooping for Springs-based Josh & John’s. The Aurora outpost boasts a friendly air that extends to kids and adults alike, and the ice cream is to die for, […]

Taco Star

With their bright-red branding, the Taco Star locations in Denver, Thornton and Aurora beckon you to stop for a fix of Mexican-style greasy-spoon goodness. While the tacos are solid, the actual star may be the big, filling burritos. Be sure to order extra salsa, too.

Tacos y Salsas

Tacos y Salsas is a tough place to miss — all the outposts of this growing local chain are as shiny and carnival-colored as their surroundings are gray and grim. The food at this taqueria-style spot shines just as bright, with excellent meats sliced and seared right in front of you. You can doctor your […]

Tacos y Salsas

Tacos y Salsas is a tough place to miss — all the outposts of this growing local chain are as shiny and carnival-colored as their surroundings are gray and grim. The food at this taqueria shines just as bright, with excellent meats sliced and seared right in front of you. You can doctor your dishes […]

Terrapin Care Station

Established in Boulder as a hippie-loving dispensary with premium cannabis, Terrapin Care Station’s first Aurora location shows that the hippies have grown up and moved on to being big-time pot dealers. This particular branch, located in a generic strip mall, has done a lot to jazz up the place: Beautiful wood floors, modern cabinetry, fresh […]