It's the end of an era. After thirty years, T-Wa Inn, Denver's first Vietnamese restaurant, has closed. T-Wa changed a lot over those three decades -- and so did Denver's dining scene, with Vietnamese spots opening all over the city, including longtime favorite New Saigon, just across South Federal Boulevard from T-Wa.

See also: Drinking snake wine at T-Wa Inn

And T-Wa's website acknowledged those changes: Thirty "years ago, you couldn't find an authentic Vietnamese restaurant in the Denver-Metro area, until T-Wa Inn opened its doors. T-Wa Inn became Denver's first Vietnamese restaurant. Today, there are many Vietnamese restaurants to choose from in the Denver area; however, none compare to the authentic, freshly prepared cuisine offered by Denver's first Vietnamese restaurant, T-Wa Inn."

But no more. A sign posted on T-Wa's home at 555 South Federal this past weekend delivered the sad news that an era had ended. The dining room is empty, and the phone has been disconnected.

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