The world of Asian cuisine in metro Denver has become deeper, larger and more complex over the past few years as chefs and restaurants have begun focusing on regional cooking styles, elevated fare and fusion dishes that combine multiple kitchen traditions.
Local diners, national food media and restaurant critics have taken notice, which has resulted in quite a bit of recognition recently. Want to get a taste? The second annual Mile High Asian Food Week runs from April 28 to May 4, offering specials, events, secret menu items and other perks from more than 100 businesses. The event is a celebration of Colorado’s growing Asian American Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) culinary scene, organizers said.
You’ll find everything from Japanese baked goods, Vietnamese coffee shops, Korean barbecue joints and samosa shops, along with Thai, Laotian, Chinese, Taiwanese, Cambodian and Filipino restaurants, boba tea stores, bánh mì sandwich stops and much, much more.
Here are a few examples:
Kenneth Wan, from the newly opened MAKfam was recently nominated in the emerging chef category for the James Beard Awards. For Mile High Asian Food Week, MAKfam will have a secret menu item: Mama Wan’s Braised Pork Belly Over Rice.
Sắp Sửa, which opened last year in Denver, also got a James Beard nomination this year. The Vietnamese restaurants will have two secret menu items: The Gin-erational Trauma Cocktail with lemongrass, gin, yuzu and Thai basil for $8; and the Chè trôi nước Vietnamese mochi with warm ginger syrup and peanuts for $8.
Award-winning chef Jeff Osaka’s Denver favorite, Osaka Ramen won The Denver Post’s recent ramen food bracket. The restaurant is offering 15% if you mention MHAFW and has two special menu items: Curry Katsu Ramen and Garlic Lemongrass Chicken Wings.
Chef Tommy Lee’s award-winning modern Chinese restaurant, Hop Alley — which is also a Michelin Guide Bib Gourmand recommended restaurant — has an unusual special offering: A two-pound whole Dungeness crab for $60.88. Guests can choose the preparation style.
Other participants in MHAFW include Yuan Wonton, whose co-owner Penelope Wong has been nominated for James Beard awards each of the last two years; Q House, a Taiwanese/Chinese restaurant that is recommended by Michelin; local favorite Lucky Noodles, which has a secret menu including Khao soi crispy chicken or vegetable tofu.
There’s also Samosa Shop, whose owner Dave Hadley won Food Network’s “Chopped”; Ramen Star, which won an award at the Denver Ramen Festival for its creative dishes, will be offering lobster ramen for a limited time; the buzz-worthy CôNu’s Corner Càfê and Bánh Mì Sandwiches, will have free baked cassava with certain purchases.
For the full list of participating restaurants, go to milehighafw.com/2024-vendors. The list can be sorted by dietary restrictions and locations.
MHAFW “is a reminder to visit spots you’ve never been to before or check out a familiar favorite. It is also a great way for our participating chefs to flex their creative chops and showcase something new and different,” MHAFW organizer Annie Guo VanDan said in a statement.
