It’s Ridiculous How Much I Love Denver Part 6: Dumplings and Noodles
Diving into a special blog this week, I’ve got Denver Dumpling and Noodles for you! Inspired by my cousin Sarah and my love for dumplings of all kinds (I’m so serious), I wanted to compile a really solid list for this category. I broke them up by neighborhood because it’s what I feel is right in my soul. You must know, this is a giant category with oodles of restaurants. This blog will be updated regularly as I try new spots and get new recommendations. Remember: I’m trying my best. But if I left out your favorite, just know, it was personal. <3
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Broadway/SoBo Dumplings and Noodles
MAKfam is an absolutely fantastic Chinese spot on Broadway that’s great for date night or a meal with friends. It’s a Michelin Bib Gourmand restaurant, meaning you get this incredible food but not at your usual Michelin-star price (think high quality, high value). It really allows you to try a bunch of plates and not break the bank, and certainly not at the cost of flavor. I ordered: the crab and cheese rangoons. 10/10, incredible, I LOVED! The sauce is almost apple-pie-ish and it mixed perfectly with the fried outside of the rangoon and the cheeeeesy amazing inside. I’m thinking about them weeks later. For entrees we got the Beef Stir Fry Noodles which were so tasty, with the beef, veggies, and super-skinny noodles. We also grabbed the Hong Kong-Style Curry, which came with rice on the side. The flavor!! It was like this chicken soup but better? Highly recommend these dishes, but I have a feeling it’s ALL. GOOD! I need the fried chicken, so I’ll be back. It’s located right off Broadway which can be tough for parking; just take a few blocks, it’s not like you have a reservation! Ha!
King Dumpling 2 on Broadway is well known for their handmade dumplings, noodles, and buns. They’ve got a great, well-rounded appetizer menu that will then lead you into some great dim sum, wontons and wonton soup, soooo many noodle dishes, and fried rice. something for everyone! They have these really interesting Black Truffle Soup buns you should try! And some steamed dumplings. Maybe a thai iced tea. And some sesame balls for good measure. I’d say good pricing, a range.
Cherry Creek/Colorado Blvd Dumplings and Noodles
Fortune Wok to Table is a staple to the Cherry Creek neighborhood in a way I can’t explain. There isn’t anything else like it nearby, and by that I mean it isn’t pretentious, it’s just good as hell. And I think that’s their goal, to remind you casual isn’t synonymous with bad. One of my faaaaavorite dishes (almost ever! especially if you love soup!) is the Winter Wonton Soup. I could eat this often; the broth is perfect in taste and the hand-wrapped pork wontons floating around are impeccable. They stay together just enough for you to grab ‘em and eat ‘em, the perfect, most silky texture. I also love the Shanghainese Street Noodles. The noodles are perfect, that narrow size to pick up the sauce and whatever protein you like. It’s the best cozy meal that I always crave. It can get busy on the weekends and summer nights, and parking around the area is difficult with permit zones and parallel parking. There are parking garages in Cherry Creek you could utilize!
Linglon Dumpling House in University Hills is a really great dumpling spot, a fan favorite some might say. You go for the soup dumplings and you stay for the pan-fried dumplings if you know what I mean. The soup dumplings here really are it. Also! The beef noodle soup!!! Please. It’s your new favorite kinda neighborhood spot, you don’t have to dress up; not that people in Denver do often anyway. It’s in a strip mall so you don’t have to fist fight for parking!
Park Hill Dumplings and Noodles
Yuan Wonton has to be here, not just because their incredible SHEF Penelope Wong won the James Beard Award this year (kind of like winning the food Oscars), but because they have some of the best dumplings around. And they obviously go hand in hand! What started as a food truck is now a realized Canto-American brick and mortar in North Park Hill. They’re known for their dumplings but they always have things like noodles, bao buns, etc. on the menu too. In the beginning they were only doing pickup during certain hours, and they’ve grown from there. Now you can go in, there’s cocktails and happy hour and everything. But! Still really fab to get takeout. I always remember their Thursday night takeout. Be sure to check their hours before you go! Follow their socials for some of my fave videos of them hand-making dough and dumplings.
Berkeley/Sunnyside Dumplings and Noodles
The Ginger Pig is another great spot, and another Michelin Bib Gourmand! I love the atmosphere inside, especially with the unassuming front. Another to originate from a food truck, they’re making dishes inspired by Asian street food, influenced by Chinese, Korean, and Thai cultures. My last time there I got the Nam Jim Crab-Cheese Wontons (more crabby than cheesy!), the Shui Jiao - Beijing Style Dumplings (YUM!!!), the Ma Yi Shang Shu - Ants Climbing a Tree (this is spicy!), and the Tom Yum Noodles which were soooo flavorful. Everything we had was great and it was a fun time. Next time I have to try that French toast! Parking in Denver gets tough when it’s busy but there’s usually either parking in the strip mall parking lot or street parking. They have locations in Denver (Berkley neighborhood) and Boulder.
Dumpling Kitchen is a great, simple spot in Sunnyside with all the classics and a few others. Outside of dumplings they’ve got rice bowls, noodle bowls, bao buns, and appetizers like edamame, wontons in chili oil, and cucumber salad. For dumplings they’ve got a big variety, vegetarian and not, as well as xiao long bao for those who love it like me. It’s cozy and simple on the inside. This spot can be busy during peak hours, weekends, so plan accordingly. You can always order ahead online!
LoHi Dumplings and Noodles
Nana’s Dim Sum & Dumplings took Denver by storm when they opened (personally) and they’ve been growing ever since. First let’s get into the food and then details: there’s a few things you need from here. The green beans, and I’m not lying. The jumbo crab rangoons!! Trust me. I love the beef pancake roll. They’ve got great buns if you’re into that (bbq me plz). What I REALLY love to add to this is Xiao Long Bao - those fricken soup dumplings. I could live off of ‘em. Add an order of the Spicy Chicken Soup Buns too. Please. They also do killer steamed or pan-fried dumplings, and I love a pan-fried order of the chive and pork dumplings. And now they have 5 locations up and down the metro for everyone to get their fix! Thank goodness. When the first spot opened it was always packed, and always a long line. It’s obviously the name of the game, and didn’t stop us, but spreading the love out if necessary and doable is cool with me. I love how cute the LoHi location is, but I think a lot of people do too, so keep that in mind.
Uptown Dumplings and Noodles
Noodles by Nina is a Chinese restaurant where you can watch them make the noodles like in the videos you’ve watched at 2 am! Don’t lie! Anyway, you get to sit and watch your pretty lil knife-cut or hand-pulled noodles be crafted by hand, right there. It’s hard not to gawk. It’s awesome. The Magic Beef Brisket Noodle Soup is so good, and one time I was brave and tried the tomato and egg knife slice noodles and they were so good, it was so rich and a flavor I’ve never had before. I’d love to come back and try more of their menu, it’s really extensive and after getting a taste of their noodle types I’m ready for more. You can tell they’re handmade, so good. Location-wise it’s kind of in Uptown-ish, and street parking is what you get here. You might have to circle the block depending on the time and day!
Ma’s Kitchen Next Door/Dim Sum & Bar is a newer-ish place on the scene and it’s been absolutely fabulous. It’s a great place to share things, too! They have all the usual suspects but so much more and it all looks good. I love a scallion pancake and have to say yes to wontons in chili oil. They’ve also got all the pan-fried or steamed dumplings you could ask for, plus shu mai. On top of that they have bao, but even better they’ve got multiple kinds of xiao long bao which can be hard to find so points for that. Gosh they have so much still, soups, entrees, meat dishes, noodles, and fried rice. I always love to support Colfax businesses and it’s awesome when they’re this good. Another busy one and rightfully so! Street parking is available around, but keep in mind the Colfax construction!
Federal Dumplings and Noodles
Star Kitchen is on Mississippi and Federal, an absolutely insane food intersection. What they’re really known for is their dim sum and their Cantonese dishes. People like to call it “no frills” but I think that’s kind of weird to describe a restaurant. I get it, it’s your average spot, but a mainstay if you will. Lots of seating yet busy. Parking is alright in the lot.
Downtown Dumplings and Noodles
Bao Brewhouse is a fun spot just up the road from Larimer Square so you can stop before your hockey game or concert! Known to be Asian fusion, this is a more modern spot with a focus on atmosphere and that fusion. Really flavorful menu full of dim sum and dumplings and bao buns on top of all of the other dishes like skewers and rice and noodle bowls! It’s two stories, with more of an elevated taproom feel on the bottom and a tea-room vibe on the top, it's really fun. You should order some different things and eat them family style! Maybe get a reservation?
Chopstickers - the one Downtown - is a small unassuming spot across from Giordano’s off 16th Street. Their owner is from Northern China (famous for dumplings and bao) and moved here to study, got his PhD from Mines in Petroleum Engineering, and then opened up this and another Chopstickers in FoCo. Great service and amazing food! Love their potstickers and their noodle dishes need a try. Great prices! Tough parking. Interesting area. Love.
Confluence Park Dumplings and Noodles
Insee Father Noodle House is kind of in the Confluence Park area on the cutest part of Platte St. They’ve got a great menu of Authentic Thai noodles and dumplings to try and share. I got the Ka Nom Jeeb Thai Dumplings and the Mae Klong Beef Noodles which were great, but the real start for me was the Thonglor BBQ Pork Wonton Soup. I love a soup, a love a wonton, I love a wonton soup, and this one hits the spot. On the table you also get all the fixin’s you need, chili oil, etc. which is so nice. Their thai iced tea was faaabbb. I want to go back and try a Street Rice Plate. So cute on the inside, too! I loved their glasses…lol. You’ll have to find street parking but it’s usually fairly easy. Solid spot!
Daughter Thai Kitchen and Bar is owned by the same people as the above Insee Father’s, and is located just down the same street. It’s inspired by more traditional Thai cuisine, with your pad thai’s, your pad see ew’s, your curries and rice and noodles. Their menu is extensive and you can really go crazy getting a bunch to share for the table if you want. The colors are so beautiful; they say they use fresh ingredients and you can tell. A yummy spot!
Lakewood Dumplings and Noodles
Mason’s Dumpling Shop in Lakewood off Alameda is a solid spot that has fans that love it. The soup dumplings and pan-fried dumplings are really popular and good. The yuzu chicken soup dumplings! The steamed dumplings feel so fresh, plus they’ve got bao buns that are fab as well as rice bowls and a good list of appetizers. They’ve got vegan options and the inside is spacious! Not usually a wait but don’t hold me to that, especially because they also have 3 other locations - Highland Park, Aurora, and Boulder.
Littleton Dumplings and Noodles
Sam’s Dumpling Kitchen is in Littleton and a favorite of many as well. The portions are large and the prices are right, especially when everything is handmade fresh daily. They put a lot of work into their dim sum and you can tell, it’s so great. They have all the classic appetizers you could want, which I love. There’s some 5 kinds of soup dumplings to choose from, on top of a long list of dim sum and dumplings. Then! They have a bunch of ‘Wok Favorites’, like chicken and broccoli, Mapo Tofu with ground pork, kung pao shrimp, and a bunch more. THEN! They have noodle bowls and rice bowls! Giant menu. Easy!
Fort Collins Honorable Mention
Beijing Noodle is an honorable mention because it is in Fort Collins, but it’s SO good. I go to Fort Collins to see friends, and this became a must-stop-spot for my husband and I before we headed out to drive back home to Denver. It’s unassuming, in a strip mall, and usually has a couple other patrons inside. Ooooooh my goodness the way we love these noodles. I feel like it was our first good introduction to real chinese food, real chinese noodles, and those flavors. We each have a favorite we get and then we share a little bit: Ryder gets the Oil Spill noodles and I get the Henan Gravy noodles. We should branch out sometime but truly we look forward to these dishes so bad. It feels nice and cozy inside, and it’s a good price. Their scallion pancakes are so good too…Wow maybe time for a trip up for some noodles and friends.
Denver Dumpling and Noodle Honorable Mentions
Lan’s Noodles and Dumplings
101 Asian Fusion
Panda Dim Sum and Dumpling House
Super Star
The Empress
Denver Dumplings I Still Need to Try
Tommy’s Thai
Bryan’s Dumpling House
Dumpling Bay
Yummy Hot Pot and Dumpling
Thanks so much for reading and using in your food-ventures across the Denver Metro area. There are so many more to be added here, I can’t wait to hear your suggestions. Yay! Look back into the blog for lists like Coffee, Breakfast, Sandwiches, and Pizza, and follow along on my instagram: https://www.instagram.com/annaefairbank/
