Bring On The Dumplings: The Best Chinese Food In Denver

For some reason, there has been a lot of chatter about Denver's food scene online - or rather, the perceived lack thereof. As a Colorado native, I will admit that there are pockets of Denver that lack in options and there are a lot of breweries clouding the restaurant scene, but you can find good food in Denver. I've traveled around the United States quite a bit and honestly I think Denver has some great options, especially when it comes to Asian cuisine. You just need to know where to look.

Not only am I a foodie, but I am a lover of Asian food. Whether it's Japanese, Korean, Chinese, Vietnamese, Filipino, Chinese, or Thai, I will eat it all. The Denver metro area has a lot to offer when it comes to Asian cuisine, including some really great Chinese spots. While the Mile High City doesn't offer as much variety as places like New York City, San Francisco, or Los Angeles, there are solid places around here that are worth recognizing. Just like with my articles about ramen and Thai spots, my advice when it comes to eating anywhere in Denver is to not pigeonhole yourself to Denver proper. Look at the entire metro area and don't be afraid to venture outside the tourist spots.

Sunflower Asian Cafe

Location: Littleton

Offering both traditional and Western versions of Chinese cuisine, Sunflower Asian Cafe gives guests the chance to have staples like sesame or sweet and sour chicken, or you can go for more authentic things like jellyfish, black fungus salad, bean curd strips, crispy intestines, smoked fish, crab & tofu stew, pig feet, abalone, sea cucumber, beef tendons, or smoked duck. You can even finish it off with rice cake or red bean soup.

Harbor Dim Sum & Cuisine

Location: Denver (Athmar Park)

With three menus, this Cantonese restaurant offers dim sum along with more authentic Chinese cuisine like rice noodles, fried rice, buns, tofu, duck tongue, pig intestines & stomach, stewed lamb, roast pigeon, sea cucumber, abalone, duck feet, congee, and boiled blood curd. This isn't your typical Americanized version of Chinese food, so if you want something more on the adventurous side, give this place a try!

Star Kitchen

Location: Denver (Athmar Park)

Star Kitchen is a go-to spot for dim sum, coconut buns, egg custard, rice crepes, Peking duck, chicken feet, and seafood. In fact, most locals consider Star Kitchen to have the best dim sum in the Denver metro area including flavors like turnip cake, peanut & pork, shrimp, leek, and taro. Again, if you want something more on the adventurous side, give this place a try!

Uncle Henry

Location: Westminster (North Westminster)

Just North of Denver, you can find this fast casual, family owned spot in the town of Westminster. With a menu including roast duck, roast pork, shrimp, fermented tofu, and classics like bitter melon and black bean sauce, Uncle Henry gives guests a glimpse into what Cantonese cuisine is all about.

Pig and Tiger

Location: Denver (Five Points)

Bringing in Taiwanese cuisine, Pig and Tiger comes from the Chinese zodiac signs for co-owners Darren and Travis. This spot boasts a locally sourced menu containing modern twists on authentic dishes such as dumplings, jellyfish salad, steamed buns, pea shoots, noodles, and even their own branded chili crisp for sale in jars.

Honeybee Asian Bistro & Sushi

Location: Aurora (Seven Hills)

Located in an unassuming shopping mall next to a small movie theater and a music store, Honeybee Asian Bistro has delivered delicious food since 2008. Chinese-immigrant owners Cindy and Helen credit their resilience and hard work to their successful restaurant. They even expanded to open a sushi bar manned by Felix, a sushi chef who has worked for Los Angeles- based restaurants Nobu and Nozawa Bar. Don't let the run down parking lot scare you away, Honeybee is amazing.

Hop Alley

Location: Denver (RiNo)

Named for Denver's onetime Chinatown, Hop Alley offers an eclectic menu that even caught the eye of the MICHELIN Guide. From dumplings, crab noodles, pork belly, tofu, char siu pork, and fried rice, this concept from chef Tommy Lee brings a modern twist to authencitity. You can even choose between regular, vegan, vegetarian, gluten free, or pescetarian menus. You can even participate in a nine-course "chef's counter" tasting menu Thursday-Saturday by reservation only.

Chopstickers

Location: Denver (Union Station)

Getting the job done with a small menu, Chopstickers is a downtown fast casual spot that gives you delicious offerings such as woodear mushroom salad, steamed and fried buns, soup dumplings, noodles, and fried rice. With three locations in Denver, Lakewood, and Fort Collins, it's a good spot if you want something quick, modern, and easy.

New Canton BBQ

Location: Aurora (DAM East/West)

If you want authentic Cantonese experience, look no further than New Canton BBQ. Nestled right next to Aurora's bustling H-Mart store, this small spot offers genuine and tasty menu items such as roast duck, roast pork, fried rice and noodles, chicken feet, BBQ ribs, pig ears, intestines, congee, and dumplings. New Canton is considered to be one of the most authentic Chinese BBQ restaurants in the Denver metro area, if not the most authentic.

The Ginger Pig

Location: Denver (Berkeley)

Yet another Chinese spot recommended on the MICHELIN Guide, The Ginger Pig started when chef Natascha Hess was a foreign exchange student in China. After traveling around Asia, the blended flavors she learned sparked a successful food truck venture turned brick and mortar. With offerings such as smashed cucumber salad, char siu pork, Sichuan eggplant, Hong Kong French toast, Shang Shu noodles, and a rotating seasonal menu. If you are further out from the Denver metro area, there's also a Ginger Pig location in Boulder, CO.

MAKfam

Location: Denver (Baker)

Owners Kenneth and Doris originally started MAKfam as a New York City pop-up, but moved to a Denver concept in 2023. This small-menu spot blends American concepts with traditional-inspired Chinese cuisine to bring dishes such as scallion pancakes, tofu salad, fried rice, noodles, and dumplings. Another bold move that most tend to shy away due to American stereotypes is the use of MSG. While most Chinese restaurants advertise they don't use MSG, MAKfam celebrates their use of MSG - including an informational section on their website about the ingredient. It may not be conventional for Americans, but it caught the eye of the MICHELIN Guide.