Best Restaurants in Denver

I am an avid foodie. And yes, I know the word “foodie” is so cringe and so 2016, but it’s true. I love food and I love to eat. And Denver has some of the best restaurants I’ve ever been to. So here’s a roundup of the best (aka my favorite) restaurants in Denver!

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My favorite restaurants in Denver, by type of cuisine

American Restaurants

Sassafras was one of the first restaurants I ever ate at in Denver. In fact, it may have been the first. So it has a soft spot in my heart. But boy oh boy is this place good. It has one of my favorite brunches ever. My favorite items? The shrimp and grits and breakfast mac. And make sure you get an order of beignets!

Mercantile is a delicious restaurant located in Union Station. The folks at Mercantile aim to bridge the gap between farmer and table by creating a revolving menu based on what’s fresh. Their pastas are always incredible!

Asian Restaurants

ChoLon Bistro is an incredible modern Asian restaurant who’s name means “Big Market” in Vietnamese. The restaurant plays on different traditional dishes but with a unique twist. Their french onion soup dumplings are the perfect indication of this!

Uncle Ramen is a delicious ramen joint which also serves super yummy bao buns. Pro tip: this place gets super busy, get here when it opens or order to-go!

Osaka’s Ramen is my favorite ramen place. It’s super traditional and delicious. It can take a bit to get your meal, but be patient, it is so worth it!

Italian Restaurants

Tavernetta is one of my favorite Italian places. It’s located right next to Union Station and super swanky. They have an awesome happy hour. And I love their gnocchi!

Bar Dough is a lovely little restaurant over in the Highlands. It has fantastic pasta, desserts and breads. And the owner was on Top Chef!

Latin American Restaurants

Work & Class has some of my favorite small bites in Denver. They are a tapas style restaurant, so be prepared to order lots! Their jalapeno cornbread is incredible!

Maria Empanada is a fantastic spot for a meal on the go. I love getting these empanadas and then reheating them at home for lunch. Both the savory pastries and dessert pastries are delish!