Food Review: Ten culturally unique and delicious Colorado eateries

COLORADO – While some restaurants in this state have succumbed to the financial effects of COVID-19, many have survived. Now, they are coming back stronger than ever. Whether sweet or savory, casual or upscale, Colorado’s eateries are once again satisfying the palates of hungry residents eager to venture out and try something new, as well as enjoying old familiar favorites.

The following are ten Colorado food establishments that will surely excite your gastronomic senses.

Mussels are always fresh at Jax. Photo courtesy of Jax Fish House and Oyster Bar

Jax Fish House & Oyster Bar– Multiple Locations

In the mood for seafood? Why settle for mediocrity when you have an abundance of fresh quality gifts from the sea at any one of Jax Fish House and Oyster Bars many locations.

Their story is the stuff fish dreams are made of. Owner Dave Query became enchanted with what he saw at several Chicago fish markets back in the 1980s. After partnering with fresh fish purveyor Northeast Seafood and embracing sustainable seafood practices, he opened the first Jax Fish House on the Pearl Street Mall in Boulder in 1994.

But how do you offer fresh seafood without oysters?

That problem was solved when they partnered with Rappahannock River Oysters (RRO) in Virginia to create their Emersum Oyster. The name is a clever play on words as in “em are some good oysters.”

Jax claims that these oysters, which are only available at Jax are “the freshest bivalve this side of either coast, with a size, taste, and texture…” that you can count on every time.” You can order them raw or chargrilled with creole butter and Padano cheese.


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By the way, while you are there, you simply must try their bacon braised collards. They are the best I have ever had. Also, their cast iron cornbread, and ginger beer spiced just right with cinnamon and cardamom.

Jax has locations in Boulder, LoDo, Ft Collins, Glendale, and Colorado Springs

If you crave authenticity and spice, you will find it at Durbar. Photo by Ron Stern, all rights reserved

Durbar Nepalese and Indian Bistro– Multiple Locations

My wife will eat, and sometimes does, Indian cuisine every day. She just can’t seem to get enough. But finding a good restaurant can be challenging. That is until now.

Serving up tasty cuisine from Nepal, India, Durbar has found a hungry clientele among Colorado residents. This family-run operation uses the perfect combination of spices to complement their menu which includes marinated butter chicken, rosemary lamb kabobs with garlic and lemon, and Tiger shark shrimp tandoori.

Their garlic naan bread is heavenly. It is thin, crusty on the edges, and doused with just the right amount of garlic and parsley. Don’t pass up their drink menu and their signature Curry Wow (Loveland only) infused with allspice, cardamom, turmeric, and cloves.

With almost a perfect Yelp rating, Durbar has locations in Winterpark, Lakewood, Loveland, Broomfield, and Cheyenne

Cool, vibrant, and delicious flavors. Photo by Ron Stern, all rights reserved

Glacier Homemade Ice Cream and Gelato– Multiple Locations

Okay, I admit it, I love ice cream. I’d rather eat it than sip a fancy merlot, eat hoity-toity food, or swill back a couple of cold ones. At times, I try and sneak some out of the freezer before dinner, a habit of which my wife is quite adept at discovering.

I found a kindred spirit in Mark Mallen, creator of Glacier Homemade Ice Cream and Gelato. Based in Boulder he has branched out to locations in Denver, Castle Rock, and Fort Collins.


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Mark has created more than 1,000 extraordinary flavors since opening in 2001. Some of his favorites are salted caramel Oreo ice cream and chocolate mousse gelato. He also has a vegan-paleo line he calls Glacier Cream.

After sampling a bevy of his cool treats, I really liked his raspberry chocolate melt (gluten-free) and his vegan Mexican chocolate which was surprisingly creamy with a deeply rich and spicy flavor. His ice cream has garnered many awards including one of the best ice cream flavors by 5280 Magazine and CU and Boulder’s Best Ice Cream by Colorado Daily.

JoJo’s popular Not’cho mac and cheese loaded with flavor. Photo by Ron Stern, all rights reserved

Jojo’s Barbecue and Sandwiches– Fort Collins

As the name implies, this eatery is serving up made from scratch barbecue meats and sandwiches. Owned and operated by Sabrina and Craig Henry, this tasty boutique eatery is located inside Munchies Supermarket in the Campus West area of Fort Collins near the CSU Campus.

Named after their 5-year old son, they opened just after COVID-19 hit. Being inside a store, however, meant their business was “essential,” so they slowly built up a loyal following and a high Yelp rating in the process.

Using brines and a tri-wood combination of maple, hickory, and cherry, Craig figured out the ideal way to prepare his smoked meats including his tender 12-hour brisket and root beer riblets made with Tommyknocker Root Beer and reaper sauce.


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The hands-down mouth-watering favorite, however, is the Beer Can Chicken. Popular in the south, it is relatively unknown in these parts. Craig first uses his proprietary rub and then inserts an open can of beer inside the cavity of the bird. The steam of the beer makes the chicken incredibly moist and tasty while not imparting the actual taste of the alcohol. You can order any number of sides such as Carolina white beans, O.G. Coleslaw, and house-baked honey wheat rolls.

If you have never tried a Banh Mi sandwich, you are in for a treat! Photo by Ron Stern, all rights reserved

Daikon Bahn Mi Shop– Boulder

Have you ever heard of Bahn MI? Me neither. Rob McGowan fell in love with the street food in Southeast Asia, particularly a sandwich called Bahn Mi. Traditionally made with vegetables, pork or pate on a baguette, Rob decided to launch his own Americanized version in the 29th St. Mall in Boulder.

“Many Americans didn’t know what this was,” says Rob. But after trying one of these beauties, many have become loyal customers. Rob who has been working in kitchens since he was 14, starts his creations with a crispy baguette that he sources from a local French bakery. He then layers it with house-made mayo, pork, cilantro, cucumber, and a pickled variety of carrot Daikon radishes, jalapeño, mint, and red onions.


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Customers can choose from several different proteins including original pork (most popular), chicken, 36-hour brisket, smoked salmon, jackfruit, tofu, or Unami mushroom.

My first bite was crunchy, sweet, and savory, all at the same time, “hitting every piece of the palette,” as Rob says.

Reaction from his customers has been overwhelmingly positive with many saying it was the “best sandwich they ever had.” A second location in Boulder on the Pearl Street Mall is opening soon.

Crispy on the outside and moist and tender on the inside. Photo by Ron Stern, all rights reserved

Click Here to read about five more Great Colorado Eateries, page 2
The Post Brewing Company– Multiple Locations

Good fried chicken is a hard to satisfy craving for many. The Post Brewery, where their motto is Hot Chicken Loves Cold Beer, solves that dilemma. For Coloradans at least..

A delightful patio lunch, accompanied by perfect weather, at their Boulder location was the perfect introduction to perfect fried chicken. Paired with one of their microbrewery Town IPA’s, I sunk my teeth past perfectly seasoned crunchy skin into moist tender meat.

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Chef and partner Brett Smith traveled the country taste testing fried chicken and experimented with fifty variations before finding the perfect recipe. Using a secret seasoning blend combined with brining and gluten-free breading, his birds are crispy on the outside and moist and juicy on the inside.

The most popular items on the menu include Chicken and Waffles, House Chicken Sandwich, and the Chicken BLT. If you have any room left–and even if you don’t—you must try their humungous chocolate whoopie pie with sweet mascarpone filling—“awesome!” as my grandson would say.

Their other locations include Denver, Longmont, and Lafayette

Ramen Star is as authentic as you can get this side of Japan. Photo by Denise Mickelsen, 5280 Magazine

Ramen Star– Denver

When it comes to finding good ramen, it is a bit like the story of Goldilocks. But in this case, it is too salty, too spicy, or too bland. Then there is just right. Just right is what you will find at Ramen Star tucked into the Sunnyside neighborhood of Denver.

Owner Takashi Tamai traveled to Tokyo to study how to make perfect authentic Japanese ramen. He learned his craft at the popular Menya Itto restaurant featured in the movie “Ramen Heads.”

Takashi opened Ramen Star in 2019, already earning the 2020 “Best Ramen to Go” from Westword Magazine. What’s his secret?


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First, he makes everything from scratch. That includes his Tokyo-style soup from tonkotsu gyokai broth, prepared with organic ingredients and no MSG. Concerned with authenticity, Tamai ordered a noodle machine from Japan so he could prepare his own, a painstaking process. The result is a flavor-intensive experience combining the best ingredients for a memorable meal.

His signature bowl is Umami Tonkotsu Broth with house-made noodles topped with chashu (braised pork belly), green onion, beansprouts, and pickled ginger. This one would make Goldilocks, and the bears, proud.

Fresh ingredients and a taste of world cuisine at Roots Photo by Ron Stern, all rights reserved

Roots– Broomfield

Sometimes we are in the mood for ethnic and cultural food. Fortunately, they are found at Roots. Expanding on a successful career with her 5-star rated Gourmet Kitchen Catering company, Chef-owner Madhoo Seth now offers her world cuisine at Roots located on the grounds of the Broomfield Copper Leaf Event Center.

Believing that food is a way to connect people to one’s culture (hence the name Roots), Madhoo an immigrant from Delhi, India, creates multi-cultural cuisine with flavors inspired by her worldwide travels.

Great food and community are found here among her various dishes while dining on the lawn at the Copper Leaf Event Center.


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The leisurely meal begins with gourmet cheese and charcuterie board, beautifully displayed and laden with imported and domestic cheeses with dates, jams, berries, and nuts. For a little taste of India, the vegetarian paneer parmesan fettuccine with house-made marinara, paneer, and grilled vegetables with herbed oil is just what I was looking. The dish offers perfectly blended flavors and the right amount of spice.

So make haste and you will find, as I did, meals that are “delicious, eclectic, and fresh.”

Cakes, pies, strudel and more at this wonderful German bakery. Photo by Ron Stern, all rights reserved

Rheinlander Bakery– Arvada

One of the reasons to love Germany is their confections. The first thing I usually do after checking into my hotel is to make a beeline straight for the nearest cake shop (konditorei). Fortunately, to satisfy your sweet tooth, you can save yourself the airfare and just head over to downtown Arvada and the Rheinlander Bakery.

This multi-generational German bakery was established in 1963 and is still in the original building with wooden floors, fixtures, and large well-lit display cases packed with goodies.


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Their large selection includes pastries, tortes, cakes, cookies, cupcakes, strudels, many of which are vegan, as well as sugar and dairy-free items.

My favorite, for which I would almost crawl over sharp chocolate chips, is Black Forest Cake. Made from scratch, theirs is made with sour cherries, French buttercream frosting, and big chocolate swirls. They don’t actually use *irschwasser* syrup, a brandy cognac, in their recipe, which is a personal preference.

Others such as the Princess Cake and German Chocolate are the most popular and probably why they are currently #1 on Yelp. With more than 20 varieties of cake, memories flooded back of all my trips to Germany with pretty much one thing on my mind.

Coastal Mexican cuisine with a twist at Lola. Photo by Ron Stern, all rights reserved

Lola Coastal Mexican– Denver

A staple in Denver, Lola offers their own inspired version of coastal Mexican cuisine with dine-in and take out options. The covered patio is the perfect overlook for people watching in this hip and trendy Highland’s neighborhood. Joggers, scooters, cyclists, dog walkers, and families strolling around the sidewalks are all part of the activity here and add to the ambiance.


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The food is “seafood forward” with Asian influences and is a spin on traditional Mexican fare. The plates are meant to be shared. We started with one of their signature Mexican Old Fashioned cocktails with rye, Averna, and orange bitters, with their own custom ice cube, of course. Then we sampled their crispy cauliflower with cauliflower puree, xnipec sauce, za’tar spices, and pickled Fresno peppers.

Sounds like a strange combination but the sweet and spices flavors worked really well creating instant fans.

Their taco board is a local favorite and comes with fresh tortillas, chicken, green rice, Mexican street corn and three types of dipping sauces. I would recommend ordering more street corn as it is quite delicious in its own right and coated with chipotle aioli, Cotija, chives, chili powder, and lime.

If you still have room for dessert, you can choose from churros, flourless chocolate cake, or goats’ milk tres leches.

Restaurants during COVID

While opening and maintaining a restaurant post-COVID can be quite a difficult endeavor. The owners of these eateries have done so in an extraordinary fashion. Each has a dedication to culinary excellence, great service, and attention to detail. In today’s economy, customers want to make sure they receive not only tasty food but value for their money.

All of these restaurateurs work hard to make sure your experience is consistently wonderful every time.

FTC Disclosure: This was a sponsored visit; however, all opinions herein are the authors.

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