20 Denver Hidden Gem Restaurants Worth Seeking Out
- Natalia Story
- Aug 2, 2025
- 8 min read
Updated: 5 hours ago
I almost hate writing this post, because any regular at a “hidden gem” wants it to stay hidden just a little while longer, of course. But these restaurants deserve the recognition (and the business). There are no Michelin-star spots on this list, although a couple may have recently received a “bib gourmand” recognition for “great food at an affordable price” — so they’re definitely already a little less hidden. This is my bib gourmand list, so to speak, in no particular order.
(And by the way, all the Korean spots in my post about Korean food in Denver should probably be on here, but I didn't want to repeat other lists, so I just pulled my favorite from there.)
955 S Kipling Pkwy, Lakewood
Since 2004, owners Sylvester and Theodora Osei-Fordwuo have welcomed all visitors through their doors like family. It’s impossible not to feel their love for this place and their gratitude for those who frequent it. While Ghanaian themselves, they offer a wide variety of African cuisine here, from South African pap and chakalaka, to East African samosas and chapatti, to North African couscous, to West African fufu and jollof, to Central African cassava and peanut dishes.
7562 S University Blvd, Centennial
Reggae Pot Jamaican Grill is the best Jamaican restaurant in Denver. Their menu offers island specialties like jerk chicken, escovitch fish, oxtail, curried goat, and curry chicken — paired with traditional sides like stewed cabbage, rice & beans, and plantains — and seasoned with scotch bonnet peppers and fiery jerk spices. Owner Tamara Nisbeth — originally from Montego Bay, Jamaica — has created a vibrant, welcoming atmosphere here with a great variety of food (and also fantastic catering options).
420 E Bayaud Ave, Denver
It was hard for me to pick a “hidden gem” in the sushi category, because there are just so many great little sushi spots in strip malls all over Denver metro, but I decided to go with Taki Sushi — a tiny little spot in Wash Park that easily gets lost among the heavy hitters. No reservations required, and great food. No rolls costs more than $17, even the lobster one. All the fish tastes fresh, the portions are generous, and the prices are reasonable.
1201 S Pearl St, Denver
Lincoln’s Road House describes itself as a “blues bar and cajun cafe” — and it’s the best dive bar I’ve been to in Denver, which also somehow serves some of the best cajun food. It’s been in Wash Park for 20+ years, located right by I-25 on a corner you’d easily miss if you didn’t know about it. They serve what is arguably the best gumbo and crawfish etouffee in town, as well as a variety of po’boys (also available as bowls for my gluten-free folks). There are also 2 non-cajun items on their menu that are fan favorites: a meatloaf cheeseburger and a pot roast burrito.
1531 Stout St, Denver
I’m not sure how there can still be a “hidden gem” downtown — but Mint has been open since 2016, and most people still don't know about it. It’s a little spot on Stout Street that isn’t fancy or flashy. It has good service and a reasonably-priced lunch buffet — and I've been ordering dinner from here for years. The quality, flavors, and portions have been more consistent than most other places I've gone to. Plus the selection: korma, tikka masala, vindaloo, saagwala, rogan josh, chettinad, kadai, hyderbadi, and house curry — and goat is an option!
6882 S Yosemite St, Centennial
I'm pretty sure this Indian spot in Centennial actually does have the biggest Indian selection in Denver — from their steaming shrimp appetizer, to their enormous dosas, to the huge variety of curry options. I love Indian food so much I had an Indian buffet at my wedding, and I still discovered options here I'd never heard of before, including a new favorite: Andhra Mamsam Kura (baby goat cooked with Andhra spices). It's a great spot for a casual lunch (yes, there is a buffet) or a date night. The decor isn't too fancy, but it's definitely cute!
1565 W Alameda Ave, Denver
This Mexican spot near Alameda & Tejon is better known by some as that “little orange house” than by its name. “Calle” literally means street in Spanish — and the street tacos here are legit. They have all the classics, but I also recommend branching out and trying the cabeza (cow cheek), campechango (fried pork mixed with skin), tripa (fried tripe), and lengua (cow tongue). All 3 soups on the menu are also great options: menudo, barbacoa y consome, and goat birria.
2233 Larimer St, Denver
El Borrego Negro used to be one of Denver’s best-kept secrets when Chef Jose Avila (of the famed La Diabla Pozole y Mezcal) founded it back in 2020 as a Sunday-only roadside pop-up in Morrison. And now he's brought it downtown to the alley behind La Diabla! It’s a weekend pop-up specializing in authentic Hidalgo-style pork and lamb barbacoa (slow cooked all night in a pit). Don't miss the rabbit tacos, either!
Chicharrones Imperio
7155 Newport St, Commerce City
This is my most recent addition to this list, and it was kind of an accidental find. There's no website or much of a social presence, but the locals know about this spot and line up out the door on the weekends for the best chicharrones (fried pork rinds) in town. You can order them crispier or meatier — or just the carnitas pork meat — and get them with all the sides to share with the family.
9945 E Colfax Ave, Aurora
A recent opening from the family behind long-standing Denver institutions like New Saigon and Savory Vietnam, this is perfect location to get a taste of the full gamut of authentic Vietnamese dishes from the pros. The only thing I don’t love is the location on E Colfax, but the space is super cute and the food is top-notch. My Vietnamese favorites are always items like cherry clams, dungeness crab, and bun bo hue.
333 S Federal Blvd, Denver
Denver boasts so many excellent Vietnamese restaurant options, I just had to add one more to the list. This one is my favorite of the Phở spots in town, but go for the Bún Riêu or Bún Bò Huế — both of which are lesser know, but way better dishes, in my opinion. The first is tomato-based broth topped with crab, and the second is a beef-based broth heavy on lemongrass and a bit spicy.
8000 E Quincy Ave, DTC
Shondiz doesn't look like much from the outside, but it has the best kebabs and Persian cuisine in Denver. I’ve never particularly liked falafel or dolma (stuffed grape leaves) — until now. All the different skewers, from chicken to beef, are tender and delicious — but the real standout is the lamb lollipops. You definitely don’t need a knife for these. They melt in your mouth. And everything is super affordable — plus available for catering on short notice.
4450 W 38th Ave, Denver
Tucked away at the corner of 38th & Tennyson in Highland, Glo Noodle House is actually next to the original Elitch Gardens (where only the historic carousel dome still stands). It's a cute little spot with colorful paper lanterns and just a few tables, but it serves my favorite ramen in town. If you're a fan of non-traditional options (or spicy food) — the "Deathwish" ramen is a must-try. They also have 3-4 fantastic "raw" options on the menu (such as hamachi and spicy tuna on crispy rice).
39 W 1st Ave, Denver
A New York City-area pop-up turned Denver food hall concept, MAKfam finally opened its doors off Broadway in Denver's Baker neighborhood in late 2023. It doesn't take reservations, so there's often a line to get a table at this tiny little spot, and for good reason. They serve my favorite wings in town (and the gluten-free ones are even better). For vegetarians, they have fried tofu sticks that are just as good, too! The fried rice and Hong Kong curry are also a must.
1900 W 32nd Ave, Denver
Opened in 2023 in the always-buzzing LoHi neighborhood of Denver, Kawa Ni is a "nontraditional and playful take on a Japanese Izakaya." An izakaya is the Japanese concept of a friendly neighborhood pub or tavern for lingering with friends over drinks and snacks. This spot sometimes gets overlooked in a neighborhood with so many heavy hitters and so much going on, but there's a reason the locals love it.
2890 Zuni St & 6330 S Parker Rd
This is my favorite "hot pot" in the area, with a location Littleton and a recently-opened one in LoHi. It’s not a fully DIY spot like the traditional Chinese ones, but you instead choose 1 of approximately 12 pre-designed options (all of which are fantastic), pick a spice level, and customize if needed. The starter combos vary from beef-focused, to lamb-focused, to seafood-focused, to curry flavored, to Thai (like a Tom Yum), to traditional spicy Taiwanese, to Japanese miso, to Chinese sichuan. All delicious!
2222 S Havana St, Aurora
In its own words, “Experience Korean nightlife culture with Thank Sool Pocha K-Pub!” This has been one of my favorite spots in Colorado for years, and not just for its fun atmosphere. It serves some of what I think is the funnest and best variety of Korean food in town — from kalbi ribs, to spicy braised chicken feet, to stir fried chicken gizzards, to spicy crab soup (pictured), to army stew (which features famous American wartime exports such as hot dogs and SPAM), to kimchi pancakes.
6878 S Yosemite & 2205 E Colfax
Hong Kong Station is my favorite spot for traditional Chinese food in Denver (not dim sum). It’s a casual-looking spot with 2 locations, an extensive menu, and great service (or delivery). You can of course get the typical items everyone knows like Kung Pao Chicken and Mongolian Beef — but mt favorite dish here is the Beef Tendon & Brisket Pot (either the “Szechuan” one if you like spice, or the “Curry” version if you like it a little more mild). Don’t skip dessert: the HK Style French Toast with peanut butter is a must-try.
781 S Federal Blvd, Denver
Nothing beats a good crab & crawfish boil in my opinion — and these are the best in town (if you're talking permanent brick-and-mortar location, not seasonal po-ups). Their house sauce is bomb (super flavorful, not overloaded with oil or butter, with large garlic chunks cooked down to soft). I recommend getting clams, fresh crawfish (when in season), and dungeness crab clusters, plus corn and sausage — in the spicy house sauce. They have a second, larger location in Lakewood now — but I still prefer the cozy little spot on S Federal where it all began.
1135 Bannock St, Denver
Lo Stella has been open in Denver’s Golden Triangle neighborhood (near the art museum) since 2013 — but most people seem to have never heard of it. Lo Stella has one sister restaurant, owned by the same family, and that one has been in Portofino, Italy since 1850. So the food here is as authentic as you’d expect from a restaurant in a small town in Italy. The must-tries here are the seafood ravioli (I was surprised too) — and anything they can finish in the enormous parmesan-wheel bowl. (And they do have gluten-free pasta, but that will get cross-contaminated in the wheel.)
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