Metro Denver’s food scene has never been as vibrant as it is today, something The Denver Postap food writers understand. Thatap why we’re out on the town as much as possible. Each month, we’ll provide you with recommendations about a few of the dishes we’ve tried. Want to hear about them early? Subscribe to the Stuffed newsletter, where we introduce one each Wednesday.
Dumpling Spot
The quality emerging from this food stall inside Edgewater Public Market doesn’t match its humble name or decor. Dumpling Spot deserves more praise — or perhaps a more colorful sign. The Chinese-style dumplings are fresh, piping hot and made with tasty fillings such as chicken and sweet corn and shrimp and pork. The dim sum sampler has more intricate variations — shrimp shumai, for instance, and dumplings with rose-shaped pleats.
Located at Edgewater Public Market, 5505 W. 20th Ave., Edgewater; toasttab.com
La Fillette Bakery
The two-time champion of the Golden Croissant, an award handed out by a co-op of Denver bakers, makes a mean hash brown, too. La Fillette Bakery’s version is technically a “rosti,” a Swiss variety made with fried potatoes. A bed of warm gruyere cheese under it takes the dish to another level. Strong flavor and presentation from a bakery that just celebrated 11 years in operation.
6217 E. 14th Ave., Denver; lafillettebakery.com
Maria Empanada
Twice now this year, I’ve taken friends I was hosting at home to eat lunch at Maria Empanada, the popular empanada counter with several locations across Denver. Their display racks contain dozens of empanadas with different fillings, including the “Diego” and beef varieties pictured above. Named after Argentinian soccer legend Diego Maradona, the former has a savory mix of braised chicken, sauteed onions, bell peppers and chimichurri sauce. At $5.49 each, pick however many you want — and see if you have any room left for an “alfajor,” a chewy cookie, or a Nutella-filled empanada for dessert.
Located in Denver, Aurora and Denver International Airport; mariaempanada.com
Lucky Noodles
The house was packed at Lucky Noodles in late April during Mile High Asian Food Week, which saw crowds arriving in droves to Asian restaurants around Denver and its suburbs. But the affable owner, Kamolrat “Ploy” Limpapath, still made enough time and took the effort to offer me something I hadn’t tried before: her slow-cooked pork rib noodle soup, with bok choy, bean sprouts and scallions. It warmed the body and soul, much like everything at this standout Thai restaurant, which is now a year into its new location off Broadway.
12 E. 1st Ave., Denver; luckynoodlesthaidenver.com
