This blog post will be regularly updated as I discover new restaurants and add to my list of favorites.
It has been since I have moved to Colorado. Only now that I feel ready to fairly judge Denver’s food scene. After spending some time here, I’ve gained a clearer perspective on the local offerings, without being heavily influenced by my upbringing in New York—where I lived for over half my life—and nearly a decade in San Francisco, both of which are known for their amazing, diverse, and nearly limitless food options.
I am starting small by introducing my favorite area to eat: Aurora, Colorado. I know, it’s not Denver, but it’s right next door, with some neighborhoods blending together, making it hard to tell where one ends and the other begins. Let me explain why Aurora is my top spot for food: I absolutely love Asian cuisine and have tried a ton of it over the years. I genuinely believe that Aurora has some of the best offerings in the area, apart from Federal near the Far East Center (which is a discussion topic for another time). Fun fact: Aurora is actually sister city to Seongnam City in South Korea! So naturally, all the best Korean food can also be found here! here!
Without further ado, here are my current favorite spots, in no particular order, to eat in Aurora, Colorado! These are spots that I come back to time and time again. This list will be regular updated as I discover new restaurants!
Tofu Story
2787 S Parker Rd, Aurora, CO 80014
Korean | Recommended dish: Soondubu (tofu stew)
Tofu Story is hands down my favorite Korean restaurant in Colorado. They make their tofu in-house (which you can also buy separately), and the flavor of their tofu stews is spot-on. They also offer unique Korean dishes that are hard to find elsewhere, like raw marinated crab, which is surprisingly delicious for a landlocked area. I’ve tried many other dishes dishes on their menu, and they were all fantastic. But honestly, I come here primarily for the tofu stews since I get cravings for soondobu time to time, the other dishes I get to try are just the cherry on top!
Katsu Ramen
1930 S Havana St #4, Aurora, CO 80014
Japanese | Recommended dish: Tonkotsu ramens & onigiris
One of my biggest disappointments since moving to Colorado has been the lack of good ramen. It’s been disheartening to visit nearly five-star places on Yelp (which, by the way, ratings tends to be overly inflated in Colorado) only to end up with an expensive bowl of ramen expensive bowl of ramen topped with arugula in or just something not ramen but an interpretation of ramen. Just getting your average quality New York or California ramen is just so hard to find. Would my ramen cravings only be satisfied by trips to Japan, California, or New York? And then, I discovered Katsu Ramen.
When you walk in, you see a large banner in the back highlighting their tonkotsu broth, boasting that they cook their broth for 16 hours. That is a good sign! I’ve tried nearly every ramen on their menu, and I can confidently say that their regular Tonkotsu or Black Garlic Tonkotsu is the way to go. It’s creamy, rich, and flavorful—the closest thing to Hakata-style ramen (like the ramen broths you get at Ichiran or Ippudo) in Denver. That said, the one thing they could do better is their egg. Usually a soft boiled egg is served with ramen, but they served their's hard boiled. But that is something I can let slide since they nailed the head on the broth where so many places in Denver has such a hard time doing.
Annette
2501 Dallas St STE 108, Aurora, CO 80010
Modern American | Recommended dish: Grilled beef tongue, Roasted cabbage
Fine dining in Colorado can sometimes feel like you're paying a premium for style and hype over substance—especially since Michelin entered the scene. While many restaurants prioritize flashy presentation or trendy ingredients over substance, Annette stands out for its exceptional flavors and flawless execution.
Yes, Annette is on the pricier side, but the quality of the food I feel justifies the cost. Every dish I have tried was thoughtfully prepared, cooked to perfection, and packed with bold, balanced, and deeply satisfying flavors. While the price point might keep me from dining here regularly, it’s definitely a spot I’d return to for special occasions or a memorable night out.
During my last visit there, I really enjoyed the grilled beef tongue—a cut that can be hit or miss. The meat was tender, perfectly seasoned, and genuinely delicious. Paired with the tangy pickled carrot relish and mustard seeds, the dish had a beautiful contrast that cut through the richness and brought everything together. Another favorite was the roasted cabbage. It was buttery, deeply savory, and rich, served over a bed of mashed beans that added both creaminess and substance. It’s the kind of vegetable dish that surprises you with how hearty and satisfying it is—comforting, flavorful, and memorable.
Moobongri Soondae
2787 S Parker Rd, Aurora, CO 80014
Korean | Recommended dish: their tangs aka milky bone soups
There’s this amazing Korean soup made with pork or ox bones, known as Gamjatang and Seolleongtang, that I absolutely love. It’s clean and simple, yet naturally rich and flavorful thanks to the long cooking time. Beef or pork bones are simmered for hours, resulting in a creamy, flavorful soup that highlights the natural sweetness of the meat and bones. It comes out lightly seasoned with seasoning options—like salt, fermented fish paste, and perilla powder—on the side, allowing you to customize the flavor profile to your liking.
Interestingly, this was the first Korean dish I ever tried when I was about 13 or 14. I visited a restaurant in Koreatown, NYC, with my Korean friend and her family after a day at the Museum of Natural History. To be honest, I didn't like it back then; I found it bland. But I think as kids, we often overlook those simple, subtle flavors. Now, it’s my second favorite Korean soup/stew (after Soondubu, of course!).
Anyways, this is a long winded way of saying, the bone tangs are fantastic at Moonbongri. I usually don’t revisit restaurants because there are so many new places to try, but I keep coming back for them!
Banh & Butter Bakery Cafe
9935 E Colfax Ave, Aurora, CO 80010
French + Vietnamese | Recommended items: Strawberry croissant, Croissants, Iced Vietnamese Egg Coffee
In New York City and San Francisco (including the SF Peninsula), you can find great bakeries every couple of blocks, but in Denver, they’re few and far between. Banh & Butter is the first bakery I discovered that actually meets my high standards (which might be a bit too high) for baked goods. As a baker myself, I really appreciate quality. Their laminated pastries, like croissants, are outstanding, featuring a shatteringly crisp crust and a tender center. I also enjoy their coffee—finding Vietnamese egg coffee is a rare treat, but they serve it here, which I love. Their coffee is strong and caffeinated, just as it should be and exactly how I like it!
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