Best of 2020 (Part 2)

Best Asian-Style Chicken

Bonchon Chicken

8340 E Northfield Blvd, Denver, CO 80238

bonchon.com | @bonchonstapleton

A new category for 2020 - Bonchon Chicken in Stapleton is this year’s best Asian-Style Chicken. And what we are really talking about here is fried chicken! Bonchon is a global restaurant chain best known for its crunchy double-fried chicken, savory signature sauces, and unique pan-Asian menu. Founded in South Korea in 2002, the word “Bonchon” means “my hometown” in Korean which represents their authentic, traditional ingredients and cooking techniques, ensuring the highest level of flavor and care with each dish. For these reasons, Bonchon has been recognized by many industry leaders and has won many awards for best chicken wings restaurant chains.

Honorable Mentions:

1) Angry Chicken 2) Funny Plus

Best Asian Bakery

Tokyo Premium Bakery

1540 S Pearl Street, Denver, CO 80210

tokyopremiumbakery.com | @tokyopremiumbakery

Tokyo Premium Bakery provides all kinds of Japanese-style breads and pastries. Their products are made from scratch and baked fresh. Tokyo Premium Bakery also provides a variety of drinks such as their staff recommended authentic matcha latte and hojicha latte which pair nicely with their fresh bread and fruit tarts. On the weekend, Tokyo Premium Bakery shows lines of customers waiting to order their favorite morning delights. Customers can also order their Shoku-Pan (loaf of bread) online.

Honorable Mentions:

1) New Saigon Bakery 2) Le Petite Bakery

Best Asian Supermarktet

HMart

2752 S Parker Road, Aurora, CO 80014

myhmart.com

H-Mart is our winner for the best Asian Supermarket the seventh year! This Korean-owned supermarket opened its first Colorado location in January 2004. Packed with shoppers, H-Mart is best visited during the weekdays as weekends and holidays show long lines and huge crowds for the large selection of Asian grocery choices. The grocery store offers a mini fish market, where shoppers can ask for cleaning and frying of fish onsite. The produce area has a lot variety of fruit and vegetables, even durian, mangos and papayas; and the bakery offers fresh breads and pastries.

Honorable Mentions: 1) Pacific Ocean Supermarket (Aurora)

2) Pacific Ocean Marketplace (Denver)

Best Thai Curry

US Thai Cafe

5228 W 25th Ave Edgewater, CO 80214

303-233-3345 (no website/social)

Head to Edgewater if you like your Thai food spicy! US Thai Cafe brings the heat with force and flavor, but it’s not just a gimmick. Thai chiles enhance and balance massive amounts of other spices — galangal, lemongrass, garlic, kaffir lime leaf and ginger, to name a few. Curries are thick with the pulp of said seasonings, while dressings on papaya salads and larb assert themselves with lime and fish sauce.

Honorable mentions:

1) Pearl of Siam 2) Suvipa Thai Food

Best Boba Tea

Happy Lemon

9686 E Arapahoe Rd, Greenwood Village, CO 80112

happylemoncolorado.com | @happylemonco

Happy Lemon opened its doors in Colorado this year and has topped the charts as the local favorite! The global bubble tea chain established in China in 2006, now has over 1,500 locations across the globe. Happy Lemon is determined to use freshly squeezed lemon juice, grapefruit, strawberries, avocado, mint leaves and other natural ingredients in their tea making process. Some of its most popular items include Jasmine Green Tea with Salted Cheese, Milk Tea w/Oreo and Puff Cream, and freshly baked Bubble Waffles.

Honorable mentions:

1) Kung Fu Tea 2) Tea Street

Best Dosa (South Indian Dish)

Bawarchi Biryani Point

11001 E Arapahoe Pl, Centennial, CO 80112

denverbawarchi.com

@bawarchi_denver

A dosa/dosai is a rice pancake, originating from South India, made from a fermented batter predominantly consisting of lentils and rice. Bawarchi Biryani Point at Centennial won this new category this year! Bawarchi is a chain restaurant focused on authentic India food. Its name Bawarchi, is synonymous with Authentic Indian Biryanis, where aromatic spices come together to create a tantalizing Pot of Biryani. The Centennial location provides Cone Dosa (made in the shape of cone) and Chocolate Dosa (made with chocolate).

Honorable mentions:

1) Tiffins India Cafe 2) Masalaa

Best Asian Food Truck

Yuan Wonton Food Truck

@yuanwonton

Yuan Wonton Food Truck is Denver’s mobile dumpling truck specializing in signature chili-garlic wontons, handmade dumplings and other Asian noms. At Yuan Wonton, every delicious dumpling is made with passion and love.

And for Penelope Wong, owner of this popular food truck, sharing this family tradition with Denver is personal. A long time chef, Penelope, developed a love of food when she was very young. And her unique take on wontons, dumplings, noodles and rice dishes has quickly helped Yuan Wonton become a local favorite. For information on schedules, pop ups, events, and ordering details, be sure to check out their stories on Instagram @yuanwonton.

Honorable mentions:

1) No Ke Aloha -Hawaiian/Polynesian 2) BG Dough

Best Asian Owned Business

Tea Street

4090 E Mississippi Ave, Denver, CO, 80246

teastreetdenver.com | @teastreetdenver

Tea Street was recognized as the Best Asian Owned Business of the year by our readers! Tea Street puts a modern twist on classically inspired drinks, building upon the foundation of invigorating bold brews of tea. Their craft drinks do not contain synthetically flavored powders or syrups. Syrups and toppings, including but not limited to their puddings, herbal jelly, red and mung bean are all made from scratch. As one nominator shared: “Tea Street not only has delicious offerings but they are also very supportive of the Asian community in Colorado through donations as well as advocacy.”

Honorable mentions:

1) Comrade Brewing 2) Salon Joa

Best New Food Delivery

Saranya Cooks Thai (Thai meal kit)

saranyacooksthai.com | @saranyacooksthai

Want to create your own authentic Thai food at home? ​Saranya Cooks Thai meal kits are the way to go! Saranya Cooks Thai delivers boxes of fresh, authentic ingredients to your front door (in the Denver Metro, Northern Colorado, and Boulder areas) so you can create delicious Thai dishes in the comfort of your own home. Every kit comes with all the ingredients needed for four servings. Founded by Thai American, Zonya Dawson, the business has been thriving especially as many people are eating more at home.

Honorable mentions:

1)Jada’s Mochi Donuts 2) Kitsune Bento