Metro Denver’s food scene has never been as vibrant as it is today, something The Denver Post’s food writers and the rest of the staff of The Know understand. That’s 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 tried over the previous weeks. Want to hear about them early? Subscribe to the Stuffed newsletter, where we introduce one of these dishes every Wednesday.
Olive & Finch
Before boarding a light rail train to the airport recently, I swung into the east wing of Union Station and sat down at Olive & Finch with time to enjoy breakfast. Chef and owner Mary Nguyen, a Denver native, started the diner chain in 2013, opening the train depot’s location in March and another two months later inside the Denver Performing Arts Complex. My eyes gravitated toward the Williamsburg hash ($15), a hearty breakfast served in a cast-iron pan. There was enough pastrami, potatoes, bacon-roasted cabbage, eggs and “dijonnaise” inside it that I didn’t need to eat a single meal until I got to my destination.
Locations across Denver; oliveandfinch.com
Convivio Cafe
An addition to my list of empanada spots is Convivio Cafe, which opened in 2023 as “the first women-owned, Guatemalan-inspired, bilingual café in Denver.” The West Highland neighborhood coffee shop had eluded me until last week, when it hosted a documentary about the cuisine that recent immigrants have brought to Colorado. Coffee and communion are at the heart of Convivio, and its fried corn empanadas, with chicken, potatoes and peppers, were an ideal snack for this Chilean reporter. As of this month, Convivio has expanded its hours, introduced local beers and South American wines to its drink options, and added more dishes to its food menu.
4935 W. 38th Ave., Denver; conviviocafe.com
Kumoya
Nasu, or eggplant, is commonly found as a starter course or side dish in Japanese restaurants. Never had I seen it prepared the way they did at Kumoya, which took over the former LoHi location of Tony P’s in 2023. The restaurant — one of several owned by Juan Padro’s Culinary Creative Group — has three distinct dining rooms to enjoy its upscale variations on sashimi and expansive sake collection. The nasu misoyake looks quaint compared to the other delicacies. Don’t let that fool you. The combination of broiled eggplant, miso glaze and bubu abare (crispy rice crackers) rivals everything else on the menu. Use a wooden spoon to scrape up all the gooey eggplant inside.
2400 W. 32nd Ave., Denver; kumoyadenver.com
Blanco Cocina + Cantina
The oddly branded “9+CO” development, off East 9th Avenue and Colorado Boulevard in Denver, includes two of the more beloved restaurants from Arizona-bred Fox Restaurant Concepts. Having grown up in the Grand Canyon State and experienced both, I’m convinced Blanco Cocina + Cantina is my favorite over Culinary Dropout. It’s a modern Mexican restaurant with a food and drink menu that’s delicious across the board. During my latest visit, I opted for the chicken tinga enchiladas with a side of black beans and rice ($17). The entree consisted of corn tortillas packed with shredded chicken and drizzled in red chile and queso. It was a filling dish made simply, with attention to the core ingredients of Mexican cuisine.
4177 E. 9th Ave., Denver; blancococinacantina.com