Metro Denver’s food scene has never been as vibrant as it is today, something The Denver Post’s food writers 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’ve tried. Want to hear about them early? Subscribe to the Stuffed newsletter, where we introduce one each Wednesday.
Smok BBQ
Maybe I had Michelin on the mind. The vaunted guide’s third Colorado iteration was released in mid-September, and in Denver, Smok BBQ was one of two dozen spots that retained its Michelin status. The recommendation doesn’t surprise me. The barbecue joint and bar, located in The Source Hotel, is one of the few I know of that smoke turkey, a leaner weekday option for lunch and dinner than, say, a cheesy smashburger. Its turkey sandwich consists of piles of thick slices of turkey breast, bacon and avocado with tomato and lettuce on a brioche bun. You may not need a side to go along with it, but trying Smok’s barbecue sauces is a must.
3330 Brighton Blvd., Denver, and a location in Fort Collins; denversmok.com
Dan Da
In the Aurora Cultural Arts District that hugs East Colfax Avenue, two Vietnamese restaurants run by the same family have become foodie destinations. Banh & Butter Bakery Cafe opens at 8 a.m. for coffee orders and croissant breakfast sandwiches. Next door, Dan Da handles more of the lunch and dinner crowd. It’s a bright and brilliant restaurant with coordinated blue decor and a sprawling mural on the wall. The noodle bowl at Dan Da, with lemongrass pork skewers, shrimp and pork/shrimp egg roll bites (order NB4 in the special noodle bowls section) was a gold mine of flavor and textures. The noodles are easy to slurp up, and the fish sauce that comes on the side ties it all together. This is just one option in a menu full of rich, savory entrees.
9945 E. Colfax Ave., Aurora; dandavn.com
SubCulture
SubCulture has the same trick up its sleeve as another elite Denver sandwich shop, Tessa Delicatessen: It sources its bread from City Bakery, which was opened by chocolatier Michael Bortz in 2007. That means that any sandwich on the (massive) menu — the braised Colorado beef, the chicken marinara, the reuben or the Caesar-in-a-bun are just a few examples — is enveloped in some of the crispiest, freshest bread in town. I happened to order the limited-edition “Headbangers and Mash” (mashed potatoes, grilled onions and andouille sausage), which is now off the menu. But you’ll be rewarded with anything on the menu.
1300 Pennsylvania St., Denver; thisissubculture.com
Beijing Noodle
If you find yourself traveling up along the Front Range this fall, pay a visit to this hidden secret of Fort Collins. Beijing Noodle’s strip-mall neighbors are a liquor store and a cleaners, an understated restaurant making Chinese food that’s brimming with flavor. One of its simplest dishes, the noodles with tomato and egg ($12.50), was one of its most savory. The bright tomato and scrambled egg mixture complemented the noodles — handmade every day, by the way — and warmed the soul on a chilly day.
1005 W. Stuart St. Unit A-1, Fort Collins; beijingnoodlecolorado.com