While everything at Mezcaleria Alma is exceptional, the tuna tostada is otherworldly. Thin slices sit atop a marsh of guacamole and habanero mayonnaise and are then doused with an amount of chives that could only be described as Chia Pet-esque. Mezcaleria Alma bills itself as a more casual option to its sister restaurant next door, Alma Fonda Fina. And while the space is a bit more laid back, the food lives up to the sky-high bar set by its neighbor.

Tucked in a cozy brick building in the heart of LoHi, Kawa Ni is a bar and restaurant with izakaya vibes and a contemporary soul. Framed prints of Japanese folk art line the walls of the moody, wood-paneled dining room, where an extensive menu of share-worthy bites featuring flavors from Japan, China, Thailand, and beyond are served. Come with a crowd and build a feast with the gochujang-seasoned lamb dan dan noodles, shaved broccoli salad with ham and ra-yu and fiery kung pao karaage.

Major Tom is the slightly more buttoned-down sister restaurant from the people behind Beckon, located just next door. The dimly-lit space brings to mind dusk on a space shuttle, and with just 30 seats and a killer sparkling wine and champagne program, it’s ideal for date night. Grab a table on the string light- and fire pit-furnished patio, or cozy up on a pillow-lined wooden bench. You can also sidle up to the tiny chef’s counter inside and watch the kitchen churn out platters of oysters.

Sub-$100 tasting menus in Denver are rarer than a traffic-free drive on I-70, which is why Wildflower is worth braving rush hour for. The seven- to nine-course meal takes familiar ingredients and pushes them way out of their comfort zones, like sweet corn cotton candy over agnolotti. While the prix fixe is the best value here, the a la carte options are solid as well.

Alma Fonda Fina makes the kind of regional, soulful, and high-end Mexican food that you can’t find anywhere else in town. That means new favorite dishes like salsa-topped agave-roasted sweet potatoes on creamy whipped requesón cheese, moles that go so far beyond poblano, and a giant hunk of crispy-skinned carnitas that will ruin you for all other carnitas. (Always ask for a side of sourdough tortillas.) Extroverts should grab a seat at the chef’s counter.

It didn’t take long for people to latch onto Molotov Kitschen & Cocktails—the restaurant only opened in January 2023, and it’s already one of the busiest spots in town. From the team behind Misfit Snack Bar, Molotov serves Eastern European dishes with creative twists, like smelt and pork pate-filled dumplings and beet-less borscht (it features sour cherries instead). The kitsch-filled space—check out the cuckoo clock collection—is tiny, so you should definitely try and make a reservation.

Hotel restaurants typically make us want to check out, but not The Source Hotel’s Safta with all its creamy hummuses, honeyed cheese borekas, and harissa-spiked chicken. The pitas are so big and pillowy they could pass as some sort of bread-based balloon. While the fine dining Israeli restaurant serves one of the best dinners in town, don’t overlook their weekend brunch. The all-you-can-eat bagels, lamb, pastrami hash, smoked fish, and pastries are worth making a return trip.

What happens when two of Denver’s most popular food trucks, Yuan Wonton and Pho King Rapids, team up to open a proper restaurant? You no longer have to wait in the snow for the city’s best dumplings, and can sit inside at an actual table while slurping up chewy rice noodles. What makes this operation even more special is that they alternate schedules, so you can get wontons dressed in spicy chili oil on Wednesdays, and a bowl of short rib phở you’ll never forget on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday.

This spot combines Asian, Italian, and Nordic cuisines with Colorado ingredients, but the dishes are so well-executed, you’ll never have to worry about any wonky combos. Whether you eat in the Scandinavian-style dining room or one of the glamping-like private patio tents, this is the place to go for an upscale, unique dining experience that’s worth dropping a couple hundred per person on.

A5 is a different sort of steakhouse than you usually find in Denver. Sure, there are the requisite whipped potatoes and New York strips, but there are also rare cuts like bavette, Delmonico, and the Japanese A5. Not to mention the must-eat beef tartare katsu sando appetizer, which has a soft-boiled quail egg among all that chopped tenderloin. It’s also decidedly un-stuffy, with tropical wallpaper and a thatched roof bar. Whatever steak you choose, order it “Chef Max Style."

Hop Alley is named after Denver’s 19th-century Chinatown, but it’s also a conversation starter and a tongue-in-cheek wink at the neighborhood’s history. Nowadays, the eight-year-old restaurant is still the cool kid in RiNo, Denver’s trendiest neighborhood. Sichuan chilis numb your tongue to a hip-hop soundtrack, and classics-with-a-curveball run through the menu, like char siu beets, sweet and sour fried parsnips, and the super spicy pork and pickled cabbage dumplings.

You’ll see carts slinging these burritos on downtown corners, but drive on past those and stop in at 38-year-old El Taco de Mexico. It’s a pretty simple space, but the menu is full of soul-nourishing Mexican food that includes flautas, tacos, and enchiladas, in addition to burritos. When they ask you if you’d like your burrito smothered in green chile, the answer is yes. Just don’t be confused if it doesn’t come out green: In Colorado, it’s tinted orange, thanks to the addition of tomatoes.

Yes, this is a steakhouse with a clever menu divided into Baller Moves and Normies (guess where the $175 tomahawk falls), but what we can’t get over is the wine “list.” The well-priced bottles are on the wall when you walk in, and you simply grab what you like and take it to your table. Brilliant. The meats come from all over, so you can pick among Argentinian tri-tip with red chimichurri and a side of chorizo, achiote marinated pork ribs, and what could be the best duck confit in town.

Lucina is a place where you can close your eyes, point to anything on the menu, and be wowed by whatever comes your way. You might land on the tlacoyo cochinita, a boat of red masa packed with slow-roasted pork and spicy garlic habanero crema, or some mofongo with pork belly chicharron. Truly everything is delicious, and the fun energy in the dining room and menu of small plates make this spot perfect for a date or a catch-up with a friend.

Mention Uchi to most people in Denver, and their eyes will probably light up. Whether it’s the best, most buttery piece of maguro they’ve ever eaten, the sizzling wagyu hot rock, the crunchy rice loaded with mushrooms, or, better yet, the 10-course omakase tasting that changed their life, a lot of people have a memory of Uchi that makes them eager to come back. And while there are so many different ways to do Uchi, the lively bar is where you want to be.

Kike’s has expanded into birria burritos, quesadillas, and even ramen. But really, it’s all about those tacos. The beef is simmered for more than eight hours in its spicy, saucy bath before hitting the griddle in cheesed-up corn tortillas and served with a cup of consomme for dunking. The former food truck moved into a brick-and-mortar space this past spring, meaning no more birria broth all over your car. Plus, the new liquor license means spicy margaritas to wash it all down.

Denver may not exactly be known for its pizza—although there is something called “mountain style” pie, and if you’re curious, you should visit Beau Jo’s for a taste. But there’s recently been something of a pizza boom happening throughout the city. Regardless of where you’re from or what time zone you live in, Cart-Driver makes exceptional wood-fired, Neapolitan-style pies with the perfect chewy, crunchy, cheesy, and tangy bite.

This fast-casual Native American spot combines traditional Osage recipes with more modern dishes. And while you may go down the line and order Chipotle-style, the tacos and bowls are way better than any chain, with options like fry bread tacos with spiced ground meats and excellent berry BBQ-glazed bison ribs. You should also check out Tocabe’s online marketplace, where they sell Native-sourced ingredients like blue corn pancake mix, grass-fed bison, and their signature house rub.

Start with the towering shrimp causa, a take on ceviche that layers chilled potato puree with peppers and avocado, and end with the best churros we’ve ever tasted. The utilitarian dining room isn’t the spot to propose amid dim lighting and plush banquettes, but you’re here for the food—and so is everyone else. Make a reservation to be guaranteed a seat in the small space, as everyone’s wrestling for tacos here.

Besides Casa Bonita and its wonky, lottery-style reservations, Sắp Sửa might be the toughest table to get in town. That’s because everyone is jockeying for their unique brand of refined, modern Vietnamese food that just so happens to also put sake in a juice box. (It tastes better that way, a bartender swears. He’s right.) Dishes like soft scrambled egg with brown butter and fish sauce, hamachi collar with coconut caramel, and an avocado and pork larb tostada just can’t be found anywhere else.

If every neighborhood had a spot like Odie B’s (formerly Bodega), the world would be a better place. That’s because people would be too busy feasting on green chile braised short rib sandwiches and banana bread pudding cups to worry about politics or whether or not people should wear socks with sandals. The fast-casual spot takes staples like cheeseburgers and breakfast sandwiches and makes the best possible versions, all with friendly service and a space oozing retro '90s energy.

So you want French food but you don’t have a corporate card to pick up the tab, and your bedazzled Chanel suit is at the dry cleaners (oops!). Enter the more casual Brasserie Brixton, where the steak frites and pâté are always on point, but there are also Star Wars stormtroopers painted behind the bar. This neighborhood spot was designed to be frequented, which is why there’s always a well-priced burger and fries available alongside the mussels and tartare.

Tavernetta nails the Italian trifecta: good wine, handmade pastas, and great hospitality. But what makes this one of the best restaurants in the city is they also have one of the best steaks you can find in Denver (we’re talking about you, New York strip with marsala and mushrooms), an after-dinner cookie plate, and a spacious bar with a great spritz list and soul-warming fireplace. While it’s not the cheapest, you’re guaranteed a beautiful meal in a beautiful setting.

Sushi Den and Izakaya Den might be better known, but you should really book a table at their sister restaurant Temaki Den. It’s a whole lot easier to get into, and the menu is pared down to some of the freshest nigiri and temaki in town. For the best deal, come before 6pm on a weeknight for a five-roll temaki set for just $24, and definitely add on the wagyu sukiyaki handroll.

If you’ve been planning on finally confessing some deep feelings to someone and need a white tablecloth to do it over, come to Restaurant Olivia. Especially if that certain someone likes quiet, candle-lit dining rooms, excellent service, and homemade pastas with ingredients like black truffles and lobster. The cocktails and non-alcoholic drinks are top-notch, featuring combos like a caprese negroni and a Manhattan jazzed up with espresso liqueur and chocolate bitters.