114 MARCH 26-APRIL 1, 2026 westword.com WESTWORD | FOOD & DRINK | MUSIC & VENUES | ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT | SHOPPING & SERVICES | SPORTS & RECREATION | CONTENTS | Best Khao SoiLucky Noodles 12 East First Avenue luckynoodlesthaidenver.com Lucky Noodles previously operated on Col- fax for several years before relocating to its sunny new spot off Broadway — and lucky for us, its khao soi didn’t change with the move. Owner Kamolrat “Ploy” Limpapath makes the Northern Thai soup’s yellow curry base with three types of coconut milk, authentic palm sugar and, her secret ingre- dient, roasted cilantro seeds, crushed into a fi ne powder for added depth. Topped with crispy chicken and a drizzle of chile oil, then served with traditional egg noodles, it’s a nuanced dish that’s delightfully layered with contrasting textures and aromatic fl avors. Best New Thai Restaurant Insee Father Noodle House 1700 Platte Street inseedenver.com When Ounjit Hardacre, owner of Daughter Thai, debuted this fast casual addition in No- vember, she told Westword, “This menu is for Thai food lovers. It’s the food that Thai locals eat, things you don’t normally see at Thai restaurants in the United States.” Which is exactly what we love about it. If you’re ready to move beyond pad thai, you can dig into options such as ka nom jeeb Thai dumplings, moo tod (fried pork jerky) and octopus salad, plus a variety of noodle dishes, hot pots and soups, all served in a space with a homey feel and nostalgic touches, including a replica of the grocery store sign from Hardacre’s family shop in Kanchanaburi. Best Family-Owned Chinese Spot That’s Making Its Own Rules MAKfam 39 West First Avenue makfam.co MAKfam is not your parents’ Chinese restau- rant. Helmed by married couple Kenneth Wan and Doris Yuen, the eatery features the pair’s modern take on Chinese takeout staples, with dishes like the Fancy Wun Tun Tong (wonton soup) and corned beef fried rice earning them Michelin Bib Gourmand status two years run- ning. Hip-hop and rap play over the speakers, and the duo doesn’t apologize for using MSG, openly challenging its stigma and embracing it as a key ingredient — which very well may be why everything tastes so delicious. Best American Chinese Restaurant Tea Garden 10290 Ralston Road, Arvada ordernow.inhouseorders.io/teaGarden We’ve been dining in and taking out from this suburban hot spot for decades, and the res- taurant has maintained both its quality (and much of its staff) through the years. You can tell that this eatery is an ingrained part of the community by the photos of the various little league teams, schools and groups it sponsors on the wall. Yes, General Tso’s chicken and beef with broccoli are American inventions not served in China, but dishes like these are also downright tasty, and the staff here knows how to please the American palate. Best Modern Chinese Restaurant Yuan Wonton 2878 Fairfax Street exploretock.com/yuan-wonton-denver Chef/owner Penelope Wong built a frenzied fanbase with her food truck, which followed Yuan Wonton to its brick-and-mortar shop in 2023. After establishing her culinary cred as the youngest and fi rst female executive chef at the Cherry Creek Country Club, Wong struck out on her own to serve the food of her Chinese and Thai heritage, specializing in — you guessed it — wonton dumplings, but also a variety of contemporary Chinese and Thai selections that change frequently, giving diners a good excuse to visit often. Best Dim Sum Duo Ma’s Kitchen Dim Sum & Bar 2301 East Colfax Avenue instagram.com/maskitchenandbar Ma’s Kitchen Dim Sum Next Door 1514 York Street instagram.com/maskitchen.nextdoor In October, the longtime owners of Oki- nawa on East Colfax brought dim sum to the neighborhood with the opening of Ma’s Kitchen in the former home of the original Tacos Tequila Whiskey. At the start of 2026, they closed Okinawa and have now debuted a more upscale version of Ma’s Kitchen in the space, while maintaining the original as a fast casual option. The new Ma’s, which has a full bar and some items not found on the menu next door, is a high-energy addition, and both have quickly become hot spots for dumplings, buns, noodles and more, whether you want to linger over a multicourse meal or make a quick pickup for a dim sum feast at home. Best Cheese Pull 88 Hotdog Juicy 2225 South Peoria Street, Aurora hotjuicy88aurora.com If you love a good cheese pull, skip the luke- warm Chili’s fried mozzarella and head to 88 Hotdog Juicy, which has a variety of Korean- style corndogs that are half hot dog and half cheese — and you can get them dipped in Hot Cheetos dust, crispy Food & Drink continued from page 112 continued on page 116
