102 MARCH 27-APRIL 2, 2025 westword.com WESTWORD | MUSIC & VENUES | FOOD & DRINK | ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT | SPORTS & RECREATION | SHOPPING & SERVICES | CONTENTS | rado to help her run the business. While the familiar dishes on the menu are cooked with care, you’ll be well rewarded by trying some- thing new to you, like the spicy Heatwave Shrimp or the signature Som Dee ribeye steak with a toasted sticky rice crust and a side of tangy jaew dipping sauce. Best Mapo Tofu Wok Spicy 3021 South Broadway, Englewood 303-226-0145 wokspicy.com Filling the hole left behind by the nearly- fi fty-year-old Twin Dragon was a tall order, but Wok Spicy has proven to be a worthy successor since its debut last May. It excels at Szechuan dishes and has a lot to choose from, but if you must pick a place to start, go for the mapo tofu. This version has plenty of punch from mouth-numbing Szechuan pep- percorns, and the deeply fl avored sauce is studded with fermented black beans, ground pork and sliced scallions, while the tofu itself is silky, nearly melting in your mouth. Best Chinese To-Go Hong Kong Station 2Go 6460 East Yale Avenue 303-756-7800 hkstationdenver.com The OG Hong Kong Station in Centennial has some of the most delicious Chinese food in the state. If the restaurant has a fl aw, it’s that the small dining room can- not handle its increasing popularity, of- ten leading to long wait times to secure a table for dinner. That problem is solved by its Hong Kong Station 2Go outpost. The new location opened in the Hamp- den neighborhood in early 2024 with a focus on takeout and delivery orders. Now diners can enjoy the restaurant’s signature dishes, like Szechuan fried chicken and Hong Kong-style French toast, without the wait. Best Custom Cake Shop Serving Hong Kong Eats Chopstix Fusion 2020 South Parker Road 720-626-3029 orders.cake.net/11487948 Wendy Fong is a cake-making pro. Her custom creations are impressive, but even more intriguing is the fact that she also serves some of the best Hong Kong-style eats in town at the strip-mall spot she opened in 2024. Here you can dig into house specialties like sizzling clay pots, scallion pancakes and greens in fl avorful sauces. Don’t be scared off by the word “fusion,” which simply refers to the fact that there are a smattering of Thai dishes on the menu, too. And defi nitely save room for dessert, as Wong offers individual-sized sweet treats in-house, too. Best Homestyle Korean BaekGa 200 Quebec Street 720-639-3872 baekga.net BaekGa is the kind of restaurant that makes Korean natives feel at home. One bite of its rich sundubu (spicy soft tofu stew) proves that point. Its LA Galbi, a sliced three-bone Angus short rib, is a true indulgence that’s tender, smoky and packed with deep, sa- vory-sweet fl avor. While the menu is on the pricier side, all main plates are meant for two and come with an overfl owing spread of banchan, steamed rice and fresh, crisp lettuce for ssam (wraps); we’ve never had to request a banchan refi ll here. And the kimbap? It’s as big as your forearm. Best Crab Cheese Wontons Pho Peoria 1695 Peoria Street, Aurora 303-360-6688 phopeoria.com Open since 1998, this spot’s specialty is, of course, pho, made with a broth that sim- mers for twelve hours. But while you’ll fi nd a big, piping hot bowl on pretty much ev- ery table when you visit, soup isn’t the only thing that’s on here. In a world where nearly every version of crab cheese wonton is in- distinguishable, Pho Peoria’s is a deep-fried beacon for crab lovers. Each one is stuffed with so much scallion-fl ecked, crab-heavy fi lling, it overfl ows from the wrapper, and the whole thing is slightly charred on top for an added layer of fl avor that makes these one of a kind. Food & Drink continued from page 100 continued on page 104
