104 MARCH 27-APRIL 2, 2025 westword.com WESTWORD | MUSIC & VENUES | FOOD & DRINK | ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT | SPORTS & RECREATION | SHOPPING & SERVICES | CONTENTS | Best Bun Bo Hue O Lien Kitchen 781 South Federal Boulevard 303-386-3254 Pho may be the most recognizable Viet- namese soup in the U.S., but bun bo Hue, which originates from the city of Hue in central Vietnam, deserves its time to shine, too. O Lien Kitchen got its start inside Viet Hoa supermarket and opened its brick-and-mortar in 2023. It offers sev- eral specialties from Hue, including banh khoai, a yellow-tinted fried crepe made of rice fl our and turmeric that arrives stuffed with pork, shrimp, egg, bean sprouts and veggies. That’s a solid starter before you dig into a huge serving of the restaurant’s excellent bun bo, a rich and spicy beef broth and noodle soup that can be ordered with a variety of proteins, including pork hock and beef rib. Best Banh Mi CoNu’s Corner 4400 West 29th Avenue 720-577-5667 conuscorner.com Denverites are blessed to have a great vari- ety of banh mi available, and the one sitting at the top can be found at CoNu’s Corner, a kitchen nestled inside a convenience store in West Highland. It was a four-year journey to get the shop up and running amid the pandemic, but now that it’s fully operational, it’s quickly become a neighborhood staple. Expect the traditional choices here, fi lled with high-quality ingredients prepared by owner Thuc-Nhu “Nhu” Hoang’s mother. The two most popular options are the bar- becue pork and the Combination, built from a variety of Vietnamese cold cuts. The star, though, is the bread: perfectly crackly on the outside, and soft and chewy inside. Best Meatloaf at an Asian Restaurant Zomo 3457 South Broadway, Englewood 720-739-8882 zomoeats.com This family-owned restaurant combines Vietnamese, Chinese and American clas- sics. The standout: Grandma’s Meatloaf, made with noodles instead of breadcrumbs, topped with ketchup glaze and accompa- nied by jasmine rice and broccoli. Visit Zomo on a Monday at 5 p.m., and the place will likely be packed. It’s casual enough to frequent on a random weeknight but sleek enough for a date or special occasion. When you visit, be sure to ask for Grandma herself — she’s sometimes in the kitchen and deserves every compliment. Best Blooming Onion Spice Room Multiple metro locations denverspiceroom.com Now with three locations — in Arvada, on West 38th Avenue and in the former Annie’s Cafe space on East Colfax — Spice Room’s sprawling menu of Indian and Nepali de- lights requires several visits to even make a dent in it. But there’s one sure-to-please way to start: the Masala Onion Bloom. Move over, Outback: This deep-fried appetizer is coated in a gluten-free batter, dusted with chaat masala and served with a sweet dip- ping sauce for a distinct spin that’s lighter than the chain restaurant’s version. Plus, the price tag is a wallet-friendly $7. Best Suburban Food Truck Corner West 52nd Avenue and Marshall Street, Arvada This southeast Arvada corner boasts three fantastic Mexican food trucks. Leading the pack is 2023’s Taco Tuesday champ, Don Carlos #3. While its award-winning tacos are now $1.75 (formerly 99 cents) on Tuesdays, they remain a steal, especially the incredible al pastor off the spit. Carnitas, chicken and housemade chorizo are also winners. Across the lot, Barbacoa El Oso Estilo Chihuahua specializes in barbacoa, offered in burritos, tacos, quesadillas, gorditas and tortas — and don’t miss the fl avorful consomé, a meal in itself. Across the street, Ahi Con Oscar serves up over a dozen breakfast and lunch burri- tos, plus a variety of tacos. This unassuming corner is a taco lover’s dream, with distinctly different styles and offerings. Best Food Truck Turned Brick-and-Mortar Mama Jo’s Biscuits and BBQ 3525 East Colfax Avenue 303-333-7627 mamajos.toast.site A lot can happen in four years: Just ask hus- band-and-wife duo Ben and Jodi Polson, who launched their food truck, Mama Jo’s, in 2021. Recently, they took their business to the next level by opening a brick-and-mortar location in the former home of Steve’s Snappin’ Dogs on Colfax. The inspiration for the original food truck concept came from Jodi’s butter- milk smoked Gouda biscuit, which, combined with Ben’s passion for barbecue, created the perfect pairing. The new space allows Mama Jo’s to serve all of its beloved dishes and more. The Nashville hot chicken biscuit is a fan fa- vorite, and the barbecue platters with sides like collard greens and pimento mac and cheese are crave-worthy. If you’re a banana pudding fan, Jodi’s fried banana pudding pie is a must-try, as are the apple fritters. Best New Food Truck Shrimp Daddy 3670 West 38th Avenue instagram.com/shrimpdaddy_burgers When longtime friends Hung Le and Jay Nguyen launched Shrimp Daddy Burgers in 2024, they set out to carve their own path in the local food truck scene. Inspired by their Cajun roots, the duo developed a dish like no other: the shrimp burger. The made-from-scratch signature patty combines minced and roughly chopped shrimp with bell peppers, onions, carrots and Cajun seasonings, offering a fresh twist on a classic. The star of the concise menu is the Hot Daddy, a play on the Nashville hot chicken sandwich featuring the shrimp patty topped with tangy coleslaw and a drizzle of spicy oil. One taste and you’re sure to be hooked. Food & Drink continued from page 102 continued on page 106
