14 JANUARY 15-21, 2026 westword.com WESTWORD | MUSIC | CAFE | CULTURE | NIGHT+DAY | LETTERS | CONTENTS | a brick-and-mortar outpost of Chivis Tacos on East Colfax in October 2024. Open daily at 9 a.m., it slings a deep menu of burritos (includ- ing a solid breakfast rendition), fully loaded tortas, quesadillas, tamales, fl autas and main entrees as late as 3 a.m. on the weekends. We also appreciate its deft exploration of birria formats, served as tacos, ramen or hefty, crispy fried egg rolls that redefi ne the power of those savory fl avors we crave, especially in the wee hours on the ’Fax. Chopstix Fusion Southeast Denver 2020 South Parker Road instagram.com/chopstixfusionandcakes In 2024, Wendy Tong opened this strip- mall spot, serving a smattering of Thai dishes on a menu that otherwise offers a deep taste of Hong Kong – a real rarity in Denver. Last year, the strip mall nearly burned down when a fi re broke out at a neighboring restaurant, but Chopstix made it through unscathed, and continues to be a hot spot for special- ties like sizzling clay pots, tempting scallion pancakes and vivid greens in fl avorful sauces, plus off-menu surprises such as pillowy cubes of fried tofu. The icing on top: Tong also creates beautiful baked goods, so save room for a slice of multi-layered crepe cake. Com Nha Kitchen & Bar Harvey Park 2133 South Sheridan Boulevard comnhakitchenandbar.com Lucy Nguyen grew up in Harvey Park, where Rosemary Cafe was a beloved diner for over two decades before shuttering in 2022. After a short-lived reboot as Harvey Park Grille, the space got a rebirth of a totally different kind when Nguyen opened Com Nha, a Vietnamese eatery that puts the fun in pho (pho tacos!) and much, much more, with a sprawling menu that delves deep into the cui- sine. There are options like tiger moon snails stir-fried with salted egg yolk, garlic butter or tamarind; chicken wings stuffed with pork and lime leaves; and a banh mi version of bún bò hue — not to men- tion colorful cocktails, shot fl ights,and boozy specials with names like Tequila Tower of Ter- ror and Sweet Dragon Monument. El Taco de Mexico La Alma/Lincoln Park 714 Santa Fe Drive eltacodemexico5280. com For forty years, El Taco de Mexico has been serving a genu- ine taste of Mexico City cuisine in Denver, starting with its rendi- tion of street tacos: corn masa tortillas fi lled with fantastic meats, including traditional favorites such as grilled beef tongue or cheek, then sprinkled with diced onion, cilantro and a drizzle of homemade salsa verde or roja. Simple. Classic. Unique. Just like the restaurant itself, which also serves one of the city’s most celebrated versions of green chile. Enjoy it on its own, or atop any of the hefty burritos (we love the carnitas and the chile relleno variations). GetRight’s Wheat Ridge 6985 West 38th Avenue goodygetright.com From pandemic-era cottage bakery to a brick-and-mortar that opened in 2023 to estab- lished neighborhood go-to, GetRight’s keeps evolving, and that’s just one of the reasons we love it. It’s a bakery with delectable pastries, from vanilla cream-fi lled maritozzi to salted maple cinnamon buns and chocolate hazelnut cake; it’s home to our reigning best sandwich, the oh-so-buttery jambon beurre, and even launched an expanded pizza program in 2025. While that project has been scaled back (slices are still available during the day), fans can ex- pect “some big things” in 2026, according to co- owners Matt Dulin and his wife, Lindsey Judd. Whatever changes are coming, we’ll be there for a taste, because GetRight’s consistently gets things right while not being afraid to take some steps back in order to grow in new ways. Lucy’s Burger Bar Berkeley 4018 Tennyson Street lucysburgerbar.com A glowing marquee above the door beckons guests to Lucy’s, the burger joint that Mi- chelle “Meesh” McGlone opened in the Berkeley neighborhood in 2021. In the nearly fi ve years since, McGlone’s passion for creating the kind of neighborhood spot that welcomes all with a side of fries and a smile has only grown. The eatery’s menu has grown over the years, tooL Now, in addition to its signature standard Juicy Lucy, the molten-cheese-stuffed burger made famous in Minneapolis, it offers a dreamy version for blue cheese lovers dubbed the Blucy, as well as break- fast sandwiches that are available all day, raw oysters on Shuck Me Up Saturdays, and even fried Snickers bars for desserts. It also offers a whole lotta heart and a damn good time, whether you’re popping in for a quick burger fi x or partying it up during events like themed trivia nights or comedy shows. Just remember to follow the Juicy Lucy ground rules, because that cheese is, indeed, very hot. Mama Jo’s Chicken, Biscuits, BBQ City Park 3525 East Colfax Avenue mamajobiscuits.com Creamy pimento mac and cheese, slow- cooked collards, buttermilk biscuits piled high with Carolina-style barbecue and fried chicken, and addictive apple fritters with salted butterscotch dipping sauce are just some of the reasons to visit this low-key favorite that opened in the former Steve’s Snappin’ Dog space in early 2025 after a four- year run as a food truck. Ben Polson and his pastry-chef wife, Jodi, have created the kind of place that feels like an instant neighbor- hood classic. With casual counter service but plenty of space to sit inside if you’re dining in, Mama Jo’s brings Southern soul to Colfax with charm, care and a whole lot of tasty eats. Ohana Island Kitchen LoHi 2563 15th Street ohanadenver.com Perhaps the poke craze has passed, but a decade ago, the Hawaiian favorite was nowhere to be found in the Mile High until Louie and Regan Colburn opened a small walk-up window in the summer of 2016, serving simple bowls that gained a cult fol- lowing. By that November, it had moved into a brick-and-mortar across the street, where it’s consistently served fare that pays homage to Louie’s island upbringing. You won’t fi nd a laundry list of toppings here — in fact, the modest menu hasn’t changed much over the years, and we hope it stays that way. The pared-down poke bowls, available in a shoyu or spicy version, are perfection, and Cafe continued from page 13 The vegetarian combo at Nile Ethiopian is a perfect start to your meal, pictured here with the lamb derek tips. Dine in a private cabana at Black Cat Farmstead. ANTONY BRUNO DOUGL AS BROWN
