Food and Drink continued from page 64 which includes cocktails made with in- gredients like drinking yogurt and Aleppo pepper and wines from various regions in the Mediterranean (which even beginners can explore easily, thanks to the map on the menu), is the perfect complement. Best Syrian Shawarma Gyros Town 2276 South Colorado Boulevard 303-835-2684 gyrostownrestaurant.com You won’t fi nd the Syrian shawarma listed on the online menu for this no-frills strip- mall spot. The offerings t here include standard Greek and Mediterranean op- tions like kabobs, hummus and falafel on a typical round, slightly thick pita. A lami- nated card on the counter is the only sign that shawarma is an option at Gyros Town, but despite its low-key billing, it’s a thing of beauty. Available in beef or chicken, it comes tightly wrapped in a much thin- ner, almost fl aky oblong-shaped fl atbread loaded with toum (a garlicky condiment), hummus, pickles and tomatoes. Sliced into enough pieces to share (though you won’t want to) and served with fries or a sumac-dusted salad, it’s a top-notch meal at a budget-friendly price. Now Open for Lunch Monday – Friday, 11am – 2pm Happy Hour Game Day Specials * Tuesday through Saturday * Kitchen Open until 2am * Sunday through Monday * Kitchen Open until Midnight Live Music, DJ, Poker every Monday, Trivia every Wednesday, Karaoke every Saturday 5151 Leetsdale Dr, Denver (720) 389-6203 www.ingasalpinetavern.net A Free Drink Bring in this ad for Best Hummus and Pita Safta 3330 Brighton Boulevard 720-408-2444 eatwithsafta.com Alon Shaya’s Safta, which means “grand- mother” in Hebrew, has been considered one of the best restaurants in the city since it debuted at the Source Hotel in 2018. The chef/restaurateur’s fi rst eatery out- side of Louisiana is inspired by his grand- mother’s recipes and the cuisine of Israel, where he was born. While it’s nearly im- possible to fi nd a miss on the menu, the biggest hit remains the pita and hummus. The bread is pulled from a wood-burning oven and arrives hot, puffed and slightly sour from its 100-year-old starter. The only thing better than ripping off a piece and dipping it in za’atar-spiced olive oil is pairing it with Safta’s impossibly smooth hummus, available in several styles in- cluding one topped with a savory, slow- cooked lamb ragu. 66 Best Thai Restaurant Farmhouse Thai Eatery 98 South Wadsworth Boulevard, Lakewood 303-237-2475 farmhousethaieatery.com Freshness and balance are the keys to great Thai cuisine, and this low-key Lakewood eatery, which opened in 2019, serves up both — though not from a voluminous menu. In- stead, it offers a smart selection of house specials bold with herbs, spices and other imported ingredients, such as the Floating Market noodle soup with its rich, brown broth, and northern Thai kao soi that bal- ances sweet coconut milk with complex curry and has both soft and crispy noodles. The standards, from pad thai to pineapple fried rice, are solid, but order something new to you for a truly transportive experience. Best Japanese Restaurant Kiki’s Japanese Casual Dining 2440 South Colorado Boulevard 303-504-4043 kikisjapaneserestaurant.com Filled with knickknacks, Kiki’s is cluttered in the way your favorite aunt’s house might be — but that just adds to the homey vibes of this casual, under-the-radar eatery that specializes in authentic country-style Japa- nese food. There is an entire ramen menu to explore as well as sushi offerings, but Kiki’s also serves up dishes like agedashi tofu, karaage (Japanese fried chicken), ta- koyaki (fried balls made with wheat batter and octopus), tonkatsu (pork cutlet) and a lineup of noodle dishes. Best Sushi Temaki Den 3350 Brighton Boulevard 303-200-0530 temakiden.com When the pioneers of Denver’s sushi scene open a new restaurant, it’s some- thing to see — and Temaki Den, from the team behind Sushi Den, is certainly worthy of a closer look. This sleek sushi bar inside the Source has quickly gained a reputation that lives up to its much older sibling’s legacy. It specializes in aburi, or fl ame-seared sushi, and hand rolls (te- maki) assembled in front of diners who are instructed to eat quickly and effi ciently so as not to upset the delicate balance of the perfect bite — crispy nori, warm rice and cool fi sh. Although the bar setup has limited seating, Temaki has an expansion in the works, so that more people can soon get a taste of its standout sushi. Best Poke Ohana Island Kitchen 2563 15th Street 303-718-6580 ohanadenver.com When Louie and Regan Colburn started slinging poke out of a walk-up window in 2016, the Hawaiian classic was hardly a bump in the Colorado culinary scene. Fast-forward six years and one pandemic later, and now there continued on page 68 APRIL 7-13, 2022 WESTWORD | BACKBEAT | MUSIC & VENUES | FOOD & DRINK | ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT | SHOPPING & SERVICES | CONTENTS | westword.com GETTY IMAGES
