The 12 Restaurants You Shouldn’t Leave Denver Without Trying ‎@MediMinds360 

Denver has a lot to offer—sports, culture, and, you know, the Rocky Mountains that are right there—but don’t forget about the food. We’ve gotta fuel up for all those outdoor adventures somehow. From our own spin on green chile to unexpected steakhouses to Michelin-starred tasting menu restaurants, Denver eateries are destinations themselves, and you don’t want to leave town without trying the best of the best. Here, 12 of the very best restaurants in the Mile High City.Hop Alley
RiNo
It’s hard to match RiNo’s energy, the neighborhood is known as Denver’s most vibrant and creative, but Hop Alley not only matches it—it kicks it up a notch. Trust us when we say that this isn’t a restaurant for the timid. Loud with hip-hop and bold with tongue-numbing la zi ji and fan club-worthy bone marrow fried rice, this modern Chinese restaurant is full of flavor. Even cooler? The six-seat Chef’s Counter experience Thursday–Saturday nights that pushes boundaries even further with dishes like pig’s head salad and forbidden rice pudding.mediminds360
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The 12 Restaurants You Shouldn’t Leave Denver Without Trying
These are the must-hit restaurants that define Denver’s dining scene.
By Allyson Reedy
Published on June 19, 2024 at 8:00 AM
Alma
Alma | Photo by Shawn Campbell
Denver has a lot to offer—sports, culture, and, you know, the Rocky Mountains that are right there—but don’t forget about the food. We’ve gotta fuel up for all those outdoor adventures somehow. From our own spin on green chile to unexpected steakhouses to Michelin-starred tasting menu restaurants, Denver eateries are destinations themselves, and you don’t want to leave town without trying the best of the best. Here, 12 of the very best restaurants in the Mile High City.

Hop Alley
Courtesy of Hop Alley
Hop Alley
RiNo
It’s hard to match RiNo’s energy, the neighborhood is known as Denver’s most vibrant and creative, but Hop Alley not only matches it—it kicks it up a notch. Trust us when we say that this isn’t a restaurant for the timid. Loud with hip-hop and bold with tongue-numbing la zi ji and fan club-worthy bone marrow fried rice, this modern Chinese restaurant is full of flavor. Even cooler? The six-seat Chef’s Counter experience Thursday–Saturday nights that pushes boundaries even further with dishes like pig’s head salad and forbidden rice pudding.
The 12 Restaurants You Shouldn’t Leave Denver Without Trying ‎@MediMinds360 

El Taco de Mexico
Santa Fe Arts District
If you only eat one meal in Denver, it needs to be a green chile-drenched breakfast burrito. And it should probably come from El Taco de Mexico, the little yellow restaurant on Santa Fe that has been satisfying our green chile fix (and nursing our hangovers) for almost 40 years. We take our breakfast burritos seriously here, folks, and our green chile (which isn’t really green, by the way; Colorado-style simmers tomatoes with the chiles and spices) is practically a love language. El Taco may not offer up much in terms of decor and ambiance, but the Mexican favorites coming out of the tiny kitchen more than make up for it.