10 Best Chinese Restaurants In Denver, Colorado

chinese restaurants in denver
Andini
Andini 
Published
| 6 min read

Situated in the famous Rocky Mountains, Denver, Colorado, is the capital and the largest city in all of Colorado. Denver is known for having a vibrant food scene, with classic favorites such as oysters and steaks and being the home of the first cheeseburger ever made – but did you know their Chinese cuisine is highly raved about by locals? Being the most populated place in the state of Colorado, Denver offers an extensive variety of Chinese restaurants, including arguably the best ones in the entire state. In recent years, the Mile High City’s food scene has exploded with a variety of Chinese restaurants, both traditional and modern, to suit every taste. From Nanjing and to Sichuan to Cantonese specialties, expect to find it all in Denver, Colorado. Here is a list of the best Chinese restaurants in Denver, Colorado. Take your pick or visit them all!

1. Star Kitchen

Shark Fin Dumplings
Source: Photo by user David Pursehouse used under CC BY 2.0

This popular Chinese restaurant is always busy with loyal customers seeking to indulge in what is said to be the best dim sum and seafood dishes in town. Don’t let the strip mall location deceive you, because once you enter, you’re greeted with the smell of fresh dim sum at Denver’s best dim sum place. Don’t believe the hype? Ask the caterpillar of crowds outside waiting to devour their dim sum.

Star Kitchen has an extensive menu of flavourful and authentic-tasting traditional dim sum, much like the ones you’d find in larger cities, like Los Angeles. You’ll find dumplings and the softest buns being rolled out on a cart by their friendly and attentive servers. Star Kitchen is one of the only dim sum places in Denver to have a liquor license, which means this is one of the only places you can enjoy a nice drink with your fresh dim sum. Their prices are also very affordable, so its no wonder many are willing to queue for hours for these value-for-money dishes.

Star Kitchen

Address: 2917 W Mississippi Ave, Denver, CO 80219, United States

Website: Star Kitchen

Opening hours: Mon - Tue: 10:30am - 9:30pm; Thu: 10:30am - 9:30pm; Fri: 10:30am - 10pm; Sat: 10am - 10pm; Sun: 10am - 9:30pm (closed on Wed)

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2. Imperial Chinese Seafood

Happy Saturday!

Posted by Imperial Chinese Restaurant on Saturday, 3 February 2018

Renowned for its spicy Szechwan dishes, Imperial Chinese Seafood has been bringing a blast of flavors from the East to Denver, Colorado, since 1985. After learning alongside big names in the food industry in Hong Kong, Imperial Chinese Seafood founder, Johnny Su, was eager to introduce unique and different Chinese dishes to the Denver community. The result was clearly a success, with the restaurant voted the “Best of Denver” for 13 consecutive years.

Their specialty dishes include Peking Duck, Chilean Seabass, Stir-Fried Dungeness Crab, Grilled Salmon Fillet, and so much more! The restaurant is always trying to impress both its loyal and new customers with new and exciting dishes, but they can rightfully say their signature Sesame Chicken remains a crowd-favorite. The founder believes that dining is an experience and, thus, to make it rewarding, one must not only consider the food, but also the service and atmosphere – something the restaurant prides itself in. With their impeccable service and mouth-watering dishes, it’s no wonder Imperial Chinese Seafood represents the high-standard of Chinese food in Denver.

Imperial Chinese Seafood

Address: 431 S Broadway, Denver, CO 80209, United States

Website: Imperial Chinese Seafood

Opening hours: Mon - Thu: 11am - 9:30pm; Fri: 11am - 10pm; Sat: 12pm - 10pm; Sun: 4pm - 9:30pm

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3. Peter's Chinese Cafe

Posted by Peter's Chinese Cafe on Monday, 8 January 2018

We all know Chinese takeout has always been a part of American culture – it’s comfort food that you’re gonna want over and over again. When that craving strikes, come on down to Peter’s Chinese Cafe! The restaurant has been serving classic American-Chinese food since the 80s and has now been voted as the Best Take-Out in Denver. We recommend trying out the sesame chicken and scallion pancake, but rest assured, everything else on the menu is just as amazing and does not disappoint.

Peter’s Chinese Cafe is also a standout in Denver’s Chinese food scene by not using MSG and opting for more healthier, sustainable ingredients. Another perk is that the restaurant delivers, which means you get more of the good food and less of the tiring journey!

Peter's Chinese Cafe

Address: 2609 12th Ave, Denver, CO 80206, United States

Website: Peter’s Chinese Cafe

Opening hours: 11am - 9pm (daily)

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4. Hop Alley

Posted by Hop Alley on Monday, 15 July 2019

As opposed to the aforementioned traditional Chinese restaurants, Hop Alley is your hip and happenin’ version of these restaurants. Named after Denver’s old Chinatown, Hop Alley continues to preserve the rich Chinatown culture that was destroyed by a riot in the 70s. The establishment lives up to its name and history, showcasing a modern take on traditional Chinese cuisine, giving it a funky twist to make it fresh, innovative, and appealing.

The ambiance of the restaurant itself is very modern, making it a great place to hang out with some friends over good food and drinks. You’re guaranteed the best experience here at Hop Alley, where hospitality, food, and ambiance are top of the game. Psst – we recommend trying out the highly-raved-about Beijing duck roll!

Hop Alley

Address: 3500 Larimer St, Denver, CO 80205, United States

Website: Hop Alley

Opening hours: Mon - Sat: 5:30pm - 10:30pm (closed on Sun)

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5. Q House

Posted by Q House on Monday, 2 July 2018

Another modern Chinese restaurant is Q House, located in the Bluebird District of Denver, Colorado. The restaurant serves Chinese food packed with a kick of rich and deep flavors, alongside a variety of cocktail offerings curated to suit these flavourful dishes. Q House pays homage to its founder, Christopher Lin’s Taiwanese roots and his story growing up with traditional Chinese-Taiwanese food while living in New Hampshire. The story is reimagined in the food that his restaurant now serves – comforting flavors from the past in the form of diverse Chinese food offerings.

With his expertise and experience in the culinary world mixed with his roots, he has created dishes that are different, yet preserving the traditional taste. The result was undeniably successful, with food critics and editorials praising the restaurant in a variety of reviews.

Q House

Address: 3421 E Colfax Ave, Denver, CO 80206, United States

Website: Q House

Opening hours: Tue - Sat: 5pm - 10pm; Sun: 5pm - 9pm (closed on Mon)

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6. Zoe Ma Ma

Posted by Michael Alfred on Saturday, 13 April 2019

Zoe Ma Ma does not play when it comes to the authenticity of Chinese food – It can’t get more authentic than your mother’s recipes, right? We all know the comforting taste of a mother’s cooking and that’s exactly the taste and feeling that Zoe Ma Ma aims to share with the community of Denver, Colorado. They believe that food shouldn’t just be an eat-and-go experience, it should be personal and heartwarming. Made using only organic products, their noodle dishes, such as the Za Jiang Mian, are a hit. Many say it’s just as authentic as what you’d find in the Sichuan province of China!

Zoe Ma Ma

Address: 2010 10th St, Boulder, CO 80302, United States

Website: Zoe Ma Ma

Opening hours: 11am - 10pm (daily)

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7. Yum Yum Spice

Pork Griddle Pot.

Posted by Kathy Kwanchanok on Saturday, 18 January 2020

This family-owned and operated restaurant aims to share the culture and delicacies of China to Denver, Colorado. When it first opened doors in 2015, it catered mainly to the Chinese students living in the school area. As an Asian American restaurant, Yum Yum Spice offers you classic well-loved dishes, such as their Sesame Chicken, Lo Mein, Fried Rice, and also their delicious Szechuan-style hotpot. Their specialty is serving Gan Guo dishes, which are highly popular in coastal regions of the states. Essentially, the traditional Gan Guo dish is a stir fry consisting of vegetables and meat, a must-try here at Yum Yum Spice.

Yum Yum Spice

Address: 4318 2039, S University Blvd, Denver, CO 80210, United States

Website: Yum Yum Spice

Opening hours: Mon: 11am - 10pm; Wed - Thu: 11am - 10pm; Fri - Sat: 11am - 10:30pm; Sun: 11:30am - 10pm (closed on Tue)

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8. Hong Kong Cafe Restaurant

Chow Mein
Source: Photo by user Mack Male used under CC BY-SA 2.0

This hidden gem, located in a local Denver strip mall, is so much more than meets the eye. It offers an excellent range of quality Chinese food for both dine-in and takeout, made with only the freshest ingredients. Their menu is very extensive, giving customers the pleasure of different food offerings to suit every tastebud and craving. You’ll also be served by the nicest servers in town, ensuring you a welcoming and warm experience.

Hong Kong Cafe Restaurant

Address: 10890 E Dartmouth Ave, Ste C, Denver, CO 80014, United States

Website: Hong Kong Cafe Restaurant

Opening hours: Mon: 10:30am - 9:30pm; Wed - Thu: 10:30am - 9:30pm; Fri - Sat: 10:30am - 10pm; Sun: 10:30am - 9:30pm (closed on Tue)

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9. Little Ollie's

Posted by Little Ollies Cherry Creek on Friday, 8 September 2017

Little Ollie’s is on the fancier side of Chinese food establishments, with a high-end ambiance, serving up a variety of dishes from traditional Chinese and to sushi and sashimi to even American food, accompanied with a great range of delicious cocktails to spice up your dining experience. This legendary Chinese restaurant in Denver has been serving grade-A dishes made with only top-quality ingredients for over two decades and it continues to wow the Denver community to this very day.

Little Ollie's

Address: 2360 E 3rd Ave, Denver, CO 80206, United States

Website: Little Ollie’s

Opening hours: Mon: 11am - 9pm; Tue - Thu: 11am - 9:30pm; Fri: 11am - 10pm; Sat: 11:30am - 10pm; Sun: 12pm - 9pm

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10. Little Dragon

Posted by Little Dragon Denver on Saturday, 14 September 2019

Little Dragon is your go-to neighborhood Chinese food restaurant that just never fails to exceed your expectations. Made with only fresh, healthy ingredients and excluding the use of MSG, Little Dragon serves you classical Chinese dishes with every detail made to perfection. If you’re a vegetarian, look no further – Little Dragon’s got you with their delicious vegetarian menu, including their Vegetarian ‘Eel’ made from shiitake mushrooms. The restaurant only offers take out or delivery, so you can enjoy your tasty food in the comfort of your own home or your place of choice!

Little Dragon

Address: 1305 Krameria Street, Suite G, Denver, CO 8022

Website: Little Dragon

Opening hours: 4pm - 9pm (daily except closed Wednesdays)

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Explore the Chinese food of Denver

Chinese food has arguably always been embedded in the food culture of Denver – which is why the city continues to bring a vibrant choice of Chinese food offerings. From casual options to fancier spots, expect the best of the best at Denver’s Chinese restaurants! What are you waiting for? Let’s get eating!

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Any must-sees we missed? Tell us about them in the comments section or write a post here to help out fellow travelers!
Disclosure: Trip101 selects the listings in our articles independently. Some of the listings in this article contain affiliate links.

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Andini, who is originally from Jakarta, Indonesia, was driven by an insatiable curiosity for diverse cultures and uncharted destinations. She relocated to Singapore to explore and attend the...Read more

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