Is Arapahoe Road in Denver’s south suburbs becoming a culinary destination? After highlighting the many doughnut shops lining the street last year, we returned for a second tour, this time noting the many Indian restaurants packed into a short stretch of suburban sprawl.
Within just 2.5 miles of a roadway straddling I-25, nine Indian and South Asian restaurants sit on or just off the east-west corridor. Some are family-run businesses that have been around for years. Others are Denver-based installments of larger chains. And while most carry the standard dishes Americans have come to expect — tikka masala, tandoori chicken, naan — each also offers something a little different to showcase the incredible diversity and deep flavors of this exciting cuisine.
For the uninitiated, navigating South Asian menus can be a little daunting, full of unfamiliar names and unexpected ingredients. But isn’t that part of the fun? With so many restaurants representing so many different regions and culinary styles in such a short stretch, the corridor provides a rare opportunity for total immersion without the need to drive all over the metro area. In India, food traditions can change every few hundred miles. Along Arapahoe Road, it’s only a matter of a few feet…