The AANHPI food scene in Denver is booming. Asian Americans, native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders (AANHPI) make up just 4.3% of Colorado’s population, but their impact on the local dining scene is outsized, and it continues to grow.
In 2025, a busy year for Denver restaurants, over 15 Asian restaurants opened in and near the city, including Pho Social, Kizaki, Ma’s Kitchen, and Hong Kong Station 3. In July, Pig & Tiger came south to Five Points with dark, moody interiors, Taiwanese cocktails, and upscale, shareable comfort fare. In December, Nina Zhang’s Noodles By Nina (ne Magic Noodle House) debuted in Uptown with hand-pulled noodles and Lanzhou noodle soup.
In the second half of this year, the lauded restaurant MAKfam will expand from Baker, opening a larger 2,800-square-foot location in RiNo. This month, chef Mary Nguyen opens the fifth iteration of her fast-casual concept Olive & Finch, this time in the Golden Triangle neighborhood.
“Over the past year, there’s been a noticeable acceleration in Denver AANHPI restaurant culture,” said Nguyen, who’s also the chairwoman of the Asian Chamber Foundation of Colorado. “New restaurants are opening with confidence. Chefs are telling personal stories through tasting menus. Owners are investing in thoughtful interiors and curated beverage programs. Diners are more curious and more educated. They want to know where dishes come from, what region they represent, and who is behind them.”
What Makes the Denver AANHPI Scene Thrive
Denver has the most exciting Asian-American restaurant scene in America right now, and the chefs and owners are often homegrown. Mary Nguyen herself is a Colorado native; and so is Tommy Lee, who brought the city the staples Uncle and Hop Alley over 10 years ago; and Penelope Wong, who launched Yuan Wonton to plenty of acclaim…