Denver’s 12 hottest restaurant openings of 2023

There’s a buzz in the Denver air, and it’s not just the holiday spirit. The local restaurant scene has been riding high the past year, and new restaurants want to get a taste of the action.

Of course, we’ve had some tough closures, but Denver chefs are still taking risks and offering exciting new happy hours, neighborhood date-night spots or family favorites.

In 2023, food truck operators parked their wheels for brick-and-mortar spaces, while big names like Caroline Glover, Kelly Whitaker and the owners of Michelin-starred Beckon expanded their portfolios with new intimate, cocktail-focused concepts. Local restaurateurs also produced everything from elevated omakase menus to chef-driven, fast-casual spots.

Here are the 12 hottest restaurant openings of the year (that weren’t Casa Bonita).

Sap Sua

Considering Bon Appetit named Sap Sua one of its eight most-anticipated restaurant openings across the country last summer, and The Denver Post named it one of the most-anticipated restaurants of 2023, it’s no surprise that this Vietnamese hot spot earned a spot on the list.

Owners Anna and Anthony (Ni) Nguyen made their solo restaurant debut in June, after years of working for award-winning restaurants like Animal and Osteria Mozza in Los Angeles. The menu is an homage to Ni’s experience as a first-generation Vietnamese American, featuring family recipes with a twist, such as bắp cải luộc, a charred cabbage dish, inspired by his mom’s humble boiled cabbage and rice recipe. And keep an eye out for the resurgence of Anna’s bakery, The Bakehouse at Sap Sua on the weekends in 2024.

2550 E. Colfax Ave., Denver; sapsua.com

MAKfam

After testing their concept in the Avanti Food & Beverage market hall, Kenneth Wan and Doris Yuen were confident enough to take the leap, opening their first full-service restaurant, MAKfam, in November.

MAKfam highlights traditional Cantonese dishes. Specialties include Chinatown-style dumplings, deep-fried mala wings with a crunchy kick, scallion pancakes, bao buns and sizzling spicy Sichuan noodles. The bar decorated in neon signs, reminiscent of Hong Kong, serves playful drinks, like Hong Kong Iced Tea, a play on a Long Island Iced Tea, served in a Vita Lemon Tea box. Oh, and the spot is at the forefront of a new wave of chefs who are embracing, rather than discouraging, MSG.

39 W. 1st Ave., Denver; makfam.co

Molotov Kitschen + Cocktails

Chef Bo Porytko has been impressing local and out-of-state diners with his rotating menu based on traditional cuisine from Ukraine, Scandinavia, Germany, Poland and Georgia since he opened Molotov Kitschen + Cocktails in January.

So much so, that the eatery landed on The New York Times’ 2023 best restaurant list. Porytko cooks hearty meals an arms’ length away from guests seated in the intimate dining room, which is decorated like his Baba’s living room with cuckoo clocks hanging from the walls.

3333 E. Colfax Ave., Denver; molotovdenver.com

Kiké’s Red Tacos

Kiké’s Red Tacos, which won The Denver Post’s 2022 taco bracket as a food truck, opened its first brick-and-mortar restaurant in May. Customers no longer have to wait in camping chairs or rush to the popular food truck’s parking lot before it sells out every day during lunch, and can now comfortably chow down on rich Mexican stewed beef tacos in a 2,000-square-foot space in the Highlands.

Kiké’s, which Cesar Silva Gonzalez and his parents started in 2020, gained a viral following thanks to its TikTok and Instagram-friendly birria tacos with consomé, burritos, quesadillas, tortas and even ramen bowls.

1200 W. 38th Ave., Denver; kikesredtacos.com

Fox and The Hen

When a burrito specialist and a chef who’s TV-famous for her “Fancy Toast” joined forces this year, Denver was blessed with a new favorite brunch spot. “Top Chef” alumna Carrie Baird, along with Michael Fox, owner of wholesale burrito business Dis Burrito, and Denver restaurateur Juan Padro opened Fox and The Hen in June.

Fox and The Hen serves fun twists on classic American breakfast dishes, like hash browns served “Animal-Style” (a take on In-N-Out fries), plus Baird’s signature dishes, including “Fancy Toast,” made famous on Season 15 of “Top Chef” in Denver, and huevos rancheros that secured her the crown in her appearance on “Beat Bobby Flay.”

2257 W. 32nd Ave., Denver; foxandthehen.com

Major Tom

Ground control to Major Tom. In February, Michelin-starred Beckon replaced Call, its next-door European cafe with Major Tom, a champagne-focused cocktail bar and small bites restaurant in the River North Art District.

Major Tom is a spot for Beckon guests to grab a drink and some appetizers before or after their meal, or for any passersby who want to dip their toe into the Beckon experience before dropping $175 a head on dinner. Pair champagne with small bites, like the “Shooting Star” sandwich, with prawns, skate, caviar and remoulade on sourdough, or settle in for a popcorn-filled eclair for dessert.

2845 Larimer St., Denver; majortomdenver.com

Hey Kiddo

Chef Kelly Whitaker, who won two Michelin stars for Bruto and The Wolf’s Tailor in September, added his golden touch to the third floor of The Asher boutique hotel with the opening of Hey Kiddo in January.

The trendy menu, which Whitaker collaborated on with San Francisco chef Deuki Hong, is globally influenced, featuring small bites, like popcorn Korean fried chicken, shaken rice, and caviar, plus standout entrees such as pork ribs or dry-aged duck. There’s also a hidden bar dubbed Ok Yeah, where customers can order any drink their heart desires and munch on hand rolls while they wait for a table.

4337 Tennyson St., Unit 300, Denver; hk-oy.com

The Regular, The Guest and El Mercado

Three-in-one is always a good deal. After starting a private dinner series in their home during COVID, Sydney Younggreen and Brian De Souza expanded their horizons and found a space for three concepts in one space. In July, the couple debuted The Regular in downtown Denver. The Regular makes guests feel at home, offering something for everyone from filet mignon to grilled lobster tail, or family-style short rib.