The Top Restaurants by Cuisine in Denver

AMERICAN:These guys are old pros at all things pork, the dinnertime small plates are all pretty great. Don’t leave without ordering the ham and biscuits and the charcuterie plate. Most of the time, this well-lit and rustic eatery goes by the name Old Major, but from 11-3 on weekdays, it transforms into a delicious pop-up called Royal Rooster, which is one of the best lunch spots around.

STEAKHOUSE: This Portland-born steakhouse was so popular, they opened up additional locations in Denver, Cleveland, and Philadelphia (and they also won the OpenTable Diners’ Choice Award 2018). The steaks are what you come here for—there are lots of different types and cuts—but they do have some other meats, fish, and sides. Whatever you order is sure to be a monster win.

MEDITERRANEAN: They know how to combine things beautifully, harmoniously, and deliciously at this chic fifth floor eatery. Their three distinct tapas menus—in addition to small plates and paellas—are a hybrid of flavors and dishes from all regions in the Mediterranean. The modern design is eccentric and colorful, with Arab and pop art references all over, but it’s hard to compete with their panoramic view of the downtown skyline. Patio seating offers the clearest view, but with floor-to-ceiling windows, you can still see the epic city outline from an indoor table or the bar. Regardless of where you sit, order their shawarma spiced lamb ribs and delicious cocktails.

JAPANESE: This destination sushi spot serves the freshest fish in Denver, and is actually one of the first US sushi bars to order fish directly from Japanese markets. Izakaya is a large space encased in lots of wood and glass, and it could easily be mistaken for an atrium. As a cherry on top, there’s additional seating on their beautiful glass-enclosed rooftop. If you’re looking for a round two, go next door to Sushi Den. Both spots get their fish from the same market in Japan, but Sushi Den is much smaller, so can be more challenging to get into.

FRENCH: The ambiance at this French bistro, from James Beard Award-winning chef Jennifer Jasinski, is overflowing with charm. There’s a very romantic patio and one particular indoor seating area that looks like it could be a small Parisian courtyard or alleyway, with twinkle lights strung overhead. They serve all the great staples you’d expect and even have a small section of their menu dedicated solely to steak frites, so definitely get some.

SEAFOOD: There’s a heavy oceanic and nautical feel to this spot that’s serving up some of the freshest seafood in Denver. There’s a large bar anchoring the room that boasts a great assortment of wines and cocktails, and as you’d expect, they have a serious raw bar situation going on (including oysters from their own oyster farm and special varieties flown in from the East Coast). Whether it’s raw, fried, grilled, baked, or sandwiched between a roll, if it comes from under the sea, they do it outstandingly well here. The clam chowder and fried clams are bananas, and the trout dip and oysters are wonderful to share if you’re feeling generous. For entrés, we’d get the shrimp tacos or lobster roll (prepared four different ways).

SOUTHERN: At the helm of this powerhouse southern eatery—with multiple locations around the south—is two-time James Beard semifinalist, Chef Chris Kobayashi. Speaking of, it’s worth trying to reserve the chef’s table for the very unique experience it provides. The circular booth has a beverage spout in the middle of the table, from which you can self-serve any wine, beer, or cocktail you choose. At dinner, the honey dusted fried chicken is amazing, but brunch is very popular, and people rave about the avocado toast and mac and cheese. On another note, almost every night, they offer a one-of-a-kind late-night meal called Moonrise Brunch.

INDIAN: Many Denverites are adamant that this is the very best Indian food in Denver. Their space is beautifully modern, but their flavors are familiar and traditional. Instead of a more typical lunch buffet, they offer an “express lunch” that includes a protein, soup, rice and naan, and a beer or glass of wine. They’re particularly expert with lamb, which is why their chops and lamb rojan josh are big favorites here. As far as masala sauces go, they take great pride in theirs—as they should, it’s incredible—so you’ll likely be delighted by any dish you order that comes with it.

SPANISH: Jennifer Jasinski—the James Beard Award-winning chef behind several successful restaurants in Denver—is doing dangerously delicious things with Spanish and Portuguese foods in this Union Station eatery. There’s extra love given to ham and gin specifically, which can be seen in their sizable gin tonics list and the Iberian ham leg that’s proudly displayed on their bar. The top tapas here are arguably the trio de jamón (a ham sampler), ham croquetas, and shrimp tortilla (griddle cake). Follow those up with the spice-rubbed pork ribs that practically fall off the bone or the cured trout with olive-orange salad and potato chips, they are both insanely good.