8 must-try places for BBQ, soul food, Korean, Indian and more

Aurora’s superb eating scene is consistently invigorated by individuals on the transfer

“The Gateway to the Rockies,” as Denver’s neighboring metropolis is named, turned a touchdown spot for African-People who arrived from the American South as a result of “The Nice Migration,” and continues to be referred to as dwelling by asylum-seekers, immigrants and refugees from greater than 47 international locations. Many have began companies that give diners an opportunity to expertise the flavors of their native lands. Listed below are eight sit-down, unbiased eating places whose menus have been formed by migration. They’re definitely worth the journey from Denver!

Cora Faye’s Soul Meals Café

Priscilla Smith cultivated a following for her soulful Southern cooking whereas working a restaurant in Park Hill. Smith moved to Aurora a number of years in the past, and her present location is close to the bustling intersection of Colfax and Chambers. Cease by to savor crispy fried hen, smothered pork chops, and different dishes from recipes which have been in Smith’s Alabama-based household for greater than a century. For a dreamy end to your meal, order a slice of coconut cream cheese frosted cake and two pillows to your inevitable after-meal nap.

15395 E. Colfax Ave., 303-333-5551. Open 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Sunday; 11 a.m.-7:30 p.m. Tuesday-Thursday; 11 a.m.-8:30 p.m. Friday-Saturday. corafayescafe.com

Cuba Bakery & Café

Folks with Cuban heritage who stay within the Denver space closely endorse this place. Right here, you’ll discover a pleasant mix of savory and candy meals. All the things is served cafeteria-style, so diners can feast with their eyes earlier than making a variety. We love the chicharron served right here as a protracted strip of pork pores and skin, meat and fats fried to crispy perfection. There’s additionally the standard ropa vieja (translated as “outdated garments”), which is shredded beef in a spicy tomato sauce. No matter you select to your entrée, a perfect end is a guava-filled pastry. A phrase to the sensible: If you need any probability of getting the Saturday oxtails particular, you want to present up earlier than midday.

15028 E. Mississippi Ave., 303-752-2822. Open 8 a.m.-3 p.m. Sunday; 8 a.m-7 p.m. Monday-Thursday. cubabakeryandcafe.com

The Madras Café

Within the metro Denver space, Indian eating places normally function the nation’s northern cuisines. Madras Café delightfully shines a highlight on the vegetarian dishes made in southern India. Begin your meal with bajji, a well-liked, deep-fried road snack with a chutney dipping sauce. The plantain model is essentially the most conventional and reminds one in all an orangish fritter. We advocate zooming in on the part of the menu devoted to “South Particular Curries.” The calmly sauced and well-seasoned okra fry is earthy and soul-satisfying. For dessert, you’ll love the halwa made with finely grated carrots, condensed milk and clarified butter.

5422 S. Parker Highway, 720-541-7293. Open 11 a.m.-3 p.m. and 5:30 p.m.-9 p.m. Sunday; 11 a.m.-2:30 p.m., then 5:30-9:30 p.m.  Tuesday-Thursday; 11 a.m.-2:30 p.m., then 5:30-9 p.m. Friday and Saturday. themadrascafe.com

Plates by the Pound BBQ

The one factor that has been on extra of a roll than barbecue chef Aaron Gonerway is his beneficiant serving of “O.G. Pulled Pork” that he serves as much as people lined up across the block on Saturday mornings. True to his Texas household roots, Gonerway makes wonderful beef brisket, and that’s the transfer to make when ordering. One other standout is the baked potato that’s actually “loaded” with barbecued meat. We had been additionally pleasantly happy with the potato salad, smoky baked beans, and banana pudding. Mercy!

11601 E. Montview Blvd., 720-697-0082. Open Saturday, 11 a.m. till offered out. platesbythepoundbbq.com

Silla Korean Restaurant BBQ

Silla proudly claims to be the “oldest Korean restaurant in Colorado,” and its house owners needs to be proud. The usual Korean dishes are top-notch and presumably habit-forming. We propose beginning off with the hubcap-sized kimchi jeon pancakes and the fried, pork-filled delights referred to as goon mandu dumplings. For those who order the bulgogi — marinated, barely candy and thinly sliced strips of meat — you’ll get the choice of cooking it your self on the desk, or having the kitchen deal with it. We left it as much as the consultants and devoured the scorching, cast-iron plate of beef bulgogi accompanied by an array of contemporary and pickled vegetable facet dishes. For a change of tempo, our bibimbap bowl was grilled calamari with a sauteed vegetable medley and a fried sunnyside-up egg over rice.

3005 S. Peoria St., 303-338-5070. Open 11:30 a.m.-8 p.m., Sunday-Tuesday, Friday-Saturday. sillabbq.com

Sugar’s Caribbean Quick Meals

The primary time you pull as much as this place, you’ll most likely curse whichever map software you used. Sure, you’re in a residential neighborhood and there aren’t any indicators indicating an consuming place is close by. To not fear. Simply comply with the inviting aroma and the pulsating music to the again of the home. This weekend-only, take-out Jamaican “restaurant” is definitely run out of proprietor Sugar’s  (that’s the one identify the proprietor goes by) transformed again porch. His cooking adventures started way back as a baby when he watched his family members prepare dinner. As an grownup, Sugar would “run a ship” with associates (which suggests having a cookout). After months of rave critiques, he thought he ought to make some cash by cooking. I’m grateful for that revelation. I don’t know why, however Jamaican cooks have a manner with oxtails, and Sugar’s model doesn’t disappoint. Six meaty items bathed in a wealthy brown gravy are nestled in an ample portion of peas and rice. You’ll additionally love the marginally spicy jerk hen, the fried crimson snapper slathered in a spicy sauce, and the flaky and meat-filled (beef or hen) hand pies referred to as “patties.” All of those pair properly with a home made non-alcoholic hibiscus drink referred to as “sorrel” or a calming bottle of Crimson Stripe beer.

1140 Lansing St., 720-231-6460. Open Friday-Sunday, 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.

City Burma

This restaurant is among the star sights on the Mango Home, a fancy that features immigrant-related companies, a meals court docket and companies. We had been completely wowed by the fermented and calmly dressed tea leaf salad with a crunchy mixture of cabbage, lentils and fried peanuts. We forgot about social graces whereas slurping up the “weh da nah,” a spicy pork curry punctuated with potatoes. Its ginger mint spritzer was contemporary and scrumptious. An absolute should for dessert is the banana paratha of fried dough full of banana with a Nutella drizzle.

10180 E. Colfax Ave., 626-628-5430. Open midday to 7 p.m., Thursday-Saturday. orderurbanburma.com

Yemen Grill