Aurora neighborhood named among best in US for foodies

Brooke Williams
·3 min read

DENVER (KDVR) –Part of Aurora was recently named among the best food neighborhoods in the U.S. thanks to its diverse assortment of culinary options.

Travel magazine AFAR took a “coast-to-coast look at the culinary oases” in the U.S. and compiled 12 lesser-known spots with plenty of immigrant, Black, Indigenous, people of color and women-owned businesses with “ridiculously delicious food.”

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With over 250 global restaurants, according to AFAR, Havana Street in Aurora was named among the best food neighborhoods in the nation.

AFAR highlighted the diverse culinary options lined up along Havana Street, describing it as the kind of thoroughfare where Indian, Italian, Korean and Sudanese restaurants rub shoulders with century-old diners, Korean karaoke bars, fried chicken joints, boba tea shops and more.

For breakfast, AFAR recommends checking out the French Asian bakery Tous les Jours, located at 2892 S. Havana St., where foodies can find some hard-to-find treats like taro cream bread, pain au chocolate (chocolate croissants), red bean doughnuts, honeydew melon buns and the popular (and Instagramable) purple ube latte.

Next, AFAR recommends Mariscos El Rey Dos for lunch. The seafood restaurant, located just off Havana St. at 10293 E Iliff Ave., has a notably long menu with dishes including shrimp, scallops, bass, octopus, squid, crab, abalone, various sushi options and more.

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As for dinner, AFAR mentions Korean barbecue at Dae Gee (1910 S. Havana St., Unit 1) and Shin Myung Gwan (2680 S Havana St. B) or Brazilian churrasco at Aroma de Brazil (10722 E Iliff Ave.).

For when you get a sweet tooth, AFAR recommends trying the mountainous snow bowl at Snowl Cafe, a shaved ice vendor with unique flavors like sweet potato cheesecake, black sesame, and green tea. The cafe, located at 1930 S. Havana St. units 5-6, serves boba tea as well as sweet snacks in a fish-shaped ice cream cone.

Happy hour and late-night foodies can check out Korean pub ThankSool Pocha, located at 2222 S Havana St. unit E, on weekdays from 4 to 6 p.m. for $8 soju and $7 beer. AFAR also recommended the karaoke bar Muse Noraebang and Cafe, which is at the same location in unit D. The karaoke bar serves a hangover soup made with mussels called honghap-tang.

AFAR also mentioned Sara’s Market Bakery at 1930 S. Havana St. unit 12, highlighting its simit (seeded Turkish bagels), shirmal (saffron-flavored sweet bread), and barbari (yeast-leavened Iranian flatbread).

AFAR also recommends the following eateries:

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AFAR also noted Sam’s No. 3, a locally iconic Greek diner and bar that is still run by the family nearly 100 years after it opened. The Sam’s No. 3 location in Aurora recently closed its doors, but there are two remaining locations: one just off on Leetsdale Drive at 435 S Cherry St. in Glendale, and another at 1500 Curtis Street in Denver.

Chance Horiuchi, executive director of the Havana Business Improvement District, recommends grabbing takeout food and going to Cherry Creek State Park for a picnic and an adventure.

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