Asian Sensation: Best Asian Restaurants in Boulder

By Kelly Tidd

The category of Asian cuisine is probably one of the most varied of any type. From Thai to Japanese and Indian to Vietnamese, the menu items vary vastly and delight various regions of your taste buds.

As one of the foodiest towns in the country, Boulder definitely boasts some spectacular farm-to-table and upscale restaurants. They also play host to some fabulous cuisine from all over Asia. Here are just a handful of those offerings — and definitely let us know if you have additions to the best Asian restaurants in Boulder.

Chinese

The old standby. Chinese Food. Anytime I feel under the weather, I swear by a good Hot and Sour soup to make the world right again. Tsing Tao, located in the Table Mesa shopping center, has vegan Hot and Sour soup to die for. I’ve been going to this place since I attended Fairview High School and it never gets old.  On the other side of town in NoBo, China Gourmet serves happy customers seven days a week. Just be warned, it’s a cash only establishment, so hit the ATM before you go.

Japanese

When I say Japanese, most people think of one thing: sushi. Boulderites love themselves some sushi, so there are no shortage of sushi places in Boulder proper. Some of the most popular places include Amu, which is also a sake bar that offers guests up to 48 different types of sake; Sushi Tora, which is about as fresh as you can get outside of Tokyo (it’s flown in fresh daily); and Sushi Zanmai, which doubles as a karaoke bar on Saturday nights.

Thai

Boulder certainly has no shortage of great Thai food places. You probably have your own place that you frequent or order from on a weekly basis. Here are a few of the places that have received top nods from diners in Boulder: Thai Avenueserves Thai right on College Avenue and many folks rave about their Drunken Noodles and Pad Thai. Thai Kitchen, a little off the beaten path at 28th and Valmont, has a reputation for Thai with a kick. If you’re searching for a place that will finally satisfy your need for spicy food, order your dishes spicy.

Vietnamese

While there’s a wide variety of menu items that constitute a Vietnamese menu, ask any hungov – er, sick college student which menu item is a necessity and they will answer in chorus: Pho. Luckily, one of our other staffers has got you covered when it comes to finding the best pho restaurant in Boulder, so my work here is done.

Indian

Though this category is often thought of separately from other Asian restaurants, it is a member of the Asian food family and I can’t pass up an opportunity to take about good Indian food. Curry N Kebab is located out near Thai Kitchen on 28thand Valmont and it is worth the trip (even though it’s not that far in reality).  Fans of this place rave about nearly every item on their menu, so you can’t really go wrong with any choice. Tandoori Grill, in the Table Mesa shopping center, has an outstanding lunch buffet. If you have a free afternoon, go gorge yourself on Saag Paneer and naan and then promptly pass out when you get home.

Of course, as with any of these lists of recommendations, it’s nowhere near complete. There are so many amazing Asian restaurants in Boulder that I couldn’t possibly list them all here. So if you have a favorite that you don’t see here, by all means, please leave it in the comments.