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From Korean Barbecue to Greek and Afghan Food: This Is The Guide to Aurora's Ethnic Food

by Andra Zeppelin
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by Andra Zeppelin

Aurora is a true paradise for ethnic food lovers. A mecca of international gems, there are plenty of hole-in-the-wall spots to surprise and challenge the palate. Besides a number of ethnic grocery stores to test your own Morimoto skills like H-Mart, World Food Bazar, Arash International Market, and Lotus Asian Market), the variety of Korean barbecue spots, Vietnamese, Greek, and everything in between is overwhelmingly satisfying. It's the UN of food in one convenient suburb. But be prepared, you will need several trips to check out all these spots - and you may get hooked on some of them.


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— Guide by Lauren Monitz

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Note: Restaurants on this map are listed geographically.

1. Thai Street Food

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11650 Montview Blvd
Aurora, CO 80010
(303) 587-2293
(303) 587-2293
Visit Website
What started as a food truck on 16th Street Mall has morphed into a five day a week restaurant in Aurora. All the dishes are standard Thai fare - pad thai, crab and cheese wontons, dumplings, tom yum soup- and are prepared meticulously one at a time. If you’re a fan of spice, you may very well break into a sweat.

2. Chef Liu's Authentic Chinese Cuisine

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526 S Chambers
Aurora, CO 80017
(303) 369-2220
(303) 369-2220
Visit Website
If you have a hankering for good Szechuan or Beijing style Chinese food, Chef Liu’s is where it's at. Menu highlights include dragon meatballs and beef cooked in numbing chili oil, a spicy broth loaded with peppercorns, red peppers, cilantro, and herbs. Enough said.

3. Seoul Korean BBQ & Sushi

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2080 S Havana St
Aurora, CO 80014
(303) 632-7576
(303) 632-7576
Visit Website
The 10+ page menu can be daunting. If you’re looking to sample it all, bring friends because the Korean BBQ combination dinners serve from 3-5 people with a variety of short ribs, pork belly, and spicy tofu stew among a plethora of banchan (side dishes). Come hungry, leave mesmerized with Korean food.

4. Pho 888

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575 Billings St
Aurora, CO 80011
303-376-4180
303-376-4180
Visit Website
If you’re looking to venture beyond Federal for traditional Vietnamese rice noodle soup, Pho 888 a family-owned eatery is a good choice. Pho master Linh Dinh works tirelessly to keep a smile on his customers faces with his secret ingredient -love - and the deeply-flavored broth dotted to your liking with bean sprouts, basil, lime, and jalapeno.

5. Masala Restaurant

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3140 S Parker Rd
Aurora, CO 80014
(303) 755-6272
(303) 755-6272
Visit Website
Denver has no shortage of Indian restaurants, but Masalaa has been the talk of the town since its first Yummy Award given by the City of Aurora in 2004. Standout menu items include the Uthappam (lentil and rice batter pancakes topped with veggies) and Dosa (fermented crepes made out of rice batter and black lentils stuffed with a choice of ingredients). The popular lunchtime buffet allows you to try a little bit of everything.

6. Ariana Kabob Cafe

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2767 Parker Rd
Aurora, CO 80014
(303) 745-6262
(303) 745-6262
Visit Website
If you’ve never tried Afghani food, now's the time. Sweet and spicy Qabuli rice is a must, complete with flavorful mint chutney, kabobs, and Mantoo, pan fried dumplings filled with meat and onions served in a split pea and garlic yogurt.

7. gyroz

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13698 East Iliff Avenue
Aurora, CO 80014
720-748-7650
720-748-7650
Visit Website
For Greek on the go, Gyroz dishes up gyros, hummus platters, and falafel sandwiches in a casual drive-through environment. Unpretentious and inconspicuous, this is one hole in the wall that’s worth a second look.

8. The Athenian

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15320 E Iliff Ave
Aurora, CO 80013
(720) 449-0224
(720) 449-0224
Visit Website
Who knew you can feel like you are on the Mediterranean on Iliff Avenue! Start your dinner with the flaming Saganaki and tasty moussaka followed by platters of kabobs. You’ll also get a complimentary shot of Ouzo, a Greek aperitif, to wash it all down and cleanse the palate.

9. African Bar & Grill

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1010 South Peoria Street
Aurora, CO 80012
(720) 949-0784
(720) 949-0784
Visit Website
At this unassuming family-owned restaurant, most of the dishes are from Ghana, but also include regional specialties from around West Africa. The eclectic menu is based on corn, yam, plantains, and cassava, served either fufu-style (boiled to a doughy consistency) or fried. Be sure to try the natural palm wine that's actually brewed inside the tree, a unique treat.

10. L&L Hawaiian Barbecue

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14221 E Cedar Ave
Aurora, CO 80012
(303) 340-8824
(303) 340-8824
Visit Website
Hawaiian Barbecue is a fusion of Asian and American dishes prepared with unique island flare. Signature lunch plates include chicken katsu (breaded with a special dipping sauce), “Loco Moco” (hamburger patties, two eggs, and gravy), and mahi mahi, all served with a side of rice and macaroni salad.

11. Las Tortugas

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712 Peoria St
Aurora, CO 80011
(303) 367-1123
(303) 367-1123
Visit Website
Tucked in the back of an inconspicuous strip mall, Las Tortugas (“the Turtles”) dishes up flavorful tortas (Mexican sandwiches) filled with perfectly grilled pork and beef on fresh bolillo bread shaped like hard tortoise shells. Brush up on your high school Spanish because there's no English on this menu.

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1. Thai Street Food

11650 Montview Blvd, Aurora, CO 80010
What started as a food truck on 16th Street Mall has morphed into a five day a week restaurant in Aurora. All the dishes are standard Thai fare - pad thai, crab and cheese wontons, dumplings, tom yum soup- and are prepared meticulously one at a time. If you’re a fan of spice, you may very well break into a sweat.
11650 Montview Blvd
Aurora, CO 80010
(303) 587-2293
Visit Website

2. Chef Liu's Authentic Chinese Cuisine

526 S Chambers, Aurora, CO 80017
If you have a hankering for good Szechuan or Beijing style Chinese food, Chef Liu’s is where it's at. Menu highlights include dragon meatballs and beef cooked in numbing chili oil, a spicy broth loaded with peppercorns, red peppers, cilantro, and herbs. Enough said.
526 S Chambers
Aurora, CO 80017
(303) 369-2220
Visit Website

3. Seoul Korean BBQ & Sushi

2080 S Havana St, Aurora, CO 80014
The 10+ page menu can be daunting. If you’re looking to sample it all, bring friends because the Korean BBQ combination dinners serve from 3-5 people with a variety of short ribs, pork belly, and spicy tofu stew among a plethora of banchan (side dishes). Come hungry, leave mesmerized with Korean food.
2080 S Havana St
Aurora, CO 80014
(303) 632-7576
Visit Website

4. Pho 888

575 Billings St, Aurora, CO 80011
If you’re looking to venture beyond Federal for traditional Vietnamese rice noodle soup, Pho 888 a family-owned eatery is a good choice. Pho master Linh Dinh works tirelessly to keep a smile on his customers faces with his secret ingredient -love - and the deeply-flavored broth dotted to your liking with bean sprouts, basil, lime, and jalapeno.
575 Billings St
Aurora, CO 80011
303-376-4180
Visit Website

5. Masala Restaurant

3140 S Parker Rd, Aurora, CO 80014
Denver has no shortage of Indian restaurants, but Masalaa has been the talk of the town since its first Yummy Award given by the City of Aurora in 2004. Standout menu items include the Uthappam (lentil and rice batter pancakes topped with veggies) and Dosa (fermented crepes made out of rice batter and black lentils stuffed with a choice of ingredients). The popular lunchtime buffet allows you to try a little bit of everything.
3140 S Parker Rd
Aurora, CO 80014
(303) 755-6272
Visit Website

6. Ariana Kabob Cafe

2767 Parker Rd, Aurora, CO 80014
If you’ve never tried Afghani food, now's the time. Sweet and spicy Qabuli rice is a must, complete with flavorful mint chutney, kabobs, and Mantoo, pan fried dumplings filled with meat and onions served in a split pea and garlic yogurt.
2767 Parker Rd
Aurora, CO 80014
(303) 745-6262
Visit Website

7. gyroz

13698 East Iliff Avenue, Aurora, CO 80014
For Greek on the go, Gyroz dishes up gyros, hummus platters, and falafel sandwiches in a casual drive-through environment. Unpretentious and inconspicuous, this is one hole in the wall that’s worth a second look.
13698 East Iliff Avenue
Aurora, CO 80014
720-748-7650
Visit Website

8. The Athenian

15320 E Iliff Ave, Aurora, CO 80013
Who knew you can feel like you are on the Mediterranean on Iliff Avenue! Start your dinner with the flaming Saganaki and tasty moussaka followed by platters of kabobs. You’ll also get a complimentary shot of Ouzo, a Greek aperitif, to wash it all down and cleanse the palate.
15320 E Iliff Ave
Aurora, CO 80013
(720) 449-0224
Visit Website

9. African Bar & Grill

1010 South Peoria Street, Aurora, CO 80012
At this unassuming family-owned restaurant, most of the dishes are from Ghana, but also include regional specialties from around West Africa. The eclectic menu is based on corn, yam, plantains, and cassava, served either fufu-style (boiled to a doughy consistency) or fried. Be sure to try the natural palm wine that's actually brewed inside the tree, a unique treat.
1010 South Peoria Street
Aurora, CO 80012
(720) 949-0784
Visit Website

10. L&L Hawaiian Barbecue

14221 E Cedar Ave, Aurora, CO 80012
Hawaiian Barbecue is a fusion of Asian and American dishes prepared with unique island flare. Signature lunch plates include chicken katsu (breaded with a special dipping sauce), “Loco Moco” (hamburger patties, two eggs, and gravy), and mahi mahi, all served with a side of rice and macaroni salad.
14221 E Cedar Ave
Aurora, CO 80012
(303) 340-8824
Visit Website

11. Las Tortugas

712 Peoria St, Aurora, CO 80011
Tucked in the back of an inconspicuous strip mall, Las Tortugas (“the Turtles”) dishes up flavorful tortas (Mexican sandwiches) filled with perfectly grilled pork and beef on fresh bolillo bread shaped like hard tortoise shells. Brush up on your high school Spanish because there's no English on this menu.
712 Peoria St
Aurora, CO 80011
(303) 367-1123
Visit Website

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