While visiting Denver, my coworkers and I went to ChoLon downtown. It was restaurant week in Denver so the menu was limited but we still found a lot of items to try out. The chicken soup dumplings, pork potstickers, and the ice cream was all very good! I wasn't such a huge fan of the tufu pork belly noodles. I'm not really a fan of tofu but I didn't really like the noodle dish in general. The inside of the restaurant is beautiful and well designed. The wait staff was also very friendly. I would like to come back here and try more items from their regular menu. read more

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If you've read my reviews before, you already know two things about me. I give honest feedback, and I cannot stand being served cold food. Lately it feels like a lot of restaurants are charging more while giving less, and it's getting harder to find places that actually care about the customer experience. Unfortunately, this was another one of those experiences. We ordered three side dishes and three drinks, and the bill came out to around $100. Two of the three sides were served cold, the dumplings at least came out hot, but they were pretty mediocre and nothing I'd order again and drinks were extremely over priced. The waitress was fine, no real issues there, but it did feel like the food may have been sitting in the kitchen too long before it hit the table even though the place was empty. At the end of the day, it's hard to justify paying that kind of money for cold, underwhelming food, then feeling awkward about the tip because the experience just wasn't good. I won't be back. If I had known this is what the experience was I would have definitely gone somewhere else. As an added bonus I felt like crap afterwords, I think it was because of poor quality ingredients. My aim in writing these reviews is to highlight the restaurants and businesses that truly take care of their customers, to give people a heads up about the ones that clearly do not prioritize quality or the customer experience, and to express myself in a world where it often feels like there is very little room to speak honestly about paying top dollar for mediocre experiences. Very disappointing. read more

Ordered: French Onion Soup Dumplings (~$16) Jumbo Shrimp Satay (~$18): 4pc with Chili-Tamarind Butter Malaysian Noodles w Chicken (~$28): with Bok Choy, Scrambled Egg, & Bean Sprouts Wok-Tossed Baby Bok Choy (~$8) Aya's take: I was looking for something quick that would hopefully hit the spot, and decided on ChoLon. The menu is pretty small which could be a good thing if they can make those items exceptionally well. Unfortunately, that wasn't the case here. We were off to a decent start with the French Onion Soup Dumplings. They're unique, gooey, and decadent. The Jumbo Shrimp Satay was my favorite bite of the night! Although the shrimp was a bit overcooked/dry, the chili-tamarind butter was super tasty and elevated the satay. The Malaysian Noodles usually come with pork but I was able to substitute with chicken which was great. First off, I had no idea there would be bok choy in it; I wouldn't have ordered a side of it had it been listed on the menu. Second, the noodles are apparently made in-house but didn't taste fresh to me. They were chewy and thick unlike other noodles of this style I've had before. There was also a disproportionate amount of bean sprouts & egg compared to chicken and noodles. It felt like they were trying to fill up the bowl with side ingredients. ChoLon was not up to my standard personally but the restaurant itself has a nice ambiance and I can see this being a decent spot if you stick to appetizers & drinks. read more

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Just an average meal that was over priced in my opinion. Service was a little on the slow side, as it seemed they had two servers for a Sunday evening before an Avs game. We got 4 soup dumplings, 2 bao buns, some egg fried rice and a kids meal for $83 with tip. Personally I don't feel the need to go back, but if I were to with a group or work, I'd only get the bao buns again. Husband didn't mind the dumplings. read more

This place was phenomenal. A short walk from the convention center, great for business meetings! The food was OUT OF THIS WORLD. So flavorful and every meal was above my expectations. Drinks were also phenomenal and staff was very kind. read more

ChoLon Modern Asian - Downtown - Papaya salad - Asian Fusion Near Me - Denver, Colorado

Very nice restaurant. Our waitress Abby was fabulous. She was so friendly and explained the menu very well with some good suggestions. It's very similar to tapas style where you get dishes to share which was perfect for me and my friend. We tried a bunch of their dishes. The pork belly noodle was our favorite. The pork almost melted in ur mouth and the flavor was so delicious. It was served with fat thick rice noodles. We also tried their soup dumplings, which was well made, the soup inside the dumplings just rushes flavorful inside ur mouth. We tried two kinds and we both liked the general chos dumplings slightly better as it had a spicy kick to it. We got the pork belly bao bun. The bun was so soft and the sauce on the pork belly really made it so tasty...sweet and thick sauce. We also got their bok choy was was also tasty served I a very thin white sauce and just the right amount of salt. I got the fruit flavored whiskey and it was so smooth and very strong...be careful it will definitely hit you if you're a lightweight like me. Finally topped it off with their Vietnamese coffee flavored ice cream with a puff pastry which was also very good. This was a great meal, with great service in a nicely decorated, clean and comfortable restaurant. read more

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French Onion Soup Dumpling are EPIC. Crudo, Duck, Pork Belly, Calamari all excellent.Beautiful space, fun vibe. Friendly service. Can't wait to go back! read more

ChoLon Modern Asian - Downtown - Duck!!!! - Asian Fusion Near Me - Denver, Colorado

We went for an early dinner last weekend with my family. The restaurant was basically empty and our server was very attentive. The French onion soup dumplings were amazing! The short rib was fantastic. Other than that the food was eh. We went during happy hour and still managed to spend $400. So it's definitely not a cheap place. The Bao buns had too much bun and not enough like filling. The shrimp was just okay. But the pork belly bun was way better. read more

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Stayed at a hotel near by and this was one of the restaurants on their list of recommendations. We did outdoor seating and had great service, everyone was friendly and on top of things. Unfortunately, the food fell short to us. We understand it's a fusion, but the fusion wasn't done well, it didn't seem to marry, left our tastebuds confused and disappointed given the price. The soup dumplings were ok. The large plates (BBQ pork ribs and smoked beef short ribs) were the more disappointing part of our meal). The BBQ ribs had great fusion flavors, though the slaw didn't tie-in with the flavor well. And the scallion pancakes were more like deep fried chips, but wasn't too bad. The whole dish together didn't go well. As for the Smoked short ribs, unfortunately that's the one that left a bad taste in our mouths. It was tougher and the flavor of it was just too sour with the pickled onions garnished on top. It over powered the short ribs and felt like I was just eating sour meat. And I love sour stuff, but this didn't do it for me. The Brussels sprouts were probably the highlight of our meal. We also ordered three sides of jasmine rice (my sister and I are Cambodian so we need our rice) and it tasted like it was a few days old. read more

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The wait staff were extremely friendly and helpful. They have lots of unique dumplings that were all excellent. The French onion and general chos soup dumplings were my favorites and I would strongly recommend trying them. It wasn't overly busy either and the patio offered good views of 16th street. read more

Stopped in for a quick bite. The dumplings were amazing. Everything else was on par but not fantastic. The service was quick and friendly. Definitely worth a stop in. read more

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A local tipped me off to some of her favorite downtown Denver gems, and ChoLon Modern Asian definitely made the highlight reel. Perfect lunch spot--laid-back vibe, full of bold flavors, and just far enough off the radar that we nearly had the place to ourselves. ChoLon opened back in 2010 and pulls its inspiration from street food across Southwest Asia. The menu is all over the map--in the best possible way. Let's talk about those soup dumplings. Everyone raves about them, so we had to see what the fuss was about. We ordered two versions: the General Cho (spicy, savory, punchy) and the French Onion (unexpectedly rich and delicious). Both lived up to the hype--great texture, piping hot, packed with flavor. We also shared the Malaysian chicken stir-fry noodles, which came out steaming, saucy, and fully loaded. Easily enough to feed two hungry adults and then some. Service was on point. We rolled in around 12:15 on a Saturday and only two other tables were seated. That meant lightning-fast food and stellar service from our server Nayar--who couldn't have been more attentive. Would love to come back for a dinner service when we have more time to soak in the ambiance (and maybe tackle more of that menu). read more

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A rock solid happy hour spot!! I love that it's walking distance from Union station, making it a very convenient spot to hit if you're in the downtown Denver area. The happy hour deals were great! It's a great way to get to try a lot of different items on a budget. We absolutely loved the soup dumplings. The server was attentive and the food came out quickly. I'd be interested to try it again for dinner! read more

This may be the most fancy place I have ever had dinner and I loved it! For starters, the space was very elegant and proper but also simple decorations. The tables were a little close together for my taste because we could hear everything the people next to us said but they do have a pretty high capacity so I think they're just looking to maximize that. Service was friendly but not very attentive, I had to get their attention to get more rice and if they had checked in more often, I probably would've gotten another cocktail while I was there. Overall though, they were kind and didn't do anything wrong at all, just could've been a little more engaging and attentive. I started with the lychee martini (the Reverend Mother) which was sweet, refreshing, and so cute, I loved it with my meal and would've loved to try another one of their drinks. To start, we had the vegetable potstickers which were steamed to perfection and presented aesthetically. For my main course, I had the vegetable curry with tofu and it came with rice that I ended up needing a refill of and it was good but nothing too special. I kept the leftovers and they may have been even better the next day than day of. I was very full after all this, but couldn't resist trying the crème brûlée and I was not disappointed. The portion was pretty small for the price but worth it because it's so tasty. I would love to come back here again sometime, as long as it's not on my own dime because it's quite the expensive place. read more

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I visited this restaurant during new years (would definitely recommend reservations around the holidays, not sure how busy it is otherwise). I got a mix of food, which was fun to try. They serve Asian fusion dishes. We got the soup dumplings (inside was French onion with gruyere cheese), Cantonese lyonnaise salad, and two holiday specials (includes a noodle dish with prawn and beef, prosecco, and season cocktail, which I can't recall the name of it but it was delicious). The food came out in a timely manner given how busy the restaurant was. The soup dumplings and the Cantonese lyonnaise salad was excellent and unique. The noodle dish with beef and prawn was good but nothing outstanding (a little pricey for what it is). For starters, they give complimentary papadum and dipping sauce. The restaurant is nice and elegant, has large windows into the downtown Denver. Doesn't really create an ambiance of Asia, pretty western style décor. Overall, food was delicious and this restaurant is good for a special occasion. read more

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The french onion soup dumplings live up to the hype!!! That is all. Just kidding, there's more. The crispy chicken spring rolls are some of the best I've ever had. The service is quick, and the ambiance is perfect for a date. Went here for my 1 year anniversary and it was perfect! read more

ChoLon Modern Asian - Downtown - Soup Dumplings, Sweet Onion and Gruyere - Asian Fusion Near Me - Denver, Colorado

First restaurant during our trip to Denver and Cholon definitely set the bar high for Denver. This was the best meal I had during my 5 night stay. The service was great - kind and informative, made solid suggestions. Ambiance - it's a nice upscale restaurant and decor / staff reflects this. Food was amazing - Malaysian Noodles, Kim Chi fried rice, Thai Brussels sprouts, pork belly buns Drinks were decent, not amazing. Had a Vietnamese coffee martini and an old Saigon. Try the desserts! read more

ChoLon Modern Asian - Downtown - Dessert - Spiced Dougnuts - Asian Fusion Near Me - Denver, Colorado

This spot was located walking distance from my hotel, so I stopped by for happy hour since I was looking for some smaller bites upon touching down in Denver. I was able to get seated right away and sat at the bar. Since I wanted to try a variety, I ended up getting the General Cho's soup dumplings (2 piece), shrimp bao bun with turmeric and dill, and the shrimp and chicken spicy wontons (3 pieces). The food arrived dish by dish and was good pacing. The General Cho's soup dumplings were quite interesting. The server recommended waiting 3 minutes before trying them, and there was a good amount of soup that was flavorful and umami, but I honestly can't describe what I was eating. The skin of the soup dumplings was too thick, and the meat didn't taste like anything. The soup also kept squirting out as soon as I bit into it. The shrimp bao bun was good, with crispy batter for the shrimp patty and surprisingly paired well with the turmeric jam and dill - definitely a unique take. The shrimp and chicken spicy wontons were not really spicy, and the skin was too thick and hard. Overall, taste of food and service was just okay, and definitely don't come here if you want traditional authentic Asian cuisine. The price for the quality was also quite high for the amount of food, even for happy hour $6 prices. read more

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We went for Valentine's Day! Staff was on top of things starting with Host seating people quick and efficient! Food was amazing we got a few of the Valentine's Day specials. Dumpling were yummy and the Brussel sprouts were SO GOOD! read more

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This place has been on my list since we moved here a couple of years ago. We got there for the last 15 minutes of HH so we ordered the Flights and Bites. I ordered the flight of sake, the soup dumplings, beef skewers and chicken rolls. Afterwards we ordered a glass of wine, Brussels sprouts and calamari. On the positive side, ambience is very nice. Our wait person while new to her job was attentive and gave it a great effort. I may just not be a fan of Asian Fusion food. Everything we ordered was ok. Nothing I would come back for. I do have to call out the sake flight which was probably the best thing I ordered. I was happy to see them crowded so great to know there is a market for this menu. I wish them only the best, just not a place for me. read more

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It's good and or OK. Soup dumplings are not fresh but frozen cooked. Good choice of onion and spicy but I only want fresh!!!! Good Saki suggested by its good friendly servers. read more

A Mixed Bag of Culinary Delights and Service at Cholon Denver Cholon in Downtown Denver offers an intriguing culinary experience, and while there were certainly highlights, a few aspects prevented it from being an entirely stellar outing. To start, the service was a bit rocky at the beginning of our meal. It felt a little inattentive, and we experienced some delays. However, I'm pleased to report that the service significantly improved as the evening progressed, becoming much more attentive and efficient. This positive shift certainly helped salvage the overall impression. Now, onto the food! ChoLon truly shines with many of its dishes. The soup dumplings were a ok - bursting with savory broth but a little too thick/doughy (not like traditional dumplings with delicate skin that's easy to pierce). The pork belly was an excellent choice, rich and flavorful. The gyozas and lamb skewers were also good, contributing to a generally positive experience with the savory items. And for dessert, the donuts with caramel and ice cream were an absolute delight - a sweet and satisfying end to the meal. Unfortunately, the fried rice with beef, which was also the most expensive item on the menu for lunch, was quite disappointing. It lacked the flavor and execution one would expect, especially given its price point. There brown butter ruined the fried rice flavor by being much too overpowering. The bread with coconut and dip was also unfortunately a little disappointing in that there was very little coconut sauce on the top and big bowl of what tasted just like more butter. Getting so much better flavor again and so little coconut flavor missed the mark. Overall, ChoLon offers a compelling menu with some truly exceptional dishes, making it a place I'd recommend for those seeking an adventurous culinary experience. While the initial service hiccups and the particularly underwhelming fried rice kept it from being an "excellent" experience, the improvement in service and the quality of most of the food certainly made it a very enjoyable meal. With a bit more consistency in both service from the get-go and ensuring all dishes, especially the pricier ones, live up to the standard, ChoLon has the potential to be a truly top-tier destination. Restaurant was nicely designed and furnished. read more

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Happy Hour is daily from 2 - 5:30pm Mon - Sun. They have some decent deals For small snacks but it's not a full meal, just small bites. Often that works for me, though! Some Happy Hour items are a little pricey. The price might be discounted but you're also getting a waaaay smaller portion, so only kind of a discount. The drinks range from $5 for one kind of tap beer, $8 wine, and $9 speciality cocktails on HH. A friend and I tried a few apps. My favorite thing was actually a sauce, ha! I didn't love the Wagyu Beef Skewers so much because the meat was a bit too grizzly for my personal liking, but the Hong Kong Steak Sauce is dynamite!! Pork potstickers were good, but I didn't like the sauce as much, as good as it sounds it's a ginger mustard dip, but was just too potent and soapy tasting (kind of like when some people first have cilantro and it tastes like to soap to them). I liked them with the leftover HK steak sauce better. Each time I go the happy hour gets worse. The last bartender tried screwing me on the HH deal, not cool. Why is this a good idea, do you think bartender? I just won't come back and your slow bar will be even slower... The bartender before that visit was great, though. Inconsistent, I guess. The Asian pancakes were the WORST I've ever had anywhere. Take me to a divey hole where the food is excellent instead! For the bougie this place is trying to be, nah, not a fan and can have so much better for much less of a price. read more

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ChoLon Modern Asian on Blake Street is a true delight. The service was spot on friendly fast and very attentive. The space is big to fit large groups of perfect for a date night of just the two of you. There are plenty of drink and food options. The portions are a decent size without ruining the quality. I was very please with flavors textures and how well prepared and cooked everything was. I really enjoy it here and plan on coming back again real soon. Below are some photos from that day! And I will be adding more :) read more

ChoLon Modern Asian - Downtown - Asian Fusion Near Me - Denver, Colorado

2 stars because the staff is awesome. The French onion soup dumplings are the best thing on the menu. Everything else was mediocre and disappointing. The Thai iced tea was watery and flavorless. I hate that! $310 for dinner and cocktails for three people. This would have been fine if the meal was awesome. read more

Came here for their Flights and Bites Happy Hour which includes three samples of sake (preselected dry, umami, and sweet options) and three small bites for $33! I'm normally skeptical of modern Asian adaptations but was pleasantly surprised. What we got: Crispy chicken spring rolls - 5/5 This was like a mix between an egg roll and samosa. The filling was like a chicken curry, which paired nicely with the cilantro yogurt dip. A must try! Grilled beef skewers - 4/5 Great flavor but small portions (only came with two bite-sized skewers), and the texture was a bit off-putting. I did like the Hong Kong barbecue dip it came with. Soup dumplings - 2.5/5 I wouldn't get this again. The flavor wasn't bad but the exterior was very thick and doughy. I really enjoyed the sake flight! The happy hour combo was good to share with two people as a light snack. Overall a solid place for happy hour in the heart of Denver, although parking is a little difficult. read more

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Ambiance: the restaurant was a fine establishment catered towards a more luxurious meal Service: the service was very quick and considerate as they realized we were in a rush without them noticing Food: We got the Stir Fried Malaysian Noodles and Pork Belly Bao buns. The noodles were quite authentic but I believe could use a bit more flavor. The pork belly buns were delicious. It had a nice fluffy bun and perfectly cooked pork belly. The presentation was also very beautiful unlike the noodles we got. Note: this place is expensive for what you are getting. We felt disappointed about the price especially for the Malaysian noodles which looked like a something I could make in 5 minutes at home. read more

ChoLon Modern Asian - Downtown - Pork Belly Buns, Sesame-Honey Glaze and Pickles - Asian Fusion Near Me - Denver, Colorado

Absolutely delicious! Every bite of food was amazing, cocktails were great. And top notch service! read more

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Ambiance was great, service was great and appetizers were also great. Opted to get the appetizers as it was happy hour. Went with skewers, pork belly bao, fried calamari, and chicken sliders. Skewers were seasoned well and tender. Pork belly bao was tasty and tender. Chicken sliders were also really good. Highlight for us was the fried calamari...prob best we ever had...seasoned and fried perfectly paired with the perfect dipping sauce. Really addicting! Only disappointment was their house old fashioned....no where close to an old fashioned. read more

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Came here for their happy hour during the week. We were sat right away and the server answered all of our questions. Their lychee martini was very tasty! The beef skewers and calamari were my favorite. I will be coming back for their regular dinner menu! read more

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We stopped in for a mid-day snack around 3pm and were able to get seated immediately. We got the French onion soup dumplings, grilled beef skewers, and the shrimp cake bao bun and the pork belly bao bun. My husband really enjoyed the French onion soup dumplings and I thought the skewers were tasty even without the sauce. The sauce reminded us of A1 steak sauce. The Baos were good as well. I thought the items we got were good, not mind blowing. It is a good option for fusion asian food. ChoLon has a pretty good daily happy hour menu for food and drinks. I would stop in again to try more of the menu. read more

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ChoLon in downtown Denver is a killer spot for date night or girls night out! We had originally went for their soup dumplings, which were packed with so much flavor. There were so many delicious options to choose from that we picked the dumplings, Brussels sprouts, homemade Bao buns, and shared two entrees; Ping Gai Chicken & smoked beef short rib. Our waitress was extremely knowledgeable, thank you again for making our experience so memorable Kimberly! read more

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Sorry but no pics. We had a group of 6 and were engrossed in visiting. This is a relaxed, easy place to dine. We ordered everything on the appetizer list and loved it all. Some enjoyed the soup dumplings more than others- I found them to be a little thicker than others I've had. The fried rice is probably the best I've ever tasted- full flavor and very moist. It was served in a large bowel which was nice for sharing. This is worth a repeat visit read more

We did the chefs tasting as part of a corporate dinner and had an excellent experience. Our server was very friendly and very attentive to our table. The food came out spaced nicely apart from each course. We were able to try so many items on the menu and everything was delicious! The soup dumplings were definitely one of the best things we tried!! Would come back and would recommend! read more

I've been wanting to try ChoLon for awhile now. I waited so long that they opened up a SECOND location, but I had to visit the original one first. Came here with my friend and ordered a bunch of plates to share. ChoLon had just transitioned to their summer menu. None of those cocktails really appealed to me, so I stuck with a refreshing cold sake. Maybe it's what we happened to order, but all our food was so brown, and presentation was sad. I didn't love the taste or texture of anything except the Chow Fun, which seemed normal. The Scallion Pancake was dry cardboard. The Chicken Spring Rolls were not what I expected. Their famous French Onion Soup Dumplings tasted like eating vomit. It sounds so mean to type all that out, but there's no other way to describe this disappointing experience. Customer service was fantastic, and I'm wondering if it was an off day with the cuisine. I won't be going to the new location, though it looks more modern. So depressing to give such a reknown Denver establishment only 2 stars. read more

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Wow! What a great place to enjoy an Asian fusion delight. Having just come from Las Vegas and paying premium prices for Asian food, It was refreshing to come to another city for as good, if not better quality food for half the price! The restaurant has an Asian vibe with a modern twist. Service was fantastic and exceptionally attentive. We stopped in during their happy hour and was able to enjoy a number of the Yelp favorites for discount prices. Their Bao pork belly with pickled vegetables was our absolute favorite. Their pork shu Mai and Wagyu beef fried rice were a not too distant second! This location deserves, minimally, a bib gourmand from the Michelin team. read more

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This review based on my visit on 6/28/24. I arrived right before their happy hour deals came to an end. - Ambience: I loved it. I didn't have a reservation and wandered in around 5:15 on a Friday, but easily snagged a seat at the bar right away. - Food: I ordered several items from their Happy Hour menu, including the French Onion Soup Dumplings (MUST ORDER - so delicious and different!!), Pork Belly Bao Buns, Kaya Toast (also MUST ORDER), Salmon Temaki Roll, and Korean Hot Fried Chicken Slider. Honestly, everything was so delicious, but I have to elaborate on the two must-have items. The French Onion Soup dumplings were exactly like eating French Onion soup inside of a dumpling. That may sound obvious, but every component was honestly just so perfectly executed. The caramelized onions and cheese just worked so nicely inside of each little dumpling. The Kaya Toast... OMG. It came cut up in little pieces with the a ramekin of "egg cloud". It was like a super-whipped egg with savory soy and white pepper (I think). The dish had all the things going for it - crispy bread, sweet coconut, savory/ umami egg that was both rich and light and pepper-y. Beyond delicious. - Service: Efficient and friendly. They also let me know I could split certain orders - specifically with the Salmon Temaki Roll (1 instead of 2 rolls), Soup Dumplings (2 instead of 4), and Bao Buns (1 instead of 2). I really appreciated that since I was dining solo. read more

ChoLon Modern Asian - Downtown - Kaya Toast, Coconut Jam and Egg Cloud - Asian Fusion Near Me - Denver, Colorado

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I had a delish meal for my birthday. Pulled pork boa bun, French onion dumpling, gumbo shrimp satay, and calamari sticks with an outrageous dipping sauce. Plus a flight of sake. The service was outstanding. Abby went out of her way to make our dining experience memorable. read more

Great happy hour menu! Beef skewers, salmon roll, dumplings were delicious! Must end with coconut bread with egg thing Went two days in a row, and the first day the young pretty lady server was so warm and friendly. The 2nd day server was not as attentive nor friendly. read more

ChoLon Modern Asian - Downtown - Coconut something on happy hour. Delicious! - Asian Fusion Near Me - Denver, Colorado

Genuinely fantastic-- SO good. Sexy ambiance for date night, with food so good there is no way you can look good eating it since you will be shoveling it in your mouth. The below is what to get and not get: 1. French Onion Soup Dumplings-- PASS-- overhyped for sure. I know this is what this place is famous for, but honestly these were underwhelming. 2. Cha Cha Shrimp Bao Buns-- delicious, flavor was complex yet very bright. Their pork bao are probably delicious too. 3. Kaya Toast-- unexpectedly delicious and the meal favorite. A sweet/Savory/fluffy experience that you have never bitten into before. A must get if coming here. 4.Acorn Squash Tempura- the best tempura I have ever had. Period. So good. read more

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