My favorite Chinese restaurant in Boulder besides Jin Chan. Authentic sichuan spices and dishes, very different from "Americanized" Chinese food. Wonderful, diverse flavors. I've been eating here since they first opened and I love the vegetarian Ma Po Tofu and the smashed cucumber salad. read more

We were pretty excited to try this place as it looked different and had good reviews. Well I'm sad to say we were disappointed. We live farther than their delivery area so we ordered off Grubhub and the meal did not travel well. It may be better fresh but we did not enjoy it. I had the stewed pork belly over rice. Overall the dish was lacking flavor and the majority of the pork was inedible due to the high amount of fat on each piece. The the Dan Dan noodles only had bok Choy and for some reason I was expecting more vegetables. The dish tasted like it had a lot of fat to it. It was okay but not anything special. The Peking duck rolls seemed like a weird after thought. Again there was no flavor. I didn't get the plum sauce at all and it was weird rolled in a tortilla. Overall not impressed. read more

So... some of you might have picked up on the fact that yes, I'm asian. Surprise! Now, before I receive "go back to where you came from!" comments, let me clarify: I was born in Los Angeles and I'd rather eat my hair than to go back to that crowded land and sit in hours and hours of traffic. Having grown up in America, I fully appreciate burgers and fries and pasta. However, there's something about Asian soups that really warm me up. Soups and noodles and dumplings! I know.. I'm sounding real asian right now. There's also a real dearth of good asian food in Colorado, but especially Boulder and I get real excited when I see a somewhat legit looking + sounding asian place open up. I've tried Flower Pepper on four separate occasions - I've gotten the duck noodle/ wonton soup, the sesame braised pork rice dish, the mapo tofu, and the wonton soup. The duck noodle soup and sesame pork rice dish were good but not excellent. The mapo tofu is from Sichuan and uses flower peppers, a spice that I happen to not be a fan of, so that was an error on my end: I should have read the menu more carefully. The most recent time, I went and got the wonton soup - it was cold and I was starving and I really wanted a soupy noodle dish. I won't lie - it was not good. I was so disappointed, in fact, that I ended up not finishing the dish (practically unheard of for me since I happen to be an absolute glutton). The soup was oily and straight-up seemed to depend on soy sauce for its flavor; I felt like I was sipping diluted soy sauce. The wontons were good but small. I might go back and try other dishes, but I might not. All I know is that if I want wonton soup, I'll drive my ass down to Denver and go to Hong Kong BBQ to order it from there instead. read more

CUTE, HOME-COOKING WITH FOOD QUIRKS (Warning: young adults from Central Florida during a fall vacation) Although I'm not Chinese (I'm Asian, though), I could taste the home-cooking style in here. However, like most home-cooking styles, the food can seem inconsistent. Either way, if I lived in the area, especially as a college student, I would eat here frequently. ONTO THE TASTY DISHES The 'Rolled Duck' was well-seasoned duck meat with crunchy veggies wrapped in a tortilla. The duck has so much flavor on its own, the veggies and wrap didn't overwhelm it; Great appetizer. The Soup Dumplings were a bit on the small side and weren't very lumpy, which is why I guessed correctly there wouldn't be a lot of soup inside-- and there wasn't. The remaining flavor was still satisfying. The Mapo Tofu looked beautiful covered in spices, but it was much saltier than it should've been. MOVING THROUGH THE SKINNY RESTAURANT You order at the counter, and they bring the dishes to you-- which is great, because there's not lots of walking room in this skinny restaurant (although you put the trash away yourself). That also means it's better for groups of 3 or less. It's also a good sign to see several Asian patrons seemingly enjoying things. read more

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Some definite hits (vegetarian Beijing noodles,Dan Dan noodles, the Taiwanese braised beef, soup dumplings, and the Peking duck rolls). Those dishes were all really flavorful and complex. Everyone loved the Peking duck especially. We had a few that were super bland though and left everyone disappointed. The rest of the dumplings were just okay and the Chinese ribs and wonton noodle soup were unbelievably bland. read more

Flower Pepper Restaurant - Vegetarian Beijing Fried Sauce Noodles - Chinese Near Me - Boulder, Colorado

Flower Pepper gets for drooling Homers for exceptional cooking at an exceptional value. This has become t favorite Chinese hole in the wall restaurant. I highly recommend the Mapo Tofu, the cucumber salad, and the pork dumplings. Those dumplings are just so damn good! read more

Flower Pepper Restaurant - Chinese Near Me - Boulder, Colorado

Amazing dumplings at great prices! The dining area is small, so it's better to get takeout if there are more than 2 in your party.

Delicious food! Dumplings, sauce, and noodles all had incredible flavor! I can't wait to go here again.

Very impressed with this place. Ordered their wonton soup and it was prepared in a way that I've never seen with wonton soup. It was really good. You have to try it. Customer service was great and the service was quick. Try this place out today. read more

Everything is delicious and at a great price. When I moved from the Northeast to Boulder, I was generally disappointed in the quality of the Asian food, but Flower Pepper never disappointed. Now I'm in NYC and missing it. read more

I usually order delivery at least once a week. I always order the mapo tofu with pork as well as the soup dumplings. The soup dumplings aren't the best but it's better than nothing around Boulder. Have also ordered their DanDan Noodles and Wonton Soup in the past which have both been great. read more

----STREET PARKING--- PARK ACROSS IN THE SHOPPING CENTER!! Walk ahead, get in line, prepare to have a mouthgasm. I had been very clear with everyone that I mostly support small businesses and family owned-whatever. This is one of many wonderfully family owned businesses. The lady at the counter was incredibly sweeeet. She even got my picky-of-a-cousin to try something from the menu. My cousin wanted Chinese food, but when I searched this place up, authentic was meant to come our way. This is NOT the greasy, basic dishes like Sesame or Orange chicken. This is purely bowls of noodles, and steamed white rice. These bowls are pretty affordable.Most Noodle bowls are already a whopping $12.00. My first cousin got the Tofu bowl, came with rice, vegetables and the Tofu Cubes. She loved it. She wanted more. I got the Sesame Chicken Noodles-- NOOO the Sesame Chicken in my bowl was NOT the same as basic Sesame Chicken. But small white pieces of chicken. The noodles were suppppppeerrr HOT. But they tasted with peanut sauce, the shredded veggies, the duck sauce, the siraccha sauce is wonderful combined. I thought the portion wasn't overbearing. I loved it. My cousin finally, the girl who is always shy and incredibly acquired and picky, finally ordered something from the menu. The DAN DAN Noodles were something she was obviously a fan of. She wanted it all, but without the tofu. Fair enough. the Steamed 6 piece dumplings were also super chewy, and very small. I loved it. I am now convinced the authentic Chinese joints are better than Americanized ones. Let's come back, yes? read more

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The tortilla duck rolls taste, displeasing. Very cute, warm and welcoming entrance. Soup was delicious, however, far too much oil was used. I will eat here again :) read more

Love that this is an authentic Chinese diner with classic dishes. The food however is a bit bland but I think this place has great potential and I hope to come back and try again. We ordered 3 things: pork & cabbage dumplings, pork belly over rice, and noodles with pork spare ribs. The dumplings were great. I can tell right away that it was homemade, something that is hard to find. The skin is not too thick and the filling was juicy. The sauce that came with it was on point, made with the traditional black vinegar and soy sauce combo. I was really looking forward to our dishes after having the dumplings. The pork belly over rice was good, but there were 2 issues. First, it didn't come with an egg as described and seen in the other photos. I don't mind when ingredients run out but they should communicate that and maybe substitute it with something else. The egg is the best part to the dish. Secondly, it lacked in flavor. I kept adding in soy sauce but even that didn't do much. The noodle dish had the same problems. First, the "spare ribs" were not spare ribs, just pieces of pork that were a bit dry. I've had this dish many times at other places and my family made it often when I was younger. It didn't measure up to it as the flavor was quite one dimensional. This is a small space with 2 tables plus two bar benches near the windows with total seating capacity of about 12 to 14. They have a couple of picnic tables outside that can accommodate larger groups which is perfect when it's warm out. You order and pay from the counter and they bring the food to you. Overall I think they serve great authentic Chinese dishes which is a rare find here in Boulder. read more

Flower Pepper Restaurant - Front: pork spare rib noodles $8.99 Back: pork & cabbage dumplings $4 - Chinese Near Me - Boulder, Colorado

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a really bland poor attempt at Chinese food. Who puts tortillas around duck?! at least they bothered to use hoisin sauce so it kind of tasted right. the spare ribs were dry and the sauce was tasteless. you can get equivalent dumplings from the freezer section at TJs. read more

One of my favorite spots to get take out in Boulder. You really can't go wrong with anything on the menu. I often grab food from here when I have guests visiting and don't feel like cooking. The vegetarian dishes especially have been a hit, even among meat eaters. Approach with an adventurous pallet and don't expect your typical American Chinese food options. I recommend getting multiple items and sharing them. The pork soup dumplings are a personal favorite. Highly recommend checking this place out. read more

Authentic Szechuan Chinese Food! Every dish was fantastic. We had the Mapu Tofu, Wonton Soup, DanDan Noodle and Chicken. It had explosive flavor with great portions and prices. Definitely coming back! read more

Every bite of their soup dumplings took me to another place. They're more addicting than crack. Super cute and authentic feeling store, a must go spot in Boulder. And the serving sizes don't hold back :) read more

Very tasty take out. We got the mapo tofu, vegetarian sour and spicy potato noodles, pork and cabbage dumplings, and the soup dumplings. Loved every dish. Price was very reasonable for the portion sizes. Food was delivered quickly. We were all very happy customers. read more

Easily the best Chinese food in Boulder! I highly recommend the pork belly or duck soup :)

Quick, cheap, DELICIOUS. Soup dumplings, Dan Dan noodles, and Beijing noodles were incredibly flavorful and fresh. Dinner for two for about $20! read more

Absolutely fantastic! My boyfriend and I had the duck noodle soup, wonton soup, and soup dumplings on a cold night. Everything was wonderful, but the wonton soup was out of this world. The broth was beyond flavorful and complex. I highly recommend to anyone in boulder craving dumplings and amazing soup! read more

The food is a "5 star", but the venue is a bit cramped. Do not be dissuaded however! The food is worth it....Just be prepared for a casual dining experience. The tea is AMAZING. They pack the bags themselves. I ordered the Sour and Spicy Sweet Potato Noodles, in the vegetarian and gluten free option. It was unusual and delicious. read more

Flower Pepper Restaurant - Excellent food! - Chinese Near Me - Boulder, Colorado

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I had the food delivered and it was hot , fresh & full of deliciousness! The veggies were tender crisp. The meat was thoroughly cooked and juicy. The sauce that married the two was flavorful and not too salty! The lunch deal was reasonable,plus the portions were generous. read more

My husband and I have separately heard good things about this place, so we ended up checking it out. I don't know if we went on a bad day or what, but it was incredibly disappointing. The food arrived very quickly but it looked like it was microwaved leftovers. I ordered the spareribs over rice and my husband got the braised beef noodle soup; we also shared the pork dumplings and bokchoy. Coming from NYC, our expectations might've been a little high but this place touts itself as authentic Chinese home cooking. The rice was mushy, the gravy was super gelatinous and very obviously not-fresh, and I had maybe 5 small pieces of meat. My husband swears the noodles were from the instant ramen packet (which is fine but not for $10!!) and also only had about 5 small pieces of beef. All this would've honestly been excusable if the food actually tasted good. It was SO bland. I thought maybe hot chili oil would help.. nah, also bland. The dumplings didn't taste homemade, either. They weren't bad at all but I don't think they were made by hand. The flavor and texture were fine but I've had better from elsewhere (and you can tell they're homemade in the best way possible). The dumpling sauce was good (dat vinegar tho). The bokchoy were fine but came out room temp. Odd but fine, I guess. All in all, I hope this was a rare bad day for this place. I wanted so badly for it to be better. read more

Flower Pepper is a tiny Chinese restaurant. There are barely any spaces to dine in. It's probably better to order from Grubhub or do takeout. But I also liked the experience of eating very close to your neighbor. This is a place get intimate with other customers if you want to dine in. Also, the tables don't seem clean since they never clean it. When you sit at a table, you might have to wipe it down. If it's super dirty or you're high maintenance, you can still ask the people who work there to do it for you. Parking is hard to come by, just like most places near Downton Boulder. You could park in the back (during evening hours) or across the street. The food here is good. It's comforting Chinese food. They have food from many different regions of China from Sichuan to Taiwan. I tried their Stewed Pork Belly over rice (Lu Rou Fan). The stewed pork belly was tender and had a great, comforting flavor. Their Mapo Tofu over rice was tasty as well. It was nice and spicy with good tofu and meat. If you're vegetarian, you can get the Tofu only version. I think it could be spicier, but I still liked it. Their Pork and Cabbage dumplings were good. It was nice and juicy. Their baby bok Choy was good too. It was doused in Chili oil and had an interesting, sharp flavor. If you want Authentic, Chinese Street flavors, this is a good place to go. read more

I'm sold!! Being in Boulder with the limited types of cuisine had me missing home and authentic Asian cuisine until I came across this restaurant. The first time I came, the young guy at the counter was super helpful in explaining everything because I didn't notice that there were more in-depth menu sitting on the counter. I came here twice. The first time I ordered the dan dan noodles (sichuan style) and the duck rolls. The dan dan noodles come in a huge bowl. It was a little greasy, but still flavorful and had well cooked noodles nonetheless. I was very impressed by the duck rolls, it was bigger than I expected for the price I paid. They did not skimp on the duck and all the flavors of a gourmet peking duck were there, besides the signature crisp. For all of the people complaining about how it comes in a tortilla... you might be uncultured because that is how classic peking duck is served. The second time I came, I had the stewed pork which was also good and tender. I would recommend putting some chili soy sauce in this for some extra flavor and a kick. Maybe I've become biased because they always play my favorite music when I come, but overall, super authentic experience and food. This place beats Zoe Ma Ma by a long shot because the cuisine hasn't been modified to fit a more westernized taste. Even with the sticky tables, I feel a lot closer to home eating here. read more

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It's about time we got some homestyle Chinese food in Colorado! As many of you know, I reside in Denver, so the fact that I went out of my way to try out Flower Pepper says something. A food writer friend of mine recommended I check out Flower Pepper since she had loved the owner's restaurants when they lived in China. Flower Pepper is a fast-casual type of restaurant: the location used to be a pizzeria, hence the layout inside (long, narrow restaurant with limited seating). As I mentioned above, the owner (Jeff) owned several restaurants in China before moving to Boulder in 2013. Currently, the restaurant is run by him and his family, which I really admire as I know how it feels to be running a restaurant with family (my parents owned a Chinese restaurant in Virginia for 30 years and all five of us kids worked there). Don't expect the usual egg rolls, sesame chicken, etc. here: all the menu items are made in the traditional Chinese style. The menu is etched up on the chalkboard in front, with items added in/taken out depending on popularity. Prices are very reasonable, with nothing (currently) over $10. Definitely try the dumplings, dan dan noodles, tofu noodles, and pork over rice: so delicious and simple! I really enjoyed the bamboo tea, which I had never had before. If I had known about the szechuan pepper brownies, I would have also tried one! The music playing at Flower Pepper was a mix of Top 40s and Chinese music that made me miss my parents as they listen to that type of Chinese music. Will definitely be back! read more

Flower Pepper Restaurant - From L-R: Taiwanese pork dish over rice; dan dan noodles; dumplings, mint leaf salad, tofu noodles, cucumber salad, & lotus root - Chinese Near Me - Boulder, Colorado

Just like grandpa's cooking back home!! And that is the best compliment I have given! Where do I start? The steamed morsel pockets of dumplings that melted with every bite? Or the hand-pulled Taiwanese Braised beef noodles with buttery umami stock, fall apart cubes of beef, and delicate baby bok choys? Could it be the Sour & Spicy Sweet Sichuan Potato Noodles? With it's crunchy fried soy beans, seasoned ground pork, with its glorious, pungent and fresh spice flavored soup? Perhaps it's the way the kind woman behind the kitchen personally delivered us a complimentary plate of spicy cucumbers because she felt we had been kept waiting too long. Really, I believe it's the completely humbling, homey atmosphere the hard-working proprietors exude as they craft each bowl with loving care. What's the best part of the restaurant? You have to see for yourself. read more

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The food here is as close to real Chinese street food as you can get in Colorado, and it gives my mom's cooking a run for its money. You're not going to find any of that sesame chicken, beef and broccoli nonsense here (although I won't deny they're delicious too). It's the real deal. And I can see why some people may think the seating area is small and cramped, but to me it kind of makes the experience feel more authentic. It brings back memories of the fantastic meals I had in the tiny restaurants of Taipei. I'd highly recommend the Dan Dan noodles--the broth is garlicky and flavorful, and the noodles have a great chewy texture. I'm excited to try more items off their menu. I hope they'll add more dishes to their menu so I can vicariously relive my Asia food adventures in Boulder. Update 2/22/16: So one plus is that they've added more dishes to their menu (ie. Beef Noodle soup, xiaolong bao). But the big minus is that the food quality has gotten a whole lot worse since the first time I came here. I love Taiwan-style beef noodles soup--I grew up on the stuff--but I was sorely disappointed with Flower Pepper's version of it. The beef is supposed to be tender and moist, and the broth should be richly dark and very flavorful...but this is NOT the case at Flower Pepper. The beef is hard and dry, and the broth is kind of bland. The xiaolong bao similarly were bland and lacking in soup. What happened to you, Flower Pepper?? I use to like you... read more

Flower Pepper Restaurant - Chinese Near Me - Boulder, Colorado

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I would never recommend this place to anyone. I ordered the Taiwanese beef noodles. I only received the noodles and the broth. No beef or carrots were given to me in the broth. The taste of the soup is even mediocre at best. The broth is really watered down with little to no flavor. This restaurant is a major skip. Also ordered the soup dumplings. There is no soup in the soup dumplings. I called for take-out and told me to wait 20 minutes. I ended up waiting over an hour in addition to the 20 minutes for take out. Although I ordered during COVID and this place is busy, they should still hold themselves to a higher standard of food quality. read more

This restaurant is small and cramped. My friend chose this as a place to grab dinner. He didn't want to disappoint the Yelp Elite, and I would say that he definitely chose well. I hadn't ever been to a Chinese restaurant like it--sort of like a hodgepodge of the best of the country's cuisine, throw in a few Taiwanese dishes, and some hipster flair. When we stepped in during dinner time, it was clear that this place was popular for takeout moreso than dining in. There were a few people sitting and eating, but the space isn't too conducive to parties larger than 3-4. But the line for pickup was seemingly un-ending. The guy simultaneously prepping and taking orders was super nice and patient as we were humming and hawing over what we would order. I settled for the Duck wonton soup (the special for that night) and a side of 6 Xiao long bao or soup dumplings. Both were tasty and hit the spot. My colleague didn't quite love his Taiwanese pork belly since he's not a fan of fat or eggs (why did you get that dish then?! haha), but that was his own fault :P read more

Flower Pepper Restaurant - Duck wonton soup and xiao long bao - Chinese Near Me - Boulder, Colorado

If you're on the fence, jump on down! This place prepares fantastically delicious dishes at a really reasonable place. Today I tried the beef noodles and the long-awaited Xiao Loong Bao. I brought some out of town guests here a few weeks back and they had sold out of the XLB. If it's available--absolutely worth the wait!! Glad to have a convenient, delicious, and friendly Chinese spot in the neighborhood. It hits my cravings on a regular basis. read more

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It's always exciting when a new Chinese place opens up in Boulder, and it's even more exciting when that place is named after a numbing Sichuan pepper... but in order to live up to its name, Flower Pepper needs to use wayyyy more flower peppers! I could barely detect any numbness on my lips or tongue in my dan dan noodles, even though I was concentrating on it. I'm assuming it's supposed to have some, considering their Sichuan chili oil is part of the mix. While it did have spice, it wasn't the same kind of spice that comes from that particular peppercorn. My favorite part of the bowl was the ground pork, which had a strong seasoning and would have been equally at home in or out of broth. The noodles weren't bad either - they tasted at least fresh from the refrigerated section of an Asian market and perhaps even made in-house. For the price, it's not a bad buy - you'll a bowl of tasty noodles. They just won't numb you. read more

Wow! An authentic Chinese restaurant in Boulder! I had no idea! I've lived here for 18 years and never knew this place existed! We stumbled on this while looking for a new restaurant to try- I saw that they had soup dumplings and my mouth started watering :). I've been there twice now. The sour and spicy sweet potato noodles were mind blowing! I've never tasted anything like them! I am in love with them and will come back over and over just for this dish. It was an incredibly delicious mix of sour and spicy flavors unlike anything I have tasted before! 5+ Stars! The soup dumplings were delicious! Not a lot of soup in them but the flavor was great anyway. I loved the dipping sauce! 4.5 Stars. The chicken sesame noodles were yummy! My husband wasn't as into them as I was. 4 Stars. The Mapo tofu was ok but wasn't my favorite - I would give it 3 Stars. I will eat my leftovers but I won't order this again. The only thing I really didn't like was the Tiger food appetizer- it was way too spicy for me! I like spice but my mouth was burning for an hour after my one bite of this side dish. 1 star but if you like spicy food this would be right up your alley! I can't wait to try everything else on the menu! read more

If you like Sichuan style numbing spicy noodle soup this is for you. It's vinegary and spicy. The portion is a good size so I am always able to finished it. read more

Flower Pepper Restaurant - DanDan Noodles - Chinese Near Me - Boulder, Colorado

Definitely one of the best in Boulder. Xiaolong bao is delicious. Decent Chinese food and friendly staff.

I tried the Dumpling. It was super good! The sauce was delicious and I also love the sweet potato noodle. It was the just right amount of sour and spicy. The sprinkles of nuts was really nice read more

Flower Pepper Restaurant - Chinese Near Me - Boulder, Colorado

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I finally got around to visiting for lunch and I really enjoyed my visit and the food. I had the special which was a duck wonton soup which was simply fantastic. Plenty of duck, great fresh won tons and the broth was delicious. Very clean with plenty of green onion, wonderful ginger and a just enough spicy note. Really good. The place is very small so not a lot of sitting space but the food is truly worth a visit. I am exited about trying other dishes! :) read more

Nice place for lunch and pick up. No specific parking provided and we were told to park in the garage of the hospital. I yelped this place and took a shot and it was pretty good stop. The food was authentic and the price was reasonable, not cheap. The stew pork rice was so good. The Dan Dan was ok as they should have more ground pork I think. Felt like eating oily soup and noodles. The dumplings were tasty. They steamed them not fried. Per my friend, the beef noodles were pretty good but the beef wasn't tender enough. I will stop by next time to try the other things. Nice service and people were friendly. read more

Flower Pepper Restaurant - Chinese Near Me - Boulder, Colorado