Asian Plant-Based Cuisine in the Rockies
Colorado’s outdoor culture, health-conscious population, and diverse urban centers have created strong demand for high-quality vegan Asian food. From Denver’s sophisticated ramen spots to Boulder’s pan-Asian cafés, the options are excellent.
Denver’s Best Asian Vegan Options
- Vital Root: Not exclusively Asian, but their Vietnamese-inspired bowls and Japanese-spiced dishes are landmark dishes in Denver’s vegan scene.
- Watercourse Foods: Long-running Denver vegan institution with an excellent section of Asian-inspired dishes.
- Lolo-Wei (Asian-Fusion): Creative mashup concepts that blend American and Asian traditions through plant-based ingredients.
Boulder’s Asian Vegan Scene
Boulder’s university population and wellness culture make it particularly receptive to plant-based Asian cuisine.
- Shine Restaurant: Beautifully crafted dishes with clear Asian accent meals on a seasonally rotating menu.
- Boulder Dushanbe Teahouse: A Tajik-inspired tea house with a menu that includes excellent plant-based Persian and Central Asian dishes.
Fort Collins and Beyond
Fort Collins’ growing food scene includes several excellent pan-Asian plant-based options clustered around Old Town.
What to Order
In Colorado’s Asian vegan restaurants, look for dishes that leverage the state’s access to exceptional mushrooms (foraged and cultivated), local heirloom grains, and the high-altitude freshness that permeates regional ingredients.
