Lunch spots in Westminster & Arvada

[Foodfroggy]

I just moved from San Francisco and am working on a project until the end of the year in Westminster and see alot of chain restaurants. Are there any good lunch spots that are not chains in the Westminster/Arvada area? I eat just about any ethnic food. Thanks!

[jwwgonedy]

This reply may be too late, but here's couple suggestions:

Italian - Mama Mia Trattoria on 88th Ave , West of Wadsworth in Arvada.
Very small, quaint Italian.
http://www.mammamiadenver.com/ I've been there 3 or 4 time now - delicious!

Thai House - 8025 Sheridan Boulevard, Arvada
It's a small family run place in a strip mallish area.

Udi's Cafe in Old Town Arvada
http://udisfood.com/cafes/Udi-s-Pizza...

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Mama Mia's
3531 S Logan St Ste G, Englewood, CO 80113

[completelypizza]

I like Tafolino's (Mexican) - there's one at I-70 & Youngsfield or in Northglenn - not too far from your area.

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Tafolino Restaurant
2001 Youngfield St, Golden, CO 80401

[Strangewine]

Pho Duy is by far the best of the Pho options in the Broomfield area and actually one of my favorite Vietnamese places in the metro region. Does anyone know if they're tied to the Pho Duy that sits right next to J's Noodles down on Federal? I've always wondered but get distracted by the Noodle House and J's every time I get down that way...

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Pho Duy Restaurant
945 S Federal Blvd Ste G, Denver, CO 80219

[lotuseedpaste]

Pho 88 is in Westminster at Federal and 104th. There is an Indian place across the street at the same intersection, Jewel of India, which I have only been to once ( for dinner), which was fine.

There is Pho 78 at Wadsworth and 88th, but I think Pho 88 is better.

The Pacific Ocean Mart in Broomfield at 120th and Main has some good and inexpensive banh mi - look for the case with the hanging meats at the dim sum/deli counter, and you will see a small sign to the left listing the sandwiches.

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Jewel of India Restaurant
10343 Federal Blvd Unit P, Denver, CO 80260

Pho 78 Restaurant
7275 W 88th Ave, Broomfield, CO 80021

[ClaireWalter]

New Port is a Chinese restaurant across the parking lot from Pacific Ocean Mart. On weekends, they do terrific dim sum, but they also have a regular menu that would be worth trying.

[ToddBradley]

Can you be more specific about location? "Westminster/Arvada area" covers about a 80 to 100 square mile region.

[Foodfroggy]

Well my work is spread among several assets hence why I left the area pretty open. The assets I manage are between Wadsworth and Sheridan on 78th and 92nd Avenue. Thanks.

[LurkerDan]

There are some Pho joints in Broomfield as well as dim sum. Not terribly familiar with them but they are supposed to be good and they should be fairly close to the north end of where you'll be. Hopefully someone can chime in with specifics, but if not, a search here or on yelp or similar might find them.

[ToddBradley]

The pho joints of Broomfield are good. I wrote a little bit about them here:

http://broomfieldrestaurantreviews.com/?p=4

The dim sum is also pretty good - certainly the best in a 10 mile radius. Here's more about that:

http://broomfieldrestaurantreviews.co...

Both those reviews are old, but still accurate. And the restaurants are all in Broomfield, so if you're looking for something in Westminster or Arvada, they don't fit that criterion. That said, the area between Wadsworth and Sheridan, and between 78th and 82nd, is mostly residential and a chow hound dead zone. There are very few restaurants in that area, and even fewer good non-chains.

I like La Estrellita at 92nd and Wadsworth, especially for Sunday brunch. Also, Yak and Yeti on Sheridan just south of 92nd is good for lunch.

My best advice is head north to Broomfield, south to Old Town Arvada, or East to Federal.

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La Estrellita
45 N Main St, Brighton, CO 80601

[Foodfroggy]

I will definitely drive to Broomfield to check these pho places out, thank you so much.

[ToddBradley]

You're not going to believe this, but there is now a FOURTH Vietnamese restaurant at the intersection of Main and 120th in Broomfield. The new one opened up just a couple weeks ago. Pho isn't actually their specialty, though, unlike the other three.

I'm still baffled how one single strip mall in Broomfield (which is a very white suburb) can host a Chinese buffet, an Asian supermarket, and three different Vietnamese restaurants. That's not counting the dim sum restaurant in the parking lot, or the pho restaurant across the street.

[bouldereater]

Todd, is the new Vietnamese restaurant on the Safeway or the Pacific Ocean Market side?

[lotuseedpaste]

Todd, is the new place Golden Bowl Noodle House? Has anyone tried it?

I will make a foray the next time I am at POM.

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Golden Bowl
1679 Sunset Dr, Rock Springs, WY 82901

[ToddBradley]

bouldereater, I'm sorry I didn't answer your question sooner.

Yes, the new place is called Golden Bowl Noodle House. I have tried it and have the takeout menu right in front of me. It is on the POM side of 120th, between POM and the thrift store. According to one of my Vietnamese coworkers, their specialty is not pho, but is the beef stew called bo kho.

The menu is huge, and is about 90% Vietnamese and 10% Chinese (with Vietnamese names). It has such delights as shredded roast duck with jellyfish, rice porridge with organ meat, and shrimps (head on, shell on) stir fried in spicy sauce. Plus they have the usual pho variants and other noodle dishes, iced Vietnamese coffee, etc.

When I was there, I had "shrimp and vegetables with crispy egg noodles" and an iced coffee. I wasn't too impressed with the food. The shrimp were old and stinky, and the crispy egg noodles were out of a bag instead of freshly fried. But the coffee was good. When I go back, I'll finally try the bo kho.

[bouldereater]

Thanks Todd! I looked them up on Yelp and one of the poster indicated that Golden Bowl is owned by the same folks who owned Pho Van on Federal in Denver a few years back. If so their rice noodle soups (i.e. rice noodle in a pork broth) was better then pho when I tried them. So that, in addition the bo kho you mentioned, might be good dishes to try.

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Golden Bowl
1679 Sunset Dr, Rock Springs, WY 82901

[Foodfroggy]

Tried Pho Duy today, quite yummy! What an amazing little strip mall. I am going back tomorrow to try the other Pho restaurant or maybe Golden Bowl. I found a good sandwich shop called Enrico's at 8020 Chase Drive in Arvada - very small, but at least it gives me more lunch options. Thanks for the recs, good job.

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Pho Duy Restaurant
945 S Federal Blvd Ste G, Denver, CO 80219

Golden Bowl
1679 Sunset Dr, Rock Springs, WY 82901

[bouldereater]

Thai House on 80th + Sheridan is a great place for Thai lunch. It has good lunch combo in the $6.50-$7.50 range. Dinner is great too! But the portion is smaller than it used to be before it moved to this location.