Calling all Denver foodies! Kawa Ni, that unconventional izakaya in a converted firehouse (you heard that right!), just landed a spot in the MICHELIN Guide. That means some seriously delicious Japanese eats are waiting for you, with a Denver twist, of course. We visited Kawa Ni for lunch, and it was amazing - everything that we had, we would order again.

We arrived at Kawa Ni and were seated in the main dining room. Our server, Matt was fabulous. He was knowledgeable & attentive and made sure we had everything we needed while we dined.

For Korudo (cold dishes) we had the Cucumbers seasoned with karikari ume, kelp, sunflower, & shiso. The cucumbers were bright with great snap. They had with bursts of sour & salty flavors.

The Hamachi was served in saikyo miso, citrus kosho, & topped with sesame. The Hamachi was a gorgeous shade of ombre pink and made up of generous slices - fresh AF. The saikyo miso paste gave the Hamachi a savory, slightly sweet flavor. The fish was smooth and cool with citrus coming in from the kosho & a nutty crunch from the sesame.

The Szechuan Dumplings were served in ponzu and garlic hot oil. The Szechuan dumplings were so juicy & savory. The garlic hot oil was a flavorful infuser that coated the dumplings in garlic and chili peppers, adding a spicy and garlicky kick.

The Peekytoe Crab Rangoons were served alongside ginger-kosho dressing. The bite size rangoons were golden crisp and filled with a fluffy cream cheese, crab filling.

For Sandoitchi we had the Biang Biang Chicken Bao made with hot honey chicken, yuzu goma, & pickles. Where are my hot chicken lovers? These bao buns are for you. This fresh take on traditional bao used hot honey and a tangy pickle. The juicy, golden chicken contrasted well in texture with the soft, fluffy bao bun that enveloped it.

The Crab Fried Rice was made with bacon, corn, kani, & egg. The fluffy rice stir-fried with the crispy bacon bits added a salty, smoky punch. The sweet corn kernels were a touch of freshness and the shredded kani brought in that oh-so-satisfying seafood flavor. The dish was topped off with a sunnyside-up egg that bound everything together with a creamy richness.

For 'Men' (noodles, no broth) we had the Spicy Lamb Dan Dan made with miso noodles, sesame, peanuts, gochujang, & bok choy. Bury me in these noodles - the dan dan noodles stayed true to authentic Sichuan flavor with freshly boiled noodles generously coated in a savory, spicy sauce. Spice tingled onto our taste buds and left us craving more.

Huge thanks to Kawa Ni, Matt, & Kayla Jones for hosting us!

Check it out babes and let them know that denv.her. sent you.

Kawa Ni

Address: 1900 W 32nd Ave, Denver, CO 80211
Phone: (303) 455-9208
Menu: kawanidenver.com
Reservations: opentable.com

Kawa Ni, Lunch