“Every purchase we make from a local business is a vote for the survival of our economy” – Estes Park Chamber Executive Director, Donna Carlson
Boxes of steamed rice, spicy sauces, and fortune cookies make up my takeout dream team. On our most recent trip to Estes Park, we decided to go on another food adventure to discover the amazing Asian cuisine that our favorite mountain town offers. Bonus, I feel like each dollar we spent on mouth watering local food helped a local business owner, and that makes me extra happy!
COVID-19 Precautions – LEVEL UP PROGRAM
The state of Colorado has a multi-level response to COVID-19 called Colorado’s Dial. The dial is based on current metrics including new cases, percent positivity, and impact on the local hospitals. Estes Park is in Larimer County which is currently at a level orange (as of 1/9/2021), however restaurants can obtain a level up status through an in-depth certification and inspection process. You can learn more about the Level-Up program at visitestespark.com.
Thanks to the Level-Up program, some restaurants in Estes Park are able to offer onsite dining at limited capacity, however we felt it was easier for our family to order takeout food and enjoy it at our cabin.
Thai Kitchen
After a long day of driving, we were thrilled to finally pull into Estes Park! We unloaded our mountain of luggage and checked online for Thai food options. We selected Thai Kitchen because it is close to our cabin. Online reviews on TripAdvisor rate this restaurant 4 out of 5. One review said, “Good food but plan ahead.” I agree that the food was good. I liked all of the fresh vegetables that they put into my dish. I also appreciate that you can chose the level of spice. Planning ahead is probably good advice too. The wait was longer than we expected, but the fresh food was worth the wait.
What’s a good way to fill a longer wait time? Consider picking up carry out cans from Lumpy Ridge Brewery which right down the street. Thai Kitchen is located at 401 S. Vrain Avenue.
Nepal’s Cafe
If you are like me, and you aren’t familiar with Nepali food, I think it’s helpful to remember that the country of Nepal is between China and India in South Asia. Nepal is slightly larger than our home state of Arkansas (a fun fact from National Geographic Kids) and is home of the world’s largest peak. Mount Everest is 29,035 feet in elevation. The highest peak in Rocky Mountain National Park is Longs Peak at 14,259 feet.
Nepal’s Cafe serves Indian and traditional Nepali entrees. I ordered the Chicken Vindaloo. Slices of boneless chicken is served with potato, tomato, onion, garlic, ginger and hot sauces. My husband ordered Chicken Momo which is a steamed dumpling entree. We also ordered Chicken Thali off of the children’s menu. The entree came with steamed rice and a sweet rice pudding. To be honest, our kids only ate the rice, but we enjoyed sampling their dish. Everything we ate was delicious. It’s not surprising that this restaurant is so well rated on Tripadvisor.com. This was our first time eating at Nepal’s Cafe, but it won’t be our last.
Nepal’s Cafe is located at 184 E. Elkhorn Avenue in the heart of downtown Estes Park. If you go during the holiday season, make sure to check out the festive holiday lights in George Hix Riverside Plaza which is located directly behind the restaurant.
Cafe de Pho Thai
We ordered an appetizer of crab and cheese wontons. My husband order Beef Pho, a Vietnamese noodle soup. The garnishes of fresh Thai basil, bean sprouts, jalapeños, and lime on the side really added to the flavor of the soup. This a great dish for warming up during the winter months in Estes Park. This restaurant also serves a variety of curry dishes and traditional entrees like Cashew Nut Chicken and Pad Thai. The restaurant is located at 255 W Riverside Drive. Cafe de Pho Thai earns the top spot for favorite Asian Restaurant in town on TripAdvisor.com.
China Garden
The first time we ate at China Garden (a few years ago), we were a little disappointed with the General Chicken dish. I’m glad we’ve given this restaurant another chance because we’ve ordered several delicious dishes including the Tropical Fried Rice, Penang Curry, and Drunken Noodles.
China Garden is located at 460 W Riverside Drive next door to Rock Cut Brewing Company. According to the brewery’s website, ‘China Garden shares our patio! Check out their menu, then call 970-586-2488 to place your order with Li, the owner. We love the Mongolian chicken, hot & sour soup, and veggie egg rolls.’
Himalayan Curry & Kebob
Our original plan was to go to Oppa Asian Bistro, but the restaurant wasn’t open on the day we planned to go. Oppa is a restaurant we’ve enjoyed several times before, so I’m glad it worked out that we ended up searching for a new spot in town. We decided to try Himalayan Curry & Kebob. They serve traditional Nepalese & Indian dishes. According to their restaurant, this food is ‘Typically meat and vegetables cooked in a sauce made from scratch full of strong, aromatic spices packed with health benefits and also delicious, served with rice.’
I ordered a Chai Tea and Chicken Tikka Masala. My husband ordered a Chicken Kebob. All the dishes are spiced according to your preference ranging from mild to extra hot. Everything was amazing – the flavors were unique and memorable. I can’t wait to go back. Himalayan Curry and Kebob is located at 101 W Elkhorn Avenue. Check out their menu online.
rocky mountain tot 