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One of the great things about living in Denver is that when it’s not one of the “300 days of sunshine,” it’s most likely snowing … which just so happens to be the perfect weather for hunkering down with a bowl of soup. From matzo ball soup to spicy gumbo, here are some of the best soups for winter sippin’.
Ground Pork Green Chile at Three Sisters Cafe
If you’re looking for the perfect grab-n-go lunch that’ll warm you up in your chilly cubicle or home office, Three Sisters Cafe is the spot. The always-rotating soups are made from scratch daily in the cafe’s nook on Stout Street. Their soups are hearty, hot, and pair perfectly with their menu of sandwiches and paninis. The chicken tortilla soup is a go-to favorite, but you also can’t go wrong with a heaping bowl of pork green chile. Don’t forget the crackers! 1717 Stout St.
Matzo Ball Soup at Rosenberg’s Bagels & Delicatessen
Though Rosenberg’s might be known best for the New York-style bagels, the matzo ball soup isn’t something to sleep on. “What I love to tell my customers is that our soup is second only to your grandmother’s,” says owner Joshua Pollack.
The recipe came from “the melding of three bubbies,” Pollack says—his grandmother and the grandmothers of two other chefs. The chicken is locally sourced, and the skins are saved for house-made schmaltz (rendered chicken fat)—the secret for cooking the veggies and making the matzo balls. 725 E. 26th Ave.
Roasted Tomatillo Soup at City O’ City
The plant-based and gluten-free roasted tomatillo soup at City O’ City will be your next obsession, whether you’re vegan or not. The only soup on the menu, it’s made with tomatillos, roasted corn, red pepper relish, and cilantro. Order it as your meal or on the side with a vegan pizza or veggie burger. 206 E. 13th Ave.
Ramen at Uncle Ramen
Close your eyes and point—that’s really all the thought you need to put into ordering at Uncle. Any one of the ramen dishes are well worth the time you’ll wait to get in, but standouts include the duck ramen (a chicken and pork-based shoyu broth with a crispy confit duck leg) and the spicy chicken ramen (a chicken- and pork-based spicy sesame broth with seared confit chicken). 2215 W. 32nd Ave. and 95 S. Pennsylvania St.
[Read 14 of Denver’s Best Ramen Shops]
Croc Soup Gumbo at Croc Soup Company
Croc Soup Company offers seven soups made fresh every day, plus clam chowder every Friday and a special “featured soup” thrown in on occasion. The year-round bestseller is the namesake: the Croc Soup Gumbo, a New Orleans–style gumbo with a spicy kick. Other must-tries include the loaded potato cheese (a creamy baked potato with all the fixin’s) and the broccoli gruyere (a concoction fit for any cheese-lover). 16950 W. Colfax Ave., Golden
Soupe à l’Oignon at Bistro Vendôme
Warm and cozy soupe à l’oignon (that’s French onion soup) is a flavor-packed way to warm up at Bistro Vendôme. This hors d’oeuvre combines every comfort food you could want on a snowy day—savory broth, warm bread, and melted cheese. It’ll make your taste buds go oh là là. 1420 Larimer St. Unit 1705