After the fall of Saigon in 1975, roughly 10,000 refugees fled Vietnam and settled in Denver, bringing along their culture and culinary prowess. Today, the Vietnamese community here is more than 31,000 strong, and some of those residents are slinging the most authentic mi quang this side of the Pacific.

So whether you’re in search of a bona fide bánh mì or un-pho-gettable date night destination, here are our nine favorite Vietnamese eateries around the Mile High City. (No, they’re not all in Little Saigon.)

Sắp Sửa

Albacore tuna and trứng và trứng at Sắp Sửa.
Albacore tuna and trứng và trứng at Sắp Sửa. Photo by Lindsey B. King.

If you haven’t already dined at 17-month-old Sắp Sửa (for shame!), you’re likely going to have to wait a bit longer. That’s because it’s nigh impossible to get a reservation at the sleek Congress Park eatery serving nontraditional Vietnamese. But—but!—here’s a tip: If you walk in around 8 p.m. on Sunday, Monday, Wednesday, or Thursday, there’s a good chance you’ll be able to slide into one of the roughly dozen tables at the long bar. When you do, you’ll then have to decide which of the 17 savory dishes and four desserts you can’t leave without tasting. Our delightful server explained that selecting four of the smaller plates plus one of the larger dishes usually does the trick for two.

So, along with ordering the Snozzberry Tastes Like Snozzberry and Dad Jokes cocktails (both were delicious, but the former arrives in a smile-inducing ceramic black cat glass with a sprig of mint), we requested the albacore tuna crudo; the soft scrambled egg with brown butter, fish sauce, trout roe, and rice (trứng và trứng); the butter lettuce salad (nhà xa lát); the shrimp cake (tàu hũ ky cuộn tôm); and the fried chicken thigh (gà chiên nước mắm). Save for the butter lettuce salad, which begged for a hit of salt, every dish was superb. If we had to pick favorites though? The buttery, silky, eggy trứng và trứng was unlike anything we’ve ever tasted, and the shrimp cake took us where we wanted to go with its hints of trout roe and mint. Don’t leave without ordering dessert. Seriously. We’re still thinking about the vanilla ice cream with fish sauce caramel and sea salt. 2550 E. Colfax Ave. —Lindsey B. King

Read More: The 25 Best Restaurants in Denver in 2024: Sắp Sửa

O Liên Kitchen

Pho is ubiquitous along Federal Boulevard, but at O Liên Kitchen, the specialty is the flavor-rich cuisine of Huê’ (pronounced hwě), the old imperial capital of Vietnam. The city’s signature dish, Bún Bò Huê’, is a beef noodle soup that’s more sapid than pho broth, fragrant with the tang of lemongrass, and complex thanks to the umami depth of fermented shrimp paste. Don’t miss the grilled pork skewers, Nem lụi Huê’, which comes with a purpose-designed container of rice paper wrappers and hot water. Dip the discs in the pockets of hot water to soften enough before wrapping the meat, noodles, and veggies. If you’re in search of a shared dish for the table, order the Báhn Lọc Lá, an assortment of steamed tapioca dumplings, pork, and shrimp. The best part? You get to unwrap each caramelized morsel from its banana-leaf packaging like a present. 781 S. Federal Blvd. B —Charli Ornett

Faifo Noodle House

Grilled chicken bánh mì at Faifo Noodle House
Grilled chicken bánh mì at Faifo Noodle House. Photo by Jessica LaRusso.

Although “noodle” is in this strip mall spot’s name, it’s the bánh mì that has us regularly looking for errands to run in Westminster. The fast-casual restaurant’s perfectly crusty baguettes hold crisp veggies (lettuce, cucumbers, carrots, daikon pickles, and jalapeños), mayonnaise, an addictive house sauce, and your choice of protein. For those intimidated by the pate or pork belly frequently used in bánh mì, the juicy grilled chicken version is a tasty introduction to the Vietnamese sandwich (and affordable, at just $10). If you are looking for noodles, the vermicelli bowl topped with fresh herbs, pickled vegetables, and fish sauce is a refreshing option, while long-simmered broth gives the four varieties of pho warmth and depth of flavor. Whatever you get (and whether you’re eating in the chic, urban-industrial space or taking away), order ahead online to avoid long wait times that can result when the staff is overwhelmed. 5055 W. 72nd Ave., Westminster —Jessica LaRusso

Saigon Basil

Pho from Saigon Basil in Northglenn, Colorado
Pho at Saigon Basil. Photo by Maren Horjus

Do not visit this Northglenn spot without a plan—and an appetite. The menu, which resembles a road atlas, boasts more than 200 (numbered) items, most of which are served on oversize platters with sides of soup and noodles. The obvious order is the pho, which is delivered with a plate of the standard fresh accoutrements, and is delightfully bright without being too salty. But the can’t-miss move here is the Saigon appetizer (#92 in your tome). The build-your-own-wrap dish overflows with grilled pork, grilled chicken, fried shrimp, fried softshell crab, and vegetables for the best tableside buffet. Prices are a little steep at first glance, but you’ll likely squeeze a few meals out of your visit, making it a great option for a quick and casual sit-down affair. 10665 Melody Dr., Northglenn —Maren Horjus

Dân Dã

Photo by Jessica Giles

What do you reach for on a bad day? A greasy grilled cheese? A Hershey’s chocolate bar (or four)? Dân Dã owners An and Thao Nguyen believe there’s no better cure for a case of the Mondays than a claypot filled with simmering sauce. The nine-month-old Aurora eatery specializes in quintessential Vietnamese comfort food, which includes an impressive roster of the aforementioned claypots. The protein—catfish fillets, bone-in swai fish, lemongrass chicken thighs, and more—are caramelized in an aromatic mixture of fish sauce, sugar, herbs, and spices. The result? The kind of stick-to-your-ribs entree your grandmother would approve of. Playing with your food is encouraged when you order one of the DIY towers, a stack of three plates piled with everything you’ll need to build your dream spring roll. Dunk the rice paper in the bin of hot water, then layer it with vegetables, rice noodles, and your preferred protein from the plates, which could be everything from tender strips of beef to bite-size pork egg rolls. The tower can easily serve three or four diners but we bet a duo could polish it off if they put their mind to it. 9945 E. Colfax Ave., Aurora —Jessica Giles

Read More: The 25 Best Restaurants in Denver in 2024: Dân Dã

New Saigon Bakery and Deli

Sure, you could order Chipotle for lunch again—or you could opt for one of the most authentic bánh mì in the Mile High City. We know which one we’re picking. New Saigon Bakery and Deli in Athmar Park slings 16 variations of this signature Vietnamese sammie—all of which are served on a perfectly crispy baguette. You can’t go wrong with any of the sandwiches that come slathered with New Saigon’s savory housemade garlic aioli, so might as well order a second to take home: Whether you opt for Char-Siu pork belly or the traditional cold cut bánh mì, it’ll only set you back $8.50. 640 S Federal Blvd. —JG

Pho Duy

Vermicelli noodle bowl, brisket pho, and pho chay at Pho Duy.
Vermicelli noodle bowl, brisket pho, and pho chay at Pho Duy. Photo by Barbara O’Neil

If you visit South Federal’s Pho Duy on a busy night (which, admittedly, is most nights) expect to be seated at a shared table with other diners. But brushing elbows with strangers is well worth the lineup of more than 20 pho combinations on the menu, which includes steak, chicken, shrimp, and even oxtail. But this cuisine isn’t just for carnivores. In fact, we’re partial to the pho chay, a mix of vegetables, tofu, and peppery spices all in a vegetable broth. If the steaming bowl of pho isn’t spicy enough, order a plate of cánh gà chiên bơ (buttered jalapeño chicken wings) for the table. At this point, you’ll be reaching for your water, so cap off your meal with any of the 27 boba smoothie flavors, which include jackfruit, passion fruit, and piña colada. 925 S. Federal Blvd. —Barbara O’Neil

Pho Saigon Star

This no-frills noodle shop is a staple among University of Denver students craving a spicy entree after a late-night study sesh (or, let’s be honest, a house party). At Pho Saigon Star, choose from 22 variations of pho—options include rare beef, shredded chicken, tofu, and more—that come in either the “traditional” or the spicier “central pho” versions, the latter of which has customizable heat levels. No matter which soup you select, it’ll set you back less than $15. Our standby is the central pho shrimp, which is tasty, satiating, and spicy enough to make us sweat. Drop in a side order of gyoza (pan-fired pork and vegetable dumplings) and the Asian chili hot wings, and you’ll be riding your food high well into the night. For non-pho eaters, the vermicelli noodle bowl is a fresh lunch option that includes rice noodles, cucumber, and a punchy chili-lime sauce. Grab a table or order out; service is always friendly and speedy. 2045 S. University Blvd. —Robert Sanchez

Vinh Xuong Bakery

Ham bánh mì at Vinh Xuong Bakery.
Ham bánh mì at Vinh Xuong Bakery. Photo by Barbara O’Neil

The menu at Vinh Xuong Bakery in Athmar Park is unpretentious, but we would argue that’s what makes it so appealing. Rather than flipping through a menu thicker than a phone book, simply pick from one of the five bánh mì selections. Although all of the sandwiches are tasty, we find ourselves continuously ordering the ham variation: Thinly sliced pork layered with shredded carrots and onions, sliced cucumbers, cilantro, and finished with a classic pate spread. Vinh Xuong also offers three gluten-free varieties of the popular sandwich, which swaps the baguette for a rice paper wrap. Trust us, you’ll never crave Subway again. 2370 W. Alameda Ave. —BO