Trend Spotting: Noodle Bars

With the blow-up success of New York City noodle bars (most notably, super-chef David Chang’s Momofuku, Momofuku Ssam Bar, and Momofuku Ko), I’ve been waiting for the trend to reach Denver. And, finally, it has–en masse. The new year will see the opening of three such spots: Frank Bonanno’s Bones, Dave Query’s Happy Noodle House, and Jet Entertainment’s XO. As we go from zero to three in one fell swoop, you might wonder, why now? Denver’s dining trends always trickle in from the coasts (just look at the recent cupcake and burger crazes), and noodle bars fit our times perfectly: The eats are not only inexpensive (look for price points to hover around $12); they’re also cozy and approachable. And what’s not to love about a big bowl of brothy udon, ramen, or soba noodles? Bones will open on the corner of Seventh Avenue and Grant Street (in between Mizuna and Luca d’Italia), XO will anchor the Jet Hotel in LoDo, and Happy Noodle will serve Boulder. Bones, 701 Grant St. XO 1612 Wazee St. Happy Noodle House, 835 Walnut St., Boulder