4 new and under-the-radar spots for dumplings, noodles and ramen

When Xiaolong Hao first moved from Los Angeles to Denver more than 10 years ago, he took notice of the “Welcome to Colorful Colorado” sign at the state border. It’s partly what gave him the idea for the colorful soup dumplings he now serves at Bryan’s Dumpling House.

Each of the eight colors represents a different style of regional cuisine in his native China and each has its own flavor. “This is more about Chinese food culture,” Hao said in an email to The Denver Post. “I want to let people know more about [it] by having real Chinese food.”

So the soup dumplings at Bryan’s, which Hao opened with his wife, Carina Wang, in March (and is named for their son), are just the beginning. The menu also includes mapo tofu; Szechuan-style dan dan noodles with peanuts, scallions and pork; stir-fried shredded pork loin in black bean sauce; as well as regular dumplings in chili oil, shu mai and barbecue pork buns.