Spice China

My husband and I have been to Spice China a few times- we live in Denver but we are willing to drive up every once in a while. I had seen that there was a $30 Peking duck on the menu but I wasn't sure if it was worth it and no one has written anything about it yet. So I ordered the duck and was extremely pleased with how good it was that I didn't mind paying $30 for it. There is another duck entree on the menu that is deep fried- I'm sure it is good as well but I can't imagine it could compare with the Peking duck. The Peking duck could easily be shared by two people- maybe with an app to start out. Pros: Selection and Prices Cons: Only one location more

Took my dad here the other night to avoid rush hour traffic getting to his favorite Chinese place in Denver, JJ?s (which is probably the best Chinese in town for people less interested in sesame chicken and more interested in chilled pickled chicken feet ? which are darn good with a cold Tsingtao). This was our first time here. If you?re interested in the good stuff, skip to the Shanghai menu towards the back of the 20-page book the hostess hands you. We ordered the steamed whole sea bass, which was fresh, tasty, and thankfully not overcooked. Calamari--dad's must have no matter where we are--was not great (but hey, this is supposed to be Chinese food, so I cut them some slack here). The steamed bok choy and mushrooms were fine. The white rice was not good. Rice is rice you say? If you?ve eaten perfectly cooked, high quality rice, then you begin to care about these things. The wait staff was more interested in chatting with each other near the kitchen than paying attention to the restaurant?s customers, and the people next to us were getting frustrated. In all, I think we got lucky?it could have easily been a miss. Our server gets points for trying, but you aren?t going to find high quality service in a place like this, so don?t expect it. If it?s not rush hour, it?s probably JJ?s next time. As other reviewers have pointed out, it?s called ?Spice China,? but there is almost no spicy food on the menu! more

I am a huge fan of asian food, and heard this place rivals PH Changs, (My husband took me there for Mothers Day) And I was very dissapointed, the service was awful, the waitress ""Ping"" Was very rude and did not (Or could not unterstand) the menu, We asked several times for her to explain things such as soups such and she just told us to look in the menu, she messed our order up an did not offer to fix it ay the end of the meal she said she would not charge for our drink refills, when the menu clearly states ""Bottomless drinks."" Food was ok (Not better than PF Changs) And not the least bit spicy (we were never given the option for spicy.) When we brought this to the managers attention he just said ""the waitress didnt understand English."" We will never go back! Pros: Nice Ambience! Cons: Service very poor! more

When I first walked into this place I thought it looked like a Chinese Cheesecake Factory. We went on a Friday night. I have yet to find decent Chinese food out here, so I was really hoping this place wouldn't be a disappointment. First off, we were seated right away--good. It was over 25 minutes--no exagerration, before someone came to even take a drink order. As I have only been here once, I have to be fair and say I don't know if this is a normal thing, or if it was due to the fact that their waitstaff is very young. I ordered a seafood hot pott (I have to spell it this way in order to get it posted.) which included shrimp, white fish, scallops, and various vegetables. I must say that the seafood was well-cooked, but the sauce was very odd. I am Asian, and we don't cook with butter. It was very odd. I was expecting something more Chinese like, maybe a fishier broth or something, but a butter-based sauce? Weird. Especially for Chinese food. Pros: nice Cheesecake Factory-like setting Cons: Buttery Chines food more

This restaurant used to be about the best of its kind. I hope it soon goes back to the old way of doing business. more

I have never, ever found a sesame tofu that can even come close to Spice China's. The flavor is wonderful, and the texture of the tofu is perfect. I often order this dish from other restaurants, and while the flavor may be fine, the tofu is very soggy or not firm enough. Spice China now discloses on their menu which items contain chicken stock, and vegetarians can simply request this be omitted from the dish--it doesn't have any negative effect on the taste of the food. As for their other dishes, I don't know too much about them! I have tried a few other things, which were all good, but I simply must order the sesame tofu every time I go because I crave it and can't get a good one elsewhere! Try the sesame tofu! I have not had anyone disappointed in this dish yet! more

I hang out in San Francisco's Chinatown quite a bit, and Spice China is the only place that I can get Chinese food equivalent to what I get in San Fran without having to buy a plane ticket. For spiceheads (like me), they're really good about adding extra heat upon request. The menu is huge and has items that you're not always going to see on your ""typical"" local Chinese takeout menu. Don't be afraid to try something you've never had before! It's pretty hard to go wrong at Spice China. Pros: Great Food more

Spice China has become our favorite Chinese restaurant in the Denver area, not only for its consistently excellent American Chinese dishes, but for its unique offering of Shanghai cuisine. Spice China is a good, ""safe"" place to try something out of the American mainstream: the Korean mussels, or the crispy Hong Kong style noodles. Their soups are artfully spiced, they use just the right amount of oil, the ingredients (esp. the meats) are noticeably high quality, and the service/ambience all adds to the value. Unlike many independent Chinese restaurants, Spice China also offers an upscale, possibly romantic atmosphere. . .yet it is far better in value and quality than corporate PF Chang's. Pros: Service, Food, Ambience more

As someone who has spent a year in China, I find this to be some of the most authentic Chinese food in Colorado. Yum! more

If your looking for quick Chinese sit down or take out then Spice China is for you. Not for the conisseur of Asian food as the 'spice' in Spice China is missing. Overall good flavor though and large portions. Good place to take children. Wide enough beer/wine menu for the price. Pros: Fast service, large portions, expansive menu Cons: , Loud, Convenient more

I admit I like PF Chang's because it is consistent. Not the best, but I can depend on it. Spice China is an excellent Chinese restaurant that challenges the palate with innovative dishes and great execution of standards. High quality, no steam tables, no buffet. The spicy dishes are indeed spicy, the sauces are not gloopy corn starch puddings, and the fried items are not soggy. Not only is it better than Chang's but you rarely have to wait. Pros: great food, selection Cons: no delivery more

In Colorado, the pickings are slim for good Chinese food, but Spice China is an exception. The menu is huge and the place has a nice ambiance. Is it the best Chinese I've ever had? No. But is it one of the best in Colorado? Yes. Pros: Good food, Good Service, Reasonable prices Cons: Might be far from you more

with all respect (imho) I eat Chinese regularly in San Francisco (Tai Chi.. House of Nanking.. Brandy Ho's etc.) so I don't feel ""wok-impaired,"" and I say Spice China is ok. Especially when (by your personal request) they prepare on the spicy side and maybe customize/experiment a little per your recommendation, we may have a winner here. Work the back of the menu, a little out of the mainstream, and you will be pleasantly surprised. Enjoy daveq PS I'm a bâtard chanceux as I live in Louisville, but I would drive from DU 2 eat here. Pros: They want 2 B good, They will B flexible, Good management more

I know Louisville is not the first place to think of when you want quality chinese food, but this place is a FIND! Give it a try and you'll see what all of the great reviews are for. The ambience is very comfortable, cool, and contemporary. The food and the service is excellent. Our waiter suggested a dish that was not on the menu, (Shanghia Shrimp), which everyone at the table thought was delicious! Crab cheese wontons were also some of the best I've ever had at a Chinese restaurant. Go! Pros: Great food, Service, Inexpensive for lunch more

We're vegetarians - and this place has a whole page in their menu titled ""Vegetarian"". Great, right? Well, not when you accidently find out that their 'Vegetarian' items are all cooked with Chicken Stock (unless you are psychic and know to ask them not to do that). We won't be going back again... Cons: Veg food is not veg more

If you like PF Changs you may love this better. Food is always fresh and ""bright"" tasting, kind of like Chinese with a Vietnamese zest. Service is always excellant (I've stopped going to places that are indifferent)! The teipong pork. garlic cress and steamed whole fish are some of our favorites(call ahead for the pork). Sure, more authentic dishes are in the Far East Center area, but they are doing a good job here in the north area. Drinks are just ok. Pros: parking, service Cons: no dim sum more

Awesome food, great service! Awesome Ambience! best deal in Denver! ask for Dan. more

Not only is the spice perfect, but the staff is ready to make sure your meal is prepared exactly as you order. I always have chicken breast substituted for traditionally dark meat dishes at no extra charge or extra wait time. The food is the best! Pros: Beautiful views, Inexpensive, Always Accomodating more

Take it from someone who has traveled to China, the cuisine is far from authentic. The spicing is heavily weighted with western spices. The cooking styles remind me more of Korean and Vietnemese than Chinese. Pros: Nice atmosphere, Good service Cons: not authentic food, poor value more

Big and diverse menu, gracious service and really good food. I like this place - and was ready to write it in for the poll but - mirable dictu - it was already there as an editor's choice. Great place for lunch meetings and hospitality. Pros: food, service, ambiance Cons: distance to drive more