Bring up eating in Boulder, and inevitably I’ll start talking about my love for Flower Pepper Restaurant. I first heard about this Chinese restaurant while searching on my phone for a quick bite during a drive through town on the way back to Denver. The reviews were high and I’m always on the look-out for good Chinese food in Colorado so I decided to give it a whirl.
I am SO glad I did.
Decor
On Jan 9, 2025, Flower Pepper moved from their location at 2655 Broadway, to a stall inside the Hilltop Food Court at 1310 College Ave. The new spot puts them right across the street from the CU Boulder campus. There is a little part of me that is sad they will no longer be in the garden-level storefront they occupied for so many years. (Until I make a visit to the new location, photos of the old location appear throughout this post.)
While the old spot was never going to wow me with their stellar interior design, it followed the great tradition of humble restaurants with excellent food. You could expect sticky tables and condiment containers, well-worn signs and menus, and a spartan restroom.
The place was tiny. At the time I guess that a large portion of their business was from takeout, since eating inside meant snagging one of the few two-tops tucked in the back of what felt like a glorified hallway, or squeezing into the counter bar by the window, which seats four if everyone was elbow to elbow. If the weather was nice, you could sit at one of the two picnic benches outside.
The old location did not peddle in white tablecloth service, but what really mattered was the…
Food
All my doubts about whether this would be a good dining experience quickly faded once the food arrived. It is SO. DANG. GOOD. During my first visit I ordered the Dan Dan Noodles which is an absolute steal at just under $10. This Sichuan dish features fresh wheat noodles served in a rich broth, topped with seasoned ground pork, baby bok choy and a generous dash of their signature chili oil and it BLEW MY MIND.
The veggies were fresh and perfect, the noodles were silky smooth but still maintain a good bite, the ground pork was tender and flavorful and the broth with the chili oil gave me that pleasant burn in my mouth as I wolfed down everything in the bowl in record time.
When my partner (who had ordered the Sichuan Cold Noodles) tasted this dish, his eyes lit up and he said, “that is SO GOOD!” I swear I almost saw a little tear trickle down his cheek.
On a second visit, I tried the Wonton Soup which included handmade beef wontons served in a slightly spicy broth thanks to a dash of chili oil. Also amazing. Very different from the wonton soup I’m used to from Chinatown in NYC – this definitely has a more Sichuan influence.
My husband ordered an item off the special menu, Duck Noodle Soup. Beautiful! Pretty sure absolutely everything is tasty here.
Since the two initial visits, I have probably eaten here (mainly takeout) more than two dozen times. My household tends to eat more vegetarian these days so now my go-to is the Vegetarian Dan Dan Noodles, which come with fried tofu and are soaked in that aforementioned spicy broth (it’s not crazy spicy, just a little spicy IMHO).
We always order at least one serving of the Chinese Leek and Egg Dumplings, inspired by Northern Chinese cuisine. They’re delicate and delicious, with a dipping sauce that has a tangy vinegar kick.
My partner continues to order the Sichuan Cold Noodles nearly every time.
Verdict
If this place was in New York, people would be lining up down the street to get a taste of these perfectly spicy noodles. I love their version of Dan Dan due to the wonderfully complex broth and those aforementioned beautiful noodles. It is reminiscent of a fantastic dumpling dish I had at Chicago’s Lao Peng You, which similarly is served in a bowlful of spicy sauce.
The prices are very affordable for the level of quality that you get. I actually think they should charge more for some of their dishes — they are just so delicious!
Just writing about this place is making me incredibly hungry. Honestly, I should explore more of the menu, but I often fall into comfort mode and stick to my usual when ordering takeout.
I’m in love with this place — what a great find! I will most definitely be back sooner rather than later! Hats off to the current owner/chef Nancy Wang for serving some amazingly tasty dishes.
Have you tried this place out yet? What are your favorite Chinese food spots in the Denver/Boulder area?
Details
Flower Pepper Restaurant – 1310 College Ave, Boulder, CO 80302 (As of Jan 9, 2025)
- Decor: Functional food hall
- Crowd: Hungry college students
- Recommended: Vegetarian Dan Dan Noodles, Egg and Leek Dumplings
List of article changes:
- Updated: 2/18/2025 with new location
- Updated: 8/1/2024 with additional favorites and updated prices.
- Updated: 1/22/2018 with new info/photos of extra dishes from a second visit.
- First published: 8/3/2017