MAKfam to Open on South Broadway Nov. 1
Photo courtesy of SORA Digital/Jeff Fieberg
The soon-to-open brick-and-mortar evolution of Meta Asian Kitchen will softly launch Oct. 25-27, by reservation only; Restaurant to fully open Nov. 1
DENVER (Oct. 10, 2023)— MAKfam, a fine casual restaurant featuring family-driven Chinese cuisine and street food, will be firing up their kitchen on South Broadway (39 W 1st Ave, Denver, CO 80223) for a soft opening Oct. 25-27 with limited service that’s by reservation only. Regular walk-up counter and dine-in service begins on Nov. 1.
Located on the corner of 1st and Broadway next to Snooze, MAKfam’s 1,670 square foot space features an expansive kitchen, 50-person dining room, and a full bar and lounge. Helmed by the husband-and-wife team Chef Kenneth Wan and Doris Yuen that brought us META Asian Kitchen, MAKfam, represents America’s new Asian culinary movement curating tradition- and family-inspired Chinese recipes through a modern lens.
“Opening our brick and mortar is the next evolution of our culinary journey and MAKfam is a return to our roots, showcasing more Cantonese fare and the Chinese food we grew up eating,” says MAKfam Chef Ken. “We have been dialing in our recipes, making sure it’s done correctly but with our own mark on it. For us, success is not only that our food tastes good but that it triggers a memory or positive feeling from the past.”
From Hong Kong-Style French Toast, hand-made dumplings inspired by visits to Chinatown, and stir fry dishes like Spicy Garlic Butter Rice Cakes, each nostalgic bite is a reverent nod to Wan and Yuen’s childhood memories, family recipes, and cultural traditions. The full kitchen, which includes a traditional wok range setup, will allow Chef Ken to elevate fan favorites like Shrimp Fried Rice with XO sauce and Beef Stir-Fried Noodles by using proper Wok Hei (wok’s breath), a quintessential part of Cantonese cooking that imparts a charred flavor profile and a complex smoky flavor.
MAKfam’s bar program will feature beer from Asian-owned and Asian-led makers, including Japas Cervejaria, Jade Mountain Brewing, and Young Master Brewery out of Hong Kong. The fine casual establishment will also have elevated cocktails with Asian-inspired ingredients, such as a Red Bean Orgeat Mai Tai and Hong Kong Iced Tea, MAKfam’s take on the boozy drink that includes Vita Lemon Tea Drink.
Yuen, who lived in Hong Kong before she came to the U.S. at age 7, worked with Arrow B Architecture to design the space to showcase their Cantonese upbringing which includes a blend of modern elements and traditional Cantonese style.
“Our hope in opening MAKfam was always to create a dining experience that felt like we were welcoming friends and families into our home,” said Yuen, co-founder of MAKfam. “We were incredibly intentional about incorporating elements like the deep green (lucky) color scheme, artwork from Asian American artists, and even showing Kung Fu movies behind the bar. All of these elements reflect parts of our cultural background and upbringing. For us, MAKfam is truly a love letter to ABCs (American Born Chinese) and the greater AAPI community.”
Paired with MAKfam’s celebration of the rich heritage of Chinese-inspired dishes, the restaurant’s meticulously designed interior also fuses modern aesthetics with Chinese motifs commonly found in neon-lit Hong Kong noodle parlors and the lively streets of Manhattan Chinatown. The result is a warm, community-oriented culinary destination that offers sophistication without pretension, welcoming take-out and quick turns for busy families, as well as an inviting lounge and dining room where neighborhood regulars can take an immersive cultural journey that Wan and Yuen have lovingly curated.
In the future, MAKfam hopes to have a brunch program, dim-sum cart service for special occasions like Lunar New Year, and limited menu items like Cantonese-style Lobster, and more.
MAKfam will softly open, by reservation only, for lunch service on Oct. 25-26 from 11 a.m to 3 p.m. and dinner service on Oct. 27-28 from 5 to 9 p.m. Starting Wednesday, Nov. 1 the restaurant will have regular walk-up and dine-in service.
MAKfam Hours of Operation:
Monday: 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Tuesday: closed
Wednesday: 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Thursday: 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Friday: 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Saturday: 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.
SUnday: 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.
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About MAKfam
MAKfam represents the essence of America’s new Asian culinary movement by reimagining traditional family-inspired Chinese recipes through a modern perspective. Husband and wife team, Chef Kenneth Wan and Doris Yuen, first got their start through a series of street market-style pop-ups in Jersey City, NJ, and Queens, NYC before opening in Denver’s Avanti Food and Beverage in 2019 as Meta Asian Kitchen. Now MAKfam aims to redefine the limitations of Asian fare with contemporary dishes like their málà mozzarella sticks and Spicy garlic butter rice cakes, while also paying homage to their traditional roots with classics like chicken congee, wonton soups, and beef stir-fry noodles with an upcoming brick and mortar under the rebranded MAKfam moniker at 39 W 1st Ave, Denver, CO. Visit their website at www.makfam.co and on Instagram at @makfamdenver and @metaasiankitchen.