ChoLon

The Verdict on ChoLon

ChoLon is not the casual pan-Asian takeout spot the word "fusion" might suggest. Chef Lon Symensma's Blake Street restaurant has appeared on Opinionated About Dining's North America Casual list three consecutive years — ranked #825 in 2024 and climbing to #853 in 2025 — which places it firmly in the tier of Denver restaurants worth planning a visit around, not just defaulting to. If you're weighing options for a special dinner or a business meal with personality, ChoLon earns serious consideration. If you need a quiet room or a stripped-back tasting format, look elsewhere.

What ChoLon Actually Is

The room on Blake Street in LoDo sets an expectation of polish: the space reads contemporary and deliberate, the kind of dining room that signals the kitchen is taking the food seriously. The cuisine is Asian fusion in an expansive sense , drawing across Southeast and East Asian traditions, filtered through a French-technique lens that Symensma developed over years of serious kitchen work. This is not a concept that leans on novelty for novelty's sake. The cooking has enough technical grounding to sustain repeat visits, which is why the OAD recognition has held across multiple years rather than fading after an opening spike.

For a special occasion, ChoLon threads a needle that few Denver restaurants manage: it feels considered without being stiff. The service style tends toward attentive and knowledgeable rather than formal, which works well for date nights or celebratory dinners where you want the evening to feel significant but not ceremonial. A 4.4 rating across 1,843 Google reviews is a reliable signal of consistency , at that volume, it reflects a sustained experience rather than a first-year honeymoon period.

Timing and Booking

ChoLon opens daily at 11:30 am, running through dinner Monday to Thursday until 9 pm, Friday and Saturday until 10 pm, and Sunday until 8 pm. Booking here is direct , this is not a table you need to camp for weeks in advance. For a Friday or Saturday dinner, booking a few days to a week out is sensible, particularly for groups. Weekday lunch slots are more accessible and offer a lower-pressure way to experience the kitchen if a full dinner commitment feels like a stretch. The lunch-to-dinner price flexibility also makes midweek visits easier to justify on an expense account or for a less formal celebration.

The address at 1555 Blake St in LoDo places it within the dining corridor that includes several of Denver's more serious restaurants, making it a practical anchor for an evening that might start with drinks elsewhere in the neighbourhood. For more on the broader Denver dining picture, see our full Denver restaurants guide, or explore our full Denver bars guide for pre-dinner options nearby.

Service and Value

The service philosophy at ChoLon is one of its stronger suits for the price point it occupies. The room does not carry the stiffness of Denver's $$$$ tasting-menu spots, but it operates with enough intention that the experience holds up for occasions where the meal matters. For context on Denver's higher end, Brutø and The Wolf's Tailor both operate at the $$$$ tier with full commitment to the format. ChoLon sits below that in price while delivering OAD-recognised quality , that gap is where its value argument lives. If your occasion demands the full tasting-menu ceremony, those alternatives are the right call. If you want a high-quality dinner with more flexibility and less financial exposure, ChoLon is the more practical choice.

For comparable ambition in the Asian fusion format beyond Denver, Dos Palilos in Barcelona and Aalto in Milan both represent how the category operates at the leading of its range internationally. ChoLon doesn't claim that tier, but within Denver's market it occupies the position of the Asian fusion restaurant most worth booking for a meal with stakes attached.

Who Should Book

ChoLon is the right call for date nights, moderate celebrations, and business dinners where you want the food to do some work but don't need a tasting menu's full commitment. It is less suited to groups looking for a loud, informal night out or diners who need a quieter, minimalist setting. The LoDo location also makes it a natural fit for visitors staying nearby , pair it with a look at our full Denver hotels guide if you're planning around it. For other strong Denver options at various price points, Alma Fonda Fina, Beckon, and Annette are all worth considering depending on your brief.

Frequently Asked Questions

• What should a first-timer know about ChoLon? The cuisine is Asian fusion with real technique behind it , expect a menu that spans Southeast and East Asian influences rather than a single regional focus. Three consecutive OAD Casual North America recognitions tell you this is a kitchen operating with consistency. It's an accessible entry point into Denver's more serious dining without the commitment of a tasting menu or $$$$ pricing. Come with an appetite for sharing plates if the format allows it.
• How far ahead should I book ChoLon? Booking is easy relative to Denver's harder tables. For a weeknight dinner, same-week availability is realistic. Friday or Saturday evenings benefit from a few days' advance notice, and for groups of five or more, booking a week out gives you more control over table placement. You do not need to set a 30-day alarm here.
• Is lunch or dinner better at ChoLon? Dinner is the stronger choice for a special occasion , the room settles into a more deliberate pace and the full menu is in play. Lunch is a good option for a lower-pressure introduction to the kitchen, particularly on a weekday when the room is quieter. The hours run 11:30 am daily, giving you flexibility on timing.
• Can ChoLon accommodate groups? Groups are manageable here, and the LoDo location and format are practical for parties celebrating milestones or hosting out-of-town guests. For larger groups, contacting the restaurant directly in advance is the sensible move to confirm table arrangements and any set-menu options. Booking a week or more out for groups of six or more is advisable on weekends.
• Does ChoLon handle dietary restrictions? Asian fusion menus of this scope typically carry flexibility across common dietary needs, but ChoLon's specific accommodations are not confirmed in our data. Contact the restaurant directly before your visit if dietary restrictions are a deciding factor , given the breadth of the cuisine style, the kitchen is likely practised at adjustments, but confirm rather than assume.

Explore More in Denver

See our full Denver restaurants guide for the broader picture. For the city's wine scene, our full Denver wineries guide and our full Denver experiences guide cover what else is worth your time while you're here.