Zoe Ma Ma
1625 Wynkoop St, Denver, CO, 80202
Zoe Ma Ma Menu
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Address :
1625 Wynkoop St
Denver, CO, 80202 - Phone (303) 545-6262
- Website https://www.zoemama.com
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Mon :11:00 am - 10
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : No
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Lunch
Parking : Street
Bike Parking : Yes
Good for Kids : Yes
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Casual
Noise Level : Average
Alcohol : Beer & Wine Only
Outdoor Seating : Yes
Wi-Fi : No
Has TV : No
Waiter Service : No
Caters : Yes
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Dkoda J.
The food seems to be made with really quality ingredients. The decor is great inside and has a great patio outside at the beautiful train station. The menu is very limited, a couple dim sum items and a couple noodle bowels. They have different bowls avalible depending on the day. When I went in was only one special so only like 5 dishes to choose from. They don't take tips instead charge 15% automatically unless you choose to opt out, which a sign says it supports a lot of things. I didn't really care for the only two drink refils especially for tea and when my ticket was 20$ for only myself. The owner was a man who took my order and was incredibly nice. I highly recommend the pork bun!!! So it's an awesome place to go, just as long as you specifically want one of their noodle bowls and don't mind it's pricy for fast casual but has high quality ingredients.
(4)Whitney W.
Zo Ma Ma in Boulder is one of my absolutely favorite lunch spots. If this new location in Denver is anything like the original, it is sure to be delicious and affordable!
(5)Lisa K.
This place serves Chinese style street food. I have no idea how authentic it is, I've never been to China, but It is delicious. The top reasons we keep coming back: Pot Stickers Za Jiang Mian with homemade noodles Chillin' Veggies Iced Green Tea The menu is small, but there is always a daily special and everything we've tried has been very good. They are also several sauces to go with/on your meal, they are so delicious. Everything is homemade and really high quality ingredients (unlike many Chinese style restaurants). But, we come back for the Pot Stickers and Za Jiang Mian. It's fast casual and prices are very reasonable. Also, the menu really lets you customize. You can try several small dim sum items, get a big yummy bowl of noodles or both, depending how hungry you are. They also have a great patio.
(4)Michelle K.
Ugh so upset I wasted my meal here. Got the chicken noodle soup because they didn't have the beef soup. It was so oily I could barely stomach it. Bland and not a ton of flavor. The glass noodles were such an odd selection for the soup. Do not get. The pork bun was ok. I wouldn't get it again. Shrimp dumplings were also meh. Kind of tasted fishy, not in a good way. Friendly staff, hence 2 stars. Food = 1 star at best.
(2)Aaron W.
Overall this place is good but nothing about quality or price is above average. Can't say it's somewhere I'll frequent. The appetizers came out seconds before the main dish. Potsticker is decent. Really good sauce, ok size but not worth $1.25 for one. Hot sour soup seemed off. Was not hot (spicy) or sour. A little sour aftertaste, but different then what expected. Predominant taste is beef and mushroom? Marinated pork bun (bao) was very good. The plethora of dipping sauces helped. Very good bun though a little spendy. Smooth and slightly elastic outside, moist tasty meaty on the inside. Beef noodle bowl, hmmm. Bok choy is good. Noodles are good but not great. Broth is different then what I was expecting. Very close to the hot sour soup in an odd way. Picked cabbage on top seems out of place, but I admit that I don't like this type of pickled cabbage on it's own.
(3)Sally H.
Came here based on raving reviews and left here rather disappointed. I honestly wanted to like this place because the concept was rather cool: fast Taiwanese street food brought to you by mama Zoe. However, the food was shy of perfection. My boyfriend and I came here for a Wednesday night date night. I ordered the Wednesday special which was the Lion Head; a saucy pork meatball with shiitake mushroom, napa cabbage, bamboo shoots, and rice. My boyfriend ordered the Za Jiang Mian; a classic northern Chinese noodle dish made with egg noodles, ground pork, and julienne vegetables. We also ordered the crystal shrimp dumplings; which turned out pretty bland. As for the special Lion Head, there was nothing special about it. In fact, there were a few ingredients in the bowl that I had bit into and had to immediately spit out. For instance, the bowl contained large slices of ginger. The ginger slices are so large that I mistaken it for bamboo shoots. It wasn't very pleasant. However, the Za Jiang Mian was good. I wish I had ordered that instead. For the price point Zoe Mama is decent. Furthermore, they do add an additional 15% onto your ticket for service/upkeep of the place so tipping is not necessary.
(3)john W.
At the end of the day, not so much my thing. We went for lunch, i enjoyed what I got (which i barely remember, but i know i didn't hate it), but i wasn't something i find myself craving. The dumplings, i remember being tasty, though the curry one was surprisingly bland. The process of ordering is a bit weird, since you order, get your water or drinks, do up your sauce, then sit or stand waiting for your food. If nothing else, it'd a nice place for an afternoon drink and snack, which you watch Union Station foot traffic
(3)Holly E.
I was very excited to have the chance to try out Zoe Ma Ma for lunch today. I ordered the Thur special and was disappointed it was not very special. But I will say the quality of their food is superb. I ordered - Lion Head $7.95 Ginormous saucy pork meatball served with shitake mushroom, napa cabbage, bamboo shoots and rice. Rice noodle and fresh organic egg noodle available. The meatball was delicious and yes ginormous and plenty of cabbage. However only one little mushroom and bamboo shoots were not included. I ordered it with the rice noodles and they didn't skimp there. And note they use bok choi. I didn't realize bok choi is also called napa cabbage. Initially I thought it was pretty bland until I discovered they have 4-5 sauce options on the counter. My meal and green tea ended up being $12.30 because they include a 15% gratuity. I'm ok with this but will likely skip the $2.50 tea next time. Wasn't too impressive. I say all this but I will be back because my friend's food looked more appealing. And I like simple fresh food and do you know how hard it is to make a meatball that size that is still moist and flavorful? I just hope next time they are more generous with the ingredients.
(2)Angela C.
You can't come to Zoe Ma Ma expecting your typical Chinese fare, because it isn't. I would also say that it is not a traditional dim sum, so if you are looking to gorge yourself on dim sum, go to Asian Super Star or something. Zoe Ma Ma has a select amount of home-style Taiwanese food, and it's pretty delicious. Note: this is TAIWANESE food, not to be confused with THAI food, which is from a different country (Thailand) and has significantly different flavors. I'm sure you can find cheaper Taiwanese somewhere outside downtown or in a Chinatown in a bigger city, but for the location and the quality of food, me and my family left very satisfied. The noodles are organic and homemade, which are an added bonus. We enjoyed the CPR, Beef Noodle, Za Jiang Mian, some potstickers, and sampled a marinated pork steam bun. It was like eating many of the favorite things that my mom might make, and I didn't leave feeling completely bombed with sodium like with a lot of Chinese restaurant food. I think this is where other reviewers felt disappointed about "bland" tastes, but really, most Chinese restaurants probably meet your daily sodium intake in one dish!! The ba bao rice dessert was awesome. Beyond the food, the space is neat and modern, with granite table tops and window-facing counters with stools. The owner was incredibly friendly, and we bonded over our common Taiwanese roots. Wish I could come here all the time.
(5)Heather T.
A friend and I ate here a week ago, neither of us having eating Taiwanese food before. There is a "secret" menu so thankfully I overheard the person before me ordering the scallion pancake or I wouldn't have known of its existence. We ordered our food and the staff was very nice. The food is brought out to your table so you just take a seat and relax. Well first you go to the sauce station and load up on delicious sauces for your dumplings and various other items and then you take a seat. The scallion pancake was the first to come out and it was my favorite of the night. Crispy and salty with just the right amount of onion, this was a home run! Especially with the sauces drizzled over the top. I also got the potsticker which was good but not mind blowing for me, the vegan dumpling which was not a winner for me and a steamed pork bun which I enjoyed. For my main, I got the duck soup noodle soup which was fantastic! I also added some spice and seasoning to take up the heat level. The duck was very flavorful as was the broth. And who doesn't love slurping noodles up? This is the perfect meal for a cold winter night. Our plates were cleared as we finished them and overall this was a really nice evening to spend here!
(5)Melanie T.
The owners are super sweet :) The food comes out fast too. I love the noodles. It's filling and not overprice. Happy to try an authentic Taiwanese restaurant Oh and the 15% thing. If you don't want to do it, just opt out. No need to whine about it. But FYI, if you don't have any friends who are waiters/waitresses then shame on you for complaining about workers being paid a fair wage. On a slow night, in restaurants they get paid like $4.00 an hour and tippers can be awful and sit there for two hours socializing and not order.
(5)Missy A.
Great lunch spot when you're craving something warm, savory but healthy. Sichuan beef noodle soup was full of flavor but not overly so. Enjoyed the unique rice pearl dumplings. The sauce station had a selection of delicious condiments- all authentic. NOM!!
(5)Emily C.
Oh yeah. That's right. FINALLY some good Chinese/Taiwanese food downtown. True, we live near Federal/Alameda where the Chinese is good and the Vietnamese is even better, but when I need my fix downtown, I'm always disappointed. And I don't like to be disappointed. When I lived in Boulder, I worked right around the corner from the Zoe Ma Ma up there. I got used to my Ma Ma fix--it's hard to go cold turkey off of Ma Ma's food, but I did it somehow. Now that she's in Denver, I'm back on the stuff. Every time I've been there, she's working the line--that woman knows how to run a kitchen. Her staff work it. The food here is amazing. And don't let the 15% auto gratuity get you down. Honestly, if you're freaked out by paying extra at a restaurant, that means you probably don't tip. And if you don't tip, you're a lousy human being anyway who has no empathy for the people who serve you, and don't understand the way the service industry works. I WISH it were 20%, because they won't let you add more gratuity, and they deserve 20%. /rant I always go for the za jiang mian with rice noodles. Were I not gluten free, I'd be hitting up the home made organic egg noodles on the daily. The sauces are all incredible. For real. Especially the Sichuan pepper sauce. Oooh, it makes my blood tickle and I like it. The flavors are always so fresh, so crisp and perfect. Yum. The dim sum is super tasty too. Sometimes I come down just to get a couple dim sum bits and smother them in Sichuan pepper sauce. Welcome to Denver, Zoe Ma Ma. I'm over the moon that you're here!
(5)Mark T.
Many, many decades ago, the island of Taiwan was commonly known as Formosa, a term deriving from a Portuguese word meaning "handsome" or "beautiful". Luckily, the Taiwanese (etc.) food served at the downtown branch of Zoe Ma Ma lives up to such lofty praise. Let's begin with a small nibble, shall we? I'm always a sucker for a good Jiaozi (dumpling) and ZMM's are some of the best I've tried in recent memory. These shrimp/pork/chive-packed wonders are of the Guotie (literally, "sticks to the pan") variety - fried on one side first, then steamed to succulence. Speaking of steamed things, their buns (or if you prefer, Bao) are almost as noteworthy as mine (ahem) - the marinated pork (Cha Siu) and curried chicken (Gali Ji) ones stand out in particular as I'm typing this. Zhen Zhu Wan Zi (glutinous rice-dappled pork balls) are another intriguing introduction for you to consider. As luck would have it, these are all so affordably priced, you could even try a few of each in one sitting - and it probably comes as no surprise to hear that I've been known to do precisely that! To continue, how about a little CPR? No, I'm not being presumptuous, so cut that out. Those three little letters actually refer to one of the most comforting creations on offer at ZMM - namely, a chicken and potato stew featuring just a touch of ginger and star anise, with plenty of steamed rice (or even noodles if you're so inclined) to soak it all up. On the lighter side, there's always the cold salad called Liang Ban Mian (egg noodles tossed with bean sprouts and cucumbers) to keep you feeling gratified, yet guilt-free. And depending on which day you visit, you might get to try one of their specials, like Niu Rou Mian (braised Sichuan-style numbing-hot beef with noodles) or even Shi Zi Tou (Shanghainese stewed meatballs, colloquially called "lion's heads" due to their size). It's all ripe for the picking at Zoe Ma Ma.
(4)Garkie Z.
So maybe I went in with too high of expectations but Zoe Ma Ma just didn't wow me the way I had expected it too. I went in and ordered everything that everybody pretty much raves about: -Original Marinated Pork and Curry Chicken Bun -Sichuan Braised Beef Noodle -Za Jiang Mian with Egg Noodle First off, let's talk about pricing. Zoe Ma Ma charges $2.79 PER Steamy Bun... Outrageously expensive when you consider that other authentic Dim Sum Restaurants such as Star Kitchen or Super Star Asian Cuisine charges $2.35 FOR AN ORDER OF THREE. Taste is OK at best. Both buns were good but not even close in terms of flavor to those of other Dim Sum places on Federal. (Sure Federal isn't nearly as swanky as Denver but if you're in it for the food I'd go to Federal any day.) The Sichuan Braised Beef Noodle- one of the highest raved about dishes from Zoe Ma Ma- The beef was quite good but the broth itself however lacked in flavor. The Za Jian Mian is a version of "Chinese Spaghetti" that I just did not care for, again the sauce lacked flavor and overall just tasted like bland beef gravy. Not a win for me. Also they need to find a new way to call customers up for their food cause yelling their name during a busy lunch hour and expecting them to hear it regardless of whether they're inside or out is a little ridiculous- it's called buzzers.
(2)Kabir K.
Not impressed at all. I went with a group of 6 guys. We all ordered right after one another. Each of us ate at different times because the food came out so erratically. For example: we gave our name to go with our order and the girl delivering the food to the tables was so confused it was distracting. After receiving her food she would continually come up to us even when we were done eating trying to give us someone else's order. We were literally about to get up after finishing our meal and she asked A table of six guys: "Maggie?" But the rating is based on service and food. Food took forever and the dumplings were not flavorful at all. The noodle dishes were so flavorless it was almost a joke, my friends didn't touch it after a couple bites. Dumplings were burned, and their meatball dumpling covered in rice was hardened. The whole experience was messy too. Tiny tables yet they decide to give you giant trays. We were spelling our sauce that came in tiny sauce bowls through the holes in the cheap outdoor table. The spoon for the sauces inside were giant while the sauce trays were tiny. People had spilled sauce all over the floor. This place is in such a prime location, yet they fail on so many levels. Sad I had looked forward to it on my trip and it was a huge let down.
(2)Ali N.
Ridiculously good food! The buns are sooooooo good! I want to have 20 in one sitting!
(5)Mason T.
Good food and nicest grandma there haha. Decent price and also a nice environment to enjoy your food
(5)Lan V.
I really wanted to like Zoe Ma Ma, but overall, the food quality was average. I was excited to try this location when I heard it had opened. I used to go to the Boulder one when I worked near there. I went on a Friday around 11am. It was good timing because right after we ordered, there was a huge line and the lunch rush began. So, if you want to come to this location, make sure to get there early. I ordered the CPR but asked for vegetables instead of the chicken. The bowl consisted of rice, a few potatoes and some green veggies. There was hardly any gravy sauce on the bowl, but some was at the bottom of the bowl soaking the rice. Although the flavor was good, I just wish there was more of the gravy, or more of the veggies. It just felt like something was lacking. Luckily I had read some reviews prior to going and knew to order the scallion pancakes. That is not listed on the menu, however it was quite delicious. I will probably come back to try one of their noodle bowls. Hopefully it will be a little more tasty than the CPR.
(3)Sam F.
Dipped in for the special braised noodle beef soup (sun-tue) sunday at 11:30 am. Pretty quiet, and a big place- hope they can make it work. The dish was amazing, so I can see how an empire could be built on that. At first the broth was so hot I could barely get into it, and I was a tad disappointed in the number of beef chunks, but after the broth dropped about 7 degrees it all melded into an astounding whole. Truly astonishing flavor density in the broth, augmented by the perfectly proportioned quality beef chunks, organic bok choy and haus noodles. The sichuan peppers slid in and around the broth and beef fat to make an revelatory dish. Totally worth the $15 and a special trip. My veggie gal also enjoyed her chilled veggies and vegan bun as well. Next time I will be sure to order the house iced green tea to take it to a whole 'nother level!
(5)Zen T.
I wasn't really too impressed. I got the special which was the braised beef . The beef I'd actually give 5 stars but the noodles were overcooked and there was definitely not enough soup for the dish. Plus the soup I thought was OK. Thank goodness for the sauces which made it better. Oolong tea was great. The cashier did not know the menu well. Also, he welcomed me to an authentic "Chinese" restaurant. Where did Taiwanese come from? OR was that due to his lack of knowledge? The ambiance was great. I thought the decor was very unique, innovative and cool. I MIGHT go back and try something else but maybe not.
(3)Seiji N.
Not a Taiwanese food expert, but everything I had except the potstickers was super bland. If this is what "yummy taiwanese street food" is, then I don't think I want to eat anymore of it. I've had wonton soup several times before, and it was much much better than here. The wonton soup here hardly tasted like anything and was not even worth the space in my stomach it took up. The Lion's head and zi jiang were also bland, but not as bad as the wonton soup. The only thing I found decent were the potstickers, but they weren't even fresh... The customer service was good, the guy working the register was super friendly and helpful. Will I ever come back to ZMM? Nah.
(2)Hannah W.
I'm so happy that Zoe Ma Ma opened in Denver! I first came here out of some friends' recommendation. I always struggle to decide what to get so it's helpful that the menu is really simple. My first time here, a lot of the items I had wanted to try (pearl meat ball and hot & sour soup) ran out so I ended up getting the Steamy bun (bao) with pork and potstickers.The marinated pork in the bun is really flavorful and authentic, I wish I ordered another bun... What I liked about the potstickers were that they were crispy on the side. My friends really enjoyed the CPR and roast duck wonton noodle soup. One thing to note is that some of the items are only served on certain days (e.g. roast duck wonton noodle soups are only available Fri and Sat). Besides the great food, I love the atmosphere. The restaurant has a decent amount of seating and cute Asian décor (tea sets, newspaper design tables, etc.). The waiters and chef are super friendly too. My favorite person in the store has to be Zoe Ma Ma though. Because this store is fairly new, she's been at this store making sure operations are going well. The first time I was here, she gave me a goji rice cake for free and talked to me about her new restaurant and what cool breakfast menus she plans to have. Because I didn't get to try to pearl meat balls my first time, when I went back to the restaurant later that week, she pulled me over and gave me an extra one on the house. She definitely knows how to treat her customers and makes them feel at home! (Although I think the fact that I speak Mandarin helps) This place is tucked in on Wynkoop right on the side of the Union Station. If you're looking for a place for Asian food, definitely give this place a try!
(4)Hanh P.
Taiwanese food in Denver? Originated in Boulder, same menu. Quick casual dining. Order and pick up yourself. Clean and big windows. Nice atmosphere. Great roasted duck wonton noodle soup! $13, but quality duck. Yay for Oolong tea, 1 free refill!!!! Hard to find oolong at restaurants around here. Hope to try the Lion Head someday... Need to see how authentic it is. Great sauces to add to your dishes. Hope they expand to DTC someday... We could use a place like this for lunch.
(4)Josh d.
I think I'm underwhelmed because I grew up eating this stuff... But Ah-Ma's (Grandma!) food was better... Seasoned better, hand made... I remember walking into her kitchen and being assaulted with the smells. That's not to take anything away from Zoe Ma Ma... I like this place... Quite a bit... But it's just SOOO close to what our family makes for us, that the consistency, the texture, the extra pinch of salt, the moisture - Whatever it is, throws it off just enough for me to say "Man... It's so close to being what I remembered and hoped to get..." Zoe Ma Ma is on my regular dining rotation... But... It always leaves me wanting... All that being said, it's easily the most authentic Asian food I've found in the neighborhood.
(3)Rose Y.
I've bed to this restaurant twice, with the first time being more satisfying than the second. We got the special of the day (wonton noodle soup with duck), which would have been good if it had actual wontons. Instead, the wontons were meager (very little meat), and we barely got any bok choy or duck meat. Although the taste was authentic, it was not worth $13. Their regular menu items, however, are well worth it and are filling, authentic, and substantial. Service was fine, given the type of establishment. I would go back, if only to get the regular menu items.
(3)Sarah W.
Oh yum! After reading about Zoe Ma Ma, I couldn't wait to get over to Union Station and try it. We did a bit of a make shift happy hour and had a few of the buns and dumplings and some beer. Everything was amazing! As a native Californian I am always on the hunt for truly authentic Chinese food, this was as good as it gets. On top of the already yummy food, they have an awesome sauce bar so you can doctor your items up as you like. Finally, you can't beat the price. We grabbed dinner elsewhere later the evening and shelled out some major cash. The whole time I was thinking I would have been much happier and had more money in my wallet if I'd stayed at Zoe Ma Ma for dinner.
(5)Zyle l.
Right by Union Station. For a Saturday, looking for a parking space wasn't too hard. I communicated with staffs in Mandarin. Relatively small menu, but what I ordered- Za Jian Mian is very good! It's authentic and the serving is generous.
(5)Derek L.
Very nice atmosphere. I'm excited to have a place that makes fresh Bao Buns and homemade noodles! A little underwhelmed by the flavors inside the buns. Not sure if they tone down the flavors for the white people down at Union Station. I will go back to try more delicious noodle dishes and eat pork buns, the tastiest of the three choices!
(3)Jen F.
Initially, the look of the menu threw me off. It looked hand made and cheap. But never judge a book by its cover! The food is amazing. I highly recommend their dumplings and steamy pork buns. The great thing about this place the wide variety of vegetarian options, that are never lacking in flavor. The atmosphere is also nice, and really friendly staff. Also, their bathroom is nicer than most people's home. I won't spoil it, but go look at their awesome decorating skills ^_^
(5)Jinyen Y.
Love love love this place - finally a Chinese restaurant in Downtown Denver! It was so hard trying to decide what to get after being deprived of Chinese food for so long, but I ended up getting the Za Jiang Mian. The sauce was the perfect level of saltiness and the portions were generous. I also had a Green Tea Boba that delighted me and my friend - the tapioca balls in it was the perfect amount of chewiness. The boba is still more expensive than boba in the bay area, but hey, beggars can't be choosers. Note that this place is still pretty slow and food takes 10-15 minutes to be prepared. Also, Zoe Ma Ma automatically charges a 15% "tip" to your bill to account for living wages and better quality ingredients (hopefully).
(4)Jin Y.
A very delightful find in downtown Denver. The food is very authentic. Beef noodle soup broth is perfect.
(5)J. Chris H.
Mama cooked us mama rice! Lovely Chinese Asian fusion. Great place next to the train station.
(5)Tony S.
We ordered Take Out.... The pot stickers were awesome and very flavorful! The vegan dumplings were good too. We liked the many options for dipping sauces. But, we would not order the Bao or Za Jiang Mian (Pork Noodles) for Take Out as they did not travel well, and were thick and sticky. Probably better to order those on-premise. It is somewhat challenging to find Zoe Ma Ma as they don't have a proper sign. Look for them tucked behind the Thirsty Lion Pub.
(4)Aaron P.
Supremely disappointed after seeing many positive reviews on food blogs and yelp. By no means am I an expert of Chinese/Taiwanese food but I've had my fair share and this is no where near up to par. Looking past the ethic appeal to this restaurant, the overall flavors were bland and the ones I did taste were prominently soy and ginger (not in a good way). Even all the dipping sauces tasted the the same IMO. I wouldn't label a sauce Szechuan Peppercorns if there is no spice and no Peppercorns. The renowned baos were dry and bland. The rice in the CPR was undercooked and sauce tasted too much ginger and soy once again. The pork noodles were probably the best dish we had but I've had better at other Chinese restaurants. Also I did not appreciate the added 15% sustainability fee that was not noticeable till we walked out while bussing our own dishes. Most likely will not return to this Denver location. Seeing as so many people still like the restaurant I may try the Boulder location in the future.
(1)Taylor F.
Everything here is incredible. The pot stickers changed my life, and the CPR is a MUST. Never had Chinese food this good in my whole life. The staff is always friendly and helpful. The sauces here, don't even get me started. Just go. I love this place. I will say my friend did not enjoy the vegan potstickers. I didn't try them, but their regular potstickers are MIND BLOWING.
(5)Justin K.
I wanted to love this place, truly I did. Their decor is wonderful, their philosophy is progressive, and their service was outstanding. When my dish arrived, I expected for my experience to be complete. Unfortunately, this is where it went downhill. I had the meatball and hot and sour soup. The soup was utterly bland, like thickened water with tofu. The meatball did have flavor - fennel, and lots of it. Overwhelmingly so, in fact, to the point where all other flavored were overwhelmed, and the taste lingered for hours. My wife's food was quite bland as well. So in summary, you will love everything about this place except the food
(2)Seth O.
Kid friendly. Pet friendly. Great outdoor seating. Inexpensive & fast. My 3 year old and 5 year old were well satisfied with the pork steamy bun: turns out to be the best deal and best nutritional profile food that they've eaten at his whole month at $2.75. Told them it was a donut and they are the whole thing. I had the Szechuan beef noodle soup: excellent Wife had the CPR: chicken potato rice which she says, "I'm enjoying this more than our $150 meal at Rioja". All around, excellent option
(5)Jennifer M.
I am so glad Zoe Ma Ma has a Denver location now - everything here is great! I have not had anything from here in a few years, as the drive to Boulder is a less than exciting prospect for me. I also like the location right next to Union Station, which makes it convenient if you're commuting to downtown by rail/bus. The ginger iced tea is addictive, as are all the little assorted dumplings and dipping sauces. I don't think there is anything they serve that is not delicious. It's also fairly cheap, so you can try a few different things.
(5)Alli D.
Disappointed. $18 for a noodle bowl and tea all that were pretty bland and not much flavor. The duck was just chunks of meat with bones and fat still attached that made it hard to eat without pulling it apart. Not much quality meat and way ridiculously overpriced for how little meat you got. I'm so bummed I definitely wouldn't go back :/ go to a pho place and get more flavor for less than half the price. They say organic and cage free what not so I liked that but they charge you an extra fee on top of tax and don't even tell you unless you read a sign off to the side that explains it. I don't think businesses should ever be allowed to automatically tack on fees to your total without asking your permission. Boo
(2)Mateo G.
Came here for the first time today, found the service and food to be impeccable! Love the dim sum. For my main dish I had the weekend special which was the duck noodle soup. I will def be coming back . The owner Edwin was very welcoming and nice as well, happy to have a new great dim sum place in the union station neighborhood
(5)Cheryl H.
The Wed-Thur special of Lion's Head was delicious, especially with added ginger sauce. It includes a spicy pork meatball, mushrooms, nap cabbage and rice noodles (or rice if you choose). Very very filling and satisfying and $7.95 Tried the pot stickers and found them a bit soggy for my tastes. A great find just off Pearl St.
(5)Damian W.
They started in Boulder now this is their second store. Most Taiwanese restaurant is a hole in the wall. But this one is very nice decorated and spacious. There is only few options. And the one I really looking the Authentic Beef Noodle Soup is only available certain day so is some other dishes. Got the Meat Ball it was very well prepared and came with rice and vegetable. Very simple and good for lunch! Will be back to finally see if this Beef Noodle soup is good or not!
(5)MaMa Z.
The food is amazing, and the location is perfect, i love all the noodles in here
(5)Stephen B.
How did I live in Boulder for 18 months and never try Zoe Ma Ma? No worries, one just opened next to me in Union Station. This could be a mixed blessing as I fear it's going to turn into my surrogate kitchen when I don't have food in my apmt. First of all, the staff is super nice and outgoing. Love the vibe they emit. The owner answered all my questions regarding dietary restrictions. I tried the Lionshead, the Wed & Thurs special, a pork meatball with cabbage in a mushroom broth. I substituted the rice for egg noodles. Fortunately I was the only one in the back so I didn't feel self conscious about drinking the broth from the bowl after I'd crushed the meatball & noodles. Now I know why it's nickname is Yummy Street Food.
(5)Ashley C.
Amazing place and a definite must try! Menu changes up but everything is delicious. I got the Sichuan beef bowl and it tasted just like it did in China. Really cool location as well.
(5)Todd L.
I noticed that they changed their 20% service/sustainability fee to 15% so I'm raising my review by a star. Hopefully they incorporate this fee into the menu prices so everyone knows what they're paying, up front versus after they order.
(2)Wes S.
I absolutely love this place!!! Their hot and sour soup is my favorite of all time. When I lived in Boulder I would always frequent their flagship restaurant. When I moved to Denver it was one of the things I missed most. It was the highlight of my year for them to open a location right by Union Station. Mamma is often in there wearing her signature hat, and if you wish her a hello don't be surprised if she rewards you with a treat. Their food and their story are both so authentic. If you have not tried them yet you are doing yourself a disservice. Hurry in and have a bite to eat, you won't regret it.
(5)Jennifer B.
Best potstickers I've ever tasted. The owner was extremely personable and everyone we encountered was friendly and welcoming. Will definitely come back!
(5)Audrey P.
Very fresh food! Noodles are fantastic. I had vegan dumplings, veg steam bun and vegetarian noodle bowl....this is my new favorite noodle spot, and I've pretty much covered all the dimsum/noodle spots in town.
(5)Scott B.
This is a great little restaurant, with a very authentic Taiwanese taste. I have had the Za Jiang Mian, which is my favorite. The noodles are a great consistency, and takes me back to my travels in China. Love the pork sauce and fresh herbs. I crave this on cold days! On hot days, I go for the Cold Noodles. Super filling for a vegetarian dish, and a wonderful balance of noodles, sauce, veggies and herbs. Other things I recommend are the Iced Coffees, strong and sweetened with sweet milk. The vegan pot stickers are also good, but I prefer mine with pork. The seafood soup special is also really delicious, and fresh. It's not too fancy as far as the dining room goes, you order at the front, and pick it up yourself. Service speed is much improved since opening. I like the way they add in the tip for service. I know a few waitstaff who work in Asian restaurants. Tipping can be a real problem, as many of our lovely foreign visitors, do not understand the way it works here in America. People who work there should have benefits and a decent salary. I wont get into the whole thing, and besides, you can opt out. I just like that it sets a standard, taking the guesswork out. The sesame balls look so good, think I'll try them next, so save one for me!
(4)R M.
Delicious Taiwanese food. It was a delicious change to restaurants that my family frequents.
(3)Haden B.
Reading a few reviews I would have to agree with the majority who feel the food is a little too bland. I'm wondering if they are catering to the masses or something. I did go when they had just opened, so perhaps things have changed. I wouldn't hesitate to give it another shot.
(3)Alisha K.
Delicious bao buns and their Tuesday Sichuan Braised Beef Noodle Bowl is crazy good. The beef melts in your mouth and the pickled vegetables add balance to the rich broth and hearty noodles. So happy they now have a restaurant in Denver and in a prime location!
(5)Eric S.
The food is natural and extremely tasty. You have a choice of dipping sauce plus the hot red sauce. They are quick to take your order at the register and seem friendly. OPT OUT: They tack on a 15% tip without mentioning anything when it's time to pay. I noticed the small sign about their tip policy at the other end of the counter while I was waiting for my order. They say that the tip is used to keep the integrity of the food to keep the ingredients all natural. It's also used for recycling and a few other tidbits to keep the establishment green and natural. You have the option to opt out of the 15% tip. The problem is that the notice is way at the other end of the counter and not at the register where it should be. I know that if I was a business owner, I would put the required payment information where you pay, not where you pick up your food. This caught me by surprise. I usually leave a 20% tip if I get waited on. If I don't, I put my change or a buck in the tip jar. The kicker is that the title to this misplaced notice is "No Tipping" -it should say, we will tack 15% on your order. This just bugs me.
(3)Meena L.
I read some guy's review where he gave a one star review and is complaining about the 20% charge. It's a great concept in my opinion and I think he was overreacting quite a bit. I had no problem finding the explanation of the 20% charge and have no problem spending a couple extra bucks to ensure good quality products and a living wage for employees. The entrees are generally less than $10, so what is that...a $2 charge? Would you not have tipped anyway? I mean, come on. Lets calm down there buddy. Though, I've worked in the restaurant industry much of my life and I have a habit of tipping more usually, so maybe I'm biased. Now that my opinion is out of the way, I really love this food. I work in the area and eat here all the time. The potstickers are really good, and the daily specials are delicious. Tonight I got the lions head special which is a big meatball with rice and veggies and it was delicious, the charge was less than $10 including the CRAZY 20% charge. I really like this place. The end.
(5)Daniel D.
Food is authentic delicious. Welcoming staff. Bao buns: perfectly sweet delicious. Soup of the day with braised beef was outstanding not slaty veggies perfectly crisp. Pot stickers. We're cooked perfectly hardy not slim imitation... Overall I will make this a regular place to eat dim sum or anything else we loved it. Oh best of all great price
(5)Jennifer C.
I saw this on Yelp when searching for good restaurants in the downtown Denver area. From reading the descriptions I hadn't realized it was completely a fast-food style joint. From just walking in and seeing the style (fast-food) and ambiance (know what you want or get out) of the building, my friends and I quickly decided to find another destination for dinner.
(1)Margaret H.
Just had lunch here and it was so delicious! Very quick and friendly service. I saw the owner there as well. I was waiting on a specific item and he was quick to perk up and make sure we got what we were waiting for. I'm sure this will be a regular lunch spot.
(5)Peter C.
This place has solid 4-star food, but I wanted to touch on an issue that other Yelpers are gabbing about: the 15% (not 20% as another reviewer described) "sustainability fee." I, too, in my Sunday daze, ordered the braised beef soup and was taken aback when the cashier told me my total. I asked him if the amount was correct and he pointed to the sign that alerted customers to the additional fee. I thought about it for a second, and not wanting to be a dick, shrugged it off and noddingly approved. Internally, I was confused (likely from being hungover), but I also felt kind of robbed. Granted, robbed in the "crap, I lost some change" sense rather than the "oh shit, someone just relieved my wallet of 2 crisp Benjys" sense, but still, I had that empty feeling. Rewind to 34 minutes before: I'm browsing the web, and early afternoon hunger is starting to set in. I glance at my kitchen counter, scanning it for something worthy of my stomach. Possibly a couple items there, but do I really want to cook (more like prepare) anything? No. hungover = asian noodle soup. Pop the browser over to zoe ma ma to check their menu. Sunday special: braised spicy beef noodle soup. That sounds like a winner to me. Price? $11.79 plus tax. No mention of the "sustainability fee." Final anecdote: Ok, their employees must be happy. They're practically the only business in the 2 mile downtown radius slinging some fine asian noodle soup with all the bells and whistles, hand stretched noodles, and the works. PLUS, they are getting a 15% premium with their "no tipping" business model. Sounds great on paper, eh? Well, I decide to sit outside on their nice patio to bask in the Colorado gloriousness, anxiously awaiting the bowl of medicament. I hear a faint noise that sounds like someone is calling my name. I look around. Nothing. 2 minutes later, I hear the same noise, but this time much louder, and I find the source of the noise behind me holding a piping bowl of soup. And that was my name he called. My eyes lit up with anticipation and I raised my hand to identify myself. He puts the bowl of soup on another table for me to retrieve and walks away. That means I have to walk through the door to get my food (which is sitting on another table mind you), walk halfway across the (long-ish) restaurant to retrieve eating utensils, and go back to my table that is now basking by itself in the Colorado sunshine. So I certainly didn't get my 15% worth of employee happiness and/or service on that one. What is the point of this long-winded tale of soup procurement by some mildly oblivious and cloudy-headed Denverite? Well, basically, that the 15% fee is kind of outlandish, and misleading, and dare I say it, Boulder-esque.
(3)Xylia L.
It's average by the best, the food here is a bit over priced. Not much variety to choose from. I don't understand why it have such high review.
(2)Melvin W.
They force u to tip their staff because they don't pay them well enough. Awful over priced food. I'll never go back.
(1)Doug H.
I'm so excited that Zoe Ma Ma has opened a branch in Denver. Now I don't have to drive to Boulder to get a kickass bowl of Chinese noodles! In many ways, Zoe Ma Ma in Denver is better than the original. First of all, the space is larger so you don't have to wait in a long line to get your order in, and there are a lot more tables to accommodate the clientele, especially larger groups. And the space is gorgeous, with an open kitchen, and an eclectic mix of modern stainless steel styling with asian accented furnishing. It's set up with a bar area and patio as well, so it's really going to be great when the warm weather arrives. The location is perfect, right in the middle of the Union Station development and easy to get to (just as long as you don't need to park). And the food--oh the food--is great, and beats any other asian noodle shop in town,including Uncle. Ma Ma Zoe really exists, and she toils in the kitchen putting out the noodles, bao and dumplings every day. For appetizers we tried a number of bao and dumplings, both vegetarian and porkfilled. They were delicious. We all had various noodles for our entrees. I had the duck noodle soup which was tasty and hearty. The noodles are handmade in the store, so they have the great chewiness of a freshly made noodle and stand up to the hot soup that it sits in. I love the beef noodle soup; as far as I'm concerned that's the best Chinese noodle dish extant (and is authentic as what you would find in a street side shop in Taipei Taiwan). I've even driven all the way up to Boulder in the past just to eat a bowl of those spicy noodles. Unfortunately, on this night, it was not being served. Zoe Ma Ma has a rotating set of noodle specials and they serve these specials only a few days of the week. I also love Lion's Head soup and can't wait to be there on a day when that is being served. You just have to keep coming back until you can experience the whole menu. Ma Ma Zoe really knows what she's doing, and according to her owner-son, she's going to be more hands-on in the Denver restaurant while it's getting up to speed. Lucky us.
(5)Alex M.
Overall, very tasty food. I had the meatball with rice and gravy which was a special for that day. I liked the sauces they put out there for you to self-serve. Inside was very comfortable, as well. I would go back!
(4)Allie S.
Being a dim sum fan I decided to check this place out when I was downtown. Love the decor and the concept of the place. Plenty of room and enough outlets to get some work done. I tried the bao pork bun. While I found the dough to be perfect and definitely freshly made, the pork filling was not that great. I'm used to sweeter and more flavorful pork fillings than this. Otherwise service was great and you could tell everything was being made fresh. Unlike previous readers I really had no issues with the 15% fee as you could tell everything used was of great quality.
(3)Vivien H.
This place is so authentically chinese (Taiwanese influence). Plus no MSG, organic meats, homemade and hand wrapped dumplings, potstickers. Tried two of their specials: beef noodles with pickled veggies. And the Friday/Saturday special of roast duck and wonton noodle soup. Both superb. And the potstickers are a must have each time. $1.25 each so you can get as many or as little you want!
(5)Mai Y.
Having read all the positive reviews on here, I was so excited when we ended up here for dinner tonight but I should have checked out the group of people on here giving this place such a good review. This place was such a disappointment. Everything was bland and flavorless. We paid close to $60 for two adults and two children and I truly regret spending my money here! No matter what sauce you use, they all taste the same. I love heat so when I tried every sauce on the counter and nothing was spicy or had any flavor, I realized why they are downtown where the Asian population isn't very high. The whole time we were there, not a single Asian person was queuing up to get some "authentic" Taiwanese/Szechuan. Who are all you people thinking this is authentic? Just another one of those restaurants that have toned down on their original ethnic cuisines to suit the needs of the white American that cannot handle spice and heat! Ugh, lesson learned! You want some authentic Taiwanese or Szechuan? Head to where their own family and friends would eat there!
(1)Matt D.
Very fresh and tasty. Good variety on the menu. Extremely friendly staff. The sustainability surcharge that replaces any tipping is very employee oriented and progressive.
(5)JJ S.
The only place I missed from Boulder was the amazing Zoe Ma Ma. Now she has opened up a Denver location and I get the fresh, clean, and perfect food without having to go up to Boulder. You cannot go wrong with the food here. If you want authentic, delicious Chinese food go on in. Chances are I will be here stuffing my face. PS Friday and Saturday is Duck Wonton Soup. Don't miss out
(5)Jalmuguh Y.
Doesn't seem to pop with any real flavors. Just slightly underwhelming unfortunately. Really wanted to like it but i guess i'm glad i don't so I can avoid having to deal with parking in LoDo. My opinion is still higher than my friend's who compared Zoe Mama to being just slightly more authentic than Panda Express. Oops. As authentic as Chinese ladies in the back making dumplings may be, the flavors seems diluted a bit- perhaps to make it more palatable for the whiter demographic of the area is my best guess.
(2)Blake W.
I was really hoping for some good food and was disappointed. We got the Sunday duck special, chicken soup, potstickers, and pork buns. The food was overall pretty flavorless and what I would expect for half the cost or less. The chicken soup just tasted like cilantro and ginger. The duck was chewy, cut poorly to include cartilage, lots of soggy skin, and weak broth. The potstickers were made fresh but still didn't have much flavor. The pork bun was good tasting but the dough was so tough and chewy. I was really craving the food offered but wad so disappointed in the end. They serve everything out of plastic bowls. You can get sauce for your soup and dumplings, but the sauce dishes were dirty. I wanted to sit inside but the tables looked like some kindergartners came in, made a mess, and it wasn't cleaned up. Noodles on the floor and tables, sauce all over. I would expect this quality out of a bad hole in the wall place. There were also only two or three menus for people to look at. It also took forever to get the food. My recommendation is to find another place nearby and avoid this one.
(2)Rama W.
Ordered: Sichuan Braised Beef Noodle Soup Vegetarian Noodle Cool Noodle Steam Boa Buns Original Pot Stickers Old School Hot and Sour Soup Best dish out of the six items ordered was the Sichuan Beef Noodle Soup. Spicy, tender beef and rich flavor in the broth. The rest of the items were lackluster and somewhat bland. All we can taste in the hot and sour soup was the white pepper powder. The potstickers were under cooked with the pork filling still slight pink and mushy. Lao Wang Noodle House on Federal still has the best potstickers in Denver. The steam bao buns were good, but the dough was undercooked. Cool noodles were ok but still a little bland with the cool noodle sauce. Great concept but was a little disappointing. Curious if the Boulder restaurant is better.
(2)Rachel C.
Despite going to school up in Boulder, I never got a change to make it in to Zoe Ma Ma to try it. I had always been meaning to stop in, especially after studying abroad in China and missing the food! My friend and I stopped in over the weekend for a quick snack after a run through the city. The best way for me to describe the restaurant is long / narrow. There is booth seating along the set of windows, with a view of the open kitchen. They also have a nice sized patio, that once it warms up will provide a lot more seating and space for patrons. The windows open up and let in a lot of light and fresh air which is perfect for summer. We loved checking out all the Chinese movie posters they had hanging up. In terms of service, everyone was welcoming and friendly. It seems like they cook everything to order (greatly appreciated, of course), but our order came out in a very disjointed manner. I think we stood up three different times to get all of our dishes - why couldn't they just call us when it was all ready, or bring it to the table? As for the food, I am sad to say I wasn't super impressed. We ordered the chillin' veggies, cold noodles, pot stickers, and vegan dumplings. My vegan dumpling came out half open and falling apart. I tried a number of the different sauces expecting a diverse set of flavors, but from the first tastes it was tough to distinguish them from each other. Overall, the dishes we had were good, but not great. If it wasn't a freak 80 degrees out when we visited, I would've ordered the special - I'm sure that would give a better sense of the taste and quality of the food. I'll definitely be back to try the braised beef and/or the roast duck noodles and give Zoe Ma Ma another shot. Until then, I'll be heading down to Federal to get my fix.
(3)Amber C.
Very delicious. We had steamed buns which we very tasty. I had the chicken soup noodle. It wasn't very flavorful but they have a sauce station which has a lot of goodies so I added in some flavorful sauces and yum! Excellent service! The staff is so friendly and the atmosphere is great! Definitely try it! My friend had the Cool Noodles and that was suburb!!
(4)Vickey C.
Came to the United States for 14 years from Taiwan and is really missing authentic Taiwanese food. I finally found a good place and I can't wait to go back to that restaurant again. When we got there, the owner, mama, is actually there cooking in the kitchen instead of stay in Boulder and just have someone else runing this place. You can also see how mama and other chefs prepare our food, which is pretty cool. I got their Sunday special, beef noodles soup and my husband for their off menu special Taiwanese seafood noodle soup. Both noodle soups bases are super authentic. Beef is really nice and tendered, and it may not be spicy enough for a lot of people, but it is just right for me as I don't eat a lot of spicy stuff. The way they serve scallion pancake is different from Taiwanese way. In Taiwan, in most cases, people get one or more 6"piece of pie, sort of like a personal mini pizza, and you usually don't share that. Here in this restaurant, they give you one 6"pie and they cut it into 8 pieces so you can share. As of the taste, it is also a little dry from the standard. I am still happy that this restaurant has it though. We also ordered stream buns and pearl meat balls. Steam buns are general smooth meat buns. Pearl meat balls, however, could be better. Now, the dessert. The restaurant serves goji and raisin sticky rice cake. It is just right amount of sweetness and tackiness of the rice. It is popular among kids and somewhat childish adult like me. I will give this place 4.5 star.
(5)Carrie G.
I stopped in here on my walk home and ordered take out. I ordered the Za Jiang Mian noodle dish, it was amazing and quite affordable. It tasted very fresh and healthy. The staff was very kind and offered advice on what to order for my first time in. My wait was also very short. I would defiantly recommend this place and eat here again.
(4)Melanie B.
Ended up here for lunch today and was super impressed by the quality of the food. Had the vegetable noodles and the vegetarian bun, both of which were outstanding. Outdoor seating made for a nice atmosphere and the multiple sauces available allow you to customize the flavor of your dish once it arrives. I would definitely go back.
(5)Barrett D.
The ingredients were fresh and high quality and I could see this being someone's favorite lunch place - it just wasn't mine.
(3)Denay P.
I ordered the vegan dumpling and the vegetarian noodle bowl. I'm pretty sure they gave me the wrong dumpling--I only took one bite, so I can't speak to that. But the noodle bowl was bland. I'd heard such good things about this place, but this was a disappointment. Maybe they do a better job with their meat-based dishes.
(3)John S.
Very friendly owner and delicious food. My girlfriend left her purse at the table and they made sure to keep it safe. Great customer service. Will be back again.
(5)Alex C.
Very tasty! Ill be back. Speed up the line please. We had the bao and cold noodle bowl. Both dishes were excellent. The ambience is cool as well because it is next to the fountain and train station.
(4)Vesna M.
I ate here 3 times so far. While the food is fresh and well made it is not really authentic Chinese but more of a westernized version. The menu is limited. I did like the atmosphere, casual and funky. I would recommend the steamed dumplings and the noodle dish with minced pork.
(3)Zici L.
Meeeh, not bad but not good either, its convenient like fast food. Had their potstickers, vegan dumpling and hot&sour soup. I need to be super duper hungry to come here again.
(3)Vivian L.
Iced Vietnamese coffee tastes nothing like what it should taste like. Had wayyy too much condensed milk and had no coffee taste in it. Might be because of the bartender. Hope they'll make it better next time.
(3)Zack K.
This place is the real deal. Finally, authentic Chinese food in Downtown. I love that they use organic, natural, and humane ingredient sources. Nice setting, friendly staff.
(5)Savy P.
Delicious food and a cozy environment! Always check the specials and if you have the chance go for the duck soup! I try to get something different each time I visit, and I have never been disappointed. Great good for a decent price.
(5)Brianna T.
I love this place. The food was fresh and tasted amazing. I ordered Lion's Head and ahh it was wonderful. The service was really good too and seeing MaMa doing everything. It's great!!!
(5)H B.
A tasty little shop that's close to work. I stumbled upon it thankfully and have returned already since my first try. I appreciate the freshness; both the food and the look/feel of the restaurant. If you want a warm noodle soup of sorts or some fresh dim sum or rolls then this is the place. Totally sustainable and reasonably priced.
(4)N K.
Food was ok. Server wasn't knowledgable about the menu and unwilling to make alterations for veggie friendly options. Of the dishes we had, 2 were awesome, 2 were ok. We pretty much ordered everything veggie they had.
(3)Joshua H.
The food is GREAT!!! When they have it.... We have been a few times and they are often out of many items on the menu.. They also claim to not accept tips, however they have added on to the bill a "sustainability fee" Uhhhhh I think this is called a tip... I do not like to be forced to tip especially where its a mostly self-serve restaurant. If they figure out how to run in a busy location like union station, keep their kitchen stocked and get rid of the "no tipping" I would give them 5 stars all day long
(3)Tim E.
This place hit the spot, quality food for a price worth it. 4 stars because i only had take out.
(4)Szu C.
Traveling here for a meeting, came across to see this Taiwanese authentic restaurant. The restaurant is very clean and the owner is super friendly. I tried their spicy noodle soup and was delicious just like I had in my hometown, Taiwan. Highly recommended!
(5)Joanne L.
I absolutely love this place. My husband, 2-year old daughter, and I ventured to this new restaurant last night for dinner. We weren't too sure what to expect, but when I walked in and I saw two Chinese grandmas making dumplings in the back, I was sold. We ordered dumplings, za jiang mian, mama's chicken noodle soup, and a hot and sour soup. I liked that you can choose different sauces for the dumplings. Additionally, everything tasted homemade and really fresh. Edwin, the owner, was super friendly. We talked about each other's families, how we each got to Denver, and how the restaurant was created. He even gave us some taro cake his mom made in the back that wasn't on the menu. I completely devoured it. His mom's cooking is fricken good. My absolute favorite thing was mama's chicken noodle soup. It reminded me of my mom's mai fun (rice noodle soup) which made me miss my mom's homecooking. She's in Boston, so I rarely get to eat it. But now, whenever I'm craving my mom's homecooking, I know where to go - Zoe Ma Ma! I know people are complaining about the automatic 15% they charge you, but Edwin knows what he's doing. Rarely do you see a Chinese restaurant that thinks about the real quality of the ingredients - wheat flour...all natural-meats...cage-free eggs...some dishes are even gluten-free. Actually, let me me rephrase that - You don't often see AUTHENTIC Chinese restaurants that think about the real quality of ingredients and thinks about a full-time living wage for its workers too. It's really progressive for Chinese restaurants. But if you're still not into it, you can opt out. So stop complaining. It's good food. I know I'll definitely be back again soon.
(5)Huy P.
Clean, Fast somewhat, Fresh, Great Noodles. This location is good, but boulder is better. However, its new and they still need to work out the kinks. I would recommend it to any wanting to get something Asian in Downtown since there is not that many options for Asian in Downtown.
(4)Nica Z.
I love this place. It's an extremely Cute restaurant, the owner actually introduces himself to you. I think their pot stickers are delicious. I also go in to the coffee shop a lot to get a Vietnamese iced coffee which is also delicious. I would highly recommend it.
(5)Victoria W.
Awesome, yummy Chinese food. Authentic and delicious. I got the duck soup, and it was lianghao!
(5)Terry T.
Excellent food all around. Awesome customer service. Super nice owner. I want this every other day in my belly.
(5)Tyler R.
Duck wonton soup was very good. I only wish they offered a half portion size because the bowl was a bit larger than what I could handle in one sitting. Also I agree with the other yelpers that the sustainability fee should just be baked into the menu costs. We have enough fees we pay for in our lives.. I think restaraunts should avoid this practice as fees usually bring on a negative connotation and food is supposed to be happy. If it wasn't for that I'd probably would have given 5 stars.
(4)Matt B.
Authentic noodle shop. The best food for $10 / plate in the area. The original founder (started in Boulder) has been working here each time I've been in. Everything is fresh and you have lots of options for added sauces to spice it up as you like. SO happy this restaurant has joined the restaurant scene... Fills a HUGE gap of quick, delicious, ethnic food in the area.
(5)Drew F.
Wow. So fresh. I'm a vegetarian and have a hard time finding awesome veggie friendly Asian food. This feels homemade. Vegan dumplings are ridiculous. The noodles are made in house. You have to try this.
(5)Quina F.
Omg so amazing. I've finally found an authentic Taiwanese chinese place!!! I moved here from Southern California and I'm half chinese... I have big expectations. It's really really good. Vegan dumplings and vegetarian noodles awesome!!!
(5)Brian Z.
YES!!! Just learned about this location and I couldn't be more stoked. Finally there's Asian food in the neighborhood i work in. Had the pork bao, chicken curry bao, and pot stickers. Delicious! Can't wait to try the rest of the menu.
(4)Mary R.
So uber delicious! I love this place in boulder and I'm so excited that it's now in Denver. Nommmm.
(5)Nate G.
Got the CPR chicken and pot stickers. Both were absolutely delicious! Did not notice the 20% sustainability fee when I ordered, but now that I know that has little affect on how I feel. The food is delicious, the staff was most gracious and even with the sustainability fee the prices are comparable to all other places in LODO. Very excited to have a new lunch spot near work.
(5)Mengya T.
Super delicious and great service. Veggie dumplings are so good! Duck noodle soup is also super yummy! Will definitely come back:)
(5)Blakely S.
I'm not one to give bad reviews, but I am baffled how most of these people have such raving reviews for this place! Perhaps I just came in on the wrong afternoon? My food was cold, and tasteless. I ordered the chilled vegetables only to get a plate of cabbage drenched in sesame oil! Even worse, this place doesn't even serve beer for me to wash this terrible food down.
(2)michelle c.
First let me just say I've long been a fan of their Boulder restaurant and went as often as I could considering I live in Denver. So I was thrilled when I heard they were moving to Union Station and have gone a few times since they opened in town. I think they are still working out the kinks of opening a new restaurant. I recently went with 2 other people and we all got the za jiang mian (my favorite). It seemed like the proportions in the bowl were pretty different for the 3 of us with one person getting very little of the meat which is a shame. It was always uniformly super tasty in Boulder. A couple of tips to the Zoes: where's the sign? It's been open more than a month and (at least as of last week) there was still no sign with the restaurant's name on it! Also, it's pretty far back from the street (way in the far corner of the Union Station complex), so maybe put out a sidewalk sign closer to the street advertising yummy noodles and buns to help business. It was almost empty on a beautiful Saturday over the lunch hour. I'm not sure I would go for dinner given the brutal parking situation at night; it doesn't make any sense to me to pay 10 dollars to valet park for a 10 dollar bowl of noodles. I really really want this business to succeed, Boulder is a long drive away to get my noodle fix...
(4)Diana K.
They must have just opened because the staff although very friendly were very confused on getting anything done. They didn't have their liquor license yet. I was really looking forward to eating here since I read so many great things about the one in Boulder. However, it was just ok.
(3)Saira R.
Had a great meal -- the noodles with pork were delicious but the standout is the spice bar! Great food, location, and service.
(4)Lisa K.
This place serves Chinese style street food. I have no idea how authentic it is, I've never been to China, but It is delicious. The top reasons we keep coming back: Pot Stickers Za Jiang Mian with homemade noodles Chillin' Veggies Iced Green Tea The menu is small, but there is always a daily special and everything we've tried has been very good. They are also several sauces to go with/on your meal, they are so delicious. Everything is homemade and really high quality ingredients (unlike many Chinese style restaurants). But, we come back for the Pot Stickers and Za Jiang Mian. It's fast casual and prices are very reasonable. Also, the menu really lets you customize. You can try several small dim sum items, get a big yummy bowl of noodles or both, depending how hungry you are. They also have a great patio.
(4)Michelle K.
Ugh so upset I wasted my meal here. Got the chicken noodle soup because they didn't have the beef soup. It was so oily I could barely stomach it. Bland and not a ton of flavor. The glass noodles were such an odd selection for the soup. Do not get. The pork bun was ok. I wouldn't get it again. Shrimp dumplings were also meh. Kind of tasted fishy, not in a good way. Friendly staff, hence 2 stars. Food = 1 star at best.
(2)Aaron W.
Overall this place is good but nothing about quality or price is above average. Can't say it's somewhere I'll frequent. The appetizers came out seconds before the main dish. Potsticker is decent. Really good sauce, ok size but not worth $1.25 for one. Hot sour soup seemed off. Was not hot (spicy) or sour. A little sour aftertaste, but different then what expected. Predominant taste is beef and mushroom? Marinated pork bun (bao) was very good. The plethora of dipping sauces helped. Very good bun though a little spendy. Smooth and slightly elastic outside, moist tasty meaty on the inside. Beef noodle bowl, hmmm. Bok choy is good. Noodles are good but not great. Broth is different then what I was expecting. Very close to the hot sour soup in an odd way. Picked cabbage on top seems out of place, but I admit that I don't like this type of pickled cabbage on it's own.
(3)James S.
Good. My family is from Taiwan and this food is pretty darn close to what we can get there. The prices are a little steep and the portions are small but the taste is big and bold. Worth it. I love how the seating faces union station, people watching is my favorite and this is a great place to don't. The decor is beautiful and the services was great
(4)Missy A.
Great lunch spot when you're craving something warm, savory but healthy. Sichuan beef noodle soup was full of flavor but not overly so. Enjoyed the unique rice pearl dumplings. The sauce station had a selection of delicious condiments- all authentic. NOM!!
(5)Sally H.
Came here based on raving reviews and left here rather disappointed. I honestly wanted to like this place because the concept was rather cool: fast Taiwanese street food brought to you by mama Zoe. However, the food was shy of perfection. My boyfriend and I came here for a Wednesday night date night. I ordered the Wednesday special which was the Lion Head; a saucy pork meatball with shiitake mushroom, napa cabbage, bamboo shoots, and rice. My boyfriend ordered the Za Jiang Mian; a classic northern Chinese noodle dish made with egg noodles, ground pork, and julienne vegetables. We also ordered the crystal shrimp dumplings; which turned out pretty bland. As for the special Lion Head, there was nothing special about it. In fact, there were a few ingredients in the bowl that I had bit into and had to immediately spit out. For instance, the bowl contained large slices of ginger. The ginger slices are so large that I mistaken it for bamboo shoots. It wasn't very pleasant. However, the Za Jiang Mian was good. I wish I had ordered that instead. For the price point Zoe Mama is decent. Furthermore, they do add an additional 15% onto your ticket for service/upkeep of the place so tipping is not necessary.
(3)john W.
At the end of the day, not so much my thing. We went for lunch, i enjoyed what I got (which i barely remember, but i know i didn't hate it), but i wasn't something i find myself craving. The dumplings, i remember being tasty, though the curry one was surprisingly bland. The process of ordering is a bit weird, since you order, get your water or drinks, do up your sauce, then sit or stand waiting for your food. If nothing else, it'd a nice place for an afternoon drink and snack, which you watch Union Station foot traffic
(3)Holly E.
I was very excited to have the chance to try out Zoe Ma Ma for lunch today. I ordered the Thur special and was disappointed it was not very special. But I will say the quality of their food is superb. I ordered - Lion Head $7.95 Ginormous saucy pork meatball served with shitake mushroom, napa cabbage, bamboo shoots and rice. Rice noodle and fresh organic egg noodle available. The meatball was delicious and yes ginormous and plenty of cabbage. However only one little mushroom and bamboo shoots were not included. I ordered it with the rice noodles and they didn't skimp there. And note they use bok choi. I didn't realize bok choi is also called napa cabbage. Initially I thought it was pretty bland until I discovered they have 4-5 sauce options on the counter. My meal and green tea ended up being $12.30 because they include a 15% gratuity. I'm ok with this but will likely skip the $2.50 tea next time. Wasn't too impressive. I say all this but I will be back because my friend's food looked more appealing. And I like simple fresh food and do you know how hard it is to make a meatball that size that is still moist and flavorful? I just hope next time they are more generous with the ingredients.
(2)Angela C.
You can't come to Zoe Ma Ma expecting your typical Chinese fare, because it isn't. I would also say that it is not a traditional dim sum, so if you are looking to gorge yourself on dim sum, go to Asian Super Star or something. Zoe Ma Ma has a select amount of home-style Taiwanese food, and it's pretty delicious. Note: this is TAIWANESE food, not to be confused with THAI food, which is from a different country (Thailand) and has significantly different flavors. I'm sure you can find cheaper Taiwanese somewhere outside downtown or in a Chinatown in a bigger city, but for the location and the quality of food, me and my family left very satisfied. The noodles are organic and homemade, which are an added bonus. We enjoyed the CPR, Beef Noodle, Za Jiang Mian, some potstickers, and sampled a marinated pork steam bun. It was like eating many of the favorite things that my mom might make, and I didn't leave feeling completely bombed with sodium like with a lot of Chinese restaurant food. I think this is where other reviewers felt disappointed about "bland" tastes, but really, most Chinese restaurants probably meet your daily sodium intake in one dish!! The ba bao rice dessert was awesome. Beyond the food, the space is neat and modern, with granite table tops and window-facing counters with stools. The owner was incredibly friendly, and we bonded over our common Taiwanese roots. Wish I could come here all the time.
(5)Heather T.
A friend and I ate here a week ago, neither of us having eating Taiwanese food before. There is a "secret" menu so thankfully I overheard the person before me ordering the scallion pancake or I wouldn't have known of its existence. We ordered our food and the staff was very nice. The food is brought out to your table so you just take a seat and relax. Well first you go to the sauce station and load up on delicious sauces for your dumplings and various other items and then you take a seat. The scallion pancake was the first to come out and it was my favorite of the night. Crispy and salty with just the right amount of onion, this was a home run! Especially with the sauces drizzled over the top. I also got the potsticker which was good but not mind blowing for me, the vegan dumpling which was not a winner for me and a steamed pork bun which I enjoyed. For my main, I got the duck soup noodle soup which was fantastic! I also added some spice and seasoning to take up the heat level. The duck was very flavorful as was the broth. And who doesn't love slurping noodles up? This is the perfect meal for a cold winter night. Our plates were cleared as we finished them and overall this was a really nice evening to spend here!
(5)Rose Y.
I've bed to this restaurant twice, with the first time being more satisfying than the second. We got the special of the day (wonton noodle soup with duck), which would have been good if it had actual wontons. Instead, the wontons were meager (very little meat), and we barely got any bok choy or duck meat. Although the taste was authentic, it was not worth $13. Their regular menu items, however, are well worth it and are filling, authentic, and substantial. Service was fine, given the type of establishment. I would go back, if only to get the regular menu items.
(3)Emily C.
Oh yeah. That's right. FINALLY some good Chinese/Taiwanese food downtown. True, we live near Federal/Alameda where the Chinese is good and the Vietnamese is even better, but when I need my fix downtown, I'm always disappointed. And I don't like to be disappointed. When I lived in Boulder, I worked right around the corner from the Zoe Ma Ma up there. I got used to my Ma Ma fix--it's hard to go cold turkey off of Ma Ma's food, but I did it somehow. Now that she's in Denver, I'm back on the stuff. Every time I've been there, she's working the line--that woman knows how to run a kitchen. Her staff work it. The food here is amazing. And don't let the 15% auto gratuity get you down. Honestly, if you're freaked out by paying extra at a restaurant, that means you probably don't tip. And if you don't tip, you're a lousy human being anyway who has no empathy for the people who serve you, and don't understand the way the service industry works. I WISH it were 20%, because they won't let you add more gratuity, and they deserve 20%. /rant I always go for the za jiang mian with rice noodles. Were I not gluten free, I'd be hitting up the home made organic egg noodles on the daily. The sauces are all incredible. For real. Especially the Sichuan pepper sauce. Oooh, it makes my blood tickle and I like it. The flavors are always so fresh, so crisp and perfect. Yum. The dim sum is super tasty too. Sometimes I come down just to get a couple dim sum bits and smother them in Sichuan pepper sauce. Welcome to Denver, Zoe Ma Ma. I'm over the moon that you're here!
(5)Mark T.
Many, many decades ago, the island of Taiwan was commonly known as Formosa, a term deriving from a Portuguese word meaning "handsome" or "beautiful". Luckily, the Taiwanese (etc.) food served at the downtown branch of Zoe Ma Ma lives up to such lofty praise. Let's begin with a small nibble, shall we? I'm always a sucker for a good Jiaozi (dumpling) and ZMM's are some of the best I've tried in recent memory. These shrimp/pork/chive-packed wonders are of the Guotie (literally, "sticks to the pan") variety - fried on one side first, then steamed to succulence. Speaking of steamed things, their buns (or if you prefer, Bao) are almost as noteworthy as mine (ahem) - the marinated pork (Cha Siu) and curried chicken (Gali Ji) ones stand out in particular as I'm typing this. Zhen Zhu Wan Zi (glutinous rice-dappled pork balls) are another intriguing introduction for you to consider. As luck would have it, these are all so affordably priced, you could even try a few of each in one sitting - and it probably comes as no surprise to hear that I've been known to do precisely that! To continue, how about a little CPR? No, I'm not being presumptuous, so cut that out. Those three little letters actually refer to one of the most comforting creations on offer at ZMM - namely, a chicken and potato stew featuring just a touch of ginger and star anise, with plenty of steamed rice (or even noodles if you're so inclined) to soak it all up. On the lighter side, there's always the cold salad called Liang Ban Mian (egg noodles tossed with bean sprouts and cucumbers) to keep you feeling gratified, yet guilt-free. And depending on which day you visit, you might get to try one of their specials, like Niu Rou Mian (braised Sichuan-style numbing-hot beef with noodles) or even Shi Zi Tou (Shanghainese stewed meatballs, colloquially called "lion's heads" due to their size). It's all ripe for the picking at Zoe Ma Ma.
(4)Garkie Z.
So maybe I went in with too high of expectations but Zoe Ma Ma just didn't wow me the way I had expected it too. I went in and ordered everything that everybody pretty much raves about: -Original Marinated Pork and Curry Chicken Bun -Sichuan Braised Beef Noodle -Za Jiang Mian with Egg Noodle First off, let's talk about pricing. Zoe Ma Ma charges $2.79 PER Steamy Bun... Outrageously expensive when you consider that other authentic Dim Sum Restaurants such as Star Kitchen or Super Star Asian Cuisine charges $2.35 FOR AN ORDER OF THREE. Taste is OK at best. Both buns were good but not even close in terms of flavor to those of other Dim Sum places on Federal. (Sure Federal isn't nearly as swanky as Denver but if you're in it for the food I'd go to Federal any day.) The Sichuan Braised Beef Noodle- one of the highest raved about dishes from Zoe Ma Ma- The beef was quite good but the broth itself however lacked in flavor. The Za Jian Mian is a version of "Chinese Spaghetti" that I just did not care for, again the sauce lacked flavor and overall just tasted like bland beef gravy. Not a win for me. Also they need to find a new way to call customers up for their food cause yelling their name during a busy lunch hour and expecting them to hear it regardless of whether they're inside or out is a little ridiculous- it's called buzzers.
(2)Kabir K.
Not impressed at all. I went with a group of 6 guys. We all ordered right after one another. Each of us ate at different times because the food came out so erratically. For example: we gave our name to go with our order and the girl delivering the food to the tables was so confused it was distracting. After receiving her food she would continually come up to us even when we were done eating trying to give us someone else's order. We were literally about to get up after finishing our meal and she asked A table of six guys: "Maggie?" But the rating is based on service and food. Food took forever and the dumplings were not flavorful at all. The noodle dishes were so flavorless it was almost a joke, my friends didn't touch it after a couple bites. Dumplings were burned, and their meatball dumpling covered in rice was hardened. The whole experience was messy too. Tiny tables yet they decide to give you giant trays. We were spelling our sauce that came in tiny sauce bowls through the holes in the cheap outdoor table. The spoon for the sauces inside were giant while the sauce trays were tiny. People had spilled sauce all over the floor. This place is in such a prime location, yet they fail on so many levels. Sad I had looked forward to it on my trip and it was a huge let down.
(2)Ali N.
Ridiculously good food! The buns are sooooooo good! I want to have 20 in one sitting!
(5)Melanie T.
The owners are super sweet :) The food comes out fast too. I love the noodles. It's filling and not overprice. Happy to try an authentic Taiwanese restaurant Oh and the 15% thing. If you don't want to do it, just opt out. No need to whine about it. But FYI, if you don't have any friends who are waiters/waitresses then shame on you for complaining about workers being paid a fair wage. On a slow night, in restaurants they get paid like $4.00 an hour and tippers can be awful and sit there for two hours socializing and not order.
(5)Lan V.
I really wanted to like Zoe Ma Ma, but overall, the food quality was average. I was excited to try this location when I heard it had opened. I used to go to the Boulder one when I worked near there. I went on a Friday around 11am. It was good timing because right after we ordered, there was a huge line and the lunch rush began. So, if you want to come to this location, make sure to get there early. I ordered the CPR but asked for vegetables instead of the chicken. The bowl consisted of rice, a few potatoes and some green veggies. There was hardly any gravy sauce on the bowl, but some was at the bottom of the bowl soaking the rice. Although the flavor was good, I just wish there was more of the gravy, or more of the veggies. It just felt like something was lacking. Luckily I had read some reviews prior to going and knew to order the scallion pancakes. That is not listed on the menu, however it was quite delicious. I will probably come back to try one of their noodle bowls. Hopefully it will be a little more tasty than the CPR.
(3)Zen T.
I wasn't really too impressed. I got the special which was the braised beef . The beef I'd actually give 5 stars but the noodles were overcooked and there was definitely not enough soup for the dish. Plus the soup I thought was OK. Thank goodness for the sauces which made it better. Oolong tea was great. The cashier did not know the menu well. Also, he welcomed me to an authentic "Chinese" restaurant. Where did Taiwanese come from? OR was that due to his lack of knowledge? The ambiance was great. I thought the decor was very unique, innovative and cool. I MIGHT go back and try something else but maybe not.
(3)Sam F.
Dipped in for the special braised noodle beef soup (sun-tue) sunday at 11:30 am. Pretty quiet, and a big place- hope they can make it work. The dish was amazing, so I can see how an empire could be built on that. At first the broth was so hot I could barely get into it, and I was a tad disappointed in the number of beef chunks, but after the broth dropped about 7 degrees it all melded into an astounding whole. Truly astonishing flavor density in the broth, augmented by the perfectly proportioned quality beef chunks, organic bok choy and haus noodles. The sichuan peppers slid in and around the broth and beef fat to make an revelatory dish. Totally worth the $15 and a special trip. My veggie gal also enjoyed her chilled veggies and vegan bun as well. Next time I will be sure to order the house iced green tea to take it to a whole 'nother level!
(5)Seiji N.
Not a Taiwanese food expert, but everything I had except the potstickers was super bland. If this is what "yummy taiwanese street food" is, then I don't think I want to eat anymore of it. I've had wonton soup several times before, and it was much much better than here. The wonton soup here hardly tasted like anything and was not even worth the space in my stomach it took up. The Lion's head and zi jiang were also bland, but not as bad as the wonton soup. The only thing I found decent were the potstickers, but they weren't even fresh... The customer service was good, the guy working the register was super friendly and helpful. Will I ever come back to ZMM? Nah.
(2)Hannah W.
I'm so happy that Zoe Ma Ma opened in Denver! I first came here out of some friends' recommendation. I always struggle to decide what to get so it's helpful that the menu is really simple. My first time here, a lot of the items I had wanted to try (pearl meat ball and hot & sour soup) ran out so I ended up getting the Steamy bun (bao) with pork and potstickers.The marinated pork in the bun is really flavorful and authentic, I wish I ordered another bun... What I liked about the potstickers were that they were crispy on the side. My friends really enjoyed the CPR and roast duck wonton noodle soup. One thing to note is that some of the items are only served on certain days (e.g. roast duck wonton noodle soups are only available Fri and Sat). Besides the great food, I love the atmosphere. The restaurant has a decent amount of seating and cute Asian décor (tea sets, newspaper design tables, etc.). The waiters and chef are super friendly too. My favorite person in the store has to be Zoe Ma Ma though. Because this store is fairly new, she's been at this store making sure operations are going well. The first time I was here, she gave me a goji rice cake for free and talked to me about her new restaurant and what cool breakfast menus she plans to have. Because I didn't get to try to pearl meat balls my first time, when I went back to the restaurant later that week, she pulled me over and gave me an extra one on the house. She definitely knows how to treat her customers and makes them feel at home! (Although I think the fact that I speak Mandarin helps) This place is tucked in on Wynkoop right on the side of the Union Station. If you're looking for a place for Asian food, definitely give this place a try!
(4)Hanh P.
Taiwanese food in Denver? Originated in Boulder, same menu. Quick casual dining. Order and pick up yourself. Clean and big windows. Nice atmosphere. Great roasted duck wonton noodle soup! $13, but quality duck. Yay for Oolong tea, 1 free refill!!!! Hard to find oolong at restaurants around here. Hope to try the Lion Head someday... Need to see how authentic it is. Great sauces to add to your dishes. Hope they expand to DTC someday... We could use a place like this for lunch.
(4)Josh d.
I think I'm underwhelmed because I grew up eating this stuff... But Ah-Ma's (Grandma!) food was better... Seasoned better, hand made... I remember walking into her kitchen and being assaulted with the smells. That's not to take anything away from Zoe Ma Ma... I like this place... Quite a bit... But it's just SOOO close to what our family makes for us, that the consistency, the texture, the extra pinch of salt, the moisture - Whatever it is, throws it off just enough for me to say "Man... It's so close to being what I remembered and hoped to get..." Zoe Ma Ma is on my regular dining rotation... But... It always leaves me wanting... All that being said, it's easily the most authentic Asian food I've found in the neighborhood.
(3)Mason T.
Good food and nicest grandma there haha. Decent price and also a nice environment to enjoy your food
(5)Sarah W.
Oh yum! After reading about Zoe Ma Ma, I couldn't wait to get over to Union Station and try it. We did a bit of a make shift happy hour and had a few of the buns and dumplings and some beer. Everything was amazing! As a native Californian I am always on the hunt for truly authentic Chinese food, this was as good as it gets. On top of the already yummy food, they have an awesome sauce bar so you can doctor your items up as you like. Finally, you can't beat the price. We grabbed dinner elsewhere later the evening and shelled out some major cash. The whole time I was thinking I would have been much happier and had more money in my wallet if I'd stayed at Zoe Ma Ma for dinner.
(5)Zyle l.
Right by Union Station. For a Saturday, looking for a parking space wasn't too hard. I communicated with staffs in Mandarin. Relatively small menu, but what I ordered- Za Jian Mian is very good! It's authentic and the serving is generous.
(5)Derek L.
Very nice atmosphere. I'm excited to have a place that makes fresh Bao Buns and homemade noodles! A little underwhelmed by the flavors inside the buns. Not sure if they tone down the flavors for the white people down at Union Station. I will go back to try more delicious noodle dishes and eat pork buns, the tastiest of the three choices!
(3)Jinyen Y.
Love love love this place - finally a Chinese restaurant in Downtown Denver! It was so hard trying to decide what to get after being deprived of Chinese food for so long, but I ended up getting the Za Jiang Mian. The sauce was the perfect level of saltiness and the portions were generous. I also had a Green Tea Boba that delighted me and my friend - the tapioca balls in it was the perfect amount of chewiness. The boba is still more expensive than boba in the bay area, but hey, beggars can't be choosers. Note that this place is still pretty slow and food takes 10-15 minutes to be prepared. Also, Zoe Ma Ma automatically charges a 15% "tip" to your bill to account for living wages and better quality ingredients (hopefully).
(4)Jen F.
Initially, the look of the menu threw me off. It looked hand made and cheap. But never judge a book by its cover! The food is amazing. I highly recommend their dumplings and steamy pork buns. The great thing about this place the wide variety of vegetarian options, that are never lacking in flavor. The atmosphere is also nice, and really friendly staff. Also, their bathroom is nicer than most people's home. I won't spoil it, but go look at their awesome decorating skills ^_^
(5)Aaron P.
Supremely disappointed after seeing many positive reviews on food blogs and yelp. By no means am I an expert of Chinese/Taiwanese food but I've had my fair share and this is no where near up to par. Looking past the ethic appeal to this restaurant, the overall flavors were bland and the ones I did taste were prominently soy and ginger (not in a good way). Even all the dipping sauces tasted the the same IMO. I wouldn't label a sauce Szechuan Peppercorns if there is no spice and no Peppercorns. The renowned baos were dry and bland. The rice in the CPR was undercooked and sauce tasted too much ginger and soy once again. The pork noodles were probably the best dish we had but I've had better at other Chinese restaurants. Also I did not appreciate the added 15% sustainability fee that was not noticeable till we walked out while bussing our own dishes. Most likely will not return to this Denver location. Seeing as so many people still like the restaurant I may try the Boulder location in the future.
(1)Taylor F.
Everything here is incredible. The pot stickers changed my life, and the CPR is a MUST. Never had Chinese food this good in my whole life. The staff is always friendly and helpful. The sauces here, don't even get me started. Just go. I love this place. I will say my friend did not enjoy the vegan potstickers. I didn't try them, but their regular potstickers are MIND BLOWING.
(5)Justin K.
I wanted to love this place, truly I did. Their decor is wonderful, their philosophy is progressive, and their service was outstanding. When my dish arrived, I expected for my experience to be complete. Unfortunately, this is where it went downhill. I had the meatball and hot and sour soup. The soup was utterly bland, like thickened water with tofu. The meatball did have flavor - fennel, and lots of it. Overwhelmingly so, in fact, to the point where all other flavored were overwhelmed, and the taste lingered for hours. My wife's food was quite bland as well. So in summary, you will love everything about this place except the food
(2)Jennifer M.
I am so glad Zoe Ma Ma has a Denver location now - everything here is great! I have not had anything from here in a few years, as the drive to Boulder is a less than exciting prospect for me. I also like the location right next to Union Station, which makes it convenient if you're commuting to downtown by rail/bus. The ginger iced tea is addictive, as are all the little assorted dumplings and dipping sauces. I don't think there is anything they serve that is not delicious. It's also fairly cheap, so you can try a few different things.
(5)MaMa Z.
The food is amazing, and the location is perfect, i love all the noodles in here
(5)Ashley C.
Amazing place and a definite must try! Menu changes up but everything is delicious. I got the Sichuan beef bowl and it tasted just like it did in China. Really cool location as well.
(5)Todd L.
I noticed that they changed their 20% service/sustainability fee to 15% so I'm raising my review by a star. Hopefully they incorporate this fee into the menu prices so everyone knows what they're paying, up front versus after they order.
(2)Jin Y.
A very delightful find in downtown Denver. The food is very authentic. Beef noodle soup broth is perfect.
(5)J. Chris H.
Mama cooked us mama rice! Lovely Chinese Asian fusion. Great place next to the train station.
(5)Tony S.
We ordered Take Out.... The pot stickers were awesome and very flavorful! The vegan dumplings were good too. We liked the many options for dipping sauces. But, we would not order the Bao or Za Jiang Mian (Pork Noodles) for Take Out as they did not travel well, and were thick and sticky. Probably better to order those on-premise. It is somewhat challenging to find Zoe Ma Ma as they don't have a proper sign. Look for them tucked behind the Thirsty Lion Pub.
(4)Wes S.
I absolutely love this place!!! Their hot and sour soup is my favorite of all time. When I lived in Boulder I would always frequent their flagship restaurant. When I moved to Denver it was one of the things I missed most. It was the highlight of my year for them to open a location right by Union Station. Mamma is often in there wearing her signature hat, and if you wish her a hello don't be surprised if she rewards you with a treat. Their food and their story are both so authentic. If you have not tried them yet you are doing yourself a disservice. Hurry in and have a bite to eat, you won't regret it.
(5)Audrey P.
Very fresh food! Noodles are fantastic. I had vegan dumplings, veg steam bun and vegetarian noodle bowl....this is my new favorite noodle spot, and I've pretty much covered all the dimsum/noodle spots in town.
(5)Scott B.
This is a great little restaurant, with a very authentic Taiwanese taste. I have had the Za Jiang Mian, which is my favorite. The noodles are a great consistency, and takes me back to my travels in China. Love the pork sauce and fresh herbs. I crave this on cold days! On hot days, I go for the Cold Noodles. Super filling for a vegetarian dish, and a wonderful balance of noodles, sauce, veggies and herbs. Other things I recommend are the Iced Coffees, strong and sweetened with sweet milk. The vegan pot stickers are also good, but I prefer mine with pork. The seafood soup special is also really delicious, and fresh. It's not too fancy as far as the dining room goes, you order at the front, and pick it up yourself. Service speed is much improved since opening. I like the way they add in the tip for service. I know a few waitstaff who work in Asian restaurants. Tipping can be a real problem, as many of our lovely foreign visitors, do not understand the way it works here in America. People who work there should have benefits and a decent salary. I wont get into the whole thing, and besides, you can opt out. I just like that it sets a standard, taking the guesswork out. The sesame balls look so good, think I'll try them next, so save one for me!
(4)R M.
Delicious Taiwanese food. It was a delicious change to restaurants that my family frequents.
(3)Eric S.
The food is natural and extremely tasty. You have a choice of dipping sauce plus the hot red sauce. They are quick to take your order at the register and seem friendly. OPT OUT: They tack on a 15% tip without mentioning anything when it's time to pay. I noticed the small sign about their tip policy at the other end of the counter while I was waiting for my order. They say that the tip is used to keep the integrity of the food to keep the ingredients all natural. It's also used for recycling and a few other tidbits to keep the establishment green and natural. You have the option to opt out of the 15% tip. The problem is that the notice is way at the other end of the counter and not at the register where it should be. I know that if I was a business owner, I would put the required payment information where you pay, not where you pick up your food. This caught me by surprise. I usually leave a 20% tip if I get waited on. If I don't, I put my change or a buck in the tip jar. The kicker is that the title to this misplaced notice is "No Tipping" -it should say, we will tack 15% on your order. This just bugs me.
(3)Peter C.
This place has solid 4-star food, but I wanted to touch on an issue that other Yelpers are gabbing about: the 15% (not 20% as another reviewer described) "sustainability fee." I, too, in my Sunday daze, ordered the braised beef soup and was taken aback when the cashier told me my total. I asked him if the amount was correct and he pointed to the sign that alerted customers to the additional fee. I thought about it for a second, and not wanting to be a dick, shrugged it off and noddingly approved. Internally, I was confused (likely from being hungover), but I also felt kind of robbed. Granted, robbed in the "crap, I lost some change" sense rather than the "oh shit, someone just relieved my wallet of 2 crisp Benjys" sense, but still, I had that empty feeling. Rewind to 34 minutes before: I'm browsing the web, and early afternoon hunger is starting to set in. I glance at my kitchen counter, scanning it for something worthy of my stomach. Possibly a couple items there, but do I really want to cook (more like prepare) anything? No. hungover = asian noodle soup. Pop the browser over to zoe ma ma to check their menu. Sunday special: braised spicy beef noodle soup. That sounds like a winner to me. Price? $11.79 plus tax. No mention of the "sustainability fee." Final anecdote: Ok, their employees must be happy. They're practically the only business in the 2 mile downtown radius slinging some fine asian noodle soup with all the bells and whistles, hand stretched noodles, and the works. PLUS, they are getting a 15% premium with their "no tipping" business model. Sounds great on paper, eh? Well, I decide to sit outside on their nice patio to bask in the Colorado gloriousness, anxiously awaiting the bowl of medicament. I hear a faint noise that sounds like someone is calling my name. I look around. Nothing. 2 minutes later, I hear the same noise, but this time much louder, and I find the source of the noise behind me holding a piping bowl of soup. And that was my name he called. My eyes lit up with anticipation and I raised my hand to identify myself. He puts the bowl of soup on another table for me to retrieve and walks away. That means I have to walk through the door to get my food (which is sitting on another table mind you), walk halfway across the (long-ish) restaurant to retrieve eating utensils, and go back to my table that is now basking by itself in the Colorado sunshine. So I certainly didn't get my 15% worth of employee happiness and/or service on that one. What is the point of this long-winded tale of soup procurement by some mildly oblivious and cloudy-headed Denverite? Well, basically, that the 15% fee is kind of outlandish, and misleading, and dare I say it, Boulder-esque.
(3)Jennifer B.
Best potstickers I've ever tasted. The owner was extremely personable and everyone we encountered was friendly and welcoming. Will definitely come back!
(5)JJ S.
The only place I missed from Boulder was the amazing Zoe Ma Ma. Now she has opened up a Denver location and I get the fresh, clean, and perfect food without having to go up to Boulder. You cannot go wrong with the food here. If you want authentic, delicious Chinese food go on in. Chances are I will be here stuffing my face. PS Friday and Saturday is Duck Wonton Soup. Don't miss out
(5)Matt D.
Very fresh and tasty. Good variety on the menu. Extremely friendly staff. The sustainability surcharge that replaces any tipping is very employee oriented and progressive.
(5)Meena L.
I read some guy's review where he gave a one star review and is complaining about the 20% charge. It's a great concept in my opinion and I think he was overreacting quite a bit. I had no problem finding the explanation of the 20% charge and have no problem spending a couple extra bucks to ensure good quality products and a living wage for employees. The entrees are generally less than $10, so what is that...a $2 charge? Would you not have tipped anyway? I mean, come on. Lets calm down there buddy. Though, I've worked in the restaurant industry much of my life and I have a habit of tipping more usually, so maybe I'm biased. Now that my opinion is out of the way, I really love this food. I work in the area and eat here all the time. The potstickers are really good, and the daily specials are delicious. Tonight I got the lions head special which is a big meatball with rice and veggies and it was delicious, the charge was less than $10 including the CRAZY 20% charge. I really like this place. The end.
(5)Daniel D.
Food is authentic delicious. Welcoming staff. Bao buns: perfectly sweet delicious. Soup of the day with braised beef was outstanding not slaty veggies perfectly crisp. Pot stickers. We're cooked perfectly hardy not slim imitation... Overall I will make this a regular place to eat dim sum or anything else we loved it. Oh best of all great price
(5)Xylia L.
It's average by the best, the food here is a bit over priced. Not much variety to choose from. I don't understand why it have such high review.
(2)Melvin W.
They force u to tip their staff because they don't pay them well enough. Awful over priced food. I'll never go back.
(1)Jennifer C.
I saw this on Yelp when searching for good restaurants in the downtown Denver area. From reading the descriptions I hadn't realized it was completely a fast-food style joint. From just walking in and seeing the style (fast-food) and ambiance (know what you want or get out) of the building, my friends and I quickly decided to find another destination for dinner.
(1)Margaret H.
Just had lunch here and it was so delicious! Very quick and friendly service. I saw the owner there as well. I was waiting on a specific item and he was quick to perk up and make sure we got what we were waiting for. I'm sure this will be a regular lunch spot.
(5)Haden B.
Reading a few reviews I would have to agree with the majority who feel the food is a little too bland. I'm wondering if they are catering to the masses or something. I did go when they had just opened, so perhaps things have changed. I wouldn't hesitate to give it another shot.
(3)Alisha K.
Delicious bao buns and their Tuesday Sichuan Braised Beef Noodle Bowl is crazy good. The beef melts in your mouth and the pickled vegetables add balance to the rich broth and hearty noodles. So happy they now have a restaurant in Denver and in a prime location!
(5)Doug H.
I'm so excited that Zoe Ma Ma has opened a branch in Denver. Now I don't have to drive to Boulder to get a kickass bowl of Chinese noodles! In many ways, Zoe Ma Ma in Denver is better than the original. First of all, the space is larger so you don't have to wait in a long line to get your order in, and there are a lot more tables to accommodate the clientele, especially larger groups. And the space is gorgeous, with an open kitchen, and an eclectic mix of modern stainless steel styling with asian accented furnishing. It's set up with a bar area and patio as well, so it's really going to be great when the warm weather arrives. The location is perfect, right in the middle of the Union Station development and easy to get to (just as long as you don't need to park). And the food--oh the food--is great, and beats any other asian noodle shop in town,including Uncle. Ma Ma Zoe really exists, and she toils in the kitchen putting out the noodles, bao and dumplings every day. For appetizers we tried a number of bao and dumplings, both vegetarian and porkfilled. They were delicious. We all had various noodles for our entrees. I had the duck noodle soup which was tasty and hearty. The noodles are handmade in the store, so they have the great chewiness of a freshly made noodle and stand up to the hot soup that it sits in. I love the beef noodle soup; as far as I'm concerned that's the best Chinese noodle dish extant (and is authentic as what you would find in a street side shop in Taipei Taiwan). I've even driven all the way up to Boulder in the past just to eat a bowl of those spicy noodles. Unfortunately, on this night, it was not being served. Zoe Ma Ma has a rotating set of noodle specials and they serve these specials only a few days of the week. I also love Lion's Head soup and can't wait to be there on a day when that is being served. You just have to keep coming back until you can experience the whole menu. Ma Ma Zoe really knows what she's doing, and according to her owner-son, she's going to be more hands-on in the Denver restaurant while it's getting up to speed. Lucky us.
(5)Alex M.
Overall, very tasty food. I had the meatball with rice and gravy which was a special for that day. I liked the sauces they put out there for you to self-serve. Inside was very comfortable, as well. I would go back!
(4)Mai Y.
Having read all the positive reviews on here, I was so excited when we ended up here for dinner tonight but I should have checked out the group of people on here giving this place such a good review. This place was such a disappointment. Everything was bland and flavorless. We paid close to $60 for two adults and two children and I truly regret spending my money here! No matter what sauce you use, they all taste the same. I love heat so when I tried every sauce on the counter and nothing was spicy or had any flavor, I realized why they are downtown where the Asian population isn't very high. The whole time we were there, not a single Asian person was queuing up to get some "authentic" Taiwanese/Szechuan. Who are all you people thinking this is authentic? Just another one of those restaurants that have toned down on their original ethnic cuisines to suit the needs of the white American that cannot handle spice and heat! Ugh, lesson learned! You want some authentic Taiwanese or Szechuan? Head to where their own family and friends would eat there!
(1)Allie S.
Being a dim sum fan I decided to check this place out when I was downtown. Love the decor and the concept of the place. Plenty of room and enough outlets to get some work done. I tried the bao pork bun. While I found the dough to be perfect and definitely freshly made, the pork filling was not that great. I'm used to sweeter and more flavorful pork fillings than this. Otherwise service was great and you could tell everything was being made fresh. Unlike previous readers I really had no issues with the 15% fee as you could tell everything used was of great quality.
(3)Jalmuguh Y.
Doesn't seem to pop with any real flavors. Just slightly underwhelming unfortunately. Really wanted to like it but i guess i'm glad i don't so I can avoid having to deal with parking in LoDo. My opinion is still higher than my friend's who compared Zoe Mama to being just slightly more authentic than Panda Express. Oops. As authentic as Chinese ladies in the back making dumplings may be, the flavors seems diluted a bit- perhaps to make it more palatable for the whiter demographic of the area is my best guess.
(2)Rama W.
Ordered: Sichuan Braised Beef Noodle Soup Vegetarian Noodle Cool Noodle Steam Boa Buns Original Pot Stickers Old School Hot and Sour Soup Best dish out of the six items ordered was the Sichuan Beef Noodle Soup. Spicy, tender beef and rich flavor in the broth. The rest of the items were lackluster and somewhat bland. All we can taste in the hot and sour soup was the white pepper powder. The potstickers were under cooked with the pork filling still slight pink and mushy. Lao Wang Noodle House on Federal still has the best potstickers in Denver. The steam bao buns were good, but the dough was undercooked. Cool noodles were ok but still a little bland with the cool noodle sauce. Great concept but was a little disappointing. Curious if the Boulder restaurant is better.
(2)Blake W.
I was really hoping for some good food and was disappointed. We got the Sunday duck special, chicken soup, potstickers, and pork buns. The food was overall pretty flavorless and what I would expect for half the cost or less. The chicken soup just tasted like cilantro and ginger. The duck was chewy, cut poorly to include cartilage, lots of soggy skin, and weak broth. The potstickers were made fresh but still didn't have much flavor. The pork bun was good tasting but the dough was so tough and chewy. I was really craving the food offered but wad so disappointed in the end. They serve everything out of plastic bowls. You can get sauce for your soup and dumplings, but the sauce dishes were dirty. I wanted to sit inside but the tables looked like some kindergartners came in, made a mess, and it wasn't cleaned up. Noodles on the floor and tables, sauce all over. I would expect this quality out of a bad hole in the wall place. There were also only two or three menus for people to look at. It also took forever to get the food. My recommendation is to find another place nearby and avoid this one.
(2)Rachel C.
Despite going to school up in Boulder, I never got a change to make it in to Zoe Ma Ma to try it. I had always been meaning to stop in, especially after studying abroad in China and missing the food! My friend and I stopped in over the weekend for a quick snack after a run through the city. The best way for me to describe the restaurant is long / narrow. There is booth seating along the set of windows, with a view of the open kitchen. They also have a nice sized patio, that once it warms up will provide a lot more seating and space for patrons. The windows open up and let in a lot of light and fresh air which is perfect for summer. We loved checking out all the Chinese movie posters they had hanging up. In terms of service, everyone was welcoming and friendly. It seems like they cook everything to order (greatly appreciated, of course), but our order came out in a very disjointed manner. I think we stood up three different times to get all of our dishes - why couldn't they just call us when it was all ready, or bring it to the table? As for the food, I am sad to say I wasn't super impressed. We ordered the chillin' veggies, cold noodles, pot stickers, and vegan dumplings. My vegan dumpling came out half open and falling apart. I tried a number of the different sauces expecting a diverse set of flavors, but from the first tastes it was tough to distinguish them from each other. Overall, the dishes we had were good, but not great. If it wasn't a freak 80 degrees out when we visited, I would've ordered the special - I'm sure that would give a better sense of the taste and quality of the food. I'll definitely be back to try the braised beef and/or the roast duck noodles and give Zoe Ma Ma another shot. Until then, I'll be heading down to Federal to get my fix.
(3)Amber C.
Very delicious. We had steamed buns which we very tasty. I had the chicken soup noodle. It wasn't very flavorful but they have a sauce station which has a lot of goodies so I added in some flavorful sauces and yum! Excellent service! The staff is so friendly and the atmosphere is great! Definitely try it! My friend had the Cool Noodles and that was suburb!!
(4)Vickey C.
Came to the United States for 14 years from Taiwan and is really missing authentic Taiwanese food. I finally found a good place and I can't wait to go back to that restaurant again. When we got there, the owner, mama, is actually there cooking in the kitchen instead of stay in Boulder and just have someone else runing this place. You can also see how mama and other chefs prepare our food, which is pretty cool. I got their Sunday special, beef noodles soup and my husband for their off menu special Taiwanese seafood noodle soup. Both noodle soups bases are super authentic. Beef is really nice and tendered, and it may not be spicy enough for a lot of people, but it is just right for me as I don't eat a lot of spicy stuff. The way they serve scallion pancake is different from Taiwanese way. In Taiwan, in most cases, people get one or more 6"piece of pie, sort of like a personal mini pizza, and you usually don't share that. Here in this restaurant, they give you one 6"pie and they cut it into 8 pieces so you can share. As of the taste, it is also a little dry from the standard. I am still happy that this restaurant has it though. We also ordered stream buns and pearl meat balls. Steam buns are general smooth meat buns. Pearl meat balls, however, could be better. Now, the dessert. The restaurant serves goji and raisin sticky rice cake. It is just right amount of sweetness and tackiness of the rice. It is popular among kids and somewhat childish adult like me. I will give this place 4.5 star.
(5)Carrie G.
I stopped in here on my walk home and ordered take out. I ordered the Za Jiang Mian noodle dish, it was amazing and quite affordable. It tasted very fresh and healthy. The staff was very kind and offered advice on what to order for my first time in. My wait was also very short. I would defiantly recommend this place and eat here again.
(4)Barrett D.
The ingredients were fresh and high quality and I could see this being someone's favorite lunch place - it just wasn't mine.
(3)Melanie B.
Ended up here for lunch today and was super impressed by the quality of the food. Had the vegetable noodles and the vegetarian bun, both of which were outstanding. Outdoor seating made for a nice atmosphere and the multiple sauces available allow you to customize the flavor of your dish once it arrives. I would definitely go back.
(5)John S.
Very friendly owner and delicious food. My girlfriend left her purse at the table and they made sure to keep it safe. Great customer service. Will be back again.
(5)Denay P.
I ordered the vegan dumpling and the vegetarian noodle bowl. I'm pretty sure they gave me the wrong dumpling--I only took one bite, so I can't speak to that. But the noodle bowl was bland. I'd heard such good things about this place, but this was a disappointment. Maybe they do a better job with their meat-based dishes.
(3)Alex C.
Very tasty! Ill be back. Speed up the line please. We had the bao and cold noodle bowl. Both dishes were excellent. The ambience is cool as well because it is next to the fountain and train station.
(4)Vivien H.
This place is so authentically chinese (Taiwanese influence). Plus no MSG, organic meats, homemade and hand wrapped dumplings, potstickers. Tried two of their specials: beef noodles with pickled veggies. And the Friday/Saturday special of roast duck and wonton noodle soup. Both superb. And the potstickers are a must have each time. $1.25 each so you can get as many or as little you want!
(5)Vesna M.
I ate here 3 times so far. While the food is fresh and well made it is not really authentic Chinese but more of a westernized version. The menu is limited. I did like the atmosphere, casual and funky. I would recommend the steamed dumplings and the noodle dish with minced pork.
(3)Zici L.
Meeeh, not bad but not good either, its convenient like fast food. Had their potstickers, vegan dumpling and hot&sour soup. I need to be super duper hungry to come here again.
(3)Vivian L.
Iced Vietnamese coffee tastes nothing like what it should taste like. Had wayyy too much condensed milk and had no coffee taste in it. Might be because of the bartender. Hope they'll make it better next time.
(3)Zack K.
This place is the real deal. Finally, authentic Chinese food in Downtown. I love that they use organic, natural, and humane ingredient sources. Nice setting, friendly staff.
(5)Savy P.
Delicious food and a cozy environment! Always check the specials and if you have the chance go for the duck soup! I try to get something different each time I visit, and I have never been disappointed. Great good for a decent price.
(5)Brianna T.
I love this place. The food was fresh and tasted amazing. I ordered Lion's Head and ahh it was wonderful. The service was really good too and seeing MaMa doing everything. It's great!!!
(5)H B.
A tasty little shop that's close to work. I stumbled upon it thankfully and have returned already since my first try. I appreciate the freshness; both the food and the look/feel of the restaurant. If you want a warm noodle soup of sorts or some fresh dim sum or rolls then this is the place. Totally sustainable and reasonably priced.
(4)N K.
Food was ok. Server wasn't knowledgable about the menu and unwilling to make alterations for veggie friendly options. Of the dishes we had, 2 were awesome, 2 were ok. We pretty much ordered everything veggie they had.
(3)Joshua H.
The food is GREAT!!! When they have it.... We have been a few times and they are often out of many items on the menu.. They also claim to not accept tips, however they have added on to the bill a "sustainability fee" Uhhhhh I think this is called a tip... I do not like to be forced to tip especially where its a mostly self-serve restaurant. If they figure out how to run in a busy location like union station, keep their kitchen stocked and get rid of the "no tipping" I would give them 5 stars all day long
(3)Tim E.
This place hit the spot, quality food for a price worth it. 4 stars because i only had take out.
(4)Szu C.
Traveling here for a meeting, came across to see this Taiwanese authentic restaurant. The restaurant is very clean and the owner is super friendly. I tried their spicy noodle soup and was delicious just like I had in my hometown, Taiwan. Highly recommended!
(5)Matt B.
Authentic noodle shop. The best food for $10 / plate in the area. The original founder (started in Boulder) has been working here each time I've been in. Everything is fresh and you have lots of options for added sauces to spice it up as you like. SO happy this restaurant has joined the restaurant scene... Fills a HUGE gap of quick, delicious, ethnic food in the area.
(5)Drew F.
Wow. So fresh. I'm a vegetarian and have a hard time finding awesome veggie friendly Asian food. This feels homemade. Vegan dumplings are ridiculous. The noodles are made in house. You have to try this.
(5)Quina F.
Omg so amazing. I've finally found an authentic Taiwanese chinese place!!! I moved here from Southern California and I'm half chinese... I have big expectations. It's really really good. Vegan dumplings and vegetarian noodles awesome!!!
(5)Joanne L.
I absolutely love this place. My husband, 2-year old daughter, and I ventured to this new restaurant last night for dinner. We weren't too sure what to expect, but when I walked in and I saw two Chinese grandmas making dumplings in the back, I was sold. We ordered dumplings, za jiang mian, mama's chicken noodle soup, and a hot and sour soup. I liked that you can choose different sauces for the dumplings. Additionally, everything tasted homemade and really fresh. Edwin, the owner, was super friendly. We talked about each other's families, how we each got to Denver, and how the restaurant was created. He even gave us some taro cake his mom made in the back that wasn't on the menu. I completely devoured it. His mom's cooking is fricken good. My absolute favorite thing was mama's chicken noodle soup. It reminded me of my mom's mai fun (rice noodle soup) which made me miss my mom's homecooking. She's in Boston, so I rarely get to eat it. But now, whenever I'm craving my mom's homecooking, I know where to go - Zoe Ma Ma! I know people are complaining about the automatic 15% they charge you, but Edwin knows what he's doing. Rarely do you see a Chinese restaurant that thinks about the real quality of the ingredients - wheat flour...all natural-meats...cage-free eggs...some dishes are even gluten-free. Actually, let me me rephrase that - You don't often see AUTHENTIC Chinese restaurants that think about the real quality of ingredients and thinks about a full-time living wage for its workers too. It's really progressive for Chinese restaurants. But if you're still not into it, you can opt out. So stop complaining. It's good food. I know I'll definitely be back again soon.
(5)Huy P.
Clean, Fast somewhat, Fresh, Great Noodles. This location is good, but boulder is better. However, its new and they still need to work out the kinks. I would recommend it to any wanting to get something Asian in Downtown since there is not that many options for Asian in Downtown.
(4)Nica Z.
I love this place. It's an extremely Cute restaurant, the owner actually introduces himself to you. I think their pot stickers are delicious. I also go in to the coffee shop a lot to get a Vietnamese iced coffee which is also delicious. I would highly recommend it.
(5)Victoria W.
Awesome, yummy Chinese food. Authentic and delicious. I got the duck soup, and it was lianghao!
(5)Tyler R.
Duck wonton soup was very good. I only wish they offered a half portion size because the bowl was a bit larger than what I could handle in one sitting. Also I agree with the other yelpers that the sustainability fee should just be baked into the menu costs. We have enough fees we pay for in our lives.. I think restaraunts should avoid this practice as fees usually bring on a negative connotation and food is supposed to be happy. If it wasn't for that I'd probably would have given 5 stars.
(4)Terry T.
Excellent food all around. Awesome customer service. Super nice owner. I want this every other day in my belly.
(5)Brian Z.
YES!!! Just learned about this location and I couldn't be more stoked. Finally there's Asian food in the neighborhood i work in. Had the pork bao, chicken curry bao, and pot stickers. Delicious! Can't wait to try the rest of the menu.
(4)Mary R.
So uber delicious! I love this place in boulder and I'm so excited that it's now in Denver. Nommmm.
(5)Nate G.
Got the CPR chicken and pot stickers. Both were absolutely delicious! Did not notice the 20% sustainability fee when I ordered, but now that I know that has little affect on how I feel. The food is delicious, the staff was most gracious and even with the sustainability fee the prices are comparable to all other places in LODO. Very excited to have a new lunch spot near work.
(5)Mengya T.
Super delicious and great service. Veggie dumplings are so good! Duck noodle soup is also super yummy! Will definitely come back:)
(5)Blakely S.
I'm not one to give bad reviews, but I am baffled how most of these people have such raving reviews for this place! Perhaps I just came in on the wrong afternoon? My food was cold, and tasteless. I ordered the chilled vegetables only to get a plate of cabbage drenched in sesame oil! Even worse, this place doesn't even serve beer for me to wash this terrible food down.
(2)michelle c.
First let me just say I've long been a fan of their Boulder restaurant and went as often as I could considering I live in Denver. So I was thrilled when I heard they were moving to Union Station and have gone a few times since they opened in town. I think they are still working out the kinks of opening a new restaurant. I recently went with 2 other people and we all got the za jiang mian (my favorite). It seemed like the proportions in the bowl were pretty different for the 3 of us with one person getting very little of the meat which is a shame. It was always uniformly super tasty in Boulder. A couple of tips to the Zoes: where's the sign? It's been open more than a month and (at least as of last week) there was still no sign with the restaurant's name on it! Also, it's pretty far back from the street (way in the far corner of the Union Station complex), so maybe put out a sidewalk sign closer to the street advertising yummy noodles and buns to help business. It was almost empty on a beautiful Saturday over the lunch hour. I'm not sure I would go for dinner given the brutal parking situation at night; it doesn't make any sense to me to pay 10 dollars to valet park for a 10 dollar bowl of noodles. I really really want this business to succeed, Boulder is a long drive away to get my noodle fix...
(4)Diana K.
They must have just opened because the staff although very friendly were very confused on getting anything done. They didn't have their liquor license yet. I was really looking forward to eating here since I read so many great things about the one in Boulder. However, it was just ok.
(3)Saira R.
Had a great meal -- the noodles with pork were delicious but the standout is the spice bar! Great food, location, and service.
(4)Dkoda J.
The food seems to be made with really quality ingredients. The decor is great inside and has a great patio outside at the beautiful train station. The menu is very limited, a couple dim sum items and a couple noodle bowels. They have different bowls avalible depending on the day. When I went in was only one special so only like 5 dishes to choose from. They don't take tips instead charge 15% automatically unless you choose to opt out, which a sign says it supports a lot of things. I didn't really care for the only two drink refils especially for tea and when my ticket was 20$ for only myself. The owner was a man who took my order and was incredibly nice. I highly recommend the pork bun!!! So it's an awesome place to go, just as long as you specifically want one of their noodle bowls and don't mind it's pricy for fast casual but has high quality ingredients.
(4)Whitney W.
Zo Ma Ma in Boulder is one of my absolutely favorite lunch spots. If this new location in Denver is anything like the original, it is sure to be delicious and affordable!
(5)Seth O.
Kid friendly. Pet friendly. Great outdoor seating. Inexpensive & fast. My 3 year old and 5 year old were well satisfied with the pork steamy bun: turns out to be the best deal and best nutritional profile food that they've eaten at his whole month at $2.75. Told them it was a donut and they are the whole thing. I had the Szechuan beef noodle soup: excellent Wife had the CPR: chicken potato rice which she says, "I'm enjoying this more than our $150 meal at Rioja". All around, excellent option
(5)Mateo G.
Came here for the first time today, found the service and food to be impeccable! Love the dim sum. For my main dish I had the weekend special which was the duck noodle soup. I will def be coming back . The owner Edwin was very welcoming and nice as well, happy to have a new great dim sum place in the union station neighborhood
(5)Alli D.
Disappointed. $18 for a noodle bowl and tea all that were pretty bland and not much flavor. The duck was just chunks of meat with bones and fat still attached that made it hard to eat without pulling it apart. Not much quality meat and way ridiculously overpriced for how little meat you got. I'm so bummed I definitely wouldn't go back :/ go to a pho place and get more flavor for less than half the price. They say organic and cage free what not so I liked that but they charge you an extra fee on top of tax and don't even tell you unless you read a sign off to the side that explains it. I don't think businesses should ever be allowed to automatically tack on fees to your total without asking your permission. Boo
(2)Cheryl H.
The Wed-Thur special of Lion's Head was delicious, especially with added ginger sauce. It includes a spicy pork meatball, mushrooms, nap cabbage and rice noodles (or rice if you choose). Very very filling and satisfying and $7.95 Tried the pot stickers and found them a bit soggy for my tastes. A great find just off Pearl St.
(5)Damian W.
They started in Boulder now this is their second store. Most Taiwanese restaurant is a hole in the wall. But this one is very nice decorated and spacious. There is only few options. And the one I really looking the Authentic Beef Noodle Soup is only available certain day so is some other dishes. Got the Meat Ball it was very well prepared and came with rice and vegetable. Very simple and good for lunch! Will be back to finally see if this Beef Noodle soup is good or not!
(5)Stephen B.
How did I live in Boulder for 18 months and never try Zoe Ma Ma? No worries, one just opened next to me in Union Station. This could be a mixed blessing as I fear it's going to turn into my surrogate kitchen when I don't have food in my apmt. First of all, the staff is super nice and outgoing. Love the vibe they emit. The owner answered all my questions regarding dietary restrictions. I tried the Lionshead, the Wed & Thurs special, a pork meatball with cabbage in a mushroom broth. I substituted the rice for egg noodles. Fortunately I was the only one in the back so I didn't feel self conscious about drinking the broth from the bowl after I'd crushed the meatball & noodles. Now I know why it's nickname is Yummy Street Food.
(5)