Ma’s Kitchen, the dim sum-and-noodle spot on East Colfax, is about to get a serious upgrade. The restaurant is expanding into the storefront next door and splitting into two connected concepts. The new, larger room will become Ma’s Kitchen: Dim Sum, Noodles & Bar, a moodier, evening-focused hangout, while the original space will turn into Ma’s Kitchen | Next Door, geared toward quick bites and takeout. The expanded side will feature a bigger dim sum menu and a full cocktail program, with the revamp expected to start rolling out in mid‑February 2026.
According to Westword, brothers Xi Nuan Zheng and Xi Yong Zheng are taking over the adjacent storefront that previously housed Okinawa, which closed around the end of 2025. The reimagined space is set to layer in expanded dim sum selections, an Asian-fusion menu, and a bar program headed by Alisha Taylor, formerly of the Devil’s Drink. Westword notes that Ma’s Kitchen: Dim Sum, Noodles & Bar is slated to operate weekdays from 3 p.m. to 10 p.m., with a 3–6 p.m. happy hour, and weekend lunch and dinner from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., with plans to stay open later on summer weekends.
Two Connected Rooms For Different Occasions
The current storefront is set to transform into Ma’s Kitchen | Next Door, a “streamlined, casual model focused on quick bites, takeout, and grab‑and‑go favorites,” according to a press release cited by Westword. The idea is to handle fast midday traffic on one side while reserving the new room for slower, linger-a-while evenings. The redesign will also feature a custom mural by Chelsea Lewinski, created to honor the family’s story and the surrounding neighborhood.
Reinvestment Amid Colfax Change
As Denver7 reports, chef Xi Nuan Zheng views the expansion as a way to reinvest in the East Colfax corridor at the same time the city’s East Colfax BRT project is reshaping how people move through the area. Zheng told Denver7 that the family is hoping the larger footprint will help build more consistent foot traffic on the block and carry forward the area’s dining legacy. The brothers also bring deep roots to the stretch, since Xi Yong operated Okinawa in the neighboring space for more than a decade.
What To Expect When It Opens
Ma’s Kitchen opened in late 2025 at 1514 York Street and has already earned attention for its handmade dumplings and noodle dishes, according to Naked Denver. With an added dining room and a dedicated bar in the mix, the owners say they will be able to cover more of the day, from grab-and-go lunches to late-night plates. The new layout and menu are expected to roll out in phases after the mid‑February debut, with details on reservations to follow once the refreshed space is ready.
