Noodle Express, the compact Szechuan takeout spot tucked along South Colorado Boulevard, is closing at the end of May, and this time it is for good. The owners say they will retire rather than relocate after the landlord reclaimed their standalone building for a larger redevelopment. That gives loyal regulars only a few more weeks to snag house staples like dan dan noodles, chong qing chicken, and spicy boiled fish.
According to Westword, a sign on the restaurant's door explains that King Soopers is taking back the property to rebuild the site for housing, and a call to the shop confirmed there was no chance of renegotiating the lease. Westword reports that Noodle Express opened in February 2020 and has already survived earlier lease scares when diners rallied and packed the place. The outlet also notes that neighboring Osaka Sushi, which shares the same building, has not set a final closing date but will likely feel the impact of the upcoming redevelopment.
How Noodle Express Helped Spice Up Denver's Szechuan Map
Noodle Express has been flagged by local food guides as one of the few spots on the east side serving bold Sichuan cooking. As detailed by 5280, truly authentic Szechuan options remain relatively sparse across the metro area, which helps explain the strong turnout from supporters whenever the shop faced earlier closure threats. That scarcity turns the loss of this small counter-service kitchen into a story that stretches beyond Belcaro's parking lot.
Owners Opt To Retire As Osaka Sushi Faces Uncertain Future
Westword reports that the owners plan to retire and do not intend to reopen at a new location, which makes this a permanent goodbye for the Belcaro storefront. The outlet lists current operating hours as 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Wednesday through Sunday through late May and directs readers to the restaurant's online ordering page on Qmenu while it is still serving. Westword also urges diners to stop by both Noodle Express and the neighboring Osaka Sushi before redevelopment work starts.
Anyone craving one last bowl might want to plan and be ready for lines in the final weeks. For those looking to fill the Szechuan-sized hole that Noodle Express will leave, local guides point to Sunflower Cafe, Szechuan Tasty House and Wok Spicy as other reliable Sichuan options around Denver, according to 5280. Noodle Express's run is a reminder that behind the bland language of redevelopment and lease churn is a steady reshaping of where and how Denver neighborhoods eat.
