MAKfam, the Michelin-recognized Chinese restaurant from chef Kenneth Wan and co-owner Doris Yuen, is gearing up for a sequel in Denver's River North (RiNo) Art District. The second location will be larger than the original Baker spot, giving the team room for a full bar, a bigger kitchen and an expanded menu while keeping the high-energy vibe that turned their first restaurant into a neighborhood staple.
According to the Denver Business Journal, Wan and Yuen have locked in the RiNo site and shared an early look at the menu for the expanded dining room. The outlet reports that the new outpost will be larger than the Baker original, which will allow more seats per shift, along with a broader beverage program.
What To Expect Inside
Westword reports that the RiNo location will feature a full bar, a larger kitchen, and more room for table service. Those changes should let the kitchen experiment with larger-format dishes while the bar team plays with new cocktails. Nation's Restaurant News quoted Yuen saying, “We do know that we need to expand to a bigger space, because we outgrew this space the first week we opened,” underscoring why the owners are moving to a bigger footprint.
From Baker To RiNo: Why It Matters
MAKfam's Baker location has been a breakout success: ColoradoBiz reported the team pulled in roughly $2.1 million in 2024, and Denver Business Journal notes the restaurant logged about 27% revenue growth in 2025. The MICHELIN Guide added MAKfam to its Bib Gourmand roster in 2024, and local coverage points to signature dishes such as corned beef fried rice and málà wings as reasons the restaurant outgrew its first space, per Eater Denver.
Timeline And Neighborhood Fit
Visit Denver lists MAKfam's second location as expected to open in the last quarter of 2026 in RiNo, which gives the team time to finish permitting and a full build-out. With its mix of galleries, music venues, and steady evening foot traffic, the neighborhood lines up neatly with a concept that is leaning into larger dinners and a fuller cocktail program, a trend traced in local coverage of recent expansions per Westword.
The Baker restaurant remains at 39 W. 1st Ave., where longtime fans have made a habit of lining up for MAKfam's signature plates, per Eater Denver. Expect more details, including a firm opening date, a full bar menu, and reservation info, as the team finalizes permits and the build-out later this year.
