Asian Restaurants in Crested Butte

Crested Butte is an adorable mountain town which has quite a few excellent restaurants. As always, when my husband goes on a snowboarding trip, I usually accompany him and do my own thing. That means I’ll be shopping, visiting art galleries and enjoying a yummy lunch somewhere, while he “shoots and shreds.” That’s his term for taking photographs on the slopes, while he rides. Wherever I travel, I often search out the Best Asian Restaurants. My Crested Butte picks are Thai Chili 78 and Ryce Asian Bistro. Both eateries are located on the main thoroughfare in town called Elk Avenue. See below for links to additional restaurant reviews.

Asian Restaurants in Crested Butte

Thai Chili 78

While Rich was off riding Crested Butte mountain all day, I decided to have lunch at a popular restaurant called Thai Chili 78. The menu offered a large selection which listed certain foods as vegan (VG) or gluten free (GVO). I think this is great…especially in a little hidden gem town like CB.

After choosing a sunny table inside the dining room, I was toasty enough to order a Thai iced tea. It hit the spot. It was creamy and delicious. I wasted no time selecting my food. When I find myself dining without my husband who is a big meat eater, I tend to opt for veggie items. So, I chose Drunken Noodles with Veggies (stir-fried large rice noodles with eggs, garlic, bamboos, onions, broccoli, bell peppers, and basil); The noodles were both soft and chewy, with a lingering savory Thai basil aftertaste – yum! The veggies were tender with a bit of crunch, just the way vegetables should be cooked.

Asian Restaurants in Crested Butte — *Drunken Noodles with Veggies; Photo by Kathy Leonardo*

Be aware, Thai Chili 78 has several locations in Colorado. Thai Chili 78, 425 Elk Ave, Crested Butte, CO 81224; https://www.thaichilicrestedbutte.com /

Ryce Asian Bistro

Another restaurant located on Elk Avenue is Ryce Asian Bistro. The place was bustling, when my husband and I arrived. I enjoyed a lovely red (Line 39 Pinot Noir, CA), while we both explored the menu. It offered notes of dried flowers with dark berry and a tinge of vanilla. In addition to featuring typical Americanized Asian items, the menu also featured some Thai curries as well as Vietnamese Noodle Bowls.

We ended up ordering two dishes. Both were delicious. The Orange Chicken (zesty orange skins and broccoli in a mildly spicy sweet sauce) had the delicate crunch one always hopes for, and the broccoli was cooked properly as well. The Basil Shrimp (Marinated shrimp and fresh vegetables stir fried with a spicy basil sauce) was excellent. The sauce sported both spice as well as a bit of sweetness which unified the dish. Plus, the shrimp were perfectly cooked – I might add.

I was quite happy with the meal. However, the service seemed rushed. It felt like they were looking to turn tables quickly. Let your tastebuds decide. Ryce Asian Bistro, 120 Elk Ave Unit B, Crested Butte, CO, 81224; https://www.ryceasianbistro.com

Enjoy these two Asian options in addition to the shops on Elk Avenue and that cute little town of Crested Butte.

While this article is more of an ETG Staff Pick, I officially reviewed a few other eateries – The Slogar Bar & Restaurant, a family style eatery known for its Fried Chicken, as well as The Secret Stash, a casual fun pizza joint.

Check our Locations Page to see more info about Colorado. Read more Crested Butte Co Articles HERE.