Restaurants in Lafayette

South Mouth Wings' proclaimed origin story of their wings involves a cave, a perilous quest, and a monstrous Memphis chicken graced with healing powers and the ability to produce untold herds of delicious chickens. Whether sourced from a mythic cave or a farm, however, once the chicken wings are back in Boulder they get doused in one of eight sauces or two dry rubs. Boulder Weekly's correspondent particularly enjoyed the mango habanero, but more sensitive taste buds can gravitate towards a golden honey or a sweet barbecue sauce. The kitchen team prepares four heat levels of classic wings, culminating in the blazing "You Better Not" that just dares diners to consume it, right after they get their tongue off that frozen pole.

The eclectic menu at Rosario’s Restaurant showcases the Italian and Chinese roots of traditional Peruvian cuisine. Chefs stir-fry steaks, for instance, and toss spaghetti with the creamy basil sauce in which Incan emperors traditionally bathed. Meals also incorporate native Peruvian veggies such as potatoes and aji peppers, as well as beverages such as imported Inca Cola, a popular Peruvian drink.

With a menu comprised only of two sections—'before tacos' and 'tacos'—T/aco's chef Matt Collier understands the power of the white-glove approach. In a recent interview, he divulged to Thrillist that each tortilla, like everything else on the restaurant's menu, is handmade. Harnessing a diverse culinary palette of fresh herbs and ingredients to craft bold flavors, Chef Matt and his team top their braised pork belly, Ahi tuna, and veggie tacos with such gourmet fixings as poblano crema, queso cotija, and chayote-squash salsa. To add a touch of diversity to their taco-heavy menu, they whip up fresh ceviches and guacamole with housemade chips. T/aco's bartenders have also honed an all-important craft. They mix smoky and fruity margaritas with 25 reposado, anejo, and blanco tequilas—one for each year an American must live before she can eat tacos in the US House of Representatives.

Jax Asian Grill's chefs blend pan-Asian influences into a vivid spectrum of fusion fare that includes noodles, spice-rubbed meat, and sushi. In addition to cooking aromatic curries, chefs serve marinated steak in housemade oyster sauce and coat seared scallops with a secret blend of Asian spices. Fire leaps from the kitchen's woks as chefs heat oil for stir-fries or toss spicy peddler’s noodles in chili-oil sauce. Expressive paintings hang throughout the dining room, accented by burnt ocher hues. On Fridays, live music plays during happy hour as patrons sip cocktails or savor the medley of flavors on their plates.

Udon Kaisha's chefs prepare traditional noodle dishes that have been an everyday staple of Japanese life since 206 BC. Spicy morsels of pork, peppers, shrimp, and tofu mingle with udon noodles in salty broths or nestle inside knots of ramen noodles in tangy, sweet soup bases. Authentic yakitori skewers and mussel appetizers prime stomachs for the meal ahead, and dishes of deep-fried bananas and green-tea ice cream silence the final echoes of rumbling bellies. The chefs also prepare servings of grilled salmon and teriyaki beef and fashion flavorful sushi rolls for those with allergies to heat.

1950s ephemera decorate Gunther Toody's eight Colorado locations, lending an extra boost of Americana to plates of classic diner food such as burgers and meatloaf. The menu even draws its inspiration from American pop culture of yore, with Elvis fries, burgers named for Howdy Doody, and Big Bopper breakfasts served on platters of chantilly lace. Classic ice-cream treats including shakes, malteds, and black cows help lead each meal to a suitably sweet conclusion.