Why is it that so many great ethnic restaurants are tucked into strip malls? From the outside, Japon, which has a reputation as the best sushi restaurant in Denver, looks like a dull storefront. But inside this colorful restaurant, the sea urchin, calamari steak, teriyaki chicken, and homemade soy sauce pack in the crowds as tightly as the avocado, crab, and seven types of raw fish are packed into the Hawaiian rolls. The owner, who is usually behind the bar, keeps a watchful eye on the fast, friendly service. Taste, taste, taste—but don’t fill up until you top it all off with a slice of mango cheesecake.

Japon Restaurant Information:

• Japanese menu. Lunch, dinner. Closed July 4, Thanksgiving, Dec 25.