Ramen Weather Is Here: Why Denma Sushi & Ramen Belongs on Your Fall List |
Ramen weather is here. Meet Denma Sushi & Ramen near Park Meadows, where chef-owner Sean Hwang serves sushi, a signature ramen and homemade Asian tapas. |
Late October in Centennial has a way of rearranging dinner plans. The mornings turn crisp, the light fades earlier, and suddenly a cold salad sounds a lot less appealing than a steaming bowl of broth and noodles. If ramen weather has arrived at your house, here's a local name worth knowing: Denma Sushi & Ramen.
A chef-owner with deep roots in Japanese cooking
Denma's website introduces Owner and Head Chef Sean Hwang, who has more than 19 years of experience in Japanese culinary arts. According to the restaurant, he trained and worked in Southern California and Colorado. The site sums up the kitchen's mission plainly: authentic Japanese cuisine.
That background matters because Denma covers a lot of ground. Sushi and ramen are different disciplines. One leans on knife work, rice and restraint. The other depends on patient broth-making and noodle texture. A chef-owner with nearly two decades in Japanese cooking makes a two-sided menu like this one worth exploring.
What's on the table
The Centennial Pulse Eat Local listing says Denma serves sushi and sashimi, a signature ramen and homemade Asian tapas. It also lists a drink menu with sake, wine and beer.
That range is handy on a chilly evening when the group can't agree. One person can go all-in on a bowl, another can build a sushi spread, and the table can share a few small plates. A warm bowl and a pour of sake also make a fairly convincing case for a weeknight out.
A quick ramen refresher
If you're newer to ramen, a little vocabulary goes a long way. Japanese ramen is often grouped by its broth seasoning. Shoyu (soy sauce), shio (salt) and miso are the classic trio. Tonkotsu refers to a rich, cloudy broth made from pork bones. Common toppings include sliced chashu pork, a marinated soft-boiled egg, nori and scallions.
A "signature" ramen is a house creation, so the best move is to ask your server what goes into Denma's version and order from there. And yes, slurping is considered perfectly polite in Japan, and it cools the noodles on the way in.
Easy to work into a weekend
Denma is near IKEA and Park Meadows mall, which makes it a natural stop if you're running errands on that stretch as holiday shopping picks up. A bowl of noodles after a few hours of comparing bookshelves or crossing gifts off a list sounds like a reasonable reward.
Before you head over
Restaurant hours and menus change, so check Denma's website before you go. It's the most reliable place to see what the kitchen is serving right now.
Ramen fans, we're curious: When the first real cold snap hits Centennial, what's your go-to bowl, and which topping do you always add? |
34 Comments
Join the conversation
Shio broth gets overlooked but it’s probably my favorite. Hope Denma does a good one!
Thanks for highlighting shio broth, it really does offer a unique, delicate flavor. Denma’s kitchen prides itself on authenticity, so here’s hoping their shio lives up to expectations!
Really appreciate mention to check their site first. I showed up last year and hours were different than Google said.
Denma’s ramen is solid but the sushi is the real star imo. Try the spicy tuna roll if you go!
Great tip! Their sushi selection definitely gets high marks, and the spicy tuna roll is always a crowd-pleaser.
Love that they make both sushi and ramen. Means my pescatarian friend and my meat-loving dad are both happy.
What kind of Asian tapas do they serve? Curious about small plates and not just sushi.
Denma serves up Asian tapas like gyoza, takoyaki, and a few rotating small plates, these make great starters or shared bites alongside ramen or sushi.
We usually do pho, but will give Denma ramen a try next cold snap. Thanks for the tip!
Sheri.hSame here, pho has always been my winter go-to. Let us know what you think of Denma’s ramen if you try it!
Real Japanese ramen is hard to find in this area. Happy to have a spot with a chef-owner.
Is it weird to say I judge ramen by the marinated egg? If Denma nails that, I’m loyal for life.
Not weird at all, the marinated egg (ajitsuke tamago) is a key ramen component for many! Denma takes care with its toppings, so it’s a worthy test.
A bowl of ramen after a long shopping day is the ultimate comfort. Adding Denma to the weekend plans.
That sounds like a perfect combo! Enjoy your visit, and a warm bowl is a well-earned reward after any shopping marathon.
I love when places list what’s actually in their signature bowls. Makes ordering way easier.
Curious how their sushi compares to Sakura inside the mall. Anyone try both?
Tried Denma on a rainy night, and wow. The ramen hit the spot and my friend swears by their sake list.
If the ramen is homemade, that’s a step above most spots. Broth makes all the difference.
Do they have good options for kids? Trying to get my son into Japanese food but he’s picky.
I drive past that area all the time and never noticed Denma. Will stop in next Target run for lunch.
Nearly 20 years of experience means the chef knows what’s up. Sushi and ramen under one roof, yes please!
We couldn’t agree more, Chef Hwang’s experience brings depth to both sides of the menu, making it a true destination for ramen and sushi lovers alike.
I’m not brave enough for sashimi but tapas and noodles sound doable. Is the place casual or fancy?
Shoyu ramen with a boiled egg is my favorite. Hope they offer extra nori. That’s my must-have topping.
We always get hungry after IKEA. Glad to have a local ramen place instead of just hitting fast food.
Wonder if they have tonkotsu on the menu. That pork bone broth warms you up like nothing else.
Slurping is polite? Guess I’ve been doing it right all along, haha. Now in the mood for ramen.
We went last month! Their miso ramen is awesome, and my daughter loved the gyoza. Friendly staff too.
Thanks so much for sharing your experience! We love hearing that both the ramen and gyoza hit the spot, and the staff made it memorable, too.
Always appreciate a place with solid sake options. Sushi, small plates and good drinks, sounds like my kind of dinner.
Anyone know if Denma does vegetarian ramen? My wife doesn't eat meat but loves noodle soups.
That’s a great question, Denma does offer vegetarian ramen options, so your wife should have something tasty to choose from. Just ask the kitchen for details on the current menu.
Miso broth with chashu pork is how I survive Colorado winters. Denma being so close to Park Meadows is convenient. Might pop in after school pickup this week.