These restaurants will give you a taste of their culture — without needing a passport.
Australia
For tried-and-true Australian fare — including from-scratch meat, vegetable and dessert pies — head to Waltzing Kangaroo. The meat pie, a fresh-baked, hand-held delicacy is authentic Australian comfort food. From the classic steak and gravy to Thai-green-curry chicken, each pie is rife with slow-cooked, tender meat served in a puff-pastry shell. Try the ever-popular mushy peas and snag an egg-custard tart for dessert, too.
China
Authentic Asian eatery Lu Lu Asian Bistro serves up a variety of Japanese, Chinese and Thai options for dine in or take out. Try the coconut prawns or any of the signature dishes, which highlight true Chinese cuisine. The bento-box options are beloved by the locals for an easy dinner.
Beijing Noodle is the go-to option for rou jia mo, or Chinese hamburgers. A meal common in northwest China, the staple consists of handheld yeast buns stuffed with soy-sauce-braised pork belly and diced green peppers. Other favorites include oil-spill noodles served with spicy garlic and housemade Sichuan sauces, and Henan gravy noodles, a steamed and stir-fried noodle dish common in Henan Province.
Cuba
Babalu’s Cuban Cafe is currently the only Cuban restaurant in Fort Collins, dishing up pastries (you must try the pastelito guava), burritos and Cuban coffee for breakfast, as well as savory Cuban sandwiches, empanadas and arroz con pollo for lunch.
Czechia
Colorado Kolache Company's pillowy, yeast-dough kolaches have sweet and savory fillings with Czech roots. Using a more than century-old recipe, the family-run business has created more than 70 varieties of the treat. Savory options include bacon, egg and cheese to kraut burgers and even sloppy joes, while sweet ones are filled with apricot, blueberry, cherry and strawberry cheesecake.
France
Philippe French Bistro & Bakery in Old Town, serves decadent pastries, desserts and authentic regional French dishes in an unfussy, cheerful atmosphere. The chef serves up French specialties for breakfast, lunch and dinner, including Parisian omelets, pain perdu (sourdough French toast), quiche Lorraine, mussels with homemade fries, steak frites and more. Friday specials change weekly and sell out quickly.
At Le Creperie & French Bakery, everything is baked from scratch the artisan way: without pre-mixed powders, chemicals or preservatives. Nine types of croissants and a gorgeous case of beignets, crepes, pear-almond tarts, cinnamon-nut rolls, gluten-free macarons and more greet you along with French specialties like croque madame and French onion soup.
Japan
Nimo’s Sushi is the only authentic Japanese restaurant in Fort Collins. Its sushi and rolls; high-quality and fresh fish; and friendly, attentive service make it a favorite. The chef posts specials daily, so consider ordering from the board. The Nimo-style sashimi also gets rave reviews. Don’t expect big, Americanized sushi rolls or crazy fish combinations with sugary sauces; this is a true Japanese-sushi experience.
Mexico
With an intention to honor "loved ones lost," Los Muertos Urban Kitchen & Cantina serves favorites from Mexico City. The space is decorated with ofrendas in celebration of the annual Mexican tradition of Dia de los Muertos. The menu features authentic Mexican dishes highlighting flavor and tradition. Don’t miss the pozole (only served on weekends), the moles or the molcajetes. Kids eat free every Wednesday.
Nepal/Tibet/India
The chef at Momos learned the art of dumplings (aka momos) from his Nepalese grandmother and mother. The menu simple: Choose from three types of steamed momos — chicken, pork or veggie — and then choose sesame, tomato or peanut sauce for dipping.
Himalayan Bistro serves authentic Nepalese food that is heavily influenced by Indian and Tibetan cuisine. Start with the dal soup, a healthy lentil soup with imported Himalayan spices, before tucking into coconut curry, saag paneer (spinach cooked with cheese) or chicken tikka masala, chunks of tandoori chicken cooked in a mild onion-tomato sauce and served over basmati rice.
South America
Alfajores, dainty sandwich cookies featuring dulce de leche cradled between two buttery cookies, are considered an emerging food trend by the National Restaurant Association. Thankfully, you can pick them up to go in Fort Collins at Juli y Juan’s Kitchen. They're also available at Persimmon cafe and cocktail lounge.
Thailand
Family-owned Khon Thai serves traditional Thai cuisine with an emphasis on fresh, high-quality ingredients and intense flavors. Favorites include chicken kao-soi, pad prik-khing, Thai fried rice and Thai papaya salad.
Ukraine
After evacuating her home and cooking studio in Kyiv, Tetiana Stratilat is now teaching classes at The Cooking Studio in Old Town. During monthly classes like “Celebrate Ukraine,” the chef teaches students how to make traditional Ukrainian dishes like pampuska, vareniki and borscht, foods that symbolize Ukrainian culture and are often served at family celebrations.
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A version of this article appeared on visitfortcollins.com.