City: Colorado Springs, CO

Category: Restaurants

Telephone: (719) 495-1738

Address: 8850 N. Union Blvd.

Insider Pick:

Description: Hear that crackle? It’s a sizzling seafood combination platter being whisked to your table at Shangri-La. Hot pots and hot plates are a specialty of the house and will get your attention even before you taste the sumptuous dish. This is one of the things that Doug Pua and Ailene Ting brought with them to Shangri-La when they opened it in 2003. Pua, originally from the Philippines, and Ting, who is Taiwanese, met while working at—what else?—a Chinese restaurant. They shared a vision of an upscale Asian restaurant with linen tablecloths, elegant decor, and attentive service. That’s what gained them their reputation and a loyal following. Besides their signature “sizzling” dishes, their most unusual dish probably is the walnut prawns. They’re also famous for their delectable crab Rangoon (stuffed wonton) appetizers, which use real crab. All ingredients here are fresh and of the best quality, and every sauce tastes as if it were designed just for that dish. Add to that a tasteful Chinese decor and outstanding service, and it’s a place you’ll visit again. And if you do, they’ll probably remember you by name!