Odd Rabbit's small plates bring big flavor
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The salmon, scallop and short rib aburi at Odd Rabbit. Photo: Mitchell Byars/Axios Boulder
Japanese restaurant Odd Rabbit is now open in east Boulder, turning months of anticipation surrounding a Michelin-recognized couple into a reality.
Driving the news: Christopher and Ariana Teigland, the husband-wife team behind Denver's Glo Noodle House, opened Odd Rabbit on April 30 at 5863 Arapahoe Ave.
The big picture: They tapped sushi chef Stephen Nguyen, whose résumé includes Denver's Temaki Den and Uncle, to craft a menu heavy on inventive nigiri, hand rolls and Instagrammable small plates.
Best bites: Try the aburi nigiri, where toppings are lightly torched for a nice smoky flavor that preserves the natural taste of the fish and meat.
- The hand rolls and crispy rice dishes were also standouts. We went with the snow crab and hamachi hand rolls and the spicy salmon crispy rice — with a Tabasco masago that added a nice kick and texture mix.
- The hand rolls and nigiri are $6-$8 each.
🗯️ My thought bubble: The scallop, short rib and toro aburi were our favorites — best described as "melt-in-your-mouth" treats.
Zoom out: Odd Rabbit isn't just Glo Noodle 2.0, though ramen still earns a space in the spotlight. The spicy shoyu ramen comes topped with rabbit confit — and, apparently, I'm into rabbit now.
- The ramen dishes are all about $20.
Dig in: Small plates are the move, but if at some point you're feeling famished, entrée-sized options like a pork steak and fried snapper are there.
- And while we ran out of steam before dessert, the photos of the mochi churro already have me looking forward to a return trip.
Pro tip: Parking is still tight as the restaurant works with the property on additional options. Fortunately, there's a bus stop and bike path right outside.
If you go: Reservations are highly recommended.
- 4-9pm Monday-Thursday
- 4-10pm Friday-Saturday
- Closed Sunday
What's next: Odd Rabbit expects to open its patio this summer, adding more seating as word continues to spread.