Meet Chef/Owner Lon Symensma
Learn more!
The Man Behind ChoLon...
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Chef Lon has an impressive level of experience that helped him bring ChoLon to Denver. Before moving to Denver, he spent over a decade in New York City honing his culinary skills. For three years, he worked under acclaimed Chef Jean-Georges Vongerichten at his flagship restaurant. He even traveled to China to participate in the opening of Jean-Georges in Shanghai! He then went back to New York City to open Jean-Georges’ revolutionary Southeast Asian restaurant, Spice Market.
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Implementing a variety of cooking techniques and ingredients from his travels around China and Southeast Asia, Lon spent five years as the Executive Chef of the iconic Buddakan in NYC. During that time, Buddakan became the fifth highest-grossing restaurant in the country and earned a coveted two stars from the New York Times.
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Upon relocating to Denver, Lon opened ChoLon Downtown, with a menu featuring inspired interpretations of traditional dishes found across the exotic Far East. From dim sum ("small bites”) to creative wok dishes, authentic flavors capture a unique twist for the modern palate.
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What are you waiting for? Visit ChoLon today and taste for yourself! You're sure to tell just how experienced and inspired Chef Lon is!
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ABOUT US
ChoLon translates to “big market” in Vietnamese and is named after the largest Chinese-influenced market in Saigon. It also includes Executive Chef/Owner Lon Symensma’s first name, so after his extensive culinary travels across Asia, it “felt right” to open ChoLon in 2010 in Denver.
You’ll notice ChoLon’s menu plays on interpretations of traditional dishes found across the Far East, combined with slight nods to Lon’s classical European training. For example, French onion soup is not usually found inside of a hand-pleated Chinese dumpling, but you’ll experience whimsical dishes like this across our menu.
Get In Touch With Us
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10195 E 29th Dr #140
Denver, CO, 80238
(720) 550-6934 | Get Directions
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1555 Blake St #101
Denver, CO, 80202
(303) 353-5223 | Get Directions