There are times when Happy Noodle House gets lost against its adjoining—and excellent—Bitter Bar. But thanks to Happy's enticing fall menu, the two entities now work in harmony.

Begin with the mildly spicy fried shishito peppers or the addictive fried Brussels sprout leaves with togarashi and sea salt. Then, order a Cider Bulleit cocktail—with Bulleit bourbon and an apple-cider ice cube—and pair it with the comforting butternut squash soup, made with curry-spiced apples, candied walnuts, and coconut milk, then crowned with fresh arugula.

Next, add a griddled pork bun with green Sriracha aïoli (great with the house-made pickle sampler), and finish with an ice-cream sandwich cradled by two warm, freshly baked ginger cookies.

Cap off the evening with a Yin Yang digestif cocktail with Fernet Branca and Domaine de Canton ginger liqueur, or a hot Vietnamese coffee with Allegro mocha java and sweetened condensed milk.

Tip:  In the mood for beer? Stop by for Happy Time (4 to 6 p.m. daily). For the first 30 minutes, pork banh mi is served with Chang beer for only $5.

835 Walnut St., Boulder, 303-442-3050