A rumor about a secret Chinese menu propelled me through the door of the new Yurihana Sushi Bar and Pan-Asian Cuisine, located in the Gunbarrel Shopping Center just north of Boulder. Once seated, each customer is handed the standard menu, but to get in on the secret, ask for the Chinese-food version.

The special menu is organized by six distinct Chinese regions, allowing you to sample from each. An order of the boiled pork dumplings, served with two dipping sauces, was a delicious start, but it was the beef noodle soup that got my mouth watering: tender chunks of beef, slivers of fresh ginger, scallions, and red chili peppers are bathed in a deeply savory broth and served with egg noodles.

From there, I explored the standard menu, an extensive listing of pan-Asian options. Flavor and freshness were at the heart of each dish: peanut chicken kung pao with crispy pea pods, celery, and red pepper; Hunan tofu in a brown sauce; and a perfectly balanced Thai green curry with chicken, onion, bell pepper, potato, and zucchini.

There's no doubt I'll be returning to work my way through the rest of the menus.

6525 Gunpark Dr., Ste. 330, Boulder, 303-530-0499