A Denver food truck known for its bold, boundary-crossing flavors is taking the leap from wheels to walls.
Mukja Food Truck, a local favorite celebrated for its inventive Asian fusion snacks, teased a photo on social media this week showing a vacant storefront and a shiny set of keys, captioned simply: “coming soon denver 👀.” Though the new eatery’s location hasn’t been revealed, the post sparked hundreds of excited comments and thousands of likes.
Korean for “let’s eat,” Mukja was founded in September 2019 by Julia Rivera and her daughter, Kayla Makowski. Rivera left a 12-year accounting career to launch the truck, and together the pair has built a menu that blends expertly crafted Korean classics with playful fusion creations.
From Bibimbap served over rice or sweet potato noodles to Tteokbokki and Kimchi Fries, the menu is short, sweet, and unforgettable. Signature mashups like the Hot Cheeto Dog, Wonton Nachos, and Korean-style Birria Ramen have earned cult-favorite status among locals.
Mukja’s rise has been rapid. In 2023, the truck won first place on Food Truck Prize Fight, a Food Network cooking competition hosted by Chef Jet Tila. Competing teams from across Denver battled for a local venue opportunity and $10,000, but Mukja’s daring flavors and innovative approach took the top prize.
In an email to What Now Denver, Rivera said that the Mukja team is still finalizing the specific details and opening timeline for the new location. More news—including the exact address—is expected next week.
For now, the truck continues to travel around the city, serving food at local events, with two scheduled stops planned for today, April 3.
