Wok to Walk Leidsestraat ★ 3.7
Wok to Walk on Leidsestraat is the Amsterdam late-night stir-fry counter, running until 02:00, noodles or rice wok-fired to order in 90 seconds.
Try: Stir-fried noodles or rice to order
Asian fusion cuisine is the post-1990 dining mode that explicitly mixes Asian and non-Asian (typically Western, often Latin American) cooking grammars into a single coherent dish or restaurant. The genre's roots run to several parallel scenes: the California cuisine movement of the 1980s (Wolfgang Puck at Chinois on Main in Santa Monica, opened 1983, often credited as the first deliberate East-meets-West fine-dining restaurant), the Pacific Rim cuisine of Hawaii (Sam Choy, Roy Yamaguchi, and the 1991 Hawaii Regional Cuisine movement), the Australian Modern Asian scene that developed through the 1990s in Sydney and Melbourne (Tetsuya Wakuda, Neil Perry), the New York Momofuku revolution of the 2000s (David Chang's Momofuku Noodle Bar opened 2004), and the Los Angeles Kogi-truck street-food generation (Roy Choi's Korean BBQ tacos, 2008).
The defining grammar is the deliberate combination of ingredients, techniques, and dish-types across cuisines that historically did not meet: Korean tacos (gochujang short ribs in a corn tortilla with kimchi salsa), Japanese-Peruvian Nikkei (its own separate pillar; ceviche with shoyu and yuzu), Vietnamese banh mi spinoffs (Korean banh mi, banh mi with pulled pork), Chinese-Mexican (Asian-Mex's Mexican-style tacos with hoisin or char siu pork, popularized in Los Angeles and increasingly Mexico City), Filipino-American adobo presented in Western fine-dining formats, and the Asian-French fusion of the post-Robuchon generation (David Bouley at Brushstroke, Tetsuya Wakuda, Daniel Boulud's Asian-influenced French rooms). The line between fusion and confusion is real: a fusion that works has both grammars intact and reasoning behind the combination; a fusion that fails reads as two cuisines pasted together.
The genre is geographically concentrated in a handful of cities: Los Angeles (the densest Asian-fusion scene, anchored by the second-generation Asian-American chef wave: Roy Choi, Niki Nakayama, Bryant Ng, Walter Manzke, plus the Korean-Latino crossover that defines the city), Sydney and Melbourne (Tetsuya, Sepia, Sake, Tonka), Vancouver and Toronto (Tojo's Restaurant, Wing's Restaurant), New York (Momofuku and its descendants, Atomix's Korean-modern, Buddakan's Pan-Asian), Honolulu (the Hawaii Regional Cuisine pioneers), and increasingly Singapore (the early Asian-fusion lab at the Raffles, Burnt Ends, Cure). Outside these cities the genre exists but at lower density.
Regional variations
California (Los Angeles, San Francisco)
The densest Asian-fusion scene globally. Roy Choi's Korean BBQ tacos (the Kogi food truck movement, 2008-present), Niki Nakayama's modern kaiseki, Bryant Ng's Cassia, the Vietnamese-French Crustacean Beverly Hills, the Korean-Cal-Mex crossover at Hanjip and Sun Nong Dan, the Korean fried chicken explosion. Los Angeles produces more Asian-fusion concepts than any other US city.
Pacific Northwest (Vancouver, Seattle, Portland)
Cantonese-Pacific-Northwest crossover. Tojo's Restaurant (Vancouver, where the California Roll was reportedly invented in 1974), Vij's (Indian-Pacific-Northwest), the deep Chinese-Hong Kong scene in Richmond BC, Seattle's Stateside and Joule. The fusion here is fish-and-vegetable-led and more restrained.
Australia (Sydney, Melbourne)
Modern Asian cooking that mixes Cantonese, Thai, Japanese, Vietnamese with European technique. Tetsuya Wakuda (Tetsuya's, founded 1989, the lineage room), Neil Perry's Rockpool, Spice Temple, Sake, Tonka, the modern fusion of David Thompson. The cooking is more European in technique than American fusion; Asian flavors are absorbed into French-Italian frameworks.
New York
Momofuku and descendants. David Chang's Momofuku Noodle Bar (2004) and the broader Momofuku group (Ssam Bar, Ko, Nishi, the closed Milk Bar). The Atomix-Atoboy Korean-modern wave (Junghyun Park). Wd-50, Pok Pok NYC (Andy Ricker's Thai), the Pan-Asian Buddakan, Carbone's Italian-American (not Asian-fusion). The New York scene is more publication-driven and Michelin-recognized.
Hawaii
The Hawaii Regional Cuisine movement founded in 1991 by 12 chefs (Sam Choy, Roy Yamaguchi, Alan Wong, Peter Merriman, Mark Ellman, others), declaring a deliberate fusion of Hawaiian indigenous, Japanese, Filipino, Portuguese, Korean, Chinese, and Polynesian cooking on local ingredients. The earliest formal Asian-fusion declaration.
Defining asian fusion dishes
- Korean Tacos (Kogi Style)
- Korean short rib bulgogi or pork in a corn tortilla with kimchi salsa, chile-soy sauce, cilantro, and onion. Invented by Roy Choi for the Kogi food truck in Los Angeles in 2008, now exported globally. The defining Asian-fusion street food of the 21st century.
- Bao Slider
- Steamed Chinese-style bao bun filled with pork belly (or fried chicken, or beef cheek), pickled cucumber, scallion, and a hoisin or Asian-leaning sauce. Popularized by David Chang at Momofuku Noodle Bar (2004); the basis of an industry of fusion-bao restaurants worldwide.
- Truffle Shoyu Ramen
- Japanese ramen elevated with French truffle and reductions, a defining Asian-fusion crossover. Founded as a concept by Ivan Orkin in Tokyo, now a global format at Momofuku Ko, Ippudo, and high-end ramen rooms across cities.
- Sashimi Tacos
- Tuna or salmon sashimi in a mini taco-shell (often a wonton or rice paper crisp), topped with avocado, lime, chile, and cilantro. The Mexican-Japanese fusion that became a ubiquitous fine-dining one-bite. Originated in Pacific Rim cooking; now everywhere.
- Asian-Mex Burrito or Taco
- Mexican-format burrito or taco filled with char siu (Cantonese roast pork), hoisin, Asian vegetables, and chile sauce. The Chinese-Mexican fusion of Los Angeles (Two Asian Brothers, Lotus Asian Cuisine) and increasingly Mexico City.
- Banh Mi with Western Filling
- Vietnamese baguette format filled with brisket, pulled pork, fried chicken, or short rib, in addition to the traditional pate-and-cold-cuts version. The Banh Mi shop's expansion into Western proteins is a Pacific-Asian-American innovation popularized in the 2010s.
- Wagyu Sliders with Asian Sauce
- Mini wagyu beef sliders topped with miso aioli, kimchi, or wasabi creme fraiche. A bar-snack format invented in Los Angeles fusion rooms and copied widely.
- Furikake-Crusted Salmon
- Salmon with a crust of furikake (Japanese rice seasoning, sesame, seaweed, salt) seared and served with miso glaze or yuzu sauce. The Hawaiian Regional Cuisine signature, now a fine-dining staple worldwide.
- Tuna Tartare with Asian Seasoning
- Diced raw tuna with sesame oil, shoyu, scallion, chile, avocado, served on crisp wonton or with rice cracker. The single most reproduced Asian-fusion appetizer of the 1990s and 2000s.
- Modern Kaiseki with Western Components
- The Niki Nakayama style: kaiseki framework with Western ingredients (foie gras, truffle, caviar) placed alongside indigenous Japanese ingredients and presented in classic kaiseki sequence. The Los Angeles n/naka is the global flagship.
How to order
At an Asian-fusion fine-dining restaurant, the tasting menu (5 to 12 courses) is typically the right order; the chef has composed the cross-cultural sequence deliberately. At a fast-casual Asian-fusion place (Kogi truck, the bao shop, the Korean-Mexican spot), order what looks unique to that restaurant; the Asian-fusion concept that mirrors what every other restaurant does (generic bao, generic truffle ramen) is usually less interesting than the chef's specific cross-cultural idea. Read the menu for the specific fusion grammar (Korean-Mexican? Japanese-French? Vietnamese-Italian?); the best restaurants commit to one cross.
The rookie mistakes: confusing Asian fusion with Pan-Asian (Pan-Asian restaurants serve dishes from multiple Asian cuisines on the same menu without combining them; Asian fusion combines Asian and non-Asian into single dishes), assuming all fusion is gimmicky (a serious fusion restaurant has a coherent reasoning behind every cross), and assuming Nikkei is the same thing (Nikkei is Japanese-Peruvian, a 100-year-old specific tradition; Asian fusion is the broader, mostly newer Western-mixed cooking). Tipping follows the local norm of the host country. The fine-dining tasting menus run pricey; the Kogi-style street fusion remains accessible.
What to drink with it
Asian-fusion drink programs run as eclectic as the food. Sake-based cocktails (yuzu-sake spritz, gin with sake and basil), Japanese whisky as the prestige bottle, Champagne or sparkling for the Pacific Rim seafood, off-dry Riesling and Gewurztraminer for spice-mid dishes, sour beer (gose, Berliner Weisse) for chile-led food, and the increasing use of Asian-influenced cocktails (the Pisco-sour-with-yuzu, the bourbon-with-Korean-ginseng). Tea programs are central at the modern kaiseki rooms; soft-serve and Asian shaved-ice desserts close many meals. The genre has no single pairing tradition; the better restaurants invent one specific to their menu.
Where to eat it
Los Angeles is the densest Asian-fusion city in the world. Kogi (Roy Choi's now-restaurant-chain), n/naka (Niki Nakayama, two Michelin stars, modern kaiseki), Cassia (Bryant Ng, Cambodian-French), Republique (Walter Manzke), Sun Nong Dan, the Korean-Mexican trucks. New York: Momofuku Ko (two stars, the David Chang flagship), Atomix (two stars, Korean-modern), Buddakan, Cote (Korean steakhouse-modern). Sydney and Melbourne: Tetsuya's (the founding room), Sepia, Sake, Tonka. Vancouver: Tojo's, Wing's. Honolulu: Alan Wong's, Roy's Restaurant, Chef Mavro. Singapore: Burnt Ends (modern Australian-Asian, two stars), Cure (modern Irish-Asian). London's Asian-fusion is led by Roka, Zuma, Hakkasan (Pan-Asian leaning). Outside these cities, the genre is widely imitated but the lineage rooms cluster on the US West Coast, Australia, and Honolulu.
A short history
Asian fusion as a deliberate genre began in early-1980s California with Wolfgang Puck's Chinois on Main (Santa Monica, 1983) and accelerated through several distinct moments: the 1991 Hawaii Regional Cuisine declaration, the 1990s Tetsuya's-Sydney emergence of Modern Australian Asian, the 2004 Momofuku Noodle Bar opening in New York, the 2008 Kogi truck launch in Los Angeles, and the 2010s globalization of Korean-Mexican and Vietnamese-American crossovers. The genre is roughly 40 years old and continues to evolve as second- and third-generation Asian immigrant chefs reinterpret their heritage dishes for Western fine-dining and street-food formats.
Frequently asked
What is the difference between Asian fusion and Pan-Asian?
Pan-Asian restaurants serve dishes from multiple Asian cuisines on the same menu (a Japanese sushi, a Thai curry, and a Vietnamese pho would all appear, each cooked authentically). Asian fusion deliberately combines Asian and non-Asian (typically Western, often Latin American) cooking grammars into a single dish or dish set: Korean tacos, Chinese-Mexican burritos, Japanese-French kaiseki. The two are distinct and easily confused.
Is Nikkei cuisine Asian fusion?
Nikkei (Japanese-Peruvian) is technically a fusion cuisine, but it is much older than the modern Asian-fusion movement (Japanese immigrants arrived in Peru in 1899; Nikkei evolved over 100+ years organically). The modern Asian-fusion genre treats Nikkei as a separate, historically specific cuisine rather than part of itself; we have a separate pillar for it.
Is Asian-fusion food still considered current or has it dated?
The 1990s-2000s wave of generic Asian fusion (truffle ramen, sashimi tacos, wonton-shell appetizers) is now considered dated. The current wave (Korean-Mexican, Vietnamese-American banh mi spinoffs, modern kaiseki with Western ingredients, second-generation Asian-American chef cooking) is treated as serious cuisine and earning Michelin stars. The genre evolves; the early shorthand has aged out.
Asian fusion by city
Asian fusion in Amsterdam
Wok to Walk ★ 3.7
Wok to Walk on Leidsestraat is the Amsterdam late-running stir-fry counter, build-your-own noodle or rice plate 8 to 12 euros, open well past midnight.
Try: Build-your-own stir-fry, noodles or rice
Asian fusion in Anchorage
Ginger ★ 4.3
Ginger has done downtown Anchorage Pacific Rim cuisine since 2007. The kitchen blends Asian techniques with local Alaska produce on a steady menu.
Signature: Alaska tofu and quinoa bowl, Vegan curry
Ginger ★ 4.3
Ginger does downtown Anchorage Pacific Rim cuisine since 2007, blending Asian flavours with local Alaska produce and running a strong weekend brunch line.
Ginger ★ 4.3
Ginger has done Pacific Rim and Asian fusion in downtown Anchorage since 2007, blending Asian flavours with local Alaska produce and a stylish lounge area.
Asian fusion in Athens
Nolan ★ 4.4
Nolan on Voulis is the Bib Gourmand Greek-with-Asian-influences room near Syntagma, kept since 2017. Located in Syntagma Historic Centre. Book 1 week ahead.
Order: The sharing carte; ask for the kitchen's three small-plate picks and add a noodle dish.
Tip: Lunch is the easier seating; book ten days ahead for dinner Thursday through Saturday.
Asian fusion in Atlanta
Poor Calvin's ★ 4.4
Poor Calvin's in Midtown Atlanta opened 2010 with chef Calvin Phan's mash-up of Thai, Vietnamese and Chinese plates. Kitchen leans asian fusion.
Signature: Lobster pad Thai, Crispy whole snapper, Black pepper steak
Order: Lobster pad Thai, the dish that put Calvin Phan on the city's map.
Tip: Cash and card. Reservations on OpenTable; Saturday night books a week ahead. Casual atmosphere despite the price.
Asian fusion in Auckland
Hello Beasty ★ 4.3
Hello Beasty mixes Japanese, Korean and Chinese influences on Customs Street West in Auckland CBD. The city's most-booked Asian fusion room.
Signature: Beef tartare with kimchi, Pork bao, Crispy duck
Hello Beasty ★ 4.2
Hello Beasty mixes Japanese, Korean and Chinese influences on Customs Street West in Auckland CBD. The city's most-booked Asian fusion room.
Signature: Beef tartare with kimchi, Pork bao, Crispy duck
East ★ 4.0
East is a fully vegetarian modern Asian room on the ground floor of the Sudima Hotel at 63-67 Nelson Street, Auckland CBD. Sunday vegan yum cha service.
Signature: Vegan yum cha, Vegetable dumplings, Tofu claypot
Asian fusion in Austin
Loro ★ 4.4
Loro in Austin is Aaron Franklin and Tyson Cole's Asian smokehouse on South Lamar, a Texas BBQ and Southeast Asian small-plates mashup under live oaks.
Signature: Smoked brisket, Boat noodles, Thai-style sausage
Order: The smoked brisket with rice noodle and Thai chiles; it is the most direct Franklin handprint on the menu.
Tip: The South Lamar patio under live oaks is the best seat; no reservations, walk-in only, go early.
Loro ★ 4.4
Loro in Austin is the Franklin and Uchi teams' Asian smokehouse on South Lamar, a casual walk-in patio for Texas BBQ and Southeast Asian small plates.
Signature: Smoked brisket, Boat noodles, Thai-style sausage
Order: Smoked brisket with rice noodle and Thai chiles, plus a tall papaya salad.
Tip: Walk-in only; come at 5pm sharp or after 9pm to dodge the 90-minute weekend wait.
Asian fusion in Baltimore
Ekiben ★ 4.6
Ekiben in Fells Point built a citywide following on steamed bao, plating the Neighborhood Bird fried-chicken bun and a tempura broccoli bun in a tiny shop.
Signature: Neighborhood Bird bun, Tempura broccoli bun, Bowls
Order: The Neighborhood Bird steamed bun, fried chicken with herbs and spicy sauce.
Tip: The Fells Point shop is counter-service and tight; there are also Hampden and Locust Point outposts.
Asian fusion in Belgrade
Sakura ★ 4.3
Sakura runs Belgrade's most established sushi room on the Beton Hala terrace overlooking the Sava-Danube confluence. Pan-Asian and sake list.
Signature: Belgrade roll, Sashimi platter
Asian fusion in Berlin
Tim Raue ★ 4.8
Tim Raue's two-Michelin-star room near Checkpoint Charlie in Berlin Kreuzberg cooks a chef-led Asian-French tasting; the Peking duck is the city's defining.
Signature: Wasabi langoustine, Peking duck
Order: The Peking duck, the wasabi langoustine and whichever pork-belly course is on; Raue's signatures stay on the carte.
Tip: Lunch tasting at €178 is the easier entry vs the €248 dinner. Book four weeks ahead at minimum.
Asian fusion in Boston
Myers + Chang ★ 4.4
Joanne Chang and Christopher Myers run Myers and Chang on Washington Street as a pan-Asian diner in Boston's South End since 2007. Priced at $$.
Signature: Dan dan noodles, Tea-smoked pork ribs
Order: The dan dan noodles with house-ground Sichuan peppercorn.
Tip: Cheap Date Mondays runs a fixed $50 menu for two. The bar pours an excellent gin cocktail list.
Myers + Chang ★ 4.4
Joanne Chang and Christopher Myers run Myers and Chang on Washington Street since 2007 as a pan-Asian diner in Boston's South End. Priced at $$.
Signature: Dan dan noodles, Tea-smoked pork ribs
Order: The dan dan noodles with house-ground Sichuan peppercorn.
Tip: Cheap Date Mondays runs a fixed $50 for two. The bar pours an excellent gin list.
Asian fusion in Bratislava
SOHO Bistro and Coffee ★ 4.0
SOHO Bistro and Coffee on Sturova 8 brings the pan-Asian repertoire to the Old Town with Pad Thai, pho and Thai-leaning small plates for a young crowd.
Signature: Pad Thai, Pho, Asian small plates
Order: Pad Thai with prawn and the Thai green curry; the bao buns work as the table starter.
Tip: The lunch denne menu is the cheapest pan-Asian seat in the Old Town; arrives in under 15 minutes.
Asian fusion in Brisbane
Same Same ★ 4.7
Same Same opened on Ada Lane in Fortitude Valley in 2022. Tyron Simon and Bianca Marchi's modern Southeast Asian charcoal grill, sister of Honto and Agnes.
Signature: Charcoal small plates, Sticky rice, Thai-influenced share plates
Same Same ★ 4.5
Same Same opened on Ada Lane off James Street in Fortitude Valley, Brisbane in 2022. Tyron Simon and Bianca Marchi's modern Southeast Asian charcoal kitchen.
Signature: Charcoal-grilled small plates, Modern Thai-Vietnamese share plates, Sticky rice desserts
Mt Gravatt Street Food Trucks ★ 4.0
Saturday-night food truck carnival on the showgrounds. Tacos, langos, bao, Hungarian pies, Tibetan dumplings, BBQ ribs, crepes plus a licensed bar.
Try: Food truck street food
Asian fusion in Buenos Aires
Gran Dabbang ★ 4.5
Gran Dabbang is Mariano Ramons no-reservations, no-signage Palermo room where the nights plates land on a chalkboard; arrive by 20:00 or wait.
Why locals love it: No reservations, no signage, no wine list; Mariano Ramon writes the night's plates on a chalkboard.
Tip: Arrive by 20:00 or sit and wait.
Asian fusion in Charleston
Xiao Bao Biscuit ★ 4.5
Xiao Bao Biscuit in Charleston's Cannonborough runs pan-Asian cooking out of a converted gas station on Rutledge Avenue since 2011. Located in Upper King.
Signature: Okonomiyaki, Daily Asian specials
Order: The okonomiyaki cabbage pancake and whatever daily noodle is up.
Tip: Lunch only Mon-Fri 11:30-15:00, plus weekday dinner. Cash and card; no reservations.
Xiao Bao Biscuit ★ 4.5
Xiao Bao Biscuit in Charleston runs pan-Asian cooking from a converted gas station on Rutledge Avenue since 2011. Located in Upper King. Priced at $$.
Signature: Okonomiyaki, Daily Asian specials
Order: The okonomiyaki cabbage pancake and whatever daily noodle is up.
Tip: No reservations. Lunch Mon-Fri only; weekday dinner is the easier seat.
Asian fusion in Chiang Mai
Service 1921 Restaurant & Bar ★ 4.2
Set in Anantara's restored 1921 British consulate, a spy-themed dining room plating Thai, Chinese and Vietnamese dishes beside the Mae Ping riverbank.
Asian fusion in Cincinnati
Lalo ★ 4.5
Lalo on Main Street in OTR is Cincinnati's Asian-Mexican mash-up, with mapo carnitas, char siu tacos and quesadillas folded around general Tso chicken.
Signature: Mapo carnitas, Char siu tacos
Lalo ★ 4.4
Lalo on Main Street in OTR is Cincinnati's Asian-Mexican mash-up, with mapo carnitas, char siu tacos and quesadillas folded around general Tso chicken.
Signature: Mapo carnitas, Char siu tacos
Quan Hapa ★ 4.4
Quan Hapa on Vine Street in OTR is the Cincinnati Pan-Asian room from Daniel Wright's group, running bao buns, pho, ramen and Korean fried chicken.
Signature: Pho, Bao buns
Asian fusion in Cologne
taku 1 ★ ★ 4.6
taku in Cologne's Excelsior Hotel Ernst near the Cathedral holds one Michelin star for contemporary Asian cuisine; established and consistent fine dining.
Order: The six-course menu with wine pairing; the 4-course option at €121 is the more affordable entry point
Tip: Located in the Excelsior Hotel Ernst, one of Cologne's grand hotels from 1863. Dinner only, Tuesday to Saturday.
Tanoshii ★ 4.1
Tanoshii on Brabanter Strasse in Cologne's Belgisches Viertel offers classic nigiri and maki alongside creative Asian-European fusion rolls and warming pho.
Order: Creative fusion rolls and warming Vietnamese pho alongside the traditional nigiri
Tip: Close to Rudolfplatz U-Bahn stop. Book ahead for weekend evenings.
Asian fusion in Denver
Ace Eat Serve ★ 4.4
Ace Eat Serve in Denver is Justin Cucci's pan-Asian dining room on 17th Avenue since 2012, set in a former 1880s carriage house with ping-pong tables.
Signature: Pad see ew, Pork bao, Ping-pong patio
Order: The pad see ew and pork bao; the kitchen runs late on weekends until 11 pm.
Tip: The patio takes walk-ins and the ping-pong tables are first-come; bar in the dining room takes reservations.
Asian fusion in Dublin
Lucky Tortoise Temple Bar ★ 4.3
Lucky Tortoise Temple Bar on Asdills Row off Fleet Street is an Asian sharing-plate counter for handmade dumplings and bao under one Temple Bar roof.
Why locals love it: Tucked on Asdill's Row off Fleet Street, an Asian sharing-plate counter the tourist drag walks past, handmade dumplings and bao under one Temple Bar roof.
Tip: Saturday hands-on dumpling classes book a month ahead; the walk-in dinner runs Tuesday to Sunday from 17:00. Friday and Saturday open lunch from 12:30.
Asian fusion in Durham
Juju Durham ★ 4.0
A Ninth Street fixture for Asian fusion tapas and sake. The menu roams across East and Southeast Asian influences; order broadly and share across the table.
Signature: Sake-steamed mussels, Crispy Brussels sprouts, Duck pot stickers
Asian fusion in Galway
Mama Rich ★ 3.9
Mama Rich in Woodquay Galway brings Malaysian and Thai street food at family-recipe prices; the yaki soba and har mee broth anchor a menu of generous wok.
Signature: Yaki Soba, Rich Har Mee, Malaysian street food
Order: The Rich Har Mee noodle broth; the Malaysian curries are the other reliable order
Tip: Book ahead as the dining room is small; the rebranded Mama Rich is the continuation of the long-running Papa Rich kitchen.
Papa Rich ★ 3.9
Papa Rich brings Malaysian street food to Galway with no dish over ten euros; the yaki soba, har mee broth and wok plates come on a four-flame heat scale.
Signature: Yaki Soba, Rich Har Mee, Malaysian dishes
Order: The Rich Har Mee at three flames is the defining bowl; the yaki soba is a crowd-pleaser
Tip: Probably Galway's best-value full meal; bring cash for slightly faster service.
Asian fusion in Glasgow
Wudon ★ 4.1
Wudon is a sisters-run pan-Asian noodle bar on Great Western Road in Glasgow's West End, ladling ramen, katsu and Thai curries from family home recipes.
Signature: Ramen, Katsu curry
Order: A steaming bowl of ramen; the katsu curry is the other regular order.
Tip: It gets busy with students on weekend evenings, so book or come early for a table.
Bar Soba ★ 4.0
Bar Soba is a dark, music-led pan-Asian spot on Byres Road in Glasgow's West End, plating wok noodles and Southeast Asian curries beside strong cocktails.
Signature: Wok noodles, Thai green curry
Order: A bowl of wok noodles and one of the punchy house cocktails.
Tip: The kitchen runs later than most on Byres Road, useful when other rooms have stopped serving food.
Asian fusion in Ho Chi Minh City
Esta Saigon ★ 4.4
Esta is a District 1 tasting room where a modern kitchen plates Asian fusion; it has featured in the Michelin Guide and Robb Report Vietnam's top 25.
Order: The chef's tasting menu, which crosses Asian influences.
Tip: Reservations are strongly recommended; email or call ahead, as the room is small and books out.
Asian fusion in Hong Kong
Ta Vie 2 ★ ★ 4.6
Ta Vie inside The Pottinger in Hong Kong is Hideaki Sato's two Michelin star Japanese-French room, a 28 seat counter pairing Hokkaido produce with French.
Order: Hokkaido sea urchin and rice course (seasonal).
Tip: The room is small; weekday lunch is the only access if you book under three weeks out.
Andō 1 ★ ★ 4.2
Andō on Wellington Street in Hong Kong is Argentine chef Agustin Ferrando Balbi's one Michelin star tasting room, fusing his Spanish family kitchen.
Order: The Memorias tasting menu with Argentine inspired courses.
Tip: Sit at the counter; Balbi narrates the Memorias menu course by course while the cooks plate.
Asian fusion in Honolulu
Mugen Waikiki ★ 4.7
Mugen Waikiki is the Forbes Five-Star 34-seat fine dining room inside ESPACIO Waikiki, in Honolulu, where chef Colin Sato runs a five-course menu designed.
Order: The full five-course tasting with wine pairing from the Wine Spectator Best Of collection.
Tip: Resort wear required. Valet on the ESPACIO motor lobby is complimentary for diners; book three weeks out.
Asian fusion in Kilkenny
Aroi Asian Fusion ★ 4.3
Aroi on Friary Street has been Kilkenny's Asian restaurant of choice since 2015, chef Fadilah named Best Asian Fusion Chef in Ireland in 2019.
Signature: Red duck curry, Kimchi chicken ramen
Order: Red duck curry or spicy kimchi chicken ramen; vegan options are genuinely well-constructed.
Tip: Tuesday Movie Night includes a main, gelato and cinema ticket for €24. TripAdvisor Travellers Choice for four consecutive years.
Aroi Asian Fusion ★ 4.3
Aroi on Friary Street has been Kilkenny's Asian restaurant of choice since 2015, chef Fadilah named Best Asian Fusion Chef in Ireland in 2019.
Signature: Red duck curry, Kimchi chicken ramen
Order: Red duck curry or the spicy kimchi chicken ramen; vegan options are built with equal seriousness.
Tip: Open Monday through Sunday noon to 22:00-22:30. TripAdvisor Travellers Choice for four consecutive years.
Aroi Asian Fusion ★ 4.3
Aroi on Friary Street has been Kilkenny's most-awarded Asian kitchen since 2015, chef Fadilah named Best Asian Fusion Chef in Ireland in 2019.
Order: Red duck curry and the spicy kimchi chicken ramen; the vegan options are as strong as the meat dishes.
Tip: Tuesday Movie Night: a main, gelato and a cinema ticket for €24 per person. Great value for the quality.
Asian fusion in Knoxville
Kaizen ★ 4.5
Kaizen on South Central, chef Jesse Newmister's Asian-fusion room in the Old City since 2016, runs steamed buns, ramen and rotating chef plates a block.
Signature: Steamed buns, Ramen noodles
Order: A round of steamed buns with the chef's noodle bowl of the week.
Tip: The Old City location runs busier than the kitchen seats can handle on Friday and Saturday nights; aim for Tuesday or Wednesday.
Kaizen ★ 4.5
Kaizen on South Central, chef Jesse Newmister's Asian-fusion room in the Old City since 2016, runs steamed buns, ramen and rotating chef plates a block.
Signature: Steamed buns, Chef's noodle bowl
Order: A round of steamed buns with the chef's noodle bowl of the week.
Tip: Friday and Saturday nights run busiest; Tuesday and Wednesday are easier for the chef's plates.
Asian fusion in Las Vegas
FUHU ★ 4.3
FUHU at Resorts World in Las Vegas is the high-energy modern Asian dining room with cross-Asia plates, late-night service and patio fountain views.
Signature: Peking duck pizza, Crispy spicy tuna, Tableside Old Fashioneds
Order: Peking duck pizza on flatbread; the signature share plate built for the booths.
Tip: Late-night menu runs to 02:00 weekends; the after-show crowd from Resorts World theatres fills the patio.
Asian fusion in Lisbon
Boa-Bao ★ 4.2
Boa-Bao in Chiado, Lisbon: pan-Asian street food from Thailand, Vietnam, Korea, Malaysia and Japan, served in a 1920s Asian-market themed room since 2017.
Signature: Pad thai, Bao buns, Penang curry
Order: Two bao buns then the kao soi, soup-fried noodle hybrid.
Boa-Bao late ★ 4.2
Boa-Bao in Chiado, Lisbon: pan-Asian noodles and bao until 00:30 on weekend nights, the Bairro-Alto pre-club spot that doesn't serve cliches.
Try: Pad thai or bao buns
Asian fusion in Melbourne
Supernormal ★ 4.8
Supernormal on Flinders Lane runs an Asian-influenced menu drawing on Tokyo, Shanghai and Seoul. One Good Food Guide hat and perpetually full since 2014.
Order: New England lobster roll and slow-cooked lamb shoulder
Supernormal ★ 4.6
Supernormal on Flinders Lane runs until midnight with a full Asian menu: lobster roll, lamb neck dumplings and a bar crowd that arrives after 10pm.
Asian fusion in Memphis
Mosa Asian Bistro ★ 4.2
Mosa Asian Bistro on White Station Road in East Memphis runs a Chinese, Thai, Korean and Vietnamese menu from a strip-mall favoured by chefs on their nights.
Signature: Beef pho, Spicy Korean noodles
Order: Beef pho and spicy Korean noodles.
Tip: Lunch is the easier seat; the room fills with regulars after 18:00. Closed Mondays.
Asian fusion in Miami
KYU ★ 4.4
KYU in Wynwood is the wood-smoked Asian counter at 251 NW 25th Street, the kitchen that earned TIME's Best Restaurant in Florida in 2017 and still pulls.
Signature: Korean fried chicken, Charred cauliflower, Brisket bao buns
Order: The duck-fat fried rice and the charred cauliflower with shishito-herb dressing.
Tip: Walk-ins seat fastest at the central bar facing the wood-grill; book the dining room two weeks out.
KYU ★ 4.4
KYU in Wynwood is the wood-smoked Asian counter at 251 NW 25th Street, named TIME's Best Restaurant in Florida in 2017 and still drawing the after-work queue.
Signature: Duck-fat fried rice, Charred cauliflower, Brisket bao buns
Order: Duck-fat fried rice and the charred cauliflower with shishito-herb dressing.
Tip: Walk-ins seat fastest at the central bar with a view of the wood grill; book the dining room two weeks out.
1-800-Lucky ★ 4.0
1-800-Lucky in Wynwood is Miami's pan-Asian food hall at 143 NW 23rd Street, with six counters from ramen and sushi to Vietnamese banh mi and karaoke in back.
Signature: Hot Soup Dumplings ramen, Lotus & Cleaver dim sum, Taiyaki ice cream
Order: A bowl of ramen at Hot Soup Dumplings, then taiyaki ice cream from the front cone counter.
Tip: Cash on the karaoke deposit, card at the counters. Saturday lines hit at 8pm; come for lunch instead.
Asian fusion in Milwaukee
Lazy Susan ★ 4.2
Lazy Susan on South Howell Avenue in Bay View runs a small-plates menu of wood-roasted vegetables, steamed buns and a cocktail program with an Asian pantry.
Why locals love it: A Bay View small-plates kitchen with steamed buns and wood-roasted carrots that most visitors haven't heard of and locals book year-round here.
Tip: Order the wood-roasted carrots and steamed pork buns with kimchi from the small kitchen counter.
Asian fusion in Nashville
Sunda New Asian ★ 4.2
Billy Dec's Chicago import in The Gulch in Nashville runs modern Southeast Asian small plates and a strong sushi programme since 2022, with a deep cocktail.
Signature: Crispy pork belly bao, Sushi tasting
Order: Crispy pork belly bao buns and the chef's sushi tasting.
Tip: Late-night service runs until 23:30 Friday and Saturday; the bar is the easy walk-in seat.
Sunda New Asian ★ 4.1
Billy Dec's Chicago import in The Gulch, Nashville runs modern Southeast Asian small plates and a strong sushi programme since 2022, with a deep cocktail.
Signature: Crispy pork belly bao, Sushi tasting
Order: Crispy pork belly bao buns and the chef's sushi tasting.
Tip: Late-night service runs until 23:30 Friday and Saturday; the bar is the easy walk-in seat.
Asian fusion in Oklahoma City
Gopuram Taste of India ★ 4.2
Gopuram Taste of India in Oklahoma City delivers authentic Indian curries, biryani, and tandoor dishes at accessible prices with a weekday buffet lunch.
Order: Lunch buffet; chicken tikka masala; garlic naan
Tip: The weekday lunch buffet is one of the best-value meals in Oklahoma City, around $12 for unlimited plates.
Gopuram Taste of India ★ 4.0
Gopuram Taste of India in Oklahoma City serves authentic South Indian and North Indian cooking at budget prices, treasured by locals who know the buffet.
Order: Lamb biryani; dosa; mango lassi
Tip: The weekday lunch buffet is around $12 for unlimited plates and features rotating regional specials.
Saii Asian Bistro ★ 3.8
Saii Asian Bistro on N May Avenue in Oklahoma City serves pan-Asian cuisine with Japanese, Thai, and Chinese dishes in a polished north OKC room.
Asian fusion in Portland
Departure ★ 4.3
The 15th-floor pan-Asian rooftop at The Nines in downtown Portland, with two outdoor decks and the city's largest sake list. Modern Asian cooking.
Signature: Kushiyaki, Kobe meatballs
Order: The kushiyaki tasting flight from the grill
Tip: Two outdoor decks with views of Mount Hood. Sunset is the seat to book.
Asian fusion in Portland
The Honey Paw ★ 4.8
The Honey Paw on Middle Street is the Big Tree Hospitality noodle counter, with hand-pulled noodles, dumplings and seafood served through a pan-Asian lens.
Signature: Hand-pulled noodles, Crispy chicken katsu, Coconut curry mussels
Order: Hand-pulled noodles with the daily sauce, plus the kimchi fried rice.
Tip: Daily 11:00-22:00. Book tables via Resy for dinner; the bar takes walk-ins through last call.
The Honey Paw ★ 4.6
The Honey Paw on Middle Street opened 2015, the Big Tree Hospitality pan-Asian noodle counter from Andrew Taylor, Mike Wiley and Arlin Smith next to Eventide.
Signature: Hand-pulled noodles, Coconut curry mussels, Fried rice with house kimchi
Order: Hand-pulled noodles with the kitchen's daily sauce, plus the coconut curry mussels.
Tip: Daily 11:00-22:00. Counter walk-ins move fast at lunch; book tables via Resy for dinner.
The Honey Paw ★ 4.5
The Honey Paw on Middle Street runs hand-pulled noodles, fried rice and pan-Asian small plates through to 22:00 nightly, the Big Tree late-evening stop.
Try: Hand-pulled noodles, fried rice
Tip: Bar walks in until close. Book tables via Resy through 21:00.
Asian fusion in Prague
Sansho ★ 4.4
Sansho has been Prague's serious modern-Asian kitchen since 2011. The 2025 Michelin guide kept it in the selection; the no-choice tasting menu changes weekly.
Signature: Weekly tasting menu, Pork belly
Order: The chef's tasting, family-style for two or four.
Sansho ★ 4.4
Sansho has been Prague's serious modern-Asian kitchen since 2011. The 2025 Michelin guide kept it in the selection; the no-choice tasting menu changes weekly.
Order: The chef's tasting; the pork belly when it appears.
Asian fusion in Raleigh
Brewery Bhavana ★ 4.7
A Belgian-inspired brewery, dim sum kitchen, bookshop, and flower shop under one roof on South Blount Street. Michelin Guide recommended and one of its kind.
Signature: Dim sum, Belgian farmhouse ales
Brewery Bhavana ★ 4.7
Raleigh's most singular concept: a Michelin-recommended brewery, bookshop, flower shop, and dim sum kitchen under one roof. Belgian beers are world-class.
Brewery Bhavana ★ 4.7
Raleigh's most distinctive brunch: Belgian farmhouse ales alongside dim sum in a space that also holds a bookshop and flower shop. Michelin recommended.
Order: Dim sum plates with a farmhouse saison
Asian fusion in Reykjavik
Hosilo ★ 4.3
Tiny side-street restaurant on Hverfisgata 12 from three friends, Asian sharing plates with langoustine, yuzu and miso glazes; Michelin-recognised plate.
Why locals love it: It hides above the Hverfisgata 12 pizza-and-bar building, a Michelin-listed kitchen rewriting its globe-trotting menu weekly that many visitors walk straight past.
Tip: The menu changes every week, so no two meals match. Book ahead, the room is genuinely small.
Yuzu ★ 4.2
Yuzu on Hverfisgata flips Asian-influenced burgers on house-baked buns, a small Reykjavik counter where Japanese-Nordic touches lift a fast-casual order.
Signature: Yuzu cheeseburger, Asian-spiced fries
Order: A signature cheeseburger with the spiced mayo.
Tip: Bun, patty and sauce all made in-house.
Yuzu ★ 4.0
Yuzu on Hverfisgata flips Asian-influenced burgers on house-baked buns, a central Reykjavik counter whose lunch deal pairs a burger with fries for under ISK.
Try: Asian-influenced burger lunch
Tip: The weekday lunch burger plus fries plus mayo costs ISK 1,990, one of the better-value mid-day fills in 101.
Asian fusion in Richmond
Sticky Rice ★ 4.2
Sticky Rice on Main has run Asian-fusion sushi and a bucket-of-tots tradition since 1999. Open until 2 am daily, the late-night sit-down in the Fan.
Signature: Bucket of tots, Sushi rolls, Vegan rolls
Sticky Rice ★ 4.2
Sticky Rice on West Main runs Asian-fusion sushi and a bucket-of-tots tradition since 1999. Open until 2 am daily, the late-night sit-down in the Fan.
Signature: Bucket of tots, Sushi, Vegan rolls
Sticky Rice ★ 4.2
Sticky Rice on West Main keeps the kitchen open until 2 am. Asian-fusion sushi, Japanese whisky and the city's most-photographed bucket of tots.
Order: Bucket of tots and a sake flight.
Tip: After 11 pm the kitchen pivots; sushi rolls and tots dominate.
Asian fusion in Riga
Stage22 ★ 4.3
Stage22 sits on the top floor of the Grand Hotel Kempinski Riga on Elizabetes, listed in the Michelin Guide 2026 with Asian fusion plates and panoramic city.
Order: The chef's tasting menu paired with cocktails from the adjoining bar.
Tip: Book a window seat at sunset for the Vērmanes park panorama; share the room with the bar's after-work crowd.
Asian fusion in Sacramento
Origami Asian Grill ★ 4.2
Origami Asian Grill on Folsom Boulevard in East Sacramento is the pan-Asian counter from chef Billy Ngo group, ramen and Korean rice plates.
Signature: Ramen bowls, Korean BBQ rice plates
Order: The signature tonkotsu ramen, the bulgogi rice bowl, dumplings
Tip: Counter ordering, faster than Kru next door. Patio seating on Folsom Boulevard. Cocktails on offer.
Asian fusion in San Antonio
Best Quality Daughter ★ 4.5
Chef Jennifer Dobbertin's New Asian American restaurant sits in the historic Mueller House at the Pearl, drawing on her Chinese-American heritage.
Order: Crab rangoon dip, Taiwanese popcorn chicken and the family-style noodles.
Tip: The patio and the funky Mueller House interior are both worth requesting. Cocktails lean playful; ask for the seasonal special.
Asian fusion in San Diego
OB Noodle House ★ 4.3
OB Noodle House in San Diego is the Ocean Beach pan-Asian noodle counter on Cable Street, with tonkotsu ramen, Vietnamese banh mi and a wall-deep sake list.
Signature: Tonkotsu ramen, Banh mi sandwich, Sake selection
Order: The tonkotsu ramen with a bonus pork belly add-on; the brisket banh mi for lunch.
Tip: Wait can be long after 6pm; the Bar 1502 sister location on Niagara has shorter waits.
Asian fusion in Singapore
Chopsuey Cafe ★ 4.0
Order: ['Crispy duck pancakes', 'Claypot tofu', 'Egg noodles']
Tip: The large shaded terrace handles groups well and is good for family lunches. Open daily from 11am.
Asian fusion in Sydney
Spice Alley ★ 4.0
Open-air hawker laneway on Kensington Street, Chippendale, Sydney. Singaporean, Malaysian and Hong Kong food stalls, walk-in friendly weeknights.
Signature: Laksa, Hainanese chicken rice, Banh mi
Order: Hainanese chicken rice from Hong Kong Diner, laksa next door.
Tip: Order at each stall, share a table outside; lantern-strung at night.
Asian fusion in Taipei
logy ★ 4.8
logy holds two Michelin stars under chef Ryogo Tahara, sister to two-star Florilege Tokyo (chef Hiroyasu Kawate). Asian-contemporary, deep Taiwanese sourcing.
Signature: Tasting menu, Mountain ingredients course, Hand-pulled noodle
Order: Whatever the seasonal tasting menu is built around; ask the sommelier to thread the pairing.
Tip: Closed Sundays and Mondays. Reservations open one month ahead online; one seating per evening.
T+T ★ 4.7
T+T holds one Michelin star for a contemporary tasting menu rotating every three to four months. The name reads tapas-tasting; the cooking reads pan-Asian.
Signature: Tapas-tasting course, Asian ingredient parade, Small plates
Order: The seasonal tasting; small plates of pan-Asian ingredients with wine or non-alcoholic pairings.
Tip: Closed Sundays. Reservations open six weeks ahead by phone; weekday dinner is the easier seat.
Asian fusion in Tallinn
UMA ★ 4.4
UMA, whose name stands for Unorthodox Modern Asian, is the LP Hospitality group's Bib Gourmand room in Noblessner, returning to the 2026 Michelin Guide.
Signature: Tasting menu, Asian-Baltic plates
Order: The tasting menu; the kitchen blends Japanese and Korean technique with Estonian produce.
Tip: Closed Sunday and Monday. Shares the Peetri 12 address with Lore Bistroo but runs an entirely separate kitchen.
Asian fusion in Toronto
Lee Restaurant ★ 4.5
Lee Restaurant on Richmond West is chef Susur Lee's reborn fusion kitchen since 2023, French technique on Hong Kong-Singaporean lines, the room that wrote.
Signature: Singaporean slaw, Lee's chicken
Order: The 19-ingredient Singaporean slaw and the crispy chicken.
Tip: Susur ran the King Street original 20 years; the Richmond location is two blocks south. Tasting menu Tuesdays cheapest entry.
DaiLo ★ 4.5
DaiLo on College is chef Nick Liu's modern Chinese kitchen since 2014, big-flavour Cantonese-meets-Sichuan plates with a strong cocktail bar program.
Signature: Truffle fried rice, Hakka tasting
Order: The truffle fried rice and the Hakka tasting menu.
Tip: Closed Sunday and Monday. The upstairs bar takes walk-ins; main room books on OpenTable.
Lake Inez ★ 4.3
Lake Inez on Gerrard East is chef Robbie Hojilla's pan-Asian gastropub since 2016, Filipino, Thai, Vietnamese and Korean dishes with an Ontario beer list.
Signature: Pan-Asian small plates, Ontario craft beer flight
Order: Three or four small plates and a flight from the rotating beer list.
Tip: Walk-ins easy at the bar Tuesday through Thursday. Weekends book on Resy. The Byzantine mosaic on the wall is original.
Asian fusion in Utrecht
Jasmijn en Ik Kanaalstraat ★ 4.3
Jasmijn en Ik in Lombok cooks Chinese dim sum, Vietnamese plates and Thai mains with organic meat and sustainably caught fish. Gault-Millau recognised.
Signature: Dim sum, Roasted Thai chilli pasta
Order: Shrimp and bamboo dumplings then a sharing main with coconut curry
Jasmijn en Ik Kanaalstraat ★ 4.3
Gault-Millau recognised in the Lombok district. Organic meat, sustainable fish and a menu of Chinese dim sum, Vietnamese plates and Thai-influenced mains.
Signature: Shrimp and bamboo dumplings, Vegan tofu curry, Roasted Thai chilli pasta
Order: Shrimp and bamboo dim sum to start, then sharing mains
LE:EN ★ 4.0
LE:EN at Heuveloord in Rotsoord serves Korean, Vietnamese, Indonesian and Thai sharing plates from a former industrial building with outdoor terrace.
Signature: Asian sharing plates
Order: Three to four sharing plates per person from the seasonal menu
Asian fusion in Valencia
Ma Khin Cafe ★ 4.2
Ma Khin Cafe on the lower floor of Mercado de Colon in Valencia is a pan-Asian kitchen, with curries, noodles and bao under the 1916 modernista market vault.
Signature: Pad thai, Curry, Bao buns
Order: The Thai green curry or a plate of bao buns with iberico pork.
Tip: Open daily through the day. The Colon market complex hours run longer than the upstairs grocery stalls.
Asian fusion in Vancouver
Le Tigre ★ 4.2
Le Tigre on West Hastings is one of Vancouver's longest-running downtown food trucks since 2012, a Chinese-leaning Crack Salad and rice bowl menu.
Try: Chinese-leaning street food
Order: Crack salad with chicken, the operator's most-ordered bowl.
Tip: Daily location on the operator's Instagram; weekday lunch only.
Asian fusion in Vilnius
Briusly ★ 4.0
Briusly on Islandijos stays open to 01:00 Monday through Saturday, a pan-Asian-bar Senamiestis nightlife anchor for late cocktail orders and Asian snacks.
Try: Pan-Asian small plates
Tip: The Senamiestis nightlife-triangle includes Briusly, Alchemikas, Apoteka. Closed Sunday.
Asian fusion in Zurich
Lily's Original ★ 4.1
Open since 1999 on Langstrasse, Lily's runs long communal tables and an open kitchen serving Japanese noodles, Malaysian satays, Korean salads.
Signature: Japanese noodle bowls, Pakistani curries
Lily's Original ★ 4.1
Pan-Asian counter on Langstrasse since 1999: Japanese noodles, Malaysian satays, Korean salads, Pakistani curries on long communal tables nightly.
Signature: Japanese noodle bowls
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