Celebrate AAPI Month with your stomach at our picks for globally-inspired Asian Restaurants in Greater Houston.
This May marks a national celebration with Asian American & Pacific Islander Month, offering a chance to recognize vital members of our local communities and share in their cultures and cuisines.
It also ushers in Asian Restaurants Month, and we’ve scoured the Greater Houston area to offer you 15 spots that will take you around the world right from the plate in front of you.
Founder and Chef Alex Au-Yeung was recently named a 2022 James Beard Awards Semifinalist—and for several good reasons that you can taste at the Malaysian eatery in Katy. Stop by for scratch-made Malaysian street foods and interpretations on regional Southeast Asian specialties, including the award-winning beef rendang, curry laksa, house dim sum, sizzling tofu and more menu offerings at one of the city’s consistently must-eat restaurants.
The Katy sushi restaurant has been helmed by owner Sherman Yeung since 2019, and is known for their stunning presentation of fresh sushi, Japanese small plates and craft cocktails. Take a tour of Tobiuo’s signature dishes with the nine-course omakase tasting menu, which delivers a collection of chef-chosen items from the sushi and dessert offerings with optional wine pairings.
On Yale Street, this traditional Filipino spot blends the cultures and cuisines of Spain, Malaysia, China, Japan, India and America for an all-out flavor explosion that includes wings, fresh fish platters, Filipino barbecue, fried rice specialties and Filipino noodles. For a traditional Filipino experience, grab some friends for the Kamayan dinner, which offers a chef’s choice spread on banana leaves, meant to be enjoyed with your hands. Keep the party going by booking a room at one of the on-site karaoke rooms.
On Long Point Road, this longtime Korean restaurant offers traditional a la carte eats for you to grill at your table along with a slate of soul-warming stews and a variety of kimchi. The family-owned spot is known for their friendly atmosphere, can’t-miss bulgogi and generously sized combos which, if you’d rather focus on eating, they’ll happily cook it for you in the back.
Tai Nguyen of Uchi and Vuthy “Tee” Srey of MF Sushi combined to open this elevated poke offering east of Downtown that offers sustainably caught fish and produce from nearby Texas farms with uncommon toppings like gochujang sauce, fried shallots and puff rice for texture, and truffle to add depth of flavor.
For nearly a decade, Crawfish Cafe has been serving up signature-spiced Viet-Cajun crawdads and a wide selection of seafood, including Gulf blue crabs, clams, mussels, snow crab legs, lobster, shrimp and more at both of its Houston locations. Pick your seafood, pick one of their ten flavorful sauces, then feast on finger-licking delights.
Dine on traditional dishes of Yemen at this South Gessner outpost serving up staple foods like Mandi rice, chicken and lamb marinated in Hanith sauce, and Saltah, a hearty stew with shredded lamb that’s also known as the national dish of Yemen.
Executive Chef Nirman Shah brings traditional flavors of foods found in the streets of India to this Bollywood-themed spot near Sugar Land Town Square. Swing by to dine on vibrant dishes, like their renown raj kachori, a spicy chaat bowl stuffed with potato and sprout served with curd, chutney, and sev for a crunchy bite.
In Dun Huang Plaza, this ramen house is consistently serving up some of Houston’s best bowls of flavorful, creamy broths out of its cozy but stylish digs. People flock from all over the city to dine on its tonkatsu offerings and yakitori skewers, but the quick service ensures crowded nights don’t mean long wait times.
With locations in Montrose, Sugar Land, Heights, Asia Town, and Katy Asian Town, you’re never too far from the sizzling hot flavors of traditional Sichuan dishes like mala-seasoned crispy chicken, dan dan noodles, cumin-rubbed lamb and a whole slate of other fare that’ll have your mouth—and eyes—watering.
FuFu in Dun Huang Plaza is actually two locations on either side of the parking lot; FuFu Café is renown for their soup dumplings and steamed buns, whereas FuFu Restaurant serves up traditional Chinese classics and Cantonese specials. Either way you go, you can’t go wrong with the massive menu offerings and hearty portions tucked away in cozy Asia Town digs.
With outposts in Asia Town and Katy Asian Town, boba fanatics can get their fixes by choosing from a deep menu of hot and cold drinks plus slushes, topped with more than a dozen options like mung bean, tapioca, sweetened pearls, coconut jelly and more.
Deep in Independence Heights, this recent addition to the scene features a menu of passed-down Thai and Lao dishes, including spicy papaya salads, beef jerky with sticky rice, rad na, and flavorful bowls of savory boat noodle soup with beef meatballs, and Lao chicken noodle soup.
Next to other Asia Town staples like Night Market, Ishin Udon and Cantonese offerings from Mein, this desserts shop makes for a great way to cap off a delicious meal with milk teas, tasty coffees, fluffy souffle pancakes in flavors like matcha, strawberry and mango, plus crepes, shibuya toast and more.
A relative newcomer, this low-key 19th Street spot offers Vietnamese classics with Southern twists from Chefs Tam Nguyen and Rudy Vasquez. Early faves include coconut crema–kissed bánh xèo tostada with shrimp and pork belly, miso marinated claypot fish, and the beloved shaken beef with filet mignon that’s been sauteed with onion, garlic and jalapenos. Pair up your meal with an offering from their robust cocktail and wine menus.
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