Ultimate Guide to Asian Restaurants and Experiences in Atlanta

Flavors from the Far East hit all the right notes at these Atlanta restaurants. Atlanta’s penchant for global flavors is revered as the foremost destination for diverse cuisine in the Southeast, and the city’s iconic Buford Highway is only the beginning. Enjoy fresh-caught sushi, comforting bowls of ramen and Korean barbecue that’ll singe your eyebrows off if you aren’t careful. Hibachi grills with flavors from Japan and the Philippines are set ablaze and tossed with searing hot spices from Malaysia and Thailand. Dive in as we explore some of the hottest spots for Asian cuisine in the ATL.

CHINESE

Canton House

Indulge in dim sum delights and a full menu of Cantonese cuisine at two locations – one on Buford Highway and one in Duluth.

Where: 4825 Buford Highway; 2255 Pleasant Hill Road

Chinatown Food Court

While Atlanta doesn’t have a specific Chinatown area, this food court in Chamblee has options for everything: Chinese barbecue, ramen noodles and steaming soup dumplings. Come for an authentic experience and don’t miss the Asian bakery.

Where: 5383 New Peachtree Road

Grand China

Buckhead institution Grand China has served the neighborhood proudly since 1978. While an extensive menu of Chinese delicacies is par for the course, expect a mélange of Eastern flavors from Japan and Thailand, as well.

Where: 2905 Peachtree St. NE

Gu’s Kitchen

Try Sichuan street food at Gu’s Kitchen. Taste the sweet and spicy Zhong-style dumplings, passed down to chef Gu from an 1839 recipe by Shaobai Zhong, and make room for the handmade thick noodles.  

Where: 4897 Buford Highway NE

Hsu’s Gourmet 

Hsu’s Gourmet is Downtown’s de facto Chinese restaurant with street cred to boot, having served celebrities and busy travelers to the city’s meetings district for more than 35 years. Go classic with Peking duck or spice things up with General Tso’s chicken.

Where: 192 Peachtree Center Ave.

LanZhou Ramen

LanZhou Ramen satisfies customers with authentic, hand-pulled noodles and soup dumplings. The MICHELIN Recommended destination also features traditional Chinese appetizers and specialty dishes. 

Where: 5231 Buford Highway NE

Masterpiece

Masterpiece is worth the drive to Duluth. The MICHELIN Bib Gourmand restaurant lacks frills but makes up for it with chef Riu Lui’s tongue-tingling Sichuan dishes like dong po pork (pork belly in a dark brown sauce) and fried eggplant coated in chili and pepper ash powders. Don’t worry, you can cool off with an order of cold (or hot) dan dan noodles.

Where: 3940 Buford Highway NE

Ruby Chow’s

Featuring small plates of yellowtail and short ribs, soft shell crab-steamed buns and noodles aplenty, Ruby Chow’s is a modern Chinese dining experience on the Eastside.

Where: 620 Glen Iris Drive NE

Urban Hai

An array of appetizers, small plates and shareable meat and noodle dishes represents many types of Chinese regional cuisines at Urban Hai in Midtown. Make a meal of the appetizers and small plates or go big with shareable entrees, but save a spot on the table for the pillowy scallion bubble pancake. 

Where: 77 Twelfth St. NE

Xi’an Gourmet House (Midtown) 

MICHELIN Recommended Xi’an Gourmet House (Midtown) offers counter service as eager customers find glorious hand-pulled biang biang noodles, steaming shrimp, lamb or pork dumplings and fresh salads, all from the Xi’an region of China.  

Where: 955 Spring St.

FILIPINO

Estrellita

Bringing the flavors of the Philippines to Grant Park is Estrellita. While it seats only 20, the intimacy is like dining in the home of a friend. It’s that same personal vibe the owners want to impart to guests to drive education and appreciation for their cultural cuisine highlighted by marinated thinly sliced beef (bisktek), deep-fried pork belly (lechon kawali) and meat/seafood eggrolls (lumpia).

Where: 580 Woodward Ave. SE

KamayanATL

Find authentic and brilliant flavors from chef Mia Orino’s Kamayan ATL on Buford Highway. The MICHELIN Recommended dining destination channels traditional Filipino dining right down to the copious spreads of pancit noodles, different flavors of lumpia and fried pompano. Save room for the ube churros or the fanciful Halo Halo with shaved ice and condensed milk. 

Where: 5150 Buford Highway NE

FUSION

Hawkers Street Food

At Hawkers, the fusion of Asian flavors spans everything from Thai and Korean to Malaysian and Chinese. Whether you go the rice and curry route, dig into a heaping bowl of noodles or get hands-on with dippable dumplings, meat skewers and roti, Hawkers is sure to stop you in your tracks.

Where: Multiple locations. There’s one at 661 Auburn Ave. NE, on the Beltline.

Salaryman

Find Japanese and Korean-inspired comfort food at this neighborhood restaurant and bar in Toco Hills. Salaryman serves up everything from poke rice balls and bibimbap to kimchi fried chicken and spicy ramen. 

Where:  2941 North Druid Hills Road

Whiskey Bird

Whiskey Bird in Morningside delivers wildly inventive American-Asian fusion dishes. With a focus on yakitori, Whiskey Bird grills featured ingredients like chimichurri shrimp, octopus and sausage, and, of course, chicken, to perfection. Make a play for crispy rice with spicy tuna or salmon after you’ve downed a few skewers with friends.

Where: 1409 North Highland Ave. NE

INDIAN

Botiwalla

This Indian street grill is found in one of Ponce City Market’s food hall stalls and is the brainchild of chef Meherwan Irani. The upbeat dining spot created by the Chai Pani brand offers chargrilled meats turned into handheld rolls, puffed crisps filled with chutney and potatoes, and matchstick okra fries.

Where: 675 Ponce de Leon Ave. NE

Chai Pani Decatur

MICHELIN Recommended Chai Pani serves fun, affordable Indian street food in the diverse city of Decatur as chef Meherwan Irani dishes out chaat (street snacks), thalis, Indian sandwiches and self-proclaimed “mindblasting” desserts.

Where: 406 W Ponce de Leon Ave.

Zyka: The Taste 

Since 1997, Zyka has served Hyderabadi-style cuisine to hungry Atlantans in Decatur. The longstanding Indian restaurant offers favorites like chicken tikka masala and a 14th-century North India specialty, Nehari with simmered beef shanks. A second location is in Alpharetta. 

Where: 1677 Scott Blvd.

INDONESIAN

WIN – Taste of Bali

Experience Bali in Atlanta with the signature rijsttafel, which features a feast of multiple dishes paired with fried rice, or order a la carte beautiful seafood platters, crispy duck and ribs, all scented with Indonesian spices. 

Where: 2285 Peachtree Road NE

JAPANESE

Eight Sushi Lounge

From elevated ingredients to creative presentation, it’s all about the art of expression at Eight Sushi Lounge, which fits perfectly in the trendy, West Midtown landscape. Explore innovative sushi rolls, iced-out platters of nigiri and sashimi or opt for the revered A5 wagyu.

Where: 930 Howell Mill Road NW

Fudo

Full of fun drinks and an expansive sushi list, Fudo fires on all cylinders. With rolls named after Hollywood blockbusters, small plates of Japanese fried chicken, sweet and spicy shrimp, and fresh sashimi, dining at this Chamblee sushi destination is a movie waiting to happen.

Where: 5070 Peachtree Blvd.

Hayakawa

At Hayakawa, a MICHELIN-starred restaurant in West Midtown, chef Atsushi Hayakawa sources his fish from Tokyo’s toyosu market to create a unique Japanese sushiya experience rarely found outside of Japan.

Where: 1055 Howell Mill Road 

MF Sushi

The Kinjo brothers have been known in the Atlanta community for years and their Inman Park location is nothing short of poetic. Expect meticulously crafted rolls and an exclusive omakase experience at the sushi bar.

Where: 299 North Highland Ave. NE

Momonoki

From the team behind Brush Sushi, Izakaya Momonoki takes the formal Japanese dining experience casual in Midtown with an affinity for warming bowls of ramen, cooked and raw sushi bowls ,and katsu sandwiches.

Where: 95 Eighth St. NW

MUJŌ

The MICHELIN-starred MUJŌ offers a modern, edomae-style sushi-ya. This restaurant started as a pop-up. Executive chef J. Trent Harris now serves an omakase-only tasting experience at MUJŌ, complete with small plates that are followed by nigiri flown in from Japan.

Where: 691 Fourteenth St. NW 

Nakato

Nakato has called Atlanta home for more than 45 years. With celebrated sushi, high-flying hibachi, omakase and private tatami dining, Nakato is a must-visit institution. 

Where: 1776 Cheshire Bridge Road NE

O by Brush

When chef Jason Liang reopened his sushi restaurant Brush in Buckhead, he also opened a restaurant within a restaurant, O by Brush. Behind the counter, Liang presents his interpretation of omakase with Taiwanese and Japanese influences. Stop in for a delicious evening filled with bites such as wheel pie stuffed with monkfish and lots of beautifully presented nigiri, including shima aji, hay-smoked warayaki sawara and dry-aged hirame. 

Where: 3009 Peachtree St

O-Ku

Offering guests an innovative take on traditional Japanese fare, O-Ku is a sushi destination for the modern age. With a lively rooftop and bar boasting sprawling views of Midtown, the only thing at O-Ku that could probably steer your gaze is the amazing specialty rolls.

Where: 1085 Howell Mill Road

Omakase Table

In Atlanta, a pop-up can morph into a restaurant with one Michelin Star. This happened to chef Leonard Yu whose pop-up ultimately became his Omakase Table restaurant in Atlanta’s West Midtown, with dishes like Wagyu beef poached in sukiyaki sauce with a quail egg, uni gohan with otoro. When it comes to nigiri, expect to find delectable bits like kawahagi topped with flash-frozen liver paste and seared sharkskin sole with engawa.

Where: 788 West Marietta St.NW

Tomo Japanese Restaurant

MICHELIN Recommended Tomo Japanese Restaurant in Buckhead offers an omakase experience focusing on plated courses and sushi with a personalized experience. The Chef’s Menu features a la carte dishes ranging from crispy okra tempura to shrimp dumplings, toro tartare, fresh nigiri and sushi.

Where:  3630 Peachtree Road NE

KOREAN

Char Korean Bar & Grill

If anyone ever said they’d never pay to go to a restaurant to cook their own food, then they’ve never visited Char Korean Bar & Grill. Choose from the Inman Park Korean fusion restaurant’s long list of offerings like Korean fried chicken, kimchi mac and cheese, and A5 wagyu katsu sando, or work for your dinner by grilling up your own selections of marinated beef, pork and seafood tableside.

Where: 299 North Highland Ave. NE

Gaja Korean Bar

Gaja Korean Bar in East Atlanta has consistently been recognized as one of Atlanta’s best choices for Korean cuisine since its pop-up days. See what the well-deserved hype is about and bless your taste buds with a few rounds of beef bulgogi, gochujang fried chicken and bibimbap beef.

Where: 491 Flat Shoals Ave. SE 

Han Il Kwan

The MICHELIN Recommended Han Il Kwan serves traditional Korean recipes such as comforting stews, spicy soups and fresh grilled fish but the main attraction is the savory Korean barbecue that you can cook at the table.  

Where: 5458 Buford Highway NE 

Heirloom Market BBQ

Heirloom Market BBQ blends Southern barbecue with Korean marinades and spices, creating a uniquely distinct package in this small, pickup-only destination in a northern suburb of Atlanta. From the spicy Korean pork to tender brisket, sweet and spicy tofu and both traditional Southern and kimchi slaw, it’s possible to create a diverse plate of flavors at this MICHELIN Bib Gourmand spot.

Where: 2243 Akers Mill Road SE

Kwan’s Deli and Korean Kitchen

Aside from the American breakfast, deli sandwiches and salads, this casual corner shop offers authentic Korean dishes in the heart of Downtown. Regulars can’t stop talking about the bulgogi and kimchi.

Where: 267 Marietta St. NW

Woo Nam Jeong (Stone Bowl House)

Situated in a nondescript shopping center on Buford Highway, MICHELIN Recommended Woo Nam Jeong serves traditional Korean fare in a casual setting. Bibimbaps served in dolsots (hot stone bowls) are the stars here in varieties like beef and mushrooms.
Where: 5953 Buford Highway NE

LOATIAN

Snackboxe Bistro

MICHELIN Recommended Snackboxe Bistro in Duluth introduced Laotian food to the Atlanta community with heaps of fried wings tossed in jeow bong sauce, steaming khao poon (vermicelli curry soup) and pork belly laap. Chef and owner Thip Athakhanh slightly blends her menu with Vietnamese and Thai food for even more variety in this bright spot in the northern suburbs.  

Where: 1960 Day Drive NW, Duluth

MALAYSIAN

Food Terminal 

MICHELIN Recommended Food Terminal reflects the cuisine of Malaysia with a gigantic menu of choices, quite heavy in Asian-style street food.

Where: 5000 Buford Highway, Duluth, and 1000 Marietta Street NW, Westside, with other locations around the city.  

Mamak 

Large, affordable portions at Mamak are perfect for sharing, so bring a few friends when you explore the menu. Malaysian classic sinclude rendang beef, nasi lemak (delicious, flavorful coconut rice) and hokkien mee, a Penang specialty with stir-fried noodles.   

Where: 5150 Buford Highway

Top Spice 

Top Spice has been serving Thai and Malaysian cuisine to hungry Atlantans since 1995. Get a taste of Malaysia with roti canai — an Indian-influenced flatbread that’s fluffy, crispy and buttery, served with a rich and aromatic chicken and potato curry. Located in Toco Hills, Top Spice also offers excellent satay chicken and beef rendang, plus Thai favorites like massaman curry and soft shell crab in green curry. 

Where: 3007 North Druid Hills Road

THAI

Chai Yo Modern Thai

The glam interiors and sexy décor at Chai Yo Modern Thai fit right into Atlanta’s luxe neighborhood of Buckhead with fare that’s far-reaching in terms of flavor and innovation by chef/owner DeeDee Niyomkul of Tuk Tuk Thai Food Loft fame. Fall in love with traditional staples like pad Thai and leave inspired with updated takes on drunken noodles and curry.

Where: 3050 Peachtree Road NW

Nan Thai Fine Dining

This award-winning restaurant in Midtown offers traditional sautéed rice, meats and noodles, worthy introductions for the uninitiated. Green curry filet mignon, plus red curry duck and salmon stand at the ready for the real Thai lovers.

Where: 1350 Spring St. NW

Silom Thai & Sushi

Combining spicy Thai flavors with deftly prepared sushi and ramen, Silom Thai and Sushi Bar blends the best of both worlds in a lively atmosphere appropriate for its Buckhead address. It’s all about the curry on the Thai side of things with flavorful sushi rolls and comforting ramen bowls.

Where: 3345 Lenox Road NE

Talat Market

Chefs Parnass Lim Savang and Rod Lassiter’s Talat Market in Summerhill uses traditional techniques to create vibrant flavors. The MICHELIN Recommended restaurant offers brilliant tapioca pork dumplings, smoked beef short ribs and seafood pancakes.

Where: 112 Ormond St. SE

Tuk Tuk Thai Food Loft

For many Atlantans, chef DeeDee Niyomkul’s first Thai foray, Tuk Tuk Thai Food Loft was the gateway into contemporary Southeast Asian cuisine. With a focus on street food, spicy noodles, pan-fried fish and even a build-your-own curry concept, this should be the first step into the world of Thai cuisine for the uninitiated.

Where: 1745 Peachtree Road NW

VIETNAMESE

Le Colonial

Exquisite execution and attention to detail are the hallmarks of French-Vietnamese concept Le Colonial. Spicy soups and curry play well with small plates of shrimp and pork rolls touched with Vietnamese spices in this Buckhead Village restaurant.

Where: 3035 Peachtree Road NE

Le Fat

Modern Vietnamese cuisine and chic environs are the perfect mix at West Midtown’s Le Fat. Try not to fill up on rounds of shrimp and pork-packed rolls, soft-shell crab bao buns and bright papaya salad before you cozy up to warm clay pot chicken, crab noodles and bowls of braised pork belly.

Where: 935 Marietta St. NW

Lee’s Bakery

For years, locals have flocked to this tiny spot off Buford Highway for affordable bánh mì, pho, specialty plates and smoothies. Mr. and Mrs. Lee prepare their Vietnamese sandwiches with freshly baked bread prepared in-house, which is why it’s been consistently voted best bánh mì in the city.

Where: 4005 Buford Highway NE

Nam Phuong

Consistently awarded as one of the best Vietnamese restaurants in America, Nam Phuong brings an authentic dining experience rooted in traditional flavors. Just try and tear yourself away from the fish sauce-glazed chicken wings, braised duck soup and more classics at this unassuming heavy hitter.

Where: 4051 Buford Highway NE

We Suki Suki

While this mini food hall in East Atlanta Village unites a global collection of flavors from Afro-Latin cuisine to specialty sandwiches, it’s the Vietnamese vibes that shine. Steaming bowls of pho filled with beef and chicken and crave-worthy banh mi sandwiches will keep you coming back for more.

Where: 479-B Flat Shoals Ave. SE

Check out our Ultimate Guide to Asian-Owned Businesses in Atlanta and discover other flavors and authentic traditional dishes from around the world using our guide to Global Flavors at Atlanta’s Top International Restaurants.