Taste the World at Atlanta’s Asian-owned Restaurants

By Silei Li

Published May 20, 2021
Last Updated March 9, 2022

Atlanta’s 10-county Asian population has more than doubled during the past two decades, reaching 300,000 in 2019. Along with that population growth came Asian businesses including restaurants, farmers markets and grocery stores. Many of these establishments can be found along Atlanta’s famous Buford Highway, where over 100 international restaurants representing over 20 countries can be found. From Korean kimchi to Indian curries, here’s a guide for sampling authentic flavors and enjoying a karaoke night out. 

GLOBAL

Pacific Rim Bistro 

Specializing in Pan-Asian cuisine, this restaurant offers flavors traceable to the frozen tundra of Mongolia, the tropics of Thailand and the craft of Japanese cooking. Sushi, yes. Thai basil noodles, yes. Spicy crab roll, yes. And on and on the menus go. 

Where: 303 Peachtree Center Ave. NE, SunTrust Plaza, Downtown

The Consulate

One of Zagat’s “sexiest new bars and restaurants” in Atlanta (2017), The Consulate offers a rotating menu of global cuisine known as its Visa Section Every 90 days, a guest spins the globe and selects a random country. Chef Mei Lin then creates a menu of delicacies from that country, and they are available for three months. Then it’s on to the next country. A few examples from the restaurant’s Delicacies of the Philippines are kare kare oxtail stew, nuuk chops and lechon kawali.     

Where: 10 Tenth St. NW, Midtown

Tum Pok Pok

New to the Buford Highway dining scene, this Thai restaurant brings you classic and popular street food. Try Somtum (spicy papaya salad), Isan sour sausage, mango sticky rice and other Thai dishes amid the bustling vibe of the Thai Isan family setting. You’ll be surprised by the authentic flavors.

Where: 5000 Buford Highway NE, Chamblee

Mamak

Mamak is your destination for Malaysian street food, which combines the flavors of China, India and Malaysia. Here are examples to whet your appetite: spring rolls or satay skewers for starters; wonton soup or pork porridge; noodle dishes; rice dishes; and entrees including spicy tofu, rendang beef, and sweet and sour spareribs. 

Where: 5150 Buford Highway, Doraville (takeout)

2390 Chamblee Tucker Road, Chamblee (dine in) 

Dua Vietnamese Noodle Soup

Want some delicious pho? Here you go. Dua offers traditional Vietnamese food including spring rolls, pho, rice noodles and more at good prices.

Where: 53 Broad St. NW, Downtown; 77 12th St. NE #6b, Midtown

INDIAN

Tabla

Hungry for curry? Lucky for you, there’s a Tabla in both Midtown and Buckhead. Curries on the menu include moilee, korma, tika masala, saag, vindaloo and karahi. Complement your meal with a cocktail inspired by Indian-spiced liqueur.

Where: 77 Twelfth St.NE, Midtown; 3005 Peachtree Road, Buckhead

Chai Pani

This Indian restaurant features chaat – crunchy, spicy, sweet, tangy, brightly flavored Indian street snacks – and thalis – traditional family meals highlighting India’s culinary diversity. Chai Pani translates to “tea and water” and in India it’s slang for going out for a cup of tea or a snack. 

Where: 406 West Ponce de Leon Ave., Decatur

JAPANESE

Nakato Japanese Restaurant

Owned by a Japanese family, Nakato offers dinner two ways – either traditional or hibachi/teppanyaki style. There is sushi, of course, but also takoyaki, Osaka street food with bits of octopus and dough inside a crispy shell; and bento meals, a choice of two classic Japanese dishes with fried shrimp dumplings and karaage chicken cutlets with miso soup. 

Where: 1776 Cheshire Bridge Road, NE, Midtown

Brush Sushi Izakaya

Brush might become your go-to place for Japanese ramen or sushi omakase experiences. There’s one way to find out. Head to the Decatur restaurant. Don’t forget to wash down your meal with sake or a sapporo lager. 

Where: 316 Church St., Decatur

CHINESE

Tasty China Jia

Specializing in authentic Chinese Szechuan dishes, Tasty China Jia operates three restaurants in and around Atlanta . Try bang bang chicken, black ear mushrooms with wild peppers or jelly fish in red chili oil.

Where: 675 Ponce de Leon Ave. NE in Ponce City Market; Additional locations in Smyrna and Marietta

LanZhou Ramen

Go for the hand-pulled noodles. Stick around for spicy crawfish, seafood fried rice, dry fried string beans and so much more. Did we mention dim sum or knife-sliced noodles?

Where: 5231Buford Highway NE, Doraville  

KOREAN

Dish Korean Cuisine

The menu is expansive, so it might be wise to begin with daechu tea (hot or iced, made from dates) while you decide. Two examples of appetizers are Lucky Pockets (crispy wrappers filled with cream cheese) and tofu sticks. There are soups (Kimchi jjigae – spicy stew); rice and noodles; tofu and seafood, and on and on the menu goes. There even are burgers and tacos with a Korean touch.

Where: 5000 Buford Highway NE, Chamblee

So Kong Dong Tofu House

So Kong Dong is an exceptional Korean restaurant specializing in classic Korean dishes like tofu soups, bibimbap, seafood pancakes and more. You won’t want to miss the combo specials. Get a tofu soup, bibimbap or noodle of your choice combined with delicious barbecue ribs or bulgogi at a good price. Free small side dishes are served with your meal.

Where: 5280 Buford Highway NE, Suite C, Doraville

Satisfy Your Sweet Tooth

Sweet Hut Bakery & Cafe

This is your go-to place for bubble tea, pastries and desserts. Consider it your headquarters for sweet buns. If cookies are your thing, try matcha, almond tulie or almond napoleon. If you’re needing a meal, consider the bibimbap burger or bulgogi (Korean barbecue cheese steak).  

Where: 5150 Buford Highway, Doraville; 935 Peachtree St. NE, Midtown; 3393 Peachtree Road, Lenox Square in Buckhead. Additional locations in Marietta and Duluth

Gokul Sweets

You might get carried away with the array of Indian sweets at Gokul. We’re talking adadiya, aflatoon, anjeer dry fruit halwa, badam barfi, basam laddu and on and on it goes. Black pepper cashews anyone? 

Where: 1707 Church St., Decatur. Additional location in Duluth

Tea Top

Originated from Tea Talk in Taiwan, this tea shop offers premium and fresh tea drinks such as signature alpine green tea, Darjeeling milk tea, Sun Moon Lake milk tea and more.

Where: 6035 Peachtree Road, Doraville

4.0 Ice Cream & Drinks

Featuring a variety of bubble tea, tea drinks and innovative drinks, this tea shop brings you premium Chinese tea and creative, modern tea experiences. You can find all kinds of amazing combinations with tea here: soybean black milk tea, mochi sesame milk tea, marvelous fruit tea, coconut matcha sweet potato latte… you name it.

Where: 6035 Peachtree Road, Doraville

White Windmill Bakery & Cafe

Head to this Korean cafe for coffee and light fare plus sweet treats including frozen yogurt.

Where: 5881 Buford Highway, Doraville

GROCERIES AND FARMERS MARKETS

Patel Plaza

The Patel Brothers own more than 50 full-service grocery stores nationwide, and Atlanta is lucky to be one of those locations. The focus is on the flavors of India and the Middle East. If it’s sheer khurma vermicelli you want to make, you’ll find the ingredients here.

Where: 1711 Church St., Decatur

H Mart

It’s one-stop shopping for all your Asian culinary needs. There are weekly specials and smart cards for savings, rebates and more.

Where: 6035 Peachtree Road Building B, Doraville. Additional locations in Riverdale, Duluth, Johns Creek and Suwanee

Buford Highway Farmers Market

This 100,000-square-foot farmers market arranges aisles by country of origin. Whether you’re looking for fresh kimchi or cow pizzle, you’ll find it at the Buford Highway Farmers Market.

Where: 5600 Buford Highway NE, Doraville

City Farmers Market

You’ll find basic grocery store items plus specialty items you may not find in other chains.

Where: 3317 Buford Highway NE, Atlanta. Additional locations in Chamblee, Snellville, Marietta, Norcross and Duluth

SING IT LOUD

Karaoke

Love singing karaoke (even if you can’t sing)? These Asian-owned karaoke spots feature songs from all over the world. Visit Mics Karaoke at 6035 Peachtree Road in Doraville; Happy Karaoke at 5425 Buford Highway in Doraville; and Stars Blvd Karaoke at 6319 Jimmy Carter Blvd. in Norcross.