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Ultimate Guide to Asian-Owned Businesses in Atlanta

The variety of Asian businesses and restaurants in Atlanta is as diverse as the continent itself. Here is a guide to just some of the Asian-owned shops, services and restaurants that you’ll want to discover and enjoy.

Restaurants

Hawkers Asian Street Food is a favorite spot along Atlanta’s Beltline. (Photo by Nicholas Leyva/Hawkers Asian Street Food)

Brush Sushi

Brush Sushi offers an authentic Edomae omakase experience in the heart of Buckhead. (Photo by ChingYao Wang)

Brush Sushi was one of the first restaurants to introduce Edomae-style sushi to Atlanta. Led by James Beard-nominated chef Jason Liang, the restaurant offers Tokyo-style sushi and sashimi, ramen and Binchotan grilled fare. Be sure to try patisserie chef Ching Yao Wang’s desserts as well as Brush Sushi’s lunch and brunch.

Where: 3009 Peachtree Road

Chirori

Chirori was one of the first restaurants to introduce robata yaki (the art of charcoal grilling and sake pairing) to Atlanta. The Midtown restaurant offers authentic Japanese fusion cuisine as well as a 15-course nigiri omakase dinner. In addition, Chirori’s robata offerings include beef toban (sirloin beef with shishitou mushroom and bell pepper) and smoked pork belly with kimchi puree, scallion salad and boba.

Where: 349 Fourteenth St.

Eight Sushi Lounge

Eight Sushi Lounge is a partnership between Handy Ho, executive chef, and Windy Ho, director of operations and sake sommelier, that offers a new take on Japanese food. It is known for its creative sushi, including such delicacies as madai carpaccio, tuna crisp and eggs Benedict, which consists of rice, spicy tuna, shish leaf and a sunny side up quail egg.

Where: 930 Howell Mill Road NW

Guy’s Dumplings

Guy’s Dumplings offers zhong-style dumplings and Chengdu cold noodles

Where: Krog Street Market, 99 Krog St. NE

Hayakawa

Hayakawa is a one-star Michelin restaurant that provides an outstanding traditional omakase experience.

Learn more about Chef Hayakawa in his interview.

Where: 1055 Howell Mill Road

Lazy Betty

Lazy Betty’s is a one-star Michelin restaurant that offers creative cuisine, including a truffle hunt, pomme puree, black truffle, potato soil and pickled honshimiji as part of an omakase experience. (Photo by Matt Wong of Graftable)

Lazy Betty is a one MICHELIN Star restaurant that offers a multi-course tasting menu as well as a la carte bar menu. Lazy Betty’s two new tasting menus include stuffed squab, kampachi tatami and truffle hunt.  Lazy Betty’s nationally known chefs are Ron Hsu and Aaron Phillips.

Where: 999 Peachtree St.

Momonoki

Mononoki is a counter service restaurant that focuses on Japanese comfort fare, including chef-driven ramen, tsukemen (dipping ramen), donburi (raw/cooked rice bowls), katsu sando (Japanese cutlet sandwiches), salads and small plates.

Where: 95 Eighth St. NW

Nagomiya

Nagomiya is an authentic Japanese-owned eatery, complete with a Zen Garden mural, that focuses on craft sushi along with izakaya tapas.

Where: 1010 West Peachtree St.

Nakato

Nakato has been a mainstay of Japanese dining in Atlanta for the past 50 years with the founder’s daughter, Sachi Nakato Takahara, continuing the tradition.

Where: 177 Cheshire Bridge Road NE

O By Brush

O by Brush is led by chef Jason Liang.

O by Brush is led by one Michelin-starred and James Beard-nominated chef Jason Liang, who is a Taiwanese-American. The restaurant is nestled within Brush Sushi. A highlight of the lavish 20-course omakase tasting menu is the meticulous use of dry-aged fish.

Where: 3009 Peachtree Road NE

O-Ku

O-Ku offers a variety of sushi and innovative cuisine under the watch of executive chef and culinary director Masatomo Hamaya. (Photo by Vicki Artorntamarat)

O-Ku’s menu showcases a variety of Japanese specialities including sushi, sashimi, nigiri and maki rolls in addition to entrees such as lobster teppan and salmon usuzukuri. In addition, chef Masatomo Hamaya offers an omakase dining experience.

Where: 1085 Howell Mill Road NW

Omakase Table

Omakase Table is a one-star Michelin restaurant that offers an intimate 12-seat chef’s counter experience led by chef Leonard Yu. The restaurant’s 20-course menu features a progression of the best available seasonal ingredients.

Where: 3330 Piedmont Road NE

Ruby Chow’s

Ruby Chow’s is a culinary gem that blends traditional Asian flavors with modern twists thanks to chef Guy Wong’s creativity.

Where: 620 Glen Iris Drive

Ryokou

Ryokou recently opened in Adair Park and is an omakase restaurant by chef Leonard Yu of the Michelin-starred Omakase Table. Ryokou has an eight-course tasting menu with plates such as aomori gai and awabi kimo.

Where: 565 Northside Drive SW

Tomo

Tomo Japanese Restaurant is recommended by the Michelin Guide and serves authentic Japanese cuisine as well as an omakase experience curated by chef San.

Where: 3630 Peachtree Road NE

Yakitori Kona

Yakitori Kona, an intimate izakaya cocktail bar in Virginia-Highland, offers traditional grilled skewers and sushi. (Photo by Southern Exposure Media Group)

Yakitori Kona is an intimate izakaya cocktail bar that offers traditional grilled skewers and craft cocktails.

Where: 1004 Virginia Ave. NE

Wagaya

Takashi Otsuka, founder and CEO of MJK Hospitality, opened Wagaya in 2015 and later added a second location in Emory Village. MJK Hospitality also owns Wagaya Groceries, Chirori and Nagomioya. Wagaya features Japanese cuisine and sushi and offers traditional dishes from sushi, donburi, curry and ramen.

Where: 349 Fourteenth St. NW; 1579 North Decatur Road NE

JIA Szechuan Food and Bar

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 jellyfish 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 to this MICHELIN Guide Bib Gourmand gem on Buford Highway. 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: 5231 Buford Highway NE, Doraville  

Lucky Star

Lucky Star at Star Metals is a Taiwanese cafe cocktail bar. The food is mainly small bites, and this newly opened restaurant comes from chef Jason Liang and John Chen from the MICHELIN-Starred O-Brush, Momonoki and Momo Cafe.

Where: 1055 Howell Mill Road NW

Noodoh Asian Fusion & Bar

Noodoh Asian Fusion & Bar offers a variety of dishes, including savory noodles and fusion salads.

Where: 126 Renaissance Parkway NE

Xing Fu Tang

Xing Fu Tang’s signature offering is its brown sugar boba milk, an homage to the restaurant’s founder, Edison Chen. In addition to its drinks, it offers soft serve ice cream, a variety of toasts and desserts.

Where: 2476 Pleasant Hill Road, Duluth

Nan Thai Fine Dining

Nan Thai Fine Dining offers authentic Thai cuisine, thanks to Chef Nan Niyomkul, who was born in Bangkok and became passionate about food working beside her mother, who was a street food vendor in Thailand.

Where: 1350 Spring St. NW

Nan Thai Buckhead

Nan Thai Buckhead is one of the restaurants from the pioneering Tamarind Restaurant Group, started by Nan and Charlie Niyomkul. Lemongrass salad with octopus, onions, kaffir lime and cilantro is a popular menu item. (Photo by Brandon Amato)

Nan Thai Buckhead is part of the Tamarind Group, which includes Nan Thai Fine Dining, and offers traditional Thai food with modern sensibilities. Chef DeeDee Niyomkul is the daughter of Nan Niyomkul.

Where: 3050 Peachtree Road

Talat Market

Chef Rod Lassiter and Parnass Savang at Talat Market.

Talat Market is a highly acclaimed Thai-inspired restaurant in Summerville. Not only were chefs Parnass Savang and Rod Lassiter nominated in the the Best Chef Southeast category for the James Beard Awards, but Talat Market is also a MICHELIN Recommended restaurant. The menu changes daily, so the experience is always different — and amazing.

Learn more about Chef Parnass Savang in his interview.

Where: 112 Ormond St. SE

Tiki Thai

Tiki Thai melds traditional Thai cuisine with a vibrant tiki vibe, including exotic drinks.

Where: 1715 Howell Mill Road NW

Top Spice

Top Spice has been for more than 20 years a favorite of Atlantans who want dishes that blend Thai and Malaysian cuisines.

Where: 3007 North Druid Hills Road and 2997 Cobb Parkway

Tuk Tuk Thai Food Loft

Tuk Tuk Thai Food Loft has been named the top Thai restaurant in the country by Travel + Leisure Magazine. The restaurant was started by DeeDee Niyomkul, using her grandmother’s recipes.

Where: 1745 Peachtree St.

Hawkers

The co-founders of Hawkers Asian Street Food, left to right, are Kin Ho, Wayne Yung, Allen Lo and Kaleb Harrell. They bring a variety of Asian influences to the menu. (Photo by Nicholas Leyva/Hawkers Asian Street Food)

Hawkers, located on the Atlanta Beltline, has its roots in Malaysia, Hong Kong, Vietnam and … well, Florida. It’s an interesting mix. The street food features bars, rolls, wings, curries and salads.

Where: 661 Auburn Ave. NE

Food Terminal

Food Terminal got its start when 15-year-old Amy Wong began selling street-style noodles from a kiosk in Malaysia. Together with her partner, they came to Atlanta and created brands such as Top Spice and Sweet Hut. Food Terminal’s concept reflects Malaysia’s diverse culinary cuisine by drawing influences from India, as well as the Chinese provinces of Guang Zhou, Hokkien, Teochew and Hakka. Food Terminal is a MICHELIN Recommended restaurant and the Guide took special mention of its garlic noodles.

Where: 5000 Buford Highway, Chamblee; 1000 Marietta St. NW, Atlanta; 6360 North Point Parkkway., Alpharetta; 6550 Aria Blvd., Sandy Springs

Taste of Bali

Taste of Bali’s menu is curated by the Indonesian Culinary Institute and created by chef-owner Handoko Lee. The elevated traditional and colonial Dutch cuisine kindles such fan favorites as Jimbaran seafood, rendang and rijsttafel.

Where: 2285 Peachtree Road

Char Korean Bar & Grill

Char Korean Bar & Grill is an Old Fourth Ward restaurant by Richard Tang that offers a traditional Korean BBQ experience where patrons cook the food at their tables.

Where: 299 North Highland Ave. NE

Gaja Korean Bar

Gaja Korena Bar is nestled away in an alley in East Atlanta Village, but well worth finding, especially for its small plates such as kimchi fried rice and hedo bap.

Where: 491 Flat Shoals Ave. SE.

Han Il Kwan

Han Il Kwan is a MICHELIN Recommended Korean barbecue and tofu house. Noted dishes include haemul-pajeon, stews such as kimchi jjigae and certified Angus beef barbecue.

Where: 5458 Buford Highway NE, Doraville

Discover more authentic Korean food in Atlanta.

KamayanATL

Chef Mia owns of KamayanATL.

KamayanATL is a family-run MICHELIN Recommended restaurant that offers authentic Filipino cuisine.

Where: 5150 Buford Highway NE

Estrellita

Estrellita is a Filipino restaurant, owned by Hope Webb, that earned a MICHELIN Guide Bib Gourmand distinction two consecutive years.

Hope Webb is one of the female chefs leading the culinary scene in Atlanta.

Where: 580 Woodward Ave. SE

Big Daddy’s Hawaiian BBQ

Big Daddy’s Hawaiian BBQ offers a fresh approach to Hawaiian-inspired cuisine.

Where: 800 Forrest St. NW

Waikikie Hawaiian BBQ

Waikikie Hawaiian BBQ offers the best of Hawaiian cooking, including BBQ chicken, kale pork and teriyaki beef bowls.

Where: 2160 Briarcliff Road

Chai Pani

This MICHELIN Recommended 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

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

Dua Vietnamese

Dua Vietnamese offers classic dishes such as pho, spring rolls and bún bò huế.

Where: 77 Twelfth St. NE

Le Colonial

Le Colonial is located in Buckhead Village. (Photo by Campfire Social)

Le Colonial showcases executive chef Shuma Kuwamoto’s traditional Vietnamese recipes alongside contemporary takes on classic dishes. Among its specialties are suon nuong, sui cao chien and banh mi thit nuong.

Where: 3035 Peachtree Road NE

Nam Phuong

Nam Phuong is a MICHELIN Recommended restaurant that offers such Vietnamese street food favorites as bôt chiên, as well as pho such as pho gâu, with tender brisket and bouncy noodles. Chef/owner Du Nguyen and co-owner Hot Phan oversee this favorite eatery.

Where: 4051 Buford Highway NE

Poor Calvin’s

Poor Calvin’s offers Asian cuisine with Southern influences. Chef Calvin Phan is from Vietnam but was raised and classically trained in Germany.

Where: 510 Piedmont Ave. NE

Sồ Ba

Sồ Ba is an East Atlanta Village Vietnamese restaurant that offers pho, com and bun dishes.

Where: 560 Gresham Ave.

Other Businesses

Alice Park Photography

Alice Park and her husband, Kyu, founded a photography studio specializing in children’s photography. In 2009, the couple created the National Association of Professional Child Photographers, where she practices her art with her children, Lyon and Elise. She also conducts creativity summer camps for children.

Where: 690 Miami Circle NE

Buford Highway Farmers Market

Find it all at Buford Highway Farmers Market. (Photo by Daniela Cintron)

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

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, Doraville. Additional locations in Riverdale, Duluth, Johns Creek and Suwanee

Junko Hair Studio

Junko Hair Studio was founded by Junko Taniguchi and the studio is known for meeting the needs of its diverse clientele. Located in Peachtree Battle Shopping Center, Junko specializes in Japanese Thermal Reconditioning treatments.

Where: 2391 Peachtree Road

Kai Lin Art

Kai Lin Art is a contemporary art gallery founded in 2008 by Yo-Kai Lin. Recognized by international and national publications as well as regional ones, Kai Lin Art, located in West Midtown, specializes in promoting emerging and established artists in the Southeast and beyond. In addition to the art, Kai Lin Art also offers a venue for events and any special occasion.

Where: 999 Brady Ave. NW

Patel Plaza

The Patel Brothers own more than 50 full-service grocery stores nationwide, and Atlanta is 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

Sugarcoat

Peiru Kim, a Georgia Tech graduate, founded Sugarcoat, a nail and beauty bar that offers services such as manicures, pedicures, hair and massages. It currently has 14 locations in metro Atlanta and Miami and four more on the way.

Where: throughout Metro Atlanta

Sweet Hut Bakery and Cafe

Sweet Hut Bakery and Cafe will satisfy your sweet tooth.

Sweet Hut Bakery and Cafe is an Asian-focused bakery with sweet and savory Malaysian, Southeast Asian and Japanese pastries. The bakery also has a variety of fusion options such as a hamburger with bulgogi flavors, Taiwanese chicken nuggets and banh mi (similar to a po boy sandwich). Don’t forget to order bubble tea. Sweet Hut is owned by the restaurateurs behind the city’s Food Terminal, a Malaysian restaurant.

Where: 935 Peachtree St. NE; 2180 Pleasant Hill Blvd., Duluth; 5150 Buford Highway, Doraville

Wagaya Groceries

Wagaya Groceries carries an extensive selection of Japanese and East Asian products as well as snacks, Asian fruits and cooking items. Additionally, the Wagaya Fish Market is a hybrid store that allows you to place an order online and pick it up at the grocery store. Wagaya Fish Market offers fresh sashimi-grade seafood from Japan and around the world, including bluefin o-toro, Japanese sea urchin and sweet shrimp.

Where: 349 14th St. SW

Keep exploring the Asian culture in Atlanta through Buford Highway, Atlanta’s Vibrant International Corridor and Culinary Kaleidoscope.

Ultimate Guide to Asian-Owned Businesses in Atlanta

Journalist Mary Welch writes business and lifestyle stories for local and national publications. 

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