Asian-Owned Restaurants to Check Out in Philadelphia

Let the surfboard-adorned sign out front of Banana Leaf beckon you into this Chinatown restaurant that serves up spicy curries, warm and cold noodles, Malaysian-style spare ribs and so much more. The extensive menu has plenty of vegetarian options, as well as a house-special sauce that offers a delightful burn. Crowd-pleasers include Mama Chicken (deep-fried chopped chicken served in a sweet and slightly spicy sauce) and roti canai (an Indian flatbread).

Born and raised in Vietnam, chef/owner Tuan Phung confesses to having watched too much Food Network. His homey place on South Street combines a craft beer bottle shop, a cocktail bar and a creative Vietnamese kitchen, serving up signature dishes like the Obama bowl (a creative twist on bun cha Hanoi featuring Hanoian-style pork patties and grilled pork in nuoc mam broth and fried pork and shrimp rolls for two) and a sandwich made with pho-braised brisket.

There’s nothing pretentious about this tiny Fishtown spot under the El. Owner/chef Joseph Kim and his wife Ellie run the show at the 16-seat sushi and ramen restaurant and keep the vibe casual — though the food is anything but. Bao buns, tuna guac and miso soup lead to carefully crafted sushi, sashimi and maki alongside a handful of ramen bowls and dishes from the kitchen. The reservation-only omakase is the real standout, with 22 courses at $180.

Indonesian street food — like meatball soup and egg noodle bowls — is the highlight at D’Jakarta, owned by husband and wife Beddy Sonie and Alfitri Ho. And don’t miss takeout spot Martabak OK, which specializes in wildly popular pancakes that come stuffed with sweet or savory fillings like cream cheese and Oreos, peanut butter or ground beef.

Natural wines are having a moment — and Vanessa Wong is here for it. Her cozy Fishtown wine bar and bottle shop specializes in organic, sustainable, biodynamic and natural wines. Stop in to buy wines from small producers or stay to sip them at the bar — or, if it’s warm, a delightful outdoor table on bustling Frankford Avenue — where you can also enjoy beer, cocktails and small plates. Pro tip: Don’t miss happy hour, which takes place every day of the week.

James Beard Award semifinalist chef Thanh Nguyen serves the dishes at her restaurant, Gabriella’s Vietnam, exactly as they’re presented in the streets in Vietnam. The menu centers on street food, hot pot soup and chef’s specials like the shaken beef (wok-charred marinated filet mignon cubes) and sizzling turmeric catfish with vermicelli noodles. Don’t miss the water fern dumplings (rice cakes topped with minced shrimp, pork crackling, mung beans, fried shallot and scallion) or the crispy savory crepes. Bonus: The restaurant is BYOB.

If you’re looking for a spot to get sushi every day of the week, Pennsport’s Ginza Sushi and Ramen has your back. Here you’ll find some tried-and-true favorites, like gyoza, uni sashimi and California rolls, and signature rolls, too, like Okinawa Sunset (spicy scallop, red tobiko, asparagus and avocado topped with white tuna, spicy scallop, spicy mayo and wasabi mayo) and Prism Dream (spicy crab mango, torched tuna, salmon and tobiko topped with yuzu miso and honey wasabi sauce). Not feeling sushi? No worries: Ginza serves a number of teriyaki dinner platters and five different varieties of ramen.

The name of the game at Grandma’s Philly is shared small plates. Translation: Order a bunch of dishes and try ’em all. Donrutai “Chef Locket” Jainon uses her grandmother’s recipes for this authentic Thai menu, which features New York strip steak with a special house sauce, meatballs (also in a special house sauce), crispy pork belly and green curry. Fresh ingredients are on display both in the dishes and in the fruit-forward cocktails. Save some room for mango sticky rice for dessert.

Tony and Suki Liu have brought fine Japanese dining to southern Chester County. After migrating to New York from Fujian, China, where they met, the couple settled in Kennett Square and opened ily Asian Cuisine Sushi & Grill, serving up Chinese classics from the wok and hibachi, alongside fresh sushi and now poke bowls. In fall of 2021, they opened GuGu Asian Table, a sophisticated dining room offering a variety of cooked and raw specialties, including bluefin toro, featured on their tuna tasting menu.

Unassuming Indonesian restaurant Hardena/Waroeng Surabaya in South Philly earned Ena, Maylia and Diana Widjojo a James Beard Award semifinalist nod and national attention in 2018. The modest, family-run spot, now led by Ena’s daughters Maylia and Diana, has been a local favorite for folks looking to sample the flavors of Sumatra, Java and Bali since it opened in 2001. Try the tempe, a soybean-based dish in a cake-like structure that many people don’t realize is an Indonesian staple. The Hardena family has expanded with Rice & Sambal, an Indonesian supper club, spearheaded by Diana and her partner Jen.

Accomplished restaurateur and 2023 James Beard Outstanding Restaurateur Ellen Yin opened Fork in Old City in 1997 — and it’s still going strong today. Her High Street Hospitality group includes High Street, High Street Hoagies at Penn’s Franklin Table and a.kitchen + a.bar at AKA Rittenhouse hotel (which was recognized by Wine Enthusiast as one of “The 50 Wine Restaurants We Love 2021”). Don’t miss Fork’s wine program, High Street’s handmade sourdough pizzas and roasted chicken at a.kitchen.

On a quiet Fishtown side street sits Hiroki, named after executive chef Hiroki Fujiyama. Originally hailing from Kyoto, Japan, Fujiyama trained at Morimoto for a decade. Guests here can expect a traditional omakase menu which changes seasonally. The six courses consist of zensai (a starter), meat, two sushi dishes, miso soup and dessert. Go all out and opt for the sake pairing.

Head out to University City for halal kabobs and curries at Kabobeesh. Not only are the kabobs (available in lamb, chicken, beef, fish and paneer) grilled over charcoal, giving it a smoky flavor, they’re all made to order. The curries — like chicken tikka masala lamb curry — pair nicely with freshly made tandoori naan. Specialities, like tandoori chicken pizza, burgers and pizzas are also on offer. If you’re an early bird, swing by for breakfast: deep fried bread, chickpeas, spiced potatoes, a salad and more.

What started out as chef-owner Chutatip “Nok” Suntaranon’s search for a catering kitchen quickly morphed into a critically acclaimed sensation. She was a 2022 finalist for the James Beard Award for Mid-Atlantic chef, and Kalaya was a 2020 James Beard Award semifinalist for Best New Restaurant — the same year Esquire named Kalaya the 2020 Restaurant of the Year. Kalaya showcases the authentic southern Thai recipes Suntaranon learned from her mother, for whom the restaurant is named. In October 2022, Kalaya moved from its original Bella Vista location to a much larger space in Fishtown, where reservations remain in high demand.

Chef Ange Branca first opened Saté Kampar in 2016 to spotlight Malaysian satay grilled on coconut shell charcoal. During the pandemic, Branca pivoted to mentoring emerging chefs making underrepresented food. Now she’s back with a new restaurant, Kampar, again focusing on Malaysian street foods, like the mouth-watering chili pan me (spicy noodles) and nasi lemak (coconut cream-soaked rice topped with sambal, roasted peanuts, crispy anchovies and hard-boiled egg, wrapped in a fresh banana leaf). For lovers of hand-held dishes, the ramly burger is unbeatable.

In a little building in Olney (look for the red facade), you’ll find Kim’s Restaurant, a hidden gem. You can’t get much better than Korean barbecue cooked hot and fresh on a charcoal grill at your table. Choose from beef tongue, pork belly, lamb chops and other barbecue meats and an assortment of fresh banchan, like kimchi, fish cakes and cucumber. Aside from barbecue dishes, the menu features fried dumplings, stews and noodles. Visitors tout the high-quality meats and stellar service.

Born in China and raised in Taiwan, Margaret Kuo is a culinary legend in the Philadelphia area. After coming to the U.S. on a scholarship, she married, relocated to the Philadelphia area and pivoted from chemistry to the restaurant business. She’s been a fixture of the dining scene since the 1970s, introducing a whole generation of suburbanites to traditional northern Chinese cuisine. She has owned various restaurants over the decades and currently runs one: Margaret Kuo’s Kitchen at Granite Run in Media which raises the bar for mall dining, with dim sum, dumplings and classics like General Tso’s chicken and Moo Shoo pork.

Mawn, which translates to “chicken” in the Cambodian language of Khmer, is a self-proclaimed “noodle house with no rules.” Helmed by Cambodian American chef Phila Lorn and his wife Rachel, the menu showcases Cambodian and Southeast Asian dishes. Settle into the cozy BYOB for some saht koh (ginger, galangal and lemongrass marinated beef ribeye), khao soi (a Northern Thai curry with braised chicken, chili jam, red onion, pickled greens and ramen) and a crunchy funnel cake to finish. Note: Reservations can be tough to get.

Located inside the Hong Kong Supermarket in the Rising Sun Plaza Shopping Center in Lawncrest, Nam Vang Restaurant serves stellar authentic Khmer and Vietnamese soups. This well-kept secret has no shortage of noodle and meat-centric dishes. Just a sampling of the menu: rice noodle soups with assorted meats and seafood; chicken, seafood, duck, beef and pork on vermicelli; pan-fried noodles; fried rice; broken rice with any assortment of meats or seafood; and milkshakes and smoothies.

In a crowded Washington Avenue strip mall packed with other delicious restaurants (see: Sky Cafe), Pho 75 is the tried-and-true spot for incredible pho. There may be a wait, but there’s plenty of seating and staff gets you in and out — with a full belly — quickly. Choose from cuts of beef (brisket, flank, eye-round steak, for instance) and savor the perfectly salty broth and tender noodles. Keep in mind this spot is cash only. (We know: The parking lot is a little crazy. Don’t be intimidated.)

Don’t drive by the gray-blue building at 5th and Snyder—that’s Phở Duyên. The menu is tight (all killer, no filler) and consists of noodle soups, house-fried chicken and rice dishes. Noteworthy items include the special beef pho with tri-tip steak, meatball, tendon and tripe; and Vietnamese crab noodle soup, filled with an assortment of meats, ham and rice vermicelli. More seafood options include nam vang noodles with shrimp, quail eggs, liver and other meats. Visitors mention the fresh and flavorful broth in the soups.

Heaps of beef rendang and curries await at Ramayana Restaurant. The low-key space with yellow-green walls has a cafeteria-style ordering system: pick out your meal from a buffet line. Aside from the aromatic beef, chicken and beef dishes with rice, Ramayana offers vegan and vegetarian dishes, like slow-cooked jackfruit and sauteed tofu, tempeh and sator. Order a combo meal and get all your proteins with rice.

The exterior of Royal Sushi & Izakaya is unassuming, though the food is delectably memorable. Jesse Ito’s delicious Japanese menu made him a James Beard Award Rising Star Chef of the Year semifinalist for four years in a row (2017-2020), and a finalist for the Mid-Atlantic chef award in 2022 and 2024. Guests at the Queen Village restaurant can opt for the reservations-only, 17-piece $300 omakase menu at Royal Sushi (good luck getting a reservation!) or the more casual first-come first-served a-la-carte experience at Royal Izakaya.

Satay, all day. Grilled meat skewers are on display at Satay Bistro in varieties like beef, pork, chicken and tempeh — all served with a rice cake and sauces. Guests at this Spring Garden spot from husband-and-wife team Indra Cipto and Fenty Triany can also build their own rice plate, choosing from proteins like coconut beef rendang, lemongrass basil chicken and goat curry to pair with vegetables such as red chili eggplant and steamed vegetables with coconut. Don’t forget the potato fritters on the side.

One of Center City’s top Korean restaurants got its start in North Philadelphia. Owner Chris Cho still operates both Seorabol locations, serving Korean barbecue, bibimbap, and soups and stews daily. The original spot in Olney is part of a vital and growing Korean business district, but the Center City restaurant draws a loyal following as well. Whether you’re in the mood for a sizzling spicy seafood tofu soup or want to sink your teeth into chicken GUI (don’t forget the banchan), there are plenty of hearty options at both locations.

Authentic dishes from Sumatra, Indonesia, have been on the menu since Mutia Aji opened Seulanga Cafe in 2014. This centrally located South Philly restaurant is a short walk from the bustling Synder and Passyunk avenue corridors, and though it’s easy to miss, the food is unforgettable. If you can limit yourself to just one dish, make it nasi padang, steamed rice that comes with multiple dishes you can choose at your discretion, like beef rendang, spicy chicken, fish and more.

Can’t make it into Chinatown? South Philly has plenty of great options for Chinese fare. Beef chow fun, wonton noodle soup and deep-fried chicken are all on the menu at Shing Kee. The expansive menu is heavy on soups, seafood and chef’s specials, which include filet steak with black pepper broccoli, roasted duck, Thai-style fish filet and many more. Also expect classics like fried rice, shrimp and broccoli, and scallion pancakes.

Gado gado (salad), pempek (fishcake), coconut rice-based dishes and other Indonesian plates occupy the extensive menu at Sky Cafe, which has called South Philly home since day one (though owner Betty Yu relocated to the current spot — in a Washington Avenue strip mall packed with other incredible restaurants — after a fire in 2015). This modest and beloved neighborhood restaurant serves everything from mouth-watering marinated ribs to the Nasi Padang platter, which gives you a taste of meats, veggies and all. (Translation: You get the most bang for your buck.)

Sophie’s Kitchen is a family affair through and through. Husband and wife Danny Duk and chef Sophia Neth run the show with their four sons, serving all things Cambodian for both breakfast and dinner. Family-style dishes like lemongrass beef stew and coconut-curried mussels delight customers and food critics alike. Bring a crew and split the country sour soup with prawns, the mussels, all the chicken skewers and red snapper.

Just a block away from the famous Chinatown Friendship Gate is Spice C, a tasty spot for hand-drawn noodles. The hand-drawn and hand-shaved noodles are prepared fresh to order, while the soups include two different types of broth (the original beef broth and the thicker, spicier Szechuan-style broth) with over 20 toppings to choose from. Elsewhere on the menu, find dim sum, fried rice, hot pot and pad thai. You can’t go wrong with the house special noodle soup, which includes beef, brisket and tendon.

One of the most popular ramen spots in Chinatown, Terakawa Ramen — where the broth is simmered for two days and the noodles are made in-house — specializes in recipes from the Kumamoto region of Japan. This go-to hotspot offers two types of noodles — a thick wavy egg noodle and a thin, straight light-colored noodle — available in the nine different types of ramen. Their signature Terakawa Ramen features Natural Heritage Berkshire Pork bone soup topped with roast pork (charshu), bamboo shoots, kikurage mushrooms, red ginger, chopped scallions and a seasoned boiled egg.

After a day of museum-hopping, make your way to Thanal Indian Tavern, just a few blocks off of the Benjamin Franklin Parkway. The restaurant has unique twists on Indian favorites like naan (but filled with coriander spiced crab meat) and tandoori chicken wings. Other can’t-miss dishes include goat biryani, gobi manchurian (cauliflower in a spicy and tangy sauce) and okra curry. They’ve also got tons of vegetarian and vegan options for plant-based diners, sweet lassi drinks and desserts. Oh, and did we mention they have a lunch buffet?

Few have mastered the art of Chinese small plates (think succulent soup dumplings and fluffy buns) quite like Tom’s Dim Sum. The Chinatown location is located beneath a dark underpass by the Pennsylvania Convention Center, but the bright restaurant sign is a beacon. Not in the dumpling mood? Find soups, chicken, pork or beef and rice-based dishes, seafood, fried rice, noodles, veggies and desserts on the expansive menu.

The menu at chef Kenneth Sze’s Old City raw bar is fresh, locally sourced and family-influenced. The bright dining room opens out right onto bustling Race Street with huge windows that open in warmer months. Alongside the fresh hand-selected fish, guests enjoy the specialty cocktails, sake and a long wine list with sushi, raw oysters, scallops and shareable entrees. Feel extra Philly while ordering specialty maki named after local celebs and landmarks, like Jalen Hurts (shrimp tempura, spicy kani, avocado, soy paper, tobiko) and Liberty (spicy crab, crunch, cucumber, topped with torched salmon, spicy aioli, rice pearls, nori powder) Pro tip: Stop in for a happy hour snack at the bar.

Tibetan food is described by some as an intersection of Chinese and Indian cuisine, and Treley and Tsering Parshingtsang’s quaint (and very popular) BYOB in Roxborough fills that void in Philadelphia’s rich Asian foodscape. Enjoy hearty meat dishes, noodles, momos (a special kind of dumpling) and the salted taste of butter tea in a yellow and wood-paneled dining room feels like a cozy hut you might find in the Himalayas.

Restaurant power couple Win and Sutida Somboonsong have served Asian and Asian-fusion dishes in the Philadelphia suburbs since the early ’90s, starting with fresh sushi, noodle dishes and curries at Mikado Thai Pepper in Ardmore. Since then, WIN Signature Restaurants has opened sushi restaurants Azie Media and Azie on Main in Villanova, Teikoku in Newtown Square, and the elegant The Blue Elephant in Wayne and Pottstown, which was named the 2021 Best Asian Fusion Restaurant by Main Line Today.

Looking for more? The center of Asian dining in Philadelphia is Chinatown, where you’ll find Cantonese, Fujianese, Sichuan and Taiwanese, Korean, Thai and Malaysian cultures and food. The neighborhood cropped up in the mid-19th century, and family cooks and acclaimed chefs have been feeding the city from these blocks ever since. Check out our guide to Chinatown restaurants for dining and more ways to support Asian business owners in Philadelphia.

David Backhus’ culinary portfolio in Chester County runs the gamut. What started with an espresso bar at Morgantown Coffee House has grown to include Collective Coffee and Bakery and two restaurants: Bloom Southern Kitchen (opened in 2021 with chef Tim Cone) and The Stables Kitchen & Beer Garden, a beer garden with indoor and outdoor space (opened in May 2023). Bloom offers brunch that will keep you full all day, as well as low-country American dinners. The Stables is the spot to bring the whole family for alfresco craft beer and wood-fired pizza.

Hungry for a hearty breakfast with Vietnamese flair? Look no further than Huyen Thai Dinh’s cozy cafe at 15th and South streets, where you can find eggs and other American breakfast and lunch staples, Vietnamese standards, and creative combinations of both, like a cheesesteak Bahn mi or crispy eggs with Vietnamese pulled pork. Look for healthy salads and cafe beverages, including Vietnamese coffee and temptations like Jasmine Iced Coffee and Matcha Palmer. Translation: This is your new daytime crush.

CEO and co-founder Thu Pham’s Kensington-based Càphê Roasters is the first (and only) Vietnamese specialty coffee roaster in the city, wth coffee sourced from Vietnam and other Southeast and East Asian regions. Start with Cà Phê Sữa, a traditional Vietnamese coffee with sweetened condensed milk (available both hot and iced) and a fried chicken Banh mi. On your next visit (because you’ll want to visit multiple times), go for the gotchu curry fries (fries topped with buttery curry and gochujang sauce, stir fried Korean fish cakes and cauliflower kimchi) and Cà phê ô liu, a take on olive oil coffee.

Daniel Anggrianto has made a business out of brunch. The pancakes, omelets, skillets, wraps and bowls at Eggcellent and Café Square One in Old City can fuel you all day. (Café Square One also has a Midtown Village location.) And they are open all day during the week, available for your breakfast needs whenever the urge strikes. Be sure to save room for their smoothies, coffees, cappuccinos and other specialty drinks, available at all locations. Might we recommend the Nutella latte?

Start your morning at Chinatown’s Ray’s Cafe & Tea House for siphon coffee: coffee brewed in laboratory-like equipment that produces a smooth and vibrant cup. The most top-shelf blend will cost you more than your average cup of Joe, but it’s well worth it. Trade your morning coffee for a lunch date with crowd-favorite dishes like Taiwanese beef noodle soup, an assortment of handmade dumplings and cold sesame noodles. Seating is limited, so it’s not quite the place to linger all day.

Picture this: Homemade baguettes, baked to perfection; a selection of nearly two-dozen sandwiches; smoothies in flavors like matcha, taro, lychee and mango; and plenty of deli meats so you can make it all at home. That’s what Ba Le Bakery, a cozy sandwich shop off Washington Avenue, has to offer. The Banh mi are the stars here, with pork pate and mayonnaise spread on the baguettes, a selection of proteins (ranging from tofu and prawn patties to meatballs and crispy pork belly), and pickled veggies.

Carol Ha’s doughnut business was a side project for seven years before going full-time in 2019, much to the delight of customers around the city. Okie Dokie’s “kitchen shop” retail store in South Philly serves up gluten-free and vegan options, with seasonal varieties like birthday cake, key lime pie and strawberry rhubarb for spring. Plus, Ha’s wholesale operation means her doughnuts are available at select cafes and pop-up events throughout Philly.

In a western region of Japan, “maido” is used as a greeting for regulars, an appreciation for a loyal customer, and this Japanese grocer and restaurant has plenty of them. Founded in Narberth in 2003 by Seiko Dailey, Maido! is one of the only Japanese-owned grocery stores in Greater Philadelphia. Dailey’s current expanded store and restaurant in Ardmore offers guests an immersive Japanese experience: Sit at the lunch counter and enjoy Okonomiyaki (pancakes), Yaki-soba noodle and other specialties while watching a live sumo tournament on satellite TV. The shop also offers fresh produce, a wide variety of Japanese packaged goods and even Japanese toys.

We know: A market isn’t a restaurant. But the eats at this weekend seasonal market are just as good as at any Philly-area spot. For decades, crowds would gather in FDR Park for an informal pop-up market that has now been established as a permanent fixture, thanks to a grant. Bring an empty stomach and pick from dozens of food tents serving up Cambodian and Southeast Asian street food, fresh produce, flavorful spice blends and delicious beverages. Aside from food, clothes, jewelry and home goods are also for sale.