Founded in San Francisco in 2004, Yelp publishes user reviews of a wide range of businesses and services worldwide, in more than 1,500 categories — but 49% of the reviews appearing on the site, according to the company, are for restaurants.
Since an analysis released last year by the Pew Research Center revealed that some 12% of all restaurants in America serve Asian food of one kind or another, it’s safe to assume that a not insignificant portion of those reviews are dedicated to such establishments — and when Yelp released its “Top 100 Places to Eat in the US 2024” in late January of this year, slightly more than a quarter of the restaurants singled out were Asian indeed.
24/7 Tempo has extrapolated those restaurants from the Yelp selection, choosing any listed with the following keywords: ramen, Japanese, Japanese curry, sushi bars, izakaya, Korean, Indian, Asian fusion, Indian, Himalayan/Nepalese, Thai, Filipino, Vietnamese, Szechuan, dim sum, or Chinese. We have added a short complimentary sentence about each place from reviews by Yelpers.
The surprise is that only two of these restaurants are Chinese, since Chinese restaurants account for 39% of the Asian eating places in the U.S., according to the Pew study. The cuisine most represented is Japanese (including ramen). Next comes Indian, with two of the entries also tagged Himalayan/Nepalese, one called out for kebabs as well as other Indian fare, and one with the intriguing description “Indian, pizza” — which does in fact serve pizza topped with Indian specialties. (For more conventional pies, consider one of the best pizza places in every state.)
Yelp does not provide a detailed methodology explaining how it made its choices, but merely states “For this list, Yelp analyzed submissions, ratings, review volume, and community input.” (Restaurants appear in random order, and are not ranked.)
As is usually the case with Yelp “best” lists, the choices — and to an even greater degree the omissions — will undoubtedly raise eyebrows among restaurant critics and serious food-lovers, as the big names in every Asian cuisine in America are conspicuously missing. It should also be noted that some of these establishments are not sit-down restaurants, but provide take-out only, or have minimal seating capacity. Nonetheless, the vast universe of Yelp reviewers has spoken, and you’re sure to get some pretty good food at any one of the places listed here.
Here are the top Asian restaurants in America, according to Yelp.
Menya Rui
- Location: St. Louis, MO
- Food: Ramen
- Yelp stars: 4.5 (149 reviews)
“This has got to be some of the best ramen I’ve had in my life.”
Broken Mouth / Lee’s Homestyle
- Location: Los Angeles, CA
- Food: Korean, Hawaiian
- Yelp stars: 5 (1,798 reviews)
“Great customer service and amazing food.”
Little India
- Location: American Fork, UT
- Food: Indian
- Yelp stars: 5 (305 reviews)
“The food was great — with large portion sizes and delicious flavor.”
Ekiben
- Location: Baltimore, MD
- Food: Asian fusion, sandwiches
- Yelp stars: 5 (1,787 reviews)
“From the crispy chicken to the lightly battered broccoli, I was impressed. ”
Arario Midtown
- Location: Reno, NV
- Food: Korean, gluten-free
- Yelp stars: 4.5 (967 reviews)
“I wish I got everything off the menu! Everything sounded so delicious. ”
Ta Joia
- Location: Bothell, WA
- Food: Asian fusion, Korean
- Yelp stars: 5 (341 reviews)
“I loved everything about the place from decor to food to the staff and vibes they offered.”
Ocean Indian Cuisine
- Location: San Francisco, CA
- Food: Indian, Himalayan/Nepalese
- Yelp stars: 5 (421 reviews)
“The food, oh the food! What a ballet of flavors in our mouths.”
Shigotonin
- Location: Las Vegas, NV
- Food: Izakaya
- Yelp stars: 5 (472 reviews)
“I was honestly mindblown at the quality of their fish, and I’ve visited Japan more times than I can recall. ”
Tandoori Kitchen
- Location: Lafayette, CO
- Food: Indian, Himalayan/Nepalese
- Yelp stars: 4.5 (230 reviews)
“I’m not a huge Indian food fan but this place i will drive for hours for.”
Edoboy
- Location: Orlando, FL
- Food: Sushi bars, Japanese
- Yelp stars: 5 (106 reviews)
“All in all — a must go for any self-respecting adventurer looking to try something new in a unique setting.”
Degthai
- Location: Nashville, TN
- Food: Thai, noodles
- Yelp stars: 4.5 (489 reviews)
“If I could give them 10 stars I would! Incredible food, wonderful service, plenty of space, non-overwhelming menu.”
Chili
- Location: New York, NY
- Food: Szechuan, dim sum
- Yelp stars: 4.5 (760 reviews)
“If you love spicy, flavorful food, this place is for you. ”
Curry Hyuga
- Location: Burlingame, CA
- Food: Japanese curry, comfort food
- Yelp stars: 4.5 (793 reviews)
“The curry is so unique and a must try!”
O’Kims
- Location: Honolulu, HI
- Food: Korean, Asian fusion
- Yelp stars: 4.5 (695 reviews)
“Brace yourself for a culinary adventure that will leave you craving more.”
Menya Hosaki
- Location: Washington, D.C.
- Food: Ramen, noodles
- Yelp stars: 4.5 (350 reviews)
“Epic place for ramen!”
Lucky Cat Ramen
- Location: Portland, OR
- Food: Ramen
- Yelp stars: 4.5 (125 reviews)
“This is by far the best ramen I have found in Oregon.”
Kenko Sushi
- Location: Lincoln Park, NJ
- Food: Japanese, sushi bars
- Yelp stars: 4.5 (649 reviews)
“I can’t believe that a random (kind of best) strip mall has this amazing sushi restaurant.”
Abstrakt Filipino Essence
- Location: Jacksonville Beach, FL
- Food: Filipino
- Yelp stars: 4.5 (118 reviews)
“If you’re looking for legit Filipino food with an elevated twist, Abstrakt is the place to go. ”
New Village Gastro Pub
- Location: Northbrook, IL
- Food: Korean, Asian fusion
- Yelp stars: 4.5 (160 reviews)
“A definite 5/5 for the affordability of a delightful culinary experience.”
Sindoore – Indian By Nature
- Location: Nashville, TN
- Food: Indian, kebab
- Yelp stars: 4.5 (391 reviews)
“There’s everyplace else, and then there’s Sindoore. ”
M & N’s Pizza
- Location: Bethesda, MD
- Food: Indian, pizza
- Yelp stars: 4.5 (456 reviews)
“So delicious and unique!!! the chole bhatura pizza was delicious…”
Pho Bac
- Location: Baltimore, MD
- Food: Vietnamese
- Yelp stars: 4.5 (430 reviews)
“The food at Pho Bac is always amazing and perfect for a cloudy weather day.”
Anchi A La Carte
- Location: Amherst, NY
- Food: Vietnamese, noodles
- Yelp stars: 5 (65 reviews)
“I’m from Los Angeles, where there is an abundance of Vietnamese food. Trust me when I say: this place is LEGIT!”
Kung Fu Noodle
- Location: Dayton, OH
- Food: Chinese, noodles
- Yelp stars: 4.5 (207 reviews)
“Every time I go here I try something different and it is ALWAYS outstanding!”
Onoya Ramen
- Location: Honolulu, HI
- Food: Ramen, Japanese curry
- Yelp stars: 4.5 (1,065 reviews)
“I would totally recommend going if you are looking for some hearty food.”
KUBO Asian Fusion & Bar
- Location: Fort Lauderdale, FL
- Food: Sushi bars, Asian fusion
- Yelp stars: 4.5 (680 reviews)
“A super fun restaurant with delicious options! Cool decor too.” (For a different take on sushi, see our listing of the best sushi place in every state.)