27 Best Asian Restaurants in San Diego

“Always an amazing experience at Animae!“

“Best food, drink, service and atmosphere I have experienced in a long time. Rivals Michelin restaurants.“

“No lie- Its rare to see a restaurant that can keep a high level of reviews. This is no lie! Steamy Piggy was FIRE. Ramen was TOP 10 hands down. A Creamy smooth slightly sweet pork tonkotstu. perfectly cooked thin Chasu pork medium noodles. the egg was not marinated well but if u let it sit til the end it absorbed the broth well. The pineapple fried rice was also spot on perfectly cooked shrimp and the hint of sweetness from the pineapple hit.

Will return!“

“A Culinary Masterpiece: An Unforgettable Evening with Chef Jiwoo Choi From the moment my girlfriend, Kassandra, and I stepped into the Choi’s in downtown San Diego, we knew we were about to experience something truly special. What followed was an extraordinary seven-course tasting menu crafted by the incredibly talented Chef Jiwoo Choi, a chef whose passion for food is evident in every detail of his dishes. Chef Choi created the menu around several questions sent via email before the date. He truly took his time to understand his customers and who they were. The dinner was designed around my girlfriend, for whom the night was centered around for Valentines Day. The customer service was impeccable from the start. The hostess greeted us warmly, immediately making us feel at home, and the entire staff was attentive yet unobtrusive throughout the evening. We were sat at an oval table exclusively to ourselves with candles and wonderful ambiance. Included was a little note card that read “A Dinner Written By You” . Wow. Our server was Chef Choi himself. He was incredibly knowledgeable about the ingredients, offering insightful explanations of each dish, telling the story of the meal, and even sharing about the inspiration behind his creations. The entire team worked seamlessly together, ensuring that every moment of our dining experience felt effortless and elegant. Now, onto the food—a true work of art. Each course was not just a meal but a beautifully presented masterpiece that engaged all the senses. Chef Choi has a remarkable ability to balance flavors, textures, and aromas in a way that leaves a lasting impression. Every dish had a story, each bite revealing new layers of complexity and creativity. Some standout dishes included: A delicate amuse-bouche that set the tone for the evening, bursting with fresh, vibrant flavors. Inspired by Kimchi, a sauce enveloped the bits of tofu with a fried rice cake. A The main course was an Australian Wagyu with fingerling potatoes in a chile con carne sauce based from my girlfriend’s childhood. The wagyu melted in our mouths. Potatoes so crispy and delicious you forgot what other potatoes tasted like. A sauce so savory, bursting with tomatillo, garlic, and other flavors. Perfectly balanced as all things should be. The unexpected dish that left me in so much shock was the Greek wedding soup. A cold dish that is better experienced than explained. If I could eat that everyday for the rest of my life it would never be enough. Nothing I could say would live up to the incredible flavors. I ate mine and half my girlfriend’s portion. Finally, a dessert course that was as stunning as it was delicious, showcasing unexpected flavor combinations that worked in perfect harmony. A hot desert, a play on sticky rice. Cardamon, sugar, a small stone fruit with rich notes of raisin and plum. The second dessert was unexpected and intended for my likes (which I found to be such a class act). A ferment plum wine reduction that he infused into a frozen dish (somewhere in the realm of sorbet meets gelato) with a crème brûlée top. Amazing, outstanding. Chef Choi himself took the time to visit our table, a gesture that truly elevated the experience. He shared his inspiration for the menu, spoke about the ingredients, and genuinely wanted to ensure that we were enjoying ourselves. This level of dedication and personal touch is rare and speaks volumes about his commitment to his craft and his guests. He even orchestrated a surprise set of roses for my girlfriend and played it off like I planned it. By the end of the evening, Kassandra and I were completely in awe. The attention to detail, the passion behind every dish, and the warmth of the staff made this one of the best dining experiences we’ve ever had. Chef Jiwoo Choi and his team went above and beyond, creating an evening we will never forget. Five stars are simply not enough!“

“I love the options of non-pork broth they have. We had beef ramen and some chicken skewers all were good. For ramen, you have to put their special sauce on the table, it really was elevating the flavor, and don’t forget to order spicy sauce on the side. Their chicken skewers were juicy yet crispy, delicious!! All they need at this point is more seatings especially for big group ☺️“

“Great food specially their pad thai. Servers are nice and very welcoming. Will definitely come back over and over again. I’ve found one of the BEST Thai Restaurant in San Diego“

“Ying Tang Hot Pot in Mira Mesa is a great value with an impressive variety of options. The selection stands out—tendon, fish balls, and a wide range of fresh veggies—so it’s easy to customize exactly what you want. Portions are generous for the price. Pro tip: take the leftover broth to go and add more ingredients at home for an easy second meal.“

“Good service, great variety, cooked for perfectionists!“

“Stumbled upon this little restaurant in Miramar when I was in the area. Came in for a late lunch and the place was empty. There was a musty smell and I think it must be because the building is old. But the restaurant was clean and service was quick.
I ordered my chicken,beef, and veggie combo rice bowl to go. There was a lot of food and the price was very reasonable. Good place to grab lunch on the go.“

“吃台灣的平民美食，有回家的感覺。“

“This place is my favorite pho place and they provide excellent & quick service. I like the steak pho, the spring rolls are the best, bahn mi, and the vermicelli. I have been going here for almost 20 years. Only place I go in PB for pho.“

“White Elephant Asian Kitchen was such a great spot for lunch! My boyfriend got the chicken pad Thai, and I had the shrimp lemongrass salad—both were super fresh, with great portions and amazing flavor. The atmosphere was really nice too, perfect for a casual meal. We’ll definitely be back to try the spring rolls!“

“Always good food and service here.
Recommend the lamd and beef spicy skewers, they are amazing!
The Japchae is a chinese style fusion a little sour, not really my style but not bad. The quail is games, i wouldn't Recommend.“

“We had a yummy and fun 40th birthday celebration at Zen. Di (server) took such great care us us - which really transformed our experience. They have plenty of space and the menu has a bit of something for everyone - highly recommend it for groups.“

“Love, Love, Love LOVE this place! It's hard to find bad Thai food. But it's even harder to find truly exceptional Thai food. This place somehow takes the cuisine and makes it their own in a delicious way that isn't too pricey. I don't know what they put in their food - perhaps it's legal, but maybe not. Either way, I cannot stop eating it.“

“Thai style papaya salad paired well with the Laos sausage and beef. The soup had a lot of vegetables. You won't feel bloated nor guilty after eating all this food. I could imagine eating this again in a hot summer day. Gives you that fresh and cooling feeling while eating.“

“Food was fantastic and the bartender was very nice and helpful! Highly recommend!“

“Everything about this place was amazing. The service ,the people working there are the best. I couldn't ask for better service. They greet you with a warm welcome and amazing prices also. I wouldn't want to go anywhere else. Everything on the menu is delicious, flavorful, And perfect portions. My favorite was the jalapeno dish. You want good food order here or pick it up?“

“This Bao Bar in Liberty Market Place, San Diego, makes the best bao bun we have ever eaten. We were at a 3 day conference in the Brick and we got a couple of the buns every day. The buns are fresh, fresh, we chose the pork filling which also had a little cabbage, which you will see in the photo
Service was excellent! Friendly, open to suggestions, and filled those buns to overflow. One is truly a meal! Go to that location. Parking is easy, abs Bao Buns is just to your left as you walk in the door.“

“This restaurant used to be Zen Asian Bistro. Some of the items, such as the Taiwanese Beef noodle soup, is still on the new menu. We don't know if it's the same cooks.
The portions are on the small side. They were a little bland but that might be because we ordered unbreaded chicken and vegetables as our proteins. Seems like quality and fresh ingredients were used.

Service from the older gentleman was good. He was very nice and attentive to our group.“

“Wow!! They have the BEST happy hour! See picture attached! I had the garlic edamame, from the nigiri option I had salmon and crunchy roll from the happy hour menu. I decided to try their house salad, it was bigger than expected. The house dressing has ginger and it was fresh and delicious. Nice and light option to start off with. The nigiri salmon was delicious and fresh great portion as well for $6.50! Wow! I added the lemon & cilantro roll and OMG it was my favorite out of everything!! I highly recommend it. The staff was attentive and friendly! Thank you Monse for your recommendations. Rubén the manager at the time also came to check up on me, I greatly appreciate the attention and ensuring I was having a good experience. Plenty of parking! I also learned that they Monday night all you can eat sushi for $39.95! Call and Double check in case there are changes. I’ll post menu options. Patio area is great, especially on a summer day like today! I can’t wait to come back! To the owner, Ruben is incredible and Monse took great care of me.“

“Amazing tasting food, great service, and available seating for in door dining.

BBQ chicken is slightly better than the pork.

They dip the bbq sticks in BBQ sauce before they serve you. Please note that the bbq sticks are already pre marinated with that same sauce. Ask them not to dip it if you don't want double dip.

Pork tocino is amazing as well as their sinigang. Good prices as well!“

“Asian bistro is an amazing restaurant. First trip down there I was greeted warmly by staff and enjoyed a beautifully decorated interior. I had fragrant Vietnamese coffee and a delicious banh mi sandwich. I saw a wonderful flyer for Lunar New Year Celebration.

The following week I went to the fantastic Lunar New Year Celebration. They were very busy with a packed house. Service was excellent, food was delicious and ambience was great. Love this place and would come again.“

“Great place to go when you’re craving ramen. They are very generous with the pork portions.“

“Asia Wok is truly one of the most underrated restaurants I’ve ever been to. Every time I order from here, the food is absolutely amazing fresh ingredients, rich flavors, and perfectly cooked dishes that always hit the spot. Whether it's their entrees, sides, or even the sauces, everything tastes like it’s made with real care and consistency.

What really sets Asia Wok apart is how generous they are. They always hook up the portions way more than expected, and you can tell they value their customers. It’s rare to find a place that not only delivers great quality but also goes above and beyond to make sure you get your money’s worth. For the price you pay, the amount and quality of food you receive is unbeatable.

On top of that, the staff is friendly, fast, and always makes the experience easy and enjoyable. Asia Wok deserves way more recognition than it gets. If you’re looking for delicious food, great service, and portions that won’t disappoint, this is the place you want to go. Definitely a hidden gem that I’ll keep coming back to.“

“Authentic Filipino cuisine.
Beautiful place and very clean.

A dedicated hall for parties.
Clean toilets.
Clean tables and floor.

Good food.
Beef soup and kare kare.

Plenty of parking.“

“Food was extremely good and fresh while we waited for chow mein. There was a line out the door that was moving pretty steadily. They also pack the plates with food I rarely have left overs and I had a lot left over bc of how much food I was given definitely worth coming“