26 Best Asian Restaurants in San Diego

“Always an amazing experience at Animae!“

“This is absolutely the best food experience that I have had in the past three months. Atmosphere is absolutely lovely., every server in here is wonderful, however, Ethan was our server tonight. He was thoughtful, checked up on us when needed, and still managed to accommodate everybody around us. It was slammed tonight, and I saw a smile on everybody’s face, they were stuffed to the brim, and satisfied, obviously with their experience. Another thing to note, another server named Phil checked up on us as well when he noticed his server, Ethan busy. Fantastic teamwork, fantastic accommodations, all around kind atmosphere. I will be coming back here for sure! This was wonderful!“

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

“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!“

“this was the very first time i ate something so delicious that i felt like writing a review on how good it is, our server was extremely kind we felt very welcomed there. the drinks and appetizers got to the table in 3-5 minutes and the entrees got to the table around 10 minutes after ordering them(we did not feel rushed btw i really appreciated the fast service) and when my ramen got to the table it was amazing, the broth was rich and creamy and just the right amount of salty, the noodles were delicious and not too mushy but were still nice and soft, the pork was so rich and flavorful and it just melts in your mouth and the way that the flavors all came together was truly enlightening.“

“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“

“This is my 5th time in Yintang! I am spicy food lover, and this place is such a hidden gem! The broth is flavorful without being greasy, and the spice level can be customized to your preference, which is a big plus. The variety of ingredients is great—everything tastes fresh, and the meats, especially the beef and fish balls, are delicious.
The restaurant is clean, the staff is friendly, and the service is fast. Overall, great value for money. Definitely a place I’ll keep coming back to! Really recommend their Malatang and deep fried foods!“

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

“Great place for a Teriyaki bowl or plate. Food was delicious and reasonably priced. Staff are very friendly and hard working. You can tell they had their regulars. It was busy and over half of the patrons were known to the employees and knew their regular orders. Decor typical for mom and pops place with decent amount of seating. Will definitely go back if in the area again.“

“吃台灣的平民美食，有回家的感覺。“

“Omg, this place is amazing.
Atmosphere was even great !!!!
I have been a big fan of Pad See Ew and Green curry and this place serves the best dishes !!!
And highly recommend you to have Basil Eggplant! Sweet, garlic soy sauce is fantastic with rice !
We enjoyed all the dishes. Thank u !!!“

“Drove all the way up because it was the best pho in San Diego and it didn’t disappoint. The broth was excellent, beef and noodles were of the correct proportions, and the dressings were authentic. Well worth the drive. We also had the Salmon Skin Salad, which was very tasty and unique. Service was excellent. Highly Recommend.“

“Our waiter Wilson was absolutely amazing and beyond belief with recommendations and service. We sat at the bar and he treated us like royalty with the best menue call outs and recommendations. He was literally the Jack to my Rose, but the ship was not sinking. Get the salt and pepper shrimp and scallops!“

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

“Always a delight.
I have tried several items on their menu and they are all delicious.
I tend to carry out, they always prepare your food to order so each time I pick up its hot & fresh.
Their cocunut coffee is a favorite.
So are their rice vermicelli options.
Their stir fry noodles & rice are perfectly seasoned and the veggies they are fried with are always crunchy and fresh. Their tofu is very good as well they fry it to perfection.“

“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.“

“Walked around the food court with all its amazing options and finally decided on some bao buns! Bao Bar had really good BBQ Bao, and we also got the shrimp spring rolls (which were MASSIVE) and the Shrimp and Chicken dumpling. We also got the iced lychee and wildberry teas - which hit the spot because it was HOT.“

“This is my favorite malatang spot by far! The spicy dry mix is so flavorful and easily the best I’ve had. The restaurant is always clean, and all the ingredients taste fresh. I’ve tried quite a few places, and this one is still my favorite. Highly recommend if you’re looking for great malatang.“

“I loved their lao papaya salad! Only thing was at spicy level 10, I tasted no spice. I guess this is a ME problem. I eat too much spicy! Their lao sausages are also so good!

Service was fantastic and its nice and quiet here. I would definitely come again for lao food.“

“A friend and I were looking for late dinner after an event on Sunday night, and this was the only Korean restaurant we could find that wasn’t all you can eat. I am so very happy we gave it a try, because it totally hit the spot! I get nostalgic for my Asian roots sometimes and just love a good late night meal. We ordered the wonton soup, lamb kidney skewers, squid mouth skewers, and pork belly wrapped enoki mushroom skewers to share. We wanted to try more skewers, but some only came in larger portions which would have been too much, and we really liked what we picked already. The squid came raw to cook on the self rotating grill while the rest was prepared in the kitchen and served to us on the top rack. I’m not sure if it’s always this way, or if they helped us out since it was closing time soon, but we were happy for it. The wonton soup had fantastic flavour. Loved how many unique options were available for the skewers, though I think my favourite was still the more common pork belly wrapped enoki mushrooms. The staff was friendly, quick, and attentive. Most of the crowds had cleared for the night, so there were only a few tables occupied in the simple but clean atmosphere, and it was easy to just enjoy our food over good conversation. Thank you for a wonderful meal! We will be back soon!“

“We ordered a tray of their yummy bahn Cuon. Super tasty! It came with the bahn cuon, Vietnamese meat, vegetables, herbs, and sauce. I’m very happy with the order, I would definitely order from them again.FYIWhen you go in to the restaurant there is a bell on the counter. If not one is there make sure you ring it in order to get their attentions.“

“This is place is not only delicious but the two people working there will make you feel like family. Everything I tried was delicious. The salt and pepper wings . The Chinese cabbage. The classic chicken chow main is exactly the flavors I look for. The last dish was one of my favorite. If you like authentic Taiwanese food stop by.“

“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.“

“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.“

“When I tasted the water I knew it was going to be great. Next was the edemame which was amazing. I got the golden dragon duck. Best duck I ever had. Everything was so good. Service was on point. Definitely coming back any time we are in SD.“

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