Discover the 11 best Asian restaurants in Cape Town
Cape Town is synonymous with pristine beaches, unique tourist attractions and world-class cuisine. The Asian food scene is booming in the mother city, with options from Chinese and Japanese cuisine to Vietnamese and Indian options.
Source: UGC
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Key takeaways
- Cape Town's Asian food scene is constantly evolving, with multiple restaurant options from all corners of Asia available.
- The best Asian food in Cape Town depends on a variety of factors, but all the top choices offer high-quality meals made with fresh ingredients, paired with a welcoming atmosphere.
- Patrons also look out for authentic cuisine, affordability, family-friendly options, and how unique a venue is compared to other available options.
The 11 best Asian restaurants in Cape Town
We aim to give readers valuable insights through carefully curated rankings and lists. Our selection of the 11 best Asian restaurants in Cape Town draws on reputable sources, including Dineplan, Tripadvisor and Inside Guide.
These insights from reputable sources assisted us in gathering some of the highest-rated options by patrons, highlighted by reviews left on TripAdvisor specifically.
Restaurant | Rating out of 5 |
Silk Asian Fusion | 4.6 |
Willoughby & Co | 4.4 |
The Red Room | 4.5 |
Linko | 4.4 |
Saigon Vietnamese Restaurant | 4.1 |
Obi Restaurant | 4.5 |
Bao Down | 4.7 |
Bombay Brasserie | 4.4 |
Nikkei Japanese Peruvian | 4.5 |
YU Restaurant | 4.7 |
Dawn Asian Restaurant | 4.4 |
11. Silk Asian Fusion
Source: UGC
- Date established: 2023
- Physical address: 108 Shortmarket Street, Cape Town City Centre, Cape Town
- Contact number: 071 910 8122
- Website: Silk restaurant
- Social media: Facebook and Instagram
- Rating: 4.6/5 on Tripadvisor
Cape Town's Silk Asian Fusion restaurant is highly praised by patrons for its creative Asian cuisine that has a modern take on traditional flavours and uses fresh, seasonal ingredients. Apart from the striking decor and pleasant service, patrons highlight the crabmeat fried rice, dumplings, lemongrass chicken and their '3 fishes' tapas.
10. Willoughby & Co
Source: UGC
- Date established: 1996
- Physical address: 19 Dock Road, Victoria & Alfred Waterfront, Cape Town
- Contact number: 021 418 6115
- Website: Willoughby & Co
- Social media: Instagram and Facebook (JHB branch)
- Rating: 4.4/5 on Tripadvisor
If you are looking for an Asian restaurant in Cape Town with a view, Willoughby & Co offers patrons exceptional food amongst a relaxing beach backdrop. This high-end, family-friendly restaurant is praised by patrons for its exhaustive sushi menu and otherworldly seafood cuisine.
9. The Red Room
Source: UGC
- Date established: April 2023
- Physical address: 76 Orange Street, Gardens, Cape Town
- Contact number: 021 483 1516
- Website: The Red Room's page on DinePlan
- Social media: Instagram and Facebook
- Rating: 4.5/5 on Dineplan
The Red Room is known for its creative approach to its Pan-Asian cuisine, offering distinctive, high-quality cuisine with critically acclaimed Chef Liam Tomlin assisting in offering memorable meals. There are two menus to choose from, with visitors often choosing the five-course option, and patrons highlight their dumplings, duck consommé, and marinated tofu.
8. Linko
Source: UGC
- Date established: 2021
- Physical address: 88 Lower Main Road, Observatory, Cape Town
- Contact number: 021 447 6509
- Website: Linko restaurant
- Social media: Facebook and Instagram
- Rating: 4.4/5 on Google reviews
If you are looking for authentic yet diverse Chinese cuisine, Linko offers traditional meals and sushi dishes, with their crispy chicken, sushi, and dumplings being frequently praised by patrons. Visitors also commend the venue's welcoming atmosphere and attentive staff.
7. Saigon Vietnamese Restaurant
Source: UGC
- Physical address: Corner Kloof and Kamp Street, Gardens, Cape Town
- Contact number: 021 424 7670
- Website: Saigon's Linktree page
- Social media: Instagram and Facebook
- Rating: 4.1/5 on Tripadvisor
Try something different from the popular Japanese and Chinese options at Saigon Vietnamese Restaurant, which offers authentic Vietnamese cuisine. Known for their traditional dishes and large portions, some of the top choices for patrons include Banh Mi (sandwiches), Bun Cha (grilled pork with noodles), Pho (noodle soup), papaya salad and spring rolls.
6. Obi Restaurant
Source: UGC
- Date established: July 2016
- Physical address: 14 Long Street, Cape Town City Centre, Cape Town
- Contact number: 021 418 4040
- Website: Obi Restaurant
- Social media: Instagram
- Rating: 4.5/5 on Tripadvisor
Obi Restaurant offers patrons high-quality, authentic Japanese cuisine, with a special focus on their fresh sashimi and sushi. Dishes that patrons frequently rave about online include the salt and pepper squid, deep-fried prawn rolls, beef sukiyaki, Szechuan beef and the Shogun roll.
5. Bao Down
Source: UGC
- Date established: June 20, 2018
- Physical address: Exhibition Building, 79 Main Road, Green Point, Cape Town
- Contact number: 066 022 1165
- Website: Bao Down
- Social media: Instagram
- Rating: 4.7/5 on Tripadvisor
Bao Down frequents top Asian food lists in Cape Town thanks to its pan-Asian small plates made from fresh ingredients and a unique environment described online as '1930s Shanghai meets Wes Anderson'. Patrons frequently mention the eatery's yellowtail sashimi, pickled shiitake mushrooms and Korean fried chicken bao.
4. Bombay Brasserie
Source: UGC
- Physical address: 1 Wale Street, Cape Town City Centre, Cape Town
- Contact number: 021 819 2000
- Website: Bombay Brasserie
- Social media: Instagram and Facebook
- Rating: 4.4/5 on Tripadvisor
Take a trip to India by visiting the fine-dining Indian restaurant Bombay Brasserie, which prides itself on quality, authentic Indian cuisine. Individuals have frequently praised their malai chicken, adraki lamb chops, butter chicken, chicken tikka masala and dal makhani.
3. Nikkei Japanese Peruvian
Source: UGC
- Date established: December 2023
- Physical address: 87 Bree Street, Cape Town City Centre, Cape Town
- Contact number: 021 109 0081
- Website: Nikkei Japanese Peruvian
- Social media: Facebook and Instagram
- Rating: 4.5/5 on Tripadvisor
Nikkei Japanese Peruvian blends Japanese and Peruvian cuisine to offer a unique dining experience. Classic Japanese techniques are combined with flavourful Peruvian ingredients to create distinctive dishes, with options including rice with sea urchin, tiradito (raw fish with spicy sauces) and Arroz con erizos being top choices for patrons.
2. YU Restaurant
Source: UGC
- Date established: April 2024
- Physical address: 59 Heerengracht Street, Cape Town City Centre, Cape Town
- Contact number: 021 111 0453
- Website: YU restaurant
- Social media: Facebook and Instagram
- Rating: 4.7/5 on Tripadvisor
The third Asian restaurant in Cape Town central on the list is YU Restaurant, a clear hotspot for iconic Asian eateries. YU Restaurant offers a fine-dining experience, with patrons mentioning the friendly staff, alongside popular dishes such as Wagyu sliders, tempura zucchini, soft shell crab and sticky ribs being frequently praised.
1. Dawn Asian Restaurant
Source: UGC
- Physical address: 10 Jarvis Street, Green Point, Cape Town
- Contact number: 069 615 9537
- Website: The Dawn Restaurant
- Social media: Instagram
- Rating: 4.4/5 on Dineplan
Dawn Asian Restaurant's former visitors have described the Cape Town restaurant as having a classy and ambient atmosphere, paired with memorable cuisine. The venue offers a mix of contemporary Asian-inspired dishes along with traditional Chinese dishes, with their whole Peking duck and secret spiced chicken wings receiving special mention online.
Frequently asked questions
What is the largest Chinese restaurant?
The largest Chinese restaurant in Cape Town is the Grand Daddy Chinese Restaurant, which can seat over 400 patrons. Internationally, the biggest one is West Lake Restaurant in Changsha, China, with seating for up to 5,000 patrons. It also has five kitchens and 1,000 staff members to serve the thousands of customers they experience daily.
Is it customary to tip at a Chinese restaurant?
In China, it is not customary to tip your servers, and some international and national eateries include a service fee. However, it is considered a local custom to tip at South African restaurants, regardless of the type of cuisine served.
Which Asian cuisine is the healthiest?
As lightly touched upon earlier, Vietnamese and Okinawan cuisine are considered one of the healthiest Asian food options. The traditional Okinawan diet is known for its light broths, fresh herbs and grilled meats, vegetables, and tofu, with traditional Vietnamese food focusing on lean protein, tofu, plenty of vegetables and minimal processed foods.
Wrapping up
The best Asian restaurants in Cape Town depend on a multitude of factors. However, the common factors include traditional cuisine made from fresh ingredients, a welcoming atmosphere, and unique décor, with seaside views a major bonus.
DISCLAIMER: This article is not sponsored by any third party. It is intended for general informational purposes only and does not address individual circumstances. It is not a substitute for professional advice or help and should not be relied on to make decisions of any kind. Any action you take upon the information presented in this article is strictly at your own risk and responsibility.
READ MORE: The best restaurants in Rosebank
Briefly.co.za wrote an article about some of the best Rosebank restaurants for those based in Gauteng to try. Rosebank restaurants offer high-end dining experiences against the backdrop of the bustling Sandton area, making for the ideal date night or catch-up with friends.
Mamasamba is one of the most talked-about venues in the area thanks to its high-end cuisine, a live-fire cooking section patrons can observe, and vibrant music. Another iconic venue on the list is Proud Mary, which offers all-day cuisine and a modern mid-century-inspired design, and vibrant music.
Source: Briefly News
