Asians are making their way in every heart with their rich cuisine, in every country. The Asian culinary is a thriving scene in Cape Town.
With a mix of street food, fine dining and Asian grocers to stock up, Cape Town has plethora of options to serve foodies with delicious Asian cuisines. Ramen, Sushi, Maki, Rice Bowls are some of the famous Asian foods that can be found easily in Cape Town.
K-pop and K-dramas has already done the half of the work, making their traditional dishes famous by bringing the Hallyu wave all over the world. Whether its Kimchi, kimbap or hot cup noodles, they are good to go foods of every traveller now.
Out of many Asian Cuisines, Chinese, Thailand, Malaysian, Vietnamese are some of the well-known places, which are known for their continental, soupy and veggie noodles.
So, let’s take you on a tour at the popular Asian food restaurants that you’ll found in Cape Town, here’s a guide to Asian foodie establishments to visit in the Mother City.
Let’s begin with Pocket-friendly Spots
Korean Kitchen
Koreans are paving their way through their Hallyu culture. The K-pop industry has already made their culture worldwide famous that every body is well aware of Kimchi and Ramen combo. And yeah the birthday special – squid soup too!
The K-pop or K-drama lovers are always seeking or looking for authentic Korean cuisine and BBQ to satisfy their inner Korean. Well, what attracts them all the most is the quirky interior of these restaurants coupled with its expansive menu options.
The availability of kimbab and kimchi or seafood pancakes or mains like bibimbap, japchae, bulgogi and spicy Korean stir-fry noodles, makes it a must-visit location.
Korean Kitchen also serves you with BBQ options. The restaurant has two karaoke rooms where one can belt out the favourite tunes. The rooms are available from Monday to Saturday between 11:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. and on Sunday from 12:00 noon to 9:00 p.m.
How’s Your Oni?
Cape Town’s first onigiri shop, located at the Green Point, the Japanese eatery expresses a laid-back vibe, with striking posters plastered on the walls and quirky souvenirs adorning various seating areas.
The menu is kept concise yet enticing, that offers okonomiyaki, Takoyaki, udon noodles and of course the onigiri.
Izakaya Matsuri
It is another Green Point gem that offers an excellent value for money. Nestled within the Rockwell and surrounded by the other casual dining spots and bars, this Asian eatery place serves up a delightful array of dishes, from sushi and fried rice to dumplings.
They also serve tempura vegetables, chicken satay and much other options. The best time to take their advantage is ‘winters’. The offers a choice of availing the benefits of their special offer in R599 for two people, including two miso soups, three starters and two mains, one of which is a sushi platter.
Khao Hom Halal Thai Cuisine
It is a fine place to experience the taste of Thailand. Khao Hom Halal Thai Cuisine is a halal restaurant that serves some of the best Tahi dishes, which include pad thai, chicken satay, fried rice, a selection of curries and Thai fresh spring rolls.
Also, the Khao Hom Asian Grocery is located at the 67 Main Road, Diep River where one can stock up on all your Asian-inspired goodies.
Another well-known Asian Grocer in Cape Town are China Town and N1 Chinese Supermarket.
China Town is located in Sable Square, Ottery, and Parow, China Town and offers a wide range of Chinese products, including footwear, fashion, toys and games, homeware, food, luggage, and bags. With more than 150 stores, you’re guaranteed to find much more than you wished or bargained for.
Another one is N1 Chinese Supermarket, which is one of the oldest in the city. It is an Asian food importer and a restaurant supplier that offers a diverse range of sauces, spices, pates, oils and an assortment of sushi ingredients.
Visitors can also take advantage od stocking up on frozen duck, pork, dim-sum, spring roll and pastry.
Cape Town also includes option for fine dining. The foremost option it includes is:
Dawn Restaurant
The dining place puts authentic Chinese cuisine in the spotlight, situated in De Waterkant. The restaurant promises to take guests on a sensory journey through the rich tapestry of Chinese culture, cuisine and aesthetics… everything just all right here in Cape Town.
Dawn’s varied menu includes everything from dim-sum, Peking duck, spicy and sour shredded potato, salted egg yolk pumpkin and Sprite wasabi prawns. Private dining experiences can be arranged too.
Sushiya
Another good fine dining place to taste Asian cuisine, found in Cape Town is ‘Sushiya’ which means ‘Sushi Shop’. It is located at the Time Out Market Cape Town. The eatery merges the essence of Japan and Cape Town.
Every element of Sushiya’s menu is carefully curated from small-scale suppliers in Japan to ethical fisherman in the Western Cape and organic farms from the Cape region. The popular dishes from the menu are nasu dengaku, tuna tataki, shrimp uramaki, vegetable futomaki and omakase sushi.
Ramenhead
Hey Ramen lovers, here’s a good place, that appreciates the edgy eatery. Ramenhead is located on the Parliament Street, straight in the heart of the city. Here, the Ramen eaters can slurp silky, freshly made noodles, can sip umami-rich broth that has been simmered and nurtured for days and socialise with brimful glasses of sake.
The creatives behind Ramenhead – Peter Tempelhoff, Ashley Moss and Jennifer Hugé, scoured the streets of Tokyo and Osaka for time-honoured ramen recipes, and returned with the first and only Yamato noodle machine in Africa.
Rest, to make your sweet tooth happy, one can visit Café Chiffon, which is an Asian inspired desert café that boasts a minimalist aesthetic, serving up the serious style along with its delectable treats.
The dessert menu here truly steals the show. The range of cakes and desserts is the talk of the town, with popular choices including a gluten-free burnt Basque cheesecake, Japanese cheesecake, tiramisu, macarons, and a selection of croissants and danishes.
Make sure to visit, indulge and snap a few pics for your instagram.
For Sweet Treats and the Aesthetics, one can visit to Mochi-Mochi. The mochi fans are in for a treat at the Cape Town city centre restaurant. The availability of wide range of truffle-sized mochi, includes flavours like matcha, black sesame, milk tart, Turkish delight and salted caramel.
Something which is more traditional and preferable to try here is the mitarashi dango (mochi dumplings on a skewer topped with soy caramel and kinako) or the ever-popular Japanese-style cheesecake served with a side of sweet and salty miso caramel. Pair your dessert with a cup of piping hot Japanese green tea or a pour-over coffee.