7 Spots for Columbia’s Best Asian Cuisine

I have always loved Asian cuisine. Growing up, I’d beg my mom for Chinese food at least once a week. As I’ve gotten older, I’ve also learned to appreciate not just Chinese food but also Japanese food, Korean food, Thai food, Vietnamese, Pan-Asian, and Asian fusion. Asian cuisine is something I could eat every day of the week and be completely happy! 

Columbia boasts many fantastic Asian food restaurants. Below is a list of my favorite hot spots around Cola for Asian cuisine, in no particular order.  

A Round Up of Columbia’s Best Asian Cuisine

1. 9.2.9. Kitchen and Bar

It’s no secret that 9.2.9 is one of my favorite restaurants in Columbia. Take one look at our blog and you’ll see that I’ve mentioned it before. This Korean restaurant offers bold Korean flavors with a modern fusion twist. You’ll find traditional Korean foods on the menu like Japchae, Bibimbap, and Korean stir fry. If you like a bit of fusion flavor, try the Udon noodles, Kimchi cheese fries, or Korean style nachos. 9.2.9 is also very family friendly with dishes for kids like chicken fingers, chicken wings, and fries. 

Note: 9.2.9 is popular and a smaller restaurant, so if you plan to head there on a weekend, be sure to make reservations. 

You’ll find 9.2.9 Kitchen and Bar in the Vista at 929 Gervais St.

2. Boku Kitchen and Saloon

For a taste of Pan-Asian cuisine that boasts wok fired dishes, a variety of noodle dishes, soups, and mouth watering appetizers, head on over to Boku Kitchen and Saloon. I was overwhelmed by the variety of amazing dishes at Boku. It was hard to decide what to get!

For appetizers, you’ll find options such as Crab Rangoon, Szechuan Green Beans, Sticky Buns, Edamame soup, and more! Boku offers a variety of noodle dishes, Bento boxes, and other meat or vegetable entrees. If you happen to go on a Tuesday, be sure to check out their Flying Noodle dishes. Mouthwateringly delicious and a sight for your eyes! (Pictured below.) Like a good cocktail bar? Boku has that as well!

Note: While the food at Boku was wonderful and the atmosphere cozy, I have found the service to be hit or miss. One night the service was very slow and the next time I went the service was faster, but the server wasn’t very accommodating. So, if you’re heading out to Boku, just keep that in mind. Oh, and watch out for the Spicy Noodles! They are indeed very spicy!

You’ll find Boku Kitchen and Saloon located in the Vista at 916 Gervais St.

3. The Dragon Room

For a unique experience that combines the feel of a Tikki bar and a Japanese Izakaya, look no further than The Dragon Room! A fun place to hang out, The Dragon Room boasts an atmosphere of an informal Japanese bar that serves a variety of cocktails and appetizer style foods. 

I absolutely LOVE everything about this restaurant! Every member of the staff who I interacted with was very friendly and helpful. The manager was walking around the dinning room checking in with patrons to see how everything was. Also, our food came out incredibly fast. We were shocked at how quickly we got it. 

Because it’s similar to a Spanish Tapas restaurant, the menu is designed for you to order multiple items and share. But, they do also have some larger portion meals (Rice bowls and Ramen dishes) in case you want that. We ordered the Poo Poo Platter which had a variety of foods on it like bbq mushrooms, spicy shrimp skewers, Korean chicken wings, caramelized pork belly steam buns, and spring rolls. In addition, we also ordered the Korean meatballs, fried chicken steam buns, and Bibimbap. Everything was mouthwateringly delicious! 

Note: The Dragon Room does not take reservations. 

You’ll find The Dragon Room located at 803 Gervais Street in the Vista. 

4. Basil Thai

If you especially enjoy Thai food, you’ll want to check out Basil. Basil offers a variety of classic Thai food like Pad Thai, Pho soups, egg rolls, rice paper rolls, satay, and a different curry dishes. In addition they also feature multiple stir fry dishes and specialty dishes like duck and sea bass. If you enjoy specialty cocktails, you’ll love the cocktails at Basil; unique flavors and very refreshing as well. 

In addition to the delicious food, the service at Basil was quick and the entire staff was very helpful and friendly. I interacted with multiple servers on the evening I was there and each one of them was very personable. The atmosphere at Basil is sophisticated and comfortable at the same time. A welcoming environment overall. 

There were eight people in my group the night I went to Basil. Each of us ordered something different and every single person was raving about their food. I highly recommend Basil!

Note: While Basil is open for both lunch and dinner, they are closed in between. Lunch hours are 11:30am-2:00pm and dinner hours are 5:00-9:00pm.

You’ll find Basil located at 702 Cross Hill Rd in the Whole Foods plaza. 

5. Menkoi Ramen House

Ramen dishes are ones I have just recently started to enjoy. I never really ate them much before. I decided to venture out one night when I was on vacation last summer and found I really enjoyed it. So I new that I needed to try the Menkoi Ramen House for this post. 

If you’re not familiar with what Ramen is, it’s a Japanese noodle soup. But there are way more than just noodles in these delicious soups! You’ll find a variety of Ramen dishes that include pork, spinach, hard boiled eggs, beansprouts, green onions, and nori (seaweed). These delicious dishes normally have a soy sauce, miso, pork, or chicken soup base.

Menkoi Ramen House boasts nine different varieties of Ramen and four different appetizer options. The day I went for lunch, I tried the Miso Ramen (pictured below) which is a miso based soup with yellow noodles, marinated pork, beansprouts, spinach, green onions, nori, and a boiled egg. It was warm, hearty, and full of flavors that popped in your mouth. I enjoyed it very much. 

The atmosphere at Menkoi is welcoming and laid back. The staff was very friendly and helpful and my food came out very quickly. It’s the perfect spot for a quick lunch or dinner to warm you from the inside out!

Note: While Menkoi Ramen House is open for both lunch and dinner, they are closed in between. Lunch hours are 11:00am-2:30pm. Dinner hours are 5:00pm-9:30pm Sunday – Thursday, and 5:00pm-2:00am Friday – Saturday.

You’ll find Menkoi Ramen House at 1004 Gervais St.

6. CO 

Boasting an inviting and sophisticated atmosphere, CO features classic South Asian dishes with a twist. Each dish is full of robust flavors that are a treat for your taste buds!

Co has a wide variety of sushi, along with both rice and noodle dishes. They also boast flavorful dumplings and small dishes like edamame, chili wings, pork belly buns, and spring rolls. 

If you have dietary restrictions, CO has vegetarian and gluten free dishes available. They also have a wonderful kids menu. And we can’t forget about dessert…Yuzu Cheesecake, Strawberry Spring Rolls, and Crispy Cheesecake Wontons are just a few of the mouthwatering sweets CO offers daily. 

You’ll find CO located at 4840 Forest Drive. 

7. Kao Thai Cuisine

Last, but not least, is Kao Thai Cuisine. I absolutely adore this restaurant! The food was delicious, service fast, atmosphere friendly and inviting, and it’s the perfect location downtown on Main Street. 

Kao Thai Cuisine features a variety of Thai dishes. You’ll find appetizers like Roti and Curry, Pork Gyoza, Crab Rangoon, and Bangkok Shrimp. After you’ve enjoyed your delicious appetizer, indulge in one of their amazing main course meals. They offer traditional Thai dishes such as Pad Thai, Drunken noodles, and Thai Fried Rice, but you’ll also find a variety of dishes like Chicken Yaki Udon, Pineapple Fried Rice, Eggplant Tofu Basil, Lychee Duck Curry, and Spicy Red Flounder. In addition, Kao also offers a variety of cocktails, wine, local craft beer, saki, and Asian beer. 

If you enjoy outdoor dining, you can do that at Kao as well. When the weather is nice, they open up their exterior wall and put tables outside. You can sit and enjoy the sights and sounds of Main Street while you treat yourself to indulgent Thai flavors. 

Note: The prices at Kao are a little more expensive than the other restaurants above. Not too horrible, but something to keep in mind if you are watching your wallet. 

 You’ll find Kao Thai Cuisine located at 1307 Main St

BONUS: Chinese Food

Are you wondering why I haven’t mentioned any Chinese restaurants yet? There is a reason. Personally, I find that the best Chinese restaurants are the small, hole-in-the-wall, family run places. You have to look around your neighborhood to find those. 

My favorite is 10 minutes down the road from my house. It’s China Dragon Star, right off of Killian Rd., in front of Wal-Mart. They feature a large variety of mouth-watering Chinese food dishes that are freshly made-to-order. The portions are quite large, so there’s always plenty for leftovers the next day. My favorite! 

These are just some of the amazing places around Columbia to get your fix of Asian cuisine. If you love Asian cuisine as much as I do, give them all a try! You won’t regret it. 

What restaurants would you add to this list? Share them in the comments!