Mouthwatering Asian Fusion in Cincinnati

Asiana Thai and Sushi of Hyde Park

★★★★★ 4.6 (660) • $$

"The three of us lived in Hyde Park or Pleasant Ridge for decades, driving often by Asiana and never stopping. Last night, that changed, and we will all be stopping again, frequently! The sushi is fresh and world class and the housemade rice noodles are as good as Greg, the owner with his wife, promised. Even though they were busy, they were happy to prepare this vegetarian's Massamun curry without fish sauce. Everything we ordered was delectable and we loved that Greg took time to stop at our table, tell their story and offer recommendations from their sizable, well-priced Thai and sushi menu. The dining room is small, but the tables turned pretty quickly and they clearly do a big carry out business. One thing to note: it's BYOB, although our server cheerfully provided glasses and an opener. Wine Merchant is at the end of the block with a great selection, including a dry riesling that paired well with our meal."

Kung Food Chu's AmerAsia

★★★★☆ 4.1 (731) • $$

"Went here for a lunch special. Was quickly sat down and noticed many movies references . I ordered the most popular "how fun noodles" and a hot and sour soup.Soup came out first. Definitely not your tradition hot n sour soup. They added a bit of chili oil and made it a bit sweeter and it wasn't nearly as sour as I'd expect from other Chinese restaurants. The beef chow fun noodles were very oily and also drenched in chili oil. 3/10 spice is a good mild-medium level of spice. The beef came out as little strips and were a little chewy. The noodle textures were inconsistent, parts were hard and dry others were soft and stacked up in chunks. If you're looking for traditional Chinese dishes this is not the place for you. But if your looking for a fusion of American and Asian cooking then this place might be your groove. You also should be a huge fan of chili oil which I am not. Overall, I'm sure there are better Asian restaurants in Cincinnati, but kung food does deliver in taste it's just not taste that suits my palate."

Lalo

★★★★☆ 4.2 (506) • $$

"Decided to try Lalo during Cincinnati Burger Week. We got there a little early before they opened, 10:30 am, and were waiting in our truck in the parking spot. About a quarter til 11:00 a police car showed up and turned sideways right next to us blocking the road. Several more officers showed up and surrounded a guy that was on the sidewalk in front of the restaurant. Exciting start to our day, lol. A resident said he was likely a drug dealer but who knows! So after that cleared we were able to enter Lalo. I have had a meal next door to Lalo at Hawker's Alley before and really have no issue with the neighborhood as it is a typical downtown area in a larger city. We were greeted as soon as we entered and we were told to sit where we would like. We chose a booth. She brought us a menu and silverware and ice water. They had two choices for Cincinnati Burger Week and I ordered on and my friend ordered the other. I also ordered the pork kimchi dumplings and my friend ordered the zucchini fries & sriracha aioli. Both of these starter items were delicious and next time I would definitely order the zucchini as they were so lightly battered and fried crispy, so good! Nothing wrong with my dumplings either. The burgers were hot and delicious! We also had a shot of Bulleit Bourbon to go with our meal as it was on special as well with the burger week offerings.Our waitress/bartender was great and made sure we were taken care of. We will definitely be back here again to try something else off their menu."

Quán Hapa

★★★★☆ 4 (496) • $$

"I love this spot! The service is always so incredibly nice and well paced. The introduction is always clean and the vibe is perfect for a night out at dinner or a lunch spot to try out. I love that there is anime playing on the tvs because it fits the theme at all time. When it comes to the delicious food that is served, i have yet to have something that i dislike. The KFC (Korean Fried Chicken) was delicious and I will keep coming back for the pancake that I received. This place is somewhere you need to check out and will keep coming back for more! My full walkthrough :https://www.instagram.com/reel/Cs9ey36p9_p/?igshid=MzRlODBiNWFlZA=="

Poke Hut

★★★★★ 4.6 (280) • $$

"Not quite the poke from Maui, but very good quality. Fresh ingredients. I will be back."

Sky Asian Cuisine

★★★★☆ 4.3 (264) • $$

"Sky Asian Cuisine is an amazing Asian restaurant that I've driven past countless times. I received a menu in the mail and decided to try it. I ordered the blackened steak with asparagus, brown rice, and salad for takeout. Ordering on the website was very easy, and my order was ready when I arrived. The interior is beautiful with a full bar and sushi bar as well. My meal was outstanding, and there was so much that I saved the rest for dinner. This is a must try for anyone in the Dayton area!"

Tea 'n' Bowl

★★★★☆ 4 (290) • $$

"This tchotchke-laden dining hall boasts Malaysian, authentic Chinese and American Chinese menus, as well as Bubble Teas.Tea 'n' Bowl will have you coming back to explore again and again. Nestled near campus up in Clifton, this is a great spot for walkup and carryout. They offer dine-in, but it is by no means a large space. Definitely worth checking out more than once."

Mint Bistro

★★★★☆ 4.3 (210) • $$

"We lived in New Orleans from 1995 to 2007. When I moved there, I was well aware of the city's illustrious dining reputation and that fresh Gulf of Mexico seafood was a big part of that legacy. What never occurred to me was that the bounty of fresh fish would also make New Orleans a great sushi town. We took plenty of advantage of that during the decade-plus we lived there. (Back in those days, the NOLA sushi joints weren't exactly adventurous, but there were a number of places where everything would always be super-fresh and well-executed--and very reasonably priced.)When we moved to Cincinnati, I knew our sushi habits were going to take a hit, but holy crap, I had no idea how big of one. For the most part, sushi was absolutely atrocious here in 2007. An embarrassment. We did eventually discover Ando, which was terrific, and Mei, which is very solid, too; there were also a couple of excellent Japanese options over on the Kentucky side, but they're like 30-40-minute drives for us. But damn, the ones closest to us, Ando and Mei (especially Ando), can break the bank if you don't watch it.But we basically gave up on trying to find a worthwhile mid-priced sushi place in or around the city. Not long ago, though, a little birdie told my wife about Mint Bistro, and although I was skeptical, the wife had some reason to trust this source.Our source was largely correct, thank Christ: Mint Bistro gives you a solid sushi experience without burning up your wallet. It's an Asian fusion place, which I probably reduces the sushi selection you get here, but there's plenty to put together a satisfying sushi meal. We've had some good nigiri (salmon, yellowtail, and fatty tuna have been pretty great, all with some of that melt-in-your-mouth butteriness), and we've really liked the Sunkissed Roll (pretty simple, just a spicy tuna roll topped with salmon and avocado) the couple of times we've had it.The couple of apps we've tried haven't been quite as good: seaweed salad is pretty basic and okay, but gyoza were quite bland. The proprietors have done a tasteful job with the place--it's a sharp-looking and comfortable little restaurant, and nicely lit. The staff has been welcoming, pleasant, and helpful, too.We have to drive at least 20 minutes to get to Mint, but so far it's easily worth the extra time compared to some of the Asian fusion/sushi places five minutes or less from our house (almost all of which we don't even go to). That ought to tell you a lot right there."

Asian Paradise

★★★★☆ 3.9 (229) • $$

"My wife and I joined friends for dinner at Asian Paradise. It was a Tuesday, and the place was quiet. The service was terrific, and the food was even better. This is not our first visit. Asian Paradise is our go-to restaurant whenever we want a taste of the Far East. Meal prices are reasonable for what you get. My wife ordered the Crispy Walnut Shrimp and Chicken dish, and I ordered Chicken Pad Thai level 3. My wife always gets two meals from her entree. While we didn't have it this time, the Grilled Sesame sesame-crusted salmon, Vietnamese Basil Beef, Crispy Peking Duck, and General Tso's Chicken are can't-miss choices. I can also attest the sushi rolls are excellent. If you want to experience Asian cuisine at its finest, Asian Paradise is a great option."

Aroma Restaurant & Sushi

★★★☆☆ 3.4 (297) • $$

"Service was very friendly and helpful. I got the miso soup and fried green beans and we got a bunch of rolls and a teriyaki platter with shrimp (yum!). We ate the green beans so quickly and I didn't have a chance to take a photo. We loved them. All the rolls were good and made fresh - of course our eyes were bigger than our stomachs so we took home the left overs. We also got the saki strawberry to drink - we'd highly recommend. Great flavor! We'll be back! And yes, a game was on the t.v."

Teak OTR

★★★★☆ 3.9 (222) • $$

"My husband and I grabbed dinner at Teak when we came downtown for Blink 2024. Our server was extremely sweet and polite, and despite being extremely busy, we received our drinks and food pretty fast.For an appetizer, we shared the Crab Puffs, which were out of this world! Such great flavor, and the sauce that came with it was the perfect complement. For my entree, I ordered Pad Thai with Shrimp, and my husband ordered the Pineapple Fried Rice. Both dishes were excellent. (I, of course, had to try my husband's rice.) And, finally, the ambiance is cozy, even though it can become quite loud at times. If you enjoy Thai cuisine, I highly recommend Teak! Bon Appétit!"

Kealoha's Kitchen

★★★★★ 4.9 (119)

"If you're looking for authentic Hawaiian choices, this is the place. Relaxed atmosphere and kind employees are a big plus. Everyone we spoke to was either a family friend or relative, which gave it a cozy feel. It is perfect for any sized gathering, which is perfect for dates, friends, etc. And there is a parking garage nearby, should you find parking to be difficult. Great find!"

Basil 1791

★★★★☆ 3.9 (165) • $$

"Short story: I cringe when a place does multiple Asian styles. It usually means they do none of them great, maybe all mediocre at best. That was my expectation for Basil, but they quickly dispelled that assumption and have become our go-to Asian food haunt...including sushi and some mean cocktails. Maybe grab a drink, as on to the long story...We first dipped our toes by trying safer fare such as their Pad Thai and Drunken Noodles, which were certainly tasty and warranted a need to try more of the menu, though not the best of those dishes we've had. We have since tried more exciting dishes such as the Spicy Peanut Curry dish, which is now my fav - nice heat, flavor, and great portions. The curry and peanuts combo is just hard to beat. My wife now really enjoys the Spicy Garlic Chicken, but her absolute favorite main dish when we're splurging is the Korean Sizzling Steak, and I concur. It's almost more of a Mongolian Beef (which they also have and is solid) meets premium Asian steak dish like a Thai Crying Tiger - highly recommended.We also love some of their apps. I am not a fan of Crab Rangoons but love theirs and my wife (who loves Crab Rangoons) is addicted to them. They're more like triangle pockets vs the traditional rangoon shape, with fantastically crispy yet chewy dough and what must be a lower cream cheese ratio because I normally don't like rangoons because of too much cream cheese. The Egg Roll great too, as are the Bon Bon Shrimp (when ordering in, to-go they get a bit soggy). I like the Thai Rolls, but my wife finds them to be a bit too meaty and dense. We usually love pot stickers but theirs are strangely more European dumpling like in shape and dough - not fans.Our other love at Basil is their sushi - a total surprise! We used to live in the Pacific Northwest and had access to world-class sushi that's more focused on the fish rather than crazy assortments and sauces on fried rolls. The Cincinnati metro area is more focused on the latter, which is not our preference, but Basil has a great assortment of both including many fresh fish rolls like their Basil Special Roll, Summer Roll, and (our favorite) Rainbow Roll. Surprisingly good quality of fresh fish, though we tend to stay with the tuna focused rolls and the salmon can vary. The best part? They do half priced sushi on Wednesdays (of a limited menu)! On that note, they have specials nearly every night of the week.Another surprising aspect of Basil is their cocktails are fantastic! A huge list of affordable yet unique and well crafted cocktails, including seasonal/event-based special cocktails. I struggle to choose but often go with their Blackberry Bourbon Smash, while my wife usually gets their current variation of the Old Fashioned. They typically have a solid craft beer offering too but the servers rarely know it well and the list is not easy to find/see. But the cocktails are so good that I say save beer for somewhere else.Last but not least, the spot is cool with the book-clad walls by the booths. Definitely get a booth if you can, which sometimes requires a reservation, as the tables can be awkward. They also apparently have an event/music venue upstairs as we've heard it but have never been. Service when eating in has been really hit and miss, usually more on the latter unfortunately. That and the non-booth seating are the main reasons for the 4 stars, along with a few food misses. But hostess staff for to-go have usually been great.Phew, that was a long review! But Basil is quite the complex place with many layers. Definitely recommend, as we certainly frequent it, but keep in mind some of the nuances noted, as this is not your typical Asian restaurant."

Basil Thai

★★★★☆ 3.7 (176) • $$

"Dined for lunch today and it was wonderful! Service was excellent and can't wait to go back and try more fresh sushi!"

Asian Spice Bistro

★★★★☆ 4.2 (135) • $$

"Sooooo delicious! Tom Kha Kra Pao Gai basil chicken and sushi! Mom and pop place !!!!!!!!!!!!"

Asiana Thai and Sushi

★★★★★ 4.5 (117) • $$

"A new lifelong customer! I had always walked past this place while in Crestview and saw it is usually pretty busy and that is what led us to trying it out. Though it was busy, we were seated promptly. There is plenty of space for seating so not sure that a reservation is necessary. We went for the first time last week and have already been back since because of the service and the amazing food. The service is top notch. Everyone in there is engaged and helpful. Managers walk by to greet you and joke around with you which I loved. It felt like a community driven environment. The food was so good and there is still so much that I want to try. I highly recommend the Thai tea or Thai coffee to start as both were amazing. I got the crispy pad Thai and it was a huge portion made just right. I also got the mango curry here and it was equally as amazing. I will be coming here every time I have a craving for Thai food or sushi."

Nat's

★★★★☆ 4.4 (122) • $

"O.M.G....I have found the authentic Thai restaurant in Kentucky -- Nat's is it!!Nat's is a very unassuming lil takeout only restaurant tucked into the side of McCarthy's Irish Bar and shares a front entrance with an Irish gift shop. It sounds odd, but totally worked! My friend and I walked up one afternoon, ordered food inside the restaurant, was told by the owner to "go next door, order a drink and he will bring the food over". We went to McCarthy's, ordered a couple of Pepsi and sat in the cutest nook by the window. Our orders arrived soon: Kobe beef grapao, shrimp salad. Wow! The flavors are sharp, distinct and intense, like Thai flavors are supposed to be. I would say the grapao's spice level is about medium for me. The salad was so spicy that I couldn't finish it. If you have the tendency to want "Thai Hot" in your dishes, this is the place that can serve it up! If you look at the photos poated by other Yelpers, you'll see many other special menu items not found at any other local Thai places. i cannot wait to come back for them!Btw, there is also a nice courtyard next door w available seating during warmer months."

Shanghai On Elm

★★★★☆ 4.3 (127) • $$

"Very good Asian cuisine. The crab Rangoons were awesome. Both our cuisines were very good as well. They did a great job dialing i n the heat. I had a 6 on a 1-10 scale and it was right where I expected it to be. The restaurant staff were friendly and attentive. The restaurant was pretty clean and all the dishes can out well presented. The atmosphere is well appointed. Definitely a solid upscale Chinese food experience."

E + O Kitchen - The Banks

★★★★☆ 4.1 (131) • $$

"Amazing food in a cool atmosphere and we had great service.I truly think this menu has something for everyone: salads, sushi, bowls, burgers...I love bringing family and friends here when they come to visit. Everyone is always pleased with the food.I had been to the Hyde Park location several times, but this was my first time at the newer Banks location. I really liked it and look forward to returning!"

Neko Sushi

★★★★★ 4.6 (98) • $$

"Great service from the minute we walked in. The food was amazing and the bluefin was to die for! Very cozy atmosphere. If you're in the mood for Sushi this is where you want to eat it!"

Shanghai Bistro

★★★★★ 4.5 (88) • $$

"If you live in Loveland and don't know this Chinese restaurant, you're missing out!My husband and I stopped by this restaurant across the street from Hilton Garden Inn as we were in town for business for a few days. Their menu is ridiculously cheap and the food is in huge portion and delicious. We ordered the 5 pieces Shanghai dumplings for $5.95, which honestly would have probably cost me this much if I bought the dumplings from an Asian super market.We also ordered the Mongolian Beef and Shrimp Wonton noodle soup from their lunch menu. Their extensive lunch menu all cost $5.95 each! It doesn't get any better than this. I can't even get spring rolls at this price in Virginia where I live. And the food is in regular entree size so expect decent portion even for lunch items. We didn't get any chicken so can't vouch for the quality but the beef and Shanghai pork dumplings were good. The shrimp wontons are homemade and flavorful.I spoke to the owners and they explained that they're pretty much operating at cost here (for the lunch menu), you're pretty much just paying for the cost of ingredients. They're keeping the price low to just make enough margin to keep the restaurant menu. Even dinner prices are extremely affordable at mostly $9.95-10.95 each, with some chef specials at $14-17.They mostly run on take-out order so the restaurant is not busy during the day. We came at 3pm and they still honored the lunch price for us. Thank you!Please go support this wholesome Chinese family business and try the food for yourself instead of relying on the other reviews from people that don't know Chinese food at all."

Enson Harbor

★★★☆☆ 3.4 (154)

"My family and I had some issues making our reservation at Moerlein recently, so we had to pivot on the playcall REAL fast. There is nothing worse than dealing with a hangry Stephanie. My mother mentioned Enson Harbor because of Chowdown Cincinnati, and we went in. In true tiktok form, "We're Asian Americans, OF COURSE we'll choose dim sum if that's an option!"Walking into the ghosts of Joe Crab Shack's past was a doozy. The building is spacious, but the seating is set up asymmetrically so there's random pockets of space on the dining floor. There were three servers for the entire restaurant - I am absolutely sure that it is hard to staff in general, and especially at a newer restaurant, but it's hard to enjoy your meal when you have three people running around with their heads cut off.The menu is large, and honestly, a little all over the place (like those servers!). They have the traditional dim sum section, "fried" dim sum (which I mean technically holds true, but I'd just call them apps), noodles and rice, and a random seafood boil section. We ordered a plethora of dumplings, as well as the sautéed pork, cha chiang meon, & fried rice. Everything came out as they were made, which was fine. It's actually something a lot of restaurants do these days and it doesn't bother me. What did bother me was how one dimensional the dumplings were. Between the Szechuan, black truffle, crab meat, etc., none of the dumplings were top tier. They weren't frozen from jungle Jim's variety, but they weren't outstanding either.The rest of our items followed the same suit. Was everything made by hand? Yes. Was everything made with love? No, it was all made with obligation. Combine that with the chaotic marathon the servers were half completing, it wasn't the most enjoyable dining experience.Would I come back here? That's a tough question. I want every local restaurant to succeed to the fullest extent - but there was nothing that screams that I need to be back, especially when there are other dim sum restaurants for me to try in the city. I would let you make your own assumptions if you're in the area, but I make no promises it will be spectacular."

CJ Chan

★★★★☆ 4.2 (98) • $$

"I have always liked this place. They have great food and it is very convenient to get to. You don't need to watch Learn Chinese Fast videos on Youtube to make your order. The staff speaks English better than many customers, to be honest. I like the ambiance because it is nice and dark - very cozy. I usually get a Happy Family or some sushi, depending on my mood. I'm craving sushi now."

Mr. Sushi

★★★☆☆ 3.3 (148) • $$

"Can not hate on this place at all. Was staying at a hotel near the campus and while out exploring I found this place that has happy hour pricing and it was happy hour! Half price rolls were the order of the day and they were good size and tasty. The service was spot on and it wasn't too crowded. Not too far from campus, this would make a good spot for reasonably priced food for students. The inside was done up nice, so this is no fly by night dump setup to fleece folks out of their hardearned money. If you are around the UC campus then head on over for a good lunch or dinner!"

China Food

★★★☆☆ 3.1 (142) • $

"Large portions for the amount you pay. Turned my meal into two. I got the chicken low mein and egg drop soup and they were better than expected.Definitely recommend if looking for a chill, casual place to eat."

Nida Thai Cuisine

★★★★☆ 4.1 (79) • $$

"Went to Nida with a friend because they were loosely associated with the owners. Stopping in on a cold late fall night we were seated and waited on right away. Ordered some super warming and comforting Thai classics. Prices were right, and food came quick... for one of us. I ended up waiting on my meal for about ten minutes while my partner ate. but the food was good and super fresh!"

Dope! Asian Street Fare

★★★★☆ 3.9 (83)

"Everything was delicious. Would go back again. It was a fun food hall market style above the Kroger and for an out of towner- I'll recommend any day and I'll be back.The lemongrass broth was so yummy! The baos were great, and my guy was digging the pork belly ramen. Everything too notch!"

Ninja Grill Japanese & Hibachi Express

★★★★☆ 3.7 (82) • $

"I placed a to go order. The process was simple. Fill out the to go form, pay, wait, and enjoy! I got crab lomein with mushrooms and onions plus an egg roll. My total was about $13. Portion size was big enough to get two meals out of it. To go order only took at 15 minutes."

The Wok

★★★★☆ 3.7 (80)

"Great, friendly customer service. I felt welcomed and appreciated. The food lived up to its best reviews. Fresh spring rolls. Sauce was tasty without relying on being spicy like so many places do these days. Best crab Rangoon I've had. Lunch portion plate was more than generous and excellent quality ingredients. Even if I'm not back to the same hotel, I'll walk to come back."

Asian King

★★★★☆ 3.7 (78) • $

"I've been ordering here for about six years and they're consistently wonderful. Some of my family's go-to's are: Chicken on a Stick, Crab Rangoon, Fried Pork Dumplings, Szechuan Garlic Wontons, General Tso's Chicken, and Szechuan Noodle Soup with rice noodles (perfect, spicy soup for winter)! Their Mongolian Chicken (photos added) is super good too, but you better love onions! I usually order delivery but went in recently for a lunch order and the service was fast and friendly."

The Depot

★★★★☆ 4 (64) • $$

"The Depots Captain Jack seared sushi is delicious. Orange chicken is great too. The facility is a bit noise conductive. Normal conversations are amplified by the design of the booth canopy. The only negative if your used to a peaceful setting."

Green Papaya

★★★★☆ 3.9 (65) • $$

"I got the chicken pad thai with a 2 out of 3 request for heat and really enjoyed it. that does have some heat so go lower if you have a low tolerance. I also had the crab rangoons which is hard to get wrong. Pro tip, they heat up nice in the air fryer the next day:)"

BIBIBOP Asian Grill

★★★★☆ 4.4 (50) • $

"We picked up a quick lunch at the Mason location. Compared to the other locations we have visited, we felt this one was cleaner and the food fresher. We enjoyed our tofu and Korean beef bbq bowls. The complementary miso soup was watered down and had no flavor, but I guess you get what you pay for. A decent lunch. $22.45, for our bowls only, no drinks or other items."

The Twist Indian Grill

★★★★☆ 4.3 (45)

"For quality and value this is a winner. The interior seating area is very spartan with basic fast food style tables, I would recommend getting your meal to go. There are a lot of food choices in addition to the build your own meal. I got 2 naan tacos kormi with chicken. Also got a chikoo shake all for $15. The shake is small, as are the lassis. Wish I had gotten some samosas and dessert too.I'll be back for sure"

China Inn

★★★★☆ 4.3 (41) • $

"I drive from Indiana for the best Chinese within 100 miles. There is no better hot and sour soup "anywhere" Plus the people are great."