Looking for the best Asian food in Cork? You’re in luck.
Cork’s Asian food scene has grown into something much more interesting than a choice between Chinese takeaway and sushi. Across the city, you’ll find Thai curries, Japanese ramen and sushi, Chinese dumplings and noodles, Malaysian dishes, Vietnamese food, Hong Kong-style cooking and plenty of Asian-inspired street food.
The difficult part isn’t finding Asian food in Cork.
It’s deciding where to go first.
We’ve put together this guide to some of the best Asian restaurants in Cork, covering different cuisines, budgets and occasions. Whether you’re looking for a relaxed lunch, a bowl of ramen, a Thai curry, sushi for a date night or something completely different, there should be an option here for you.
Best Asian Restaurants in Cork at a Glance
| Restaurant | Best For | Cuisine | Area | Our Pick |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Koto | Asian fusion | Asian Fusion | Carey’s Lane | Best overall |
| Golden Elephant | Thai food | Thai | MacCurtain Street / Douglas | Best Thai |
| Wabi Sabi Sushi & Noodles Bar | Sushi & noodles | Japanese | Oliver Plunkett Street | Best Japanese |
| Yuan Ming Yuan | Chinese food | Chinese | Princes Street | Best Chinese |
| Malay Kitchen | Malaysian food | Malaysian | South Main Street | Best Malaysian |
| Ramen Anglesea Street | Ramen | Japanese | Anglesea Street | Best ramen |
| Nosh 19 | Hong Kong-style food | Hong Kong Chinese | Princes Street | Best Hong Kong-style |
| Little Vietnam | Vietnamese food | Vietnamese | Victoria Cross | Best Vietnamese |
| Reiwa Japanese Restaurant | Casual Japanese | Japanese | Paul Street | Best casual Japanese |
| Soba Asian Street Food | Casual Asian food | Asian | Glanmire | Best outside the city centre |
Menus, opening hours and dishes can change, so check the restaurant’s current information before visiting.
How We Chose These Asian Restaurants
“Asian food” covers a huge range of cuisines, so we haven’t tried to rank restaurants as though they’re all competing to cook the same food.
Instead, we’ve looked at what each restaurant is particularly good at.
Our selection considers:
- Quality and variety of food
- Cuisine and restaurant identity
- Local reputation
- Menu choice
- Location
- Vegetarian and vegan options
- Suitability for different occasions
- Casual and sit-down dining
- Overall experience
We also wanted to include different styles of Asian food.
A sushi restaurant shouldn’t be judged in exactly the same way as a Thai restaurant, and a casual noodle shop has a completely different purpose from a restaurant designed for a long dinner.
That’s why the “best” restaurant depends on what you’re hungry for.
1. Koto – Best Asian Restaurant in Cork Overall
If you’re looking for one restaurant to start your Asian food tour of Cork, Koto is a very strong choice.
Koto
Located on Carey’s Lane in Cork City Centre, Koto is an Asian fusion restaurant with a broad menu and a strong local following. Current listings show a 4.6 rating from more than 1,100 reviews, making it one of the city’s most reviewed Asian restaurants.
What makes Koto useful for this particular guide is its variety.
You aren’t restricted to one narrow style of Asian cooking, so it’s a good restaurant to choose when different people at the table want different things.
Why go?
Koto is a good all-rounder.
It’s particularly useful for a group dinner where one person wants noodles, another wants sushi and someone else simply wants something spicy and full of flavour.
What should you order?
Take a look at the current menu and consider sharing several dishes.
Asian food often works particularly well this way because you get to experience more than one flavour and texture during the meal.
Best for
- First-time visitors
- Groups
- Asian food lovers
- Casual dinners
- Sharing
- City-centre dining
Who might prefer somewhere else?
If you’re specifically looking for one cuisine, such as Thai, Japanese or Malaysian food, a specialist restaurant may give you a more focused experience.
Location
6 Carey’s Lane, Cork City
2. Golden Elephant – Best Thai Food in Cork
For Thai food, Golden Elephant is one of the strongest names to know.
The restaurant has locations on MacCurtain Street and in Douglas, giving diners a choice depending on where they’re staying or spending the day. Current listings show strong ratings at both locations.
Golden Elephant
Thai cooking is all about balance — sweet, sour, salty, spicy and aromatic flavours working together — and a good Thai restaurant should give you plenty of contrast across the menu.
Why go?
If you’re craving Thai food rather than general Asian food, this is where we’d start.
It’s also a good option for people who enjoy sharing several dishes rather than ordering one large main course.
What should you order?
Look for classic Thai dishes on the current menu, particularly if you’re trying Thai food for the first time.
If you enjoy spice, ask the staff about the heat level before ordering.
Best for
- Thai food
- Couples
- Groups
- Dinner
- Sharing
- Spice lovers
Who might prefer somewhere else?
If you’re specifically craving sushi or ramen, go for a Japanese restaurant instead.
Locations
MacCurtain Street, Cork City
Douglas, Cork
3. Wabi Sabi Sushi & Noodles Bar – Best Japanese Food in Cork
If sushi is what you’re craving, Wabi Sabi Sushi & Noodles Bar is one of the most established choices in Cork.
Wabisabi Sushi and Noodles Bar
Located on Oliver Plunkett Street, the restaurant combines sushi with noodles and other Japanese dishes.
Current listings show a 4.5 rating and more than 1,500 reviews, giving it one of the largest review footprints among the Asian restaurants in Cork.
Why go?
Variety.
You can visit for sushi, but you don’t necessarily have to stay with sushi if someone in your group isn’t a fan.
What should you order?
If you’re new to Japanese food, start with a selection of sushi and one noodle or hot dish for the table.
For experienced sushi diners, explore the current menu and try something you haven’t ordered before.
Best for
- Sushi
- Noodles
- Date nights
- Groups
- Japanese food
- City-centre dining
Who might prefer somewhere else?
For a specialist ramen experience, Ramen Anglesea Street is a more focused choice.
Location
89–90 Oliver Plunkett Street, Cork City
4. Yuan Ming Yuan – Best Chinese Food in Cork
Chinese food deserves its own place in any guide to Asian restaurants in Cork.
Yuan Ming Yuan is one of the city’s best-known Chinese restaurants and is located on Princes Street.
Yuan Ming Yuan
Current listings show more than 1,000 reviews and a strong 4.5 rating.
The restaurant is also regularly mentioned in local Cork discussions when people ask where to find Chinese food that goes beyond the most familiar takeaway-style dishes.
Why go?
For variety and the opportunity to explore Chinese dishes beyond the standard choices.
Local diners have specifically recommended asking about dim sum when visiting.
What should you order?
Ask what the restaurant recommends if you’re interested in less familiar dishes.
If you’re with a group, order several dishes for the table rather than everyone choosing separately.
Best for
- Chinese food
- Groups
- Sharing
- Dinner
- Exploring Chinese cuisine
Location
17 Princes Street, Cork City
5. Malay Kitchen – Best Malaysian Food in Cork
Malaysian food is sometimes overlooked when people talk about Asian restaurants, which is a shame.
Malay Kitchen on South Main Street is a good place to discover the combination of Malaysian, Chinese, Indian and Southeast Asian influences that make Malaysian cooking so interesting.
Malay Kitchen
Current listings show a 4.5 rating and more than 300 reviews.
Why go?
Because Malaysian food offers something genuinely different.
You’ll find rich sauces, noodles, rice dishes, spice, herbs and a mixture of culinary influences that you won’t necessarily get from a standard Chinese or Thai restaurant.
What should you order?
Look through the current menu and choose something you’ve never tried before.
If you’re dining with friends, sharing several dishes is a good way to explore more of the menu.
Best for
- Malaysian food
- Adventurous diners
- Casual dinners
- Groups
- Asian food enthusiasts
Who might prefer somewhere else?
If you want sushi, noodles or Japanese food, Wabi Sabi is a better match.
Location
4–5 Paradise Place, South Main Street, Cork City
6. Ramen Anglesea Street – Best Ramen in Cork
Sometimes you don’t want a broad Asian menu.
You just want a really good bowl of ramen.
That’s where Ramen Anglesea Street comes in.
Ramen Anglesea Street
The restaurant is focused on ramen and Japanese-style dishes, making it a more specialised option than a general Asian restaurant.
Current listings show a 4.2 rating from more than 700 reviews.
Why go?
Focus.
A specialist restaurant can be a better choice when you know exactly what you’re craving.
What should you order?
Ramen is obviously the place to start.
If you’re unfamiliar with the different styles, ask the staff which bowl they’d recommend for a first visit.
Best for
- Ramen
- Casual dinners
- Japanese food
- Cold-weather meals
- Quick evening meals
Who might prefer somewhere else?
If you want sushi alongside your meal, Wabi Sabi gives you a wider Japanese menu.
Location
21 Anglesea Street, Cork
7. Nosh 19 – Best Hong Kong-Style Food in Cork
For something a little different, try Nosh 19.
Nosh 19
Located on Princes Street, Nosh 19 is a Hong Kong-style café, offering a different experience from a conventional Chinese restaurant.
Current listings show more than 700 reviews, while local Cork discussions frequently mention it as an option for Hong Kong-style Chinese food.
Why go?
Hong Kong café food brings together Chinese cooking with the city’s distinctive café culture.
It’s worth trying if you’ve already explored Cork’s more familiar Chinese restaurants and want something different.
What should you order?
Check the current menu and ask the staff what they recommend.
The menu offers plenty of choice, so don’t feel you need to stick to the dishes you already know.
Best for
- Hong Kong-style food
- Adventurous diners
- Lunch
- Dinner
- Groups
Location
19 Princes Street, Cork City
8. Little Vietnam – Best Vietnamese Food in Cork
Vietnamese food brings a completely different set of flavors to the Cork Asian restaurant scene.
Little Vietnam on Victoria Cross is a particularly interesting option if you’re looking for Vietnamese food rather than a general Asian menu.
Little Vietnam
Current listings show a perfect 5.0 rating, although the number of reviews is much smaller than some of the city’s longer-established restaurants.
That distinction matters.
A perfect score with 40-plus reviews shouldn’t be treated as directly comparable with a restaurant that has more than 1,000 reviews.
Still, the strong current customer response makes Little Vietnam worth knowing about.
Why go?
For Vietnamese flavours.
Vietnamese cooking is known for fresh herbs, bright flavours, noodles, broths and a balance between freshness and richness.
What should you order?
Look for the restaurant’s current Vietnamese specialities and ask about the dishes if you’re unfamiliar with the cuisine.
Best for
- Vietnamese food
- Lunch
- Casual dining
- Trying something new
- Fresh flavours
Location
Victoria Cross Road, Cork
9. Reiwa Japanese Restaurant – Best Casual Japanese Option
Reiwa Japanese Restaurant on Paul Street is another useful choice for Japanese food in Cork City Centre.
Reiwa Japanese Restaurant
The restaurant currently has a 4.2 rating from almost 300 reviews and offers a relatively casual Japanese dining experience.
Why go?
Convenience.
It’s centrally located and works well when you’re looking for Japanese food without turning dinner into a major occasion.
Best for
- Casual Japanese food
- Lunch
- Dinner
- City-centre dining
- Sushi fans
Location
40 Paul Street, Cork City
10. Soba Asian Street Food – Best Asian Food Outside Cork City Centre
If you’re willing to travel outside the city centre, Soba Asian Street Food in Glanmire is worth considering.
Soba Asian Street Food – Glanmire
The restaurant has a broad Asian street-food identity and is a useful option for people living in or visiting the Glanmire area.
Current listings show a 4.3 rating from more than 280 reviews.
Why go?
You don’t always have to head into Cork City Centre for good Asian food.
Soba is particularly convenient for local residents or anyone already travelling through Glanmire.
Best for
- Asian street food
- Casual dining
- Families
- Local residents
- Informal dinners
Location
6A Hazelwood Centre, Riverstown, Glanmire
Best Asian Food in Cork by Category
With so many different cuisines represented, choosing by category is often easier than choosing an overall winner.
Best Asian Restaurant in Cork Overall: Koto
Koto gets our overall pick because of its broad Asian-fusion menu and strong local following.
It’s particularly useful when you’re dining with a group and everyone wants something slightly different.
Best Thai Food in Cork: Golden Elephant
For Thai food, Golden Elephant is our first choice.
It gives you a much more focused Thai experience than a general Asian restaurant.
Best Japanese Restaurant in Cork: Wabi Sabi
If sushi and Japanese food are your priority, choose Wabi Sabi.
Its Oliver Plunkett Street location is also convenient for a city-centre dinner.
Best Chinese Restaurant in Cork: Yuan Ming Yuan
For Chinese food, Yuan Ming Yuan remains one of the strongest choices.
It’s particularly interesting for diners who want to explore beyond the most familiar Chinese dishes.
Best Malaysian Food in Cork: Malay Kitchen
For something different, Malay Kitchen is our pick.
Malaysian cuisine brings together influences that make it quite different from the better-known Thai and Chinese options.
Best Ramen in Cork: Ramen Anglesea Street
If you’re searching specifically for ramen, skip the general Asian menu and head to Ramen Anglesea Street.
Best Hong Kong-Style Food: Nosh 19
For Hong Kong café-style food, Nosh 19 is the obvious choice.
Best Vietnamese Food in Cork: Little Vietnam
If Vietnamese cuisine is what you’re looking for, Little Vietnam is worth trying.
Best Casual Asian Food: Soba Asian Street Food
For an informal Asian meal outside the city centre, Soba in Glanmire is a useful option.
Where to Find Asian Food in Cork
Cork’s Asian restaurants are spread across several neighbourhoods, but some areas are particularly useful.
Cork City Centre
The city centre has the widest range.
Carey’s Lane, Paul Street, Oliver Plunkett Street, Princes Street and South Main Street all have Asian food options within relatively easy walking distance.
This makes the city centre the best choice if you want to compare several cuisines during a weekend in Cork.
Princes Street
Princes Street is particularly interesting for Chinese and Hong Kong-style food.
Yuan Ming Yuan and Nosh 19 are both located here.
Oliver Plunkett Street
If you’re looking for Japanese food, Oliver Plunkett Street is worth knowing.
Wabi Sabi Sushi & Noodles Bar is located here and is particularly convenient for dinner after exploring the city centre.
MacCurtain Street
For Thai food, head towards MacCurtain Street and Golden Elephant.
The Victorian Quarter is also a good area to explore if you’re looking for restaurants and bars before or after dinner.
South Main Street
Malay Kitchen makes South Main Street a good destination for Malaysian food.
Victoria Cross
If you’re craving Vietnamese food, Little Vietnam is located around Victoria Cross.
Glanmire
For people outside the city centre, Soba Asian Street Food gives you another option in Glanmire.
Tips for Choosing an Asian Restaurant in Cork
Decide which cuisine you actually want
Asian food is an enormous category.
If you want sushi, look for Japanese food.
If you’re craving pad thai or Thai curry, choose a Thai restaurant.
If you want ramen, go somewhere that specialises in ramen.
This sounds obvious, but it can make a big difference to your dining experience.
Don’t judge every Asian restaurant by the same standard
A sushi restaurant and a Malaysian restaurant are doing completely different things.
The best restaurant is the one that matches what you’re actually looking for.
Try something unfamiliar
One of the best reasons to explore Cork’s Asian food scene is the variety.
Instead of automatically ordering the same dish you always get, ask the staff for a recommendation.
You might discover a new favourite.
Share dishes when possible
Many Asian cuisines are naturally suited to sharing.
Ordering several smaller dishes can give you a much better introduction to a restaurant than ordering one large main course.
Check dietary options
Many Asian restaurants have vegetarian and vegan choices, but the amount of choice varies.
If you’re travelling with someone who has a specific dietary requirement, check the current menu before visiting.
Mention serious allergies
Asian cooking can involve common allergens such as soy, sesame, peanuts, shellfish and fish products.
If you have a serious allergy, tell the restaurant before ordering and ask how dishes are prepared.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best Asian restaurant in Cork?
Our overall pick is Koto, mainly because it offers a broad Asian-fusion experience and has a strong local following.
However, if you already know which cuisine you want, a specialist restaurant may be a better choice.
What is the best Thai restaurant in Cork?
Golden Elephant is our pick for Thai food.
It has locations in MacCurtain Street and Douglas.
What is the best Japanese restaurant in Cork?
For an all-round Japanese experience, Wabi Sabi Sushi & Noodles Bar is one of the strongest options.
For ramen specifically, try Ramen Anglesea Street.
Where can I find good Chinese food in Cork?
Yuan Ming Yuan is our first recommendation.
It’s one of Cork’s better-known Chinese restaurants and is particularly worth considering if you want to explore beyond familiar takeaway dishes.
Where can I get Malaysian food in Cork?
Malay Kitchen on South Main Street is our top choice for Malaysian food.
Where can I get Vietnamese food in Cork?
Little Vietnam around Victoria Cross is worth trying if you’re looking specifically for Vietnamese food.
What is the best Asian restaurant in Cork for groups?
Koto is a good all-round option because of its broad menu.
Golden Elephant and Wabi Sabi are also worth considering depending on the cuisine your group prefers.
What is the best Asian restaurant in Cork City Centre?
There are several good options.
Koto, Wabi Sabi, Yuan Ming Yuan, Nosh 19, Malay Kitchen and Reiwa are all convenient for city-centre dining.
Are there vegetarian Asian restaurants in Cork?
While Cork has fewer dedicated vegetarian Asian restaurants than general Asian restaurants, many Asian cuisines offer naturally vegetarian dishes.
Thai, Japanese, Chinese, Malaysian and Vietnamese restaurants can all provide vegetarian choices, but check the current menu and tell the restaurant about any dietary requirements.
Final Verdict: Where Should You Eat Asian Food in Cork?
There isn’t one restaurant that can honestly claim to be the best Asian restaurant in Cork for everybody.
If you want an all-round experience, we’d start with Koto.
For Thai, choose Golden Elephant.
For Japanese and sushi, try Wabi Sabi.
For Chinese, Yuan Ming Yuan is a strong choice.
For Malaysian, go to Malay Kitchen.
For ramen, choose Ramen Anglesea Street.
For Hong Kong-style food, try Nosh 19.
And if you want to explore something less familiar, Little Vietnam is worth putting on your list.
That’s what makes Cork’s Asian food scene interesting.
You don’t have to eat the same type of food every time. One evening can be Thai curry, another can be sushi, and the next can be Malaysian noodles or Vietnamese food.
So instead of asking only “What is the best Asian food in Cork?”, ask yourself what you’re actually hungry for.
Once you know that, Cork gives you plenty of places to start.