Don’t discount 85°C Bakery Cafe for being a chain; there’s a reason why the shop’s egg tarts, buns, and selection of drinks are sought after worldwide. The Bellaire Boulevard location is Houston’s flagship locale, so take your time perusing the expansive menu. Pro tip: get a milk pudding bun.

Malaysian cuisine is an amalgam of Chinese, Indian, and Malay influences, all of which you can find at Banana Leaf. Crowd favorites include the roti canai, an Indian flatbread dish served alongside dipping sauces, and the chicken satay.

One of our favorite places in all of Houston to get boba, the Bếp offers a variety of drinks and sinker options, as well as snacks. The shop now has two Asiatown locations, next to Viet Hoa off Beechnut and in Saigon-Houston Plaza.

While less famous than Crawfish & Noodles, this Viet-Cajun restaurant is just as worthy of your attention during crawfish season. Our go-to order is the Kitchen Special, a mix of green onion, garlic, lemon, orange, and butter.

This Viet-Cajun restaurant is practically a monument to Houston’s diversity. Here, Cajun delicacies and Southeast Asian flavors collide in dishes like Viet-Cajun blue crabs or crawfish, wok-fried noodles, and mực chiên giòn, James Beard finalist chef Trong Nguyen’s take on fried calamari.

This relative newcomer is made to look like the streets of Vietnam, complete with colorful, low-to-the-ground stools and photographs of Saigon. The service is super-friendly and likely to steer you toward a great recommendation, like the cơm tấm, broken rice with pork chop meatloaf.

Finding a sushi place that hits that sweet spot of excellent quality to price ratio is harder than driving by the Galleria without hitting traffic. We are so lucky to have Hokkaido: fresh fish, massive roll sizes, tons of variety, and prices that’ll make you do a double take.

The wait is long but worth it at this all-you-can-eat Korean barbecue restaurant. Premium cuts of meat like Wagyu belly and Black Angus brisket take center stage with Cajun jumbo shrimp and garlic butter chicken, with excellent banchan to pair.

Kamalan Bakery’s Taiwanese-style breads and buns range from savory to sweet, full of flavor and whichever fillings your heart desires.

You’ll have to drive to the outer western edge of Asiatown, but we’re pretty adamant this is the best bánh mì in Houston, hands down. Khang has all the classic variations, and the prices can’t be beat, either.

Another great boba place—plus, it has a drive-through. We come here specifically for the frozen cà phê sữa đá, a.k.a. Vietnamese iced coffee.

Specializing in the regional cuisine of Huế, Vietnamese restaurant Nam Giao is the definition of a hidden gem. Start with a sampler platter of the steamed rice cakes, which are filled with ground pork, dried shrimp, and herbs, with a couple varieties wrapped in banana leaves. Then spring for a vermicelli bowl with well-seasoned grilled pork.

Houstonians in the know have pretty much universally declared this spot as the best place in Houston to get soup dumplings, so drive out here and get slurping…although you may have to wait in line a little first.

The 17 combinations of phở at this bustling restaurant on Bellaire are a cut above the rest. We like the tái chín, with brisket and rare steak that gently cooks as it wallows in the subtly aromatic broth. Consider pairing your bowl with a housemade salted plum soda.

Come here for towering portions of Taiwanese-style shaved ice, plus tapioca, pork chops, and chicken nuggets, all in a fast-casual environment that will keep you coming back for more.

If you’re craving bánh cuốn—the north Vietnamese rice rolls stuffed with things like ground pork, dried shrimp, fried shallots, minced mushroom, bean sprouts, herbs, and more—this is the place to be. Note that the restaurant is cash only.

There are plenty of restaurants to indulge in hot pot in Houston (we love Shabu Zone and Happy Lamb), but Xiaolongkan is a step above everything else, with its premium cuts of meat and add-ons, beautiful decor, and top-notch service.

Creative cocktails abound at Giau Bar n Bites, a Dun Huang Plaza outlet with drinks like basil smash, Thai chile lemonade, and a boozy milk tea. And when the season rolls around, you can have crawfish and cocktails.

Right in front of Happy Lamb is La Crudería, a laid-back Mexican outpost known for having some of the best micheladas in H-Town, and stellar food too.

At Toukei Izakaya, the dishes and small plates are specifically created to complement the cocktails and whiskies. Try the Japanese whisky flight for the full experience.

Experience a microcosm of Asiatown at Dun Huang Plaza, a destination for dim sum, Chinese baked goods, Japanese and Korean skincare products, massages, and desserts of all sorts.

This Gessner Road custom framing outpost is beloved by the community for the owner’s attention to detail and the collection of Asian art on sale throughout the shop.

Think of Hong Kong City Mall as one of Asiatown’s primary anchors. Since 1999, this Asian shopping center and food court has been a one-stop shop for everything from fresh meats and live seafood to bubble tea, phở, baked goods, and much more.

This retail and wholesale nursery is a gold mine for all types of vibrant foliage, from bonsai trees and everyday house plants to exotic and rare varieties.

Get pretty much every kind of exotic fruit you can think of at this small shop, which is also full of snacks, chè, and refreshing drinks perfect for a pick-me-up.

Lovers of paper goods, anime, and the world of Sanrio will be at home among Moshi Moshi’s wide assortment of Japanese merch.

At Viet Hoa, prices on fresh produce are unmatched, as is the assortment of goods—including sauces, spices, and condiments—you can’t find anywhere else.

Open until 2am, Black Ants is the go-to spot for e-sports, computer, and console games. Into Fortnite or League of Legends? Hop in on one of the many tournaments.

With themed rooms for intimate groups and large parties, the only choice you have to make at Happy Zone KTV is which song to pick. Heads up: they have more than 300,000 tunes to choose from.

Longtime locals will get a heavy dose of nostalgia at Houston Funplex, an outlet with everything you can imagine from a Ferris wheel and roller skating to virtual reality games and a sports bar, all under one roof.

Asiatown’s first community mural, created in 2022 by artist Thomas Tran, is an ode to heritage and community health. This bright, multifaceted, two-story painting was truly a collaborative effort, completed by more than 200 local volunteers.

For massage therapy and foot reflexology, look no further than Oasis Massage Salon, an Asiatown staple for affordable, high-quality self-care. An hour massage is only $60.

This relaxing tea room boasts a wide selection of high-quality loose-leaf teas. Not sure what to order? The friendly staff can guide you based on any craving or ailment you may have.

Adjacent to Arthur Storey Park, Teo Chew Temple is a Buddhist temple open to visitors who want to admire the architecture and learn about the story behind this Asiatown treasure. Check out the temple guide to make the most of your visit.

This public piece of art in the Universal Shopping Center sits in a part of Asiatown known as Little Saigon. Donated by the owner of the strip, the memorial honors the people who sacrificed their lives for the freedom of South Vietnam.

The newly revamped Alief Neighborhood Center and Park is one of the premier community hubs around. The 38-acre park features a playground, public swimming pool, skate park, walking paths, and multiple sports courts and fields. While you’re here, check out the impressive new center, home to a public library, senior center, and women, infant, and child clinic.

This 175-acre green space features a 1.77-mile trail that wraps around a large detention pond. The park has something for everyone, including walkers, joggers, kiddos, and even anglers.

Just south of Hong Kong City Mall, Boone Road Park is a great spot for walks on the .9-mile trail, playground fun, and picnics and barbecues.

This small neighborhood park offers ample opportunities to get a walk in, join a game of basketball, or picnic at one of the many tables.