Last updated: February 2021

When I think of “Asian Fusion” I think of restaurants and dishes that are Asian-inspired in their ingredient choices and style of cooking, but with a new-school twist. There’s nothing wrong with Asian Fusion. I think it’s great that there are chefs out there who are inspired by Asian flavors, whether it's their own cultural background or they’re in love with the culture, to create unique dishes or interpret traditional ones. It serves as a gateway drug to diving head-on into the deepest ends of Asian food culture (which is a great place to be in by the way!)

Here’s a round-up of my personal favorite spots in Austin that are serving up Asian fusion cuisine:

See also: The Best Authentic Asian Food in Austin

*This blog post includes information adjusted for COVID-19

THE PEACHED TORTILLA ($$)

5520 Burnet Rd #100, Austin, TX

What to order: Charred Brussels, Taco Trio, Crispy Umami Chicken Wings, Lush Pork Belly Bowl, Dan Dan Noodles, Margarita de Peached

The Peached Tortilla is one of my favorite spots in town! Their menu items are meant to be shared and honestly, everything on the menu is delicious. They also do an awesome Ramen night every Thursday. Plus you gotta check out their Social Hour and Sunday Brunch. By the way, they have a spot inside the Austin airport. I always grab a banh mi pork bowl before a flight!

Adjusted for COVID: offering curbside takeout and delivery at their Burnet Rd location Tuesday through Sunday, 5pm-9pm. Order online here.

BAR PEACHED ($$)

1315 W 6th St, Austin, TX

What to order: Korean Chicken Wings, Chili Crab Toast, Confit Duck Foldies, Mapo Bolognese, “Bacon, Egg, & Cheese” Udon (brunch)

Sister restaurant to The Peached Tortilla, Bar Peached deserves its own spot on my list. I highly recommend that you check out their Social Hour and Brunch, but make a reservation because it gets packed (and for good reason!). They also make really awesome bingsu, which is a Korean-style shaved ice dessert that you definitely want to make room for. If you love burgers, they also do Sunday Burger & Draft specials every Sunday!

OLD THOUSAND ($$)

1000 E 11th St, Austin, TX

What to order: Mapo Eggplant, Green Beans, Brisket Fried Rice, GIN $MASH Cocktail

If I had to describe the vibe at Old Thousand, it would be old-school Chinese meets new-school dive bar. You can find yummy Chinese-inspired dishes and great cocktails when you dine here. They also do a rotating specials menu that you want to make sure that you order something from!

Adjusted for COVID: Order takeout/delivery DIRECTLY from their website to place an order.

1618 ASIAN FUSION ($$)

1618 E Riverside Dr, Austin, TX

What to order: Grilled Lemongrass Duck Skewer, Orange Chicken, Thai Crispy Redsnapper, Spicy Chili Singapore Lobster

1618 Asian Fusion is exactly what it sounds like. The menu boasts recipes and inspiration from cuisines all throughout Asia including Vietnamese, Thai, Chinese, Singaporean and Southeast Asian food. And I know this is going to sound basic, but their orange chicken is seriously the bomb!

Adjusted for COVID: Free delivery and curbside pick up. Call them at 512-462-9999 or online at Grubhub or Ubereats. They also have a 25% discount for hospitality, service industry employees, and the elderly.

CHI’LANTRO BBQ ($)

*Multiple Locations

What to order: Original Kimchi Fries & BYOBowl with a fried egg and Magic Sauce

Chi’Lantro BBQ came into my life for the first time when I was a college student at The University of Texas at Austin. The Original Kimchi Fries changed my life and I’ve been a fan ever since. I love building my own bowl and the combinations are endless. Don’t forget to add a fried egg and top it all with Magic Sauce!

Adjusted for COVID: Call to place an order directly, or order online for pick-up or curbside delivery. They’re currently offering family packs that can feed 3-6 people. At their Domain location, order pantry staples and even toilet paper! 

LORO ($$)

2115 S Lamar Blvd, Austin, TX

What to order: Wonton Chips & Dip, Crunchy Sweet Corn Fritters, Malaysian Chicken Bo Ssam, Loro Cheeseburger (available only during Happy Hour), Gin & Tonic Slushie

Loro is the brainchild of James Beard Award winners, Chef Tyson Cole of Uchi and Aaron Franklin of Franklin Barbecue. It’s the Asian smokehouse of your dreams and there’s a reason why their patio is always packed for happy hours and the weekends. 

Adjusted for COVID: full menu available for takeout or delivery. Order online or through DoorDash or Favor. Peach Palmer and Ginger Old Fashioned cocktail kits for curbside pickup! Each cocktail kit makes 8-10 drinks, and is available for purchase with a meal. Loro swag like t-shirts, hats, and gift cards are also available for purchase.

LIN ASIAN BAR + DIM SUM ($$)

1203 W 6th St, Austin, TX

What to order: Soup dumplings and Sunday dim sum brunch

Lin Asian Bar + Dim Sum specializes in Asian home cooking and dim sum. Dim sum is available during the weekdays with a limited menu, but you’re going to want to make a reservation for Sunday brunch to take advantage of their full dim sum menu.

Adjusted for COVID: Online ordering for pickup/takeout and delivery available for lunch and dinner. Visit their website or order directly from Chow Now.

PHONATIC VIETNAMESE RESTAURANT ($)

*Multiple Locations

What to order: Sara Bowl, Grilled Shrimp Banh Mi Taco, Phrench Dip Sandwich

PhoNatic is a great spot to pick up a quick and tasty lunch or dinner. They have 3 spots throughout Austin: Northcross, Cedar Park, and Round Rock. You’re going to want to try their tacos. I know that sounds weird, but they use this naan bread that’s dangerously addictive and works so well with Vietnamese flavors. 

Adjusted for COVID: Temporarily closed until further notice

EAST SIDE KING ($)

2310 S Lamar Blvd c101, Austin, TX

What to order: Thai Chicken Kara-age, Brussels sprout salad, Pork Belly Meshi

I love coming to East Side King for a quick meal. I tend to always get the Pork Belly Meshi and it just might be the best thing on the menu in my opinion. They also have some super awesome vegetarian options!

Adjusted for COVID: Currently offering to-go orders for pickup or delivery via UberEATS and Favor at the South Lamar and Liberty trailer locations. Gift cards are also available for purchase.

LUCKY ROBOT JAPANESE KITCHEN ($$)

1303 S Congress Ave, Austin, TX

What to order: King Cebiche, Pork Belly Nigiri, Chirashi Bot, Sea-3PO, Lomo Itame

Lucky Robot is one of those places where not only do you get awesome food, but the interior design and vibe make the dining experience one that keeps you coming back for more. If you’ve never heard of Nikkei cuisine, you’re in for a ride. They are also the first sustainable sushi restaurant in Texas and promote and support seafood sustainability in the state of Texas and across the U.S with the James Beard Foundation’s Smart Catch Program.

Adjusted for COVID: Curbside and delivery services are temporarily closed down until further notice. Gift cards are available for purchase on their website.

101 BY TEAHAUS ($)

6929 Airport Blvd #132, Austin, TX

What to order: Basil Fried Chicken or Tofu, Bulgogi Tots, Braised Pork Belly Bowl

101 By Teahaus specializes in fast-casual Asian cuisine. Inspired by different regions of Asia, there’s going to be something on the menu for everyone. Personally, I always go with the Braised Pork Belly Bowl. It’s my favorite thing on the menu!

Adjusted for COVID: FREE boba for health care workers. Order online for pickup or delivery. Offering family pack meals and gift cards as well.

SWAY ($$)

3437 Bee Caves Rd

What to order: Son In Law, Jungle Curry, Blue Crab Fried Rice, Lotus Margarita, Tiger Lily Cocktail

Sway is a modern Thai restaurant where you can dine in for lunch, dinner or weekend brunch. The entire menu is full of hits, but you’re definitely going to want to go with a group of at least 2-3 people to try a lot of different dishes which are meant to be shared. My favorite is the Blue Crab Fried Rice and if you’re into spicy food, the Jungle Curry is dangerously addictive.

Adjusted for COVID: Limited menu for pick-up or delivery from 4pm-8pm. Available Tuesday through Saturday, only from Sway West Lake Hills. Order online for pickup or through Favor for delivery. They also have a Sway Market where you can order pantry staples like toilet paper!

BE MORE PACIFIC ($$)

7858 Shoal Creek Blvd, Austin, TX

What to order: Adobo, Tosilog, Kare-Kare, Filipino BBQ, Pork Sisig, Halo Halo

I am one proud ass Filipina-American and I love taking my friends to Be More Pacific as an introductory to Filipino cuisine. It’s definitely not my Mom’s cooking (mom knows best!), but it’s close enough and I wouldn’t recommend BMP if I didn’t love it myself. One of the things that you HAVE to try if you get the chance is to grab a group of friends and book a Kamayan to enjoy Filipino food the way it was meant to be.

Adjusted for COVID: Both the Austin and Houston location will be closing their doors until further notice.

KOME SUSHI KITCHEN ($$)

5301 Airport Blvd #100, Austin, TX

What to order: Kara-age Bento (lunch only), Alone Together Roll, Spicy Miso Ramen, Matcha Maker Cocktail

Kome is one of my favorite spots to grab lunch or grab dinner with some friends before heading out for the night. Their food is home-style Japanese meals, sushi, and ramen. Be warned, it usually gets packed, especially for lunch. I recommend that you get there early or make reservations especially if you’re dining in with a bigger group.

Adjusted for COVID: Order online for take-out or to buy a gift card. They also have a Kome general store where you can buy provisions and even toilet paper!

SPICY BOYS (FORMERLY SOURSOP) ($)

440 E St Elmo Rd g2, Austin, TX

What to order: Eggplant Curry, Very Tasty Curry Tots, Glass Noodles, Sambal Wings

Spicy Boys is a fun little food truck located in the parking lot of St. Elmo Brewery Company. On a nice day out, it’s the perfect spot to grab lunch with some friends and wash everything down with a beer. My favorite thing on the menu is their Eggplant Curry! It’s slightly spicy but very addicting. 

Adjusted for COVID: Available for takeout and delivery. Order online for takeout and delivery through Postmates.