You might have noticed but we all love Asian food. Sushi and sashimi are our families favorites, but also woks, fried rice and noodles, Thai Curry dishes, Asian flavored salads are popular in our household.
Let me share with you my favorite Asian restaurants in Antwerp:
1/Roji
in this beautiful medieval cellar in the old city center of Antwerp within a stone’s throw from the Cathedral and the Grote Markt you can savor delicious sushi, sashimi and other dishes inspired by the French & Japanese cuisine. We love to go here in winter and have an aperitif by the open fire.
Roiji Restaurant
2/ Hayashi
We started going to this Japanese restaurant when it first opened 19 years ago at Tabaksvest in Antwerp. We knew Teppan Yaki from our trips to the UK and the US (Benihana rings a bell?) and me and my brothers and sister were so happy that we could now have these delicious dishes in our home town. We still go there when we have family celebrations and now even my kids love this. Pure nostalgia for me. The restaurant has moved to the Nassaustraat, close tot the MAS, a couple of years ago and even has a terrace now if you want to enjoy a quick sushi lunch or bento box. If you go there I suggest you try a menu with Usuyaki beef rolls but make sure you don’t have any meetings the next day because these beef roll are filled with fried garlic and spring onions.
Teppan Yaki chef at work
3/ Minato
This restaurant is located in the trendy Antwerpen Zuid neighbourhood. This is a traditional Japanese restaurant so don’t expect a fancy interior. Very clean and simple, such as the food you can enjoy there. When we go there we eat either a sushi menu or a Japanse fondue called Sukiyaki. I really love Japanese fondue filled with fresh vegetables and beef or chicken. When you order sushi don’t expect fancy and complicated sushi but simple and fresh classic sushi.
Tempura @Minato
4/ Zao Wang
This is the place where I ate my first Dragon Eyes. Wow what an experience. I just loved it. Not for every sushi dinner, but once in a while I really enjoy a Dragon Eye.
Zao Wang is a great place for sushi take out and you can find them in the old city center (close to Roji) and recently they opened a branch in the Scheldestraat. Here you can find more special sushi’s like the Dragon Eyes but also yakitori and dim sums.
5/ Yam Thai
This is the much written about Thai food café of flemish comedians Nathalie Meskens and her husband Jeroen Van Dyck. I first went there on a beautiful spring day and I had a great lunch on the terrace after tasting a mega spicy dish at Antwerpen Proeft last year. Yummie Thai food at reasonable prices. No fancy decor, but a great terrace when the sun is out. Make sure you call for a reservation because this is a small restaurant and is most of the time fully booked, not easy for a walk-in.
Thai Street Food inspiration for Yam Thai
6/ Cuichine
Strictly speaking this restaurant is not in the center of Antwerp but it is situated in the hip Zurenborg neighborhood. Delicious light and fresh Chinese cuisine (hence CuiChine) served with a smile. Great place for lunch, they have a nice formula. a couple of months ago they also opened the Bar Chine, but I haven’t been there yet.
There are much more Asian inspired restaurants in Antwerp, but these are my favorites.
What are yours?
Thanks to the restaurants websites for the pictures.