What’s Asian Food? As the name suggests, it’s a mix of food from various asian countries! Oftentimes mixed with a bit of an American influence. I happen to love it, because it combines the best of everything, and it allows a great amount of creativity. I also get excited about the fact that you never really know which cuisines are being used to give you a one of a kind dish, there is always an element of surprise involved. I picked out some of my favorite Asian restaurants for you, so you don’t have to do the legwork.
Tuome
Tuome is located on the Lower Eastside, and at this point is definitely marked as one of my favorite dinners of 2025. It is dimly lit, cozy, yet modern. It is considered fine dining, and it dons one Michelin Star, but the prices won’t overwhelm you. Chef Thomas Chen has outdone himself with this fabulous menu, and I’m here for it. I went to dinner solo, as per usual, and I ended up ordering three dishes that blew my mind (which is not easy to do).
Egg: this dish consists of three deviled eggs (which I will ALWAYS order if they’re on a menu). The eggs are cooked, fried and then filled with the egg yolk mixed with mayonnaise, pickling liquid, pickles, dijon mustard and shallot, and garnished with greens and chili sauce. Absolutely outstanding. Next were the Scallop dumplings with mushrooms and foie gras, just heavenly. My main dish was the Chicken (prepared two ways), served with gem lettuce, basil and porridge over sushi rice. I can’t even tell you how good this was. Truly unique and innovative. Don’t get me started on the presentation, the plating was stunning. This place is a show stopper.
53
53 is a gorgeous restaurant in the heart of midtown, on 53rd Street and 6th Avenue. Sprawling and elegant, this is a place to see and be seen. I ended up here for lunch, having heard about their prix fixe menu. Look up the menu before you go, because you will find yourself just staring at the dining room, because it is so beautiful. For $58 you will be served three dishes of your choice, and you can’t go wrong with any of them.
First up was a Salmon Carpaccio with Sesame and Shio Kombu. Super fresh, super tasty, I cleaned the plate in a nano second. Next were the Crispy Wontons, filled with shrimp and chicken, with a side of sweet chil sauce, absolutely a crunchy delicacy. The main attraction was the Prawn Udon Noodle dish, served with a delicious sauce. Big shrimp, thick well cooked noodles, an absolute delight.
Sei Less
A little bit lower, still in Midtown Manhattan, you will find Sei Less on 38th Street. This is yet another beautiful restaurant with stunning decor, with beautiful paintings on the wall, giving it an instant fun vibe. This place is very popular, it’s almost a little clubby. I did go for lunch (I was on a roll with prix fixe menus). For the unbelievable amount of $30 you will be served an appetizer and an entree.
Did anyone say Crispy Rice with Spicy Tuna? There’s no wavering, I will immediately order it. This one was fresh and seasoned well, I was not sharing. For my entree I chose the Black Prawns with a spicy black bean sauce, accompanied by peppers, onions and mushrooms. A absolute treat. My friend Susan chose the Filet Mignon Cubes with garlic sauce. Of course I had to try, and the beef was tender with lots of flavor. Great spot!
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