The Japanese wave sweeping through Tel Aviv - with a flood of new izakayas and ramen spots opening this past year - joins the earlier Thai wave that washed over the city, proving that the Israeli diner’s love affair with Asian cuisine is unstoppable. And really, why would we want to stop it? It’s just so f***ing delicious
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It’s no longer an “Asian trend” or “Asian wave.” Tel Aviv is officially in love with Asian cuisines, which have conquered the city unconditionally. Leading the charge is Japanese cuisine, finally overtaking Thai dominance of recent years — a culinary reflection of Israelis’ favorite travel destinations. Now we’ve got ramen joints and izakayas that feel straight out of Tokyo or Osaka, a ton of casual Asian eateries, some spectacular Asian fine dining, and the only thing we’re missing is a few more serious Indian and Korean spots (maybe a cute Vietnamese place, too). We’re getting there. No need to book a flight — just check out *Time Out*’s picks for the best Asian restaurants in town.
High-End Range
TYO
This lounge bar-restaurant in Shabazi flaunts sleek starters, fancy sushi rolls and impeccably designed cocktails aimed at a particular crowd. But strip away the bling, and TYO proves itself a serious place that doesn’t cut corners, serving some of the best sushi in town. Save it for special occasions – or when the boss is paying.
58 Shabazi St, Tel Aviv
Onami Hilton
About a year ago, this offshoot of the veteran Onami restaurant opened in the Hilton Hotel, and despite the kosher limitations, it’s shaping up to be even better than the mothership on Ha’Arba’a Street. Chef Roy Soffer insists on top-quality ingredients while blending Japanese restraint with a wink of Tel Aviv flair – delicate, inventive, and impressively balanced dishes.
205 Hayarkon St, Tel Aviv
Thai House
Finding a table here is never easy, but absolutely worth the effort. When Bangkok feels farther away than ever, Tel Aviv’s premier Thai restaurant stays fiercely loyal to the cuisine it represents – a pilgrimage site for foodies and anyone who couldn’t snag a ticket to the Far East. For the ultimate authenticity hit, try *Koa Kun Lek*, the private dining room serving an even more hardcore Thai tasting experience.
8 Bograshov St, Tel Aviv
Taizu
A perennial winner of major culinary awards, Taizu survived both the pandemic and the war with graceful resilience. The restaurant keeps its class and character effortlessly – from Indian-inspired Sunday lunches to iconic Shanghai dumplings. A true champion – and you don’t mess with a winning horse.
23 Menachem Begin Rd, Tel Aviv
Gaijin
The term “izakaya” means a casual Japanese bar serving drinks and small bites. But on Nachalat Binyamin, Gaijin is more “premium izakaya” – with excellent cocktails, luxe small plates (some exceptional), and nothing all that casual about the vibe. If you tame your FOMO and settle for a cocktail and a dish or two of pristine raw fish, you’ll leave this polished Japanese spot happy – and not too broke.
29 Lilienblum St, Tel Aviv
Mid-Range
Moolam
This new arrival to the local gastro-bar scene brings an especially fiery Thai message – unapologetically spicy and proudly authentic. Its menu goes far beyond sweet pad thai clichés with unique, traditional dishes that showcase the depth and diversity of Thai cooking. Add in excellent cocktails (including a som tam you can drink!), seductive plating, and an unmistakably sexy atmosphere, and you’ve got a night that’s hard to forget. Don’t miss the pork croquette with rice and garlic, fried calamari in Thai spices, and other intriguing surprises.
1 Har Sinai St, Tel Aviv
Saka Ba
An Osaka-style izakaya – meaning it’s cozy and dim, with a dedicated Japanese smoking nook, vinyl spinning in the background, laid-back vibes, and food that hits every pleasure point. Expect gyoza, nigiri, gyudon, udon soup – you name it, it’s all excellent. The place hasn’t quite decided whether the food accompanies the drinks or vice versa. But honestly – why choose, when you can have both?
8 Zvulun St, Tel Aviv
Koko Neko
2025 was without a doubt the year of the Japanese boom in Tel Aviv, and Koko Neko is the flagship of the ramen wave – if not *the* hottest ramen bar of 2025. The long lines outside when it opened last winter were entirely justified: the ramen here is exactly what ramen should be, and the Japanese pancakes – wobbly, fluffy, melt-in-your-mouth perfection – are equally essential. Pure joy.
5 Florentin St, Tel Aviv
Wabi
Chef Din Shoshani’s fast-casual ramen bar opened, closed, and reopened amid the war, after his ramen became a pop-up phenomenon across the city. Now, finally, it’s here to stay. His winning formula – a rich, powerful ramen and a slew of playful sides like yaki soba pan, onigiri, and gyoza – seems destined to expand into more branches, but it also works perfectly as a one-of-a-kind neighborhood spot.
23 De Picciotto St, Tel Aviv
Wat Sang
Opened mid-war by two longtime colleagues and friends from the legendary Moon sushi bar, *Wat Sang* wasn’t exactly planned – but thank goodness it happened. Despite the noise of the times, it stands out with sharp, satisfying starters (some classic, some original), rich ramen, gyoza, and a diverse sushi menu. Let’s just hope they keep it going strong.
12 HaRakevet St, Tel Aviv
The Thai at Har Sinai Alley
There are plenty of Thai spots in the city, but none quite like The Thai in Har Sinai. The menu spans a broad range of classic Thai dishes, prepared true to tradition yet touched with clever twists that make them stand out – colorful, lively, and full of character. The vibe is light and breezy thanks to its tucked-away location (construction noise and all).
1 Har Sinai St, Tel Aviv
Mententen
The much-hyped ramen, tiny skewers, low tables, and unmistakable Shinjuku ambience make Mententen a mini trip to Japan without going through Ben-Gurion Airport. And don’t forget a visit to the restrooms – home to the city’s most luxurious toilet.
57 Nachalat Binyamin St, Tel Aviv
Fine Food, Casual Prices
Geveret Kwaytiew
This tiny market eatery captures everything that’s great about Thai street food: bold flavors, a no-nonsense attitude, and small tables down a side alley serving dishes you just can’t stop craving. Don’t forget, though – it’s still very much a chef’s restaurant when it comes to pricing, and sometimes it shuts down because the chef takes off to Thailand “for inspiration.”
1 Yom Tov St, Carmel Market, Tel Aviv
Son Ron
Siblings Ofir (chef) and Rotem Gutman have built one of the city’s best Asian–Israeli fusions. Think tender chicken marinated in yogurt, tucked into naan – a perfect marriage of everything we love about Israeli al ha’esh grilling and Indian comfort. By evening, the place morphs into a chill bar where the focus shifts from Asia to vibes – and honestly, we’re not complaining.
44 Yehuda Halevi St, Tel Aviv
Cafe Taizu
Since it opened back during the pandemic, Cafe Taizu has held a steady spot among our go-tos, thanks to its unique take on pan-Asian cuisine. Chef Yuval Ben Neriah offers playful interpretations inspired by diverse Asian traditions – so successful, in fact, that it led to a kosher spin-off at Sarona Market.
99 HaHashmonaim St, Tel Aviv
Street Food
San Mei
*San Mei* is a gyoza joint tucked inside Carmel Market, focusing on hand-made, perfectly steamed dumplings. The classic filling – chicken, cabbage, carrot, ginger and garlic – follows Chinese tradition, but owner Vadim Kondratyev also goes off-script: Filipino adobo dumplings, Russian-style potato-and-mushroom parcels, and more. Our advice? Order two of each kind and fill both your table and your heart – there’s no such thing as too many dumplings.
17 Yom Tov St, Carmel Market, Tel Aviv
Hong Bao
Speaking of dumplings, Hao Chang Che’s tiny stall serves some of the most authentic ones in town – soft, pillowy bao buns filled with beef, chicken, or shrimp, alongside classic gyozas and open-top siu mai that leave you wanting more. It’s a proper dim sum feast in miniature – one bite, and you’ll instantly crave another round.
Sarona Market, Tel Aviv
Bbang Bang
This playful new pan-Asian eatery, from the masterminds behind the now-closed Zuppa, dishes out wok stir-fries, hearty soups, colorful salads, and their signature Spodu – a mischievous steamed bun stuffed with Indian, Thai, or Chinese-inspired fillings. It’s impossible to be bored at Bang Bang: the menu bursts with sweet, spicy, and tangy hits that span the full Asian flavor map.
138 Ibn Gabirol St, Tel Aviv
Lai Fu
Not every Asian meal needs a palm-leaf backdrop and glitzy cocktails. Lai Fu’s charm lies in its simplicity – just street-level views, passing buses, and honest flavors. The focus here is the food: shumai, wonton, bao, and other well-priced Asian comfort dishes, cooked with care and zero pretension.
31 Bograshov St, Tel Aviv
Gorkha
“Gorkha Kitchen may not be fine dining, but it’s brilliant at what it does – a place where you get great-tasting food, fast and friendly service, and prices that are almost a joke by Tel Aviv standards. A quick, tasty, and very pleasant mini escape abroad,” wrote our critic about this Indian–Nepalese gem in Neve Shaanan. Try it, and you’ll get it – and don’t skip the Sukhothai or chicken tikka.
16 Rosh Pina St, Tel Aviv
Shi Shi
The ultimate munchies spot, built around wraps stuffed with saucy chicken, fish or tofu, plus rice bowls, soups and salads – all courtesy of the excellent team behind Manta Ray. Shi Shi hits that exact sweet spot of bold Asian-meets-Western flavors, making it a delivery-app favorite every single time.
33 Ibn Gabirol St, Tel Aviv