Time Out Guide: the asian spots you have to try

One of the city’s oldest Korean restaurants, yet still a well-kept secret among regulars. Hidden behind a shattered glass facade with no sign, you first pass through a hallway that feels like a set from an Asian movie before reaching a spacious, old-fashioned dining room with wooden furniture and partitions, and a bar at the back. People come for the food, and every dish is served with a set of delicious sides: ferments, kimchi, tangy-spicy salads, and of course, rice. Order the grilled pork with spicy sauce (jekuk). Among the soups, the manduguk is a must. For first-timers, something more traditional like bulgogi is recommended.

Tip: The kitchen closes early.

Where: Junín 548.

A great addition to Buenos Aires’ Chinese restaurant scene. JuaJua Ramen is a mother-and-daughter project from Jiangxi province in eastern China. They crossed the world; Jenny Liu came to study, and her mother joined later. Bored, she decided to open a restaurant. The space is neat and bright, with a small terrace for outdoor dining.

Inside, there are tables for two or four in a room connected to the kitchen. The menu has photos for those less familiar with this cuisine. We recommend starting with dumplings and continuing with the incredible hot and sour soup with sweet potato noodles.

Tip: You can buy the delicious spicy sauce they use for almost all dishes.

Where: Agüero 436.

Marcello El is one of the greatest connoisseurs of Argentine fish. A wanderer and sea navigator, he applies much of his knowledge in his sushi bar in Palermo, recognized by the Michelin Guide in 2024. Buri Omakase is a closed-door restaurant with just 10 seats, where diners put themselves in the hands of the sushi chef. In an adjoining room, there’s a sake bar you can visit before or after your meal. Before the nigiris made with local, seasonal, artisanal fish, there are courses like miso soup.

Tip: Marcello El is heavily influenced by Kyoto traditions.

Where: Guatemala 5781.

Vietnamese and Thai food lovers, this place is a must. Located in a dead-end alley in Palermo, it already has an Asian vibe that adds to the mystique. José Delgado and partners have stripped away solemnity from this cuisine and created a streetwise, young, bold place that’s becoming a classic. Porteños are tough on spice, but they decided to evangelize—and they’re doing well. Expect a riot of colors, textures, and flavors.

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The spicy Thai shrimp soup Tom Yum Goong is a dish you must try. The seafood cocktail, great for sharing, is a flavor party.

Tip: Outdoor tables are not for those who prioritize comfort while dining.

Where: Av. Dorrego 2415.

The Okinawan community is the largest among those from Japan, and the restaurant inside the center honors that pride. Hidden on the building’s second floor, it teleports you to that archipelago region upon entering. The soba dish — wheat noodles slightly thicker than usual served in broth — is a soul caress, ideal for cold days. The dining room is spacious, with enough room at each table for privacy. The tempura menu is above average.

Tip: The sushi is the typical Buenos Aires style, somewhat distant from Asian traditions, but a great porteño-style sushi.

Where: San Juan 2651.

Opened in April 2024, Antro focuses as much on gastronomy as on creating a conceptual experience for the new crowd eager to discover Buenos Aires’ omakase. Entry is through a “cave” where the wine cellar is the main attraction. Like a theater show, dinner starts at a set time; for early arrivals or after-dinner guests, there’s an exclusive upstairs bar. The aesthetic is meticulous, and the room has two bars serving 23 diners.

Tip: Fourteen courses of a Nikkei fusion menu featuring everything: ceviche, wagyu, baby squid, and more.

Where: Gurruchaga 1145.

The romance between porteños and ramen is going strong. There are many excellent ramen places, but one of our favorites for price-quality is Chino Fino, a simple spot on a glassy corner with high tables and stools in Palermo. The young anime-loving crowd fills the room. Service is quick. Start with baos, including vegan options, then order any ramen.

Tip: We especially recommend the miso hot, but there are options for all spice tolerances.

Where: Gorriti 4802.

Clearly one of Buenos Aires’ ramen references, it was the first dedicated exclusively to this dish. Fukuro chose an aesthetic close to Tokyo’s new urban culture. They recently moved from a small but lively spot to a larger one, risking losing some atmosphere. Their very spicy Karairamen stands out, with a strong broth and homemade noodles, along with dumplings and baos. To better suit local tastes, they offer Akamiso ramen made with pork broth and red miso.

Tip: The bar format, typical of ramen spots in Japan, remains in the new location.

Where: Carranza 1940.

Sudestada is one of the survivors from the first Palermo. Born in the late ‘90s when Southeast Asian cuisine was new in Buenos Aires, it’s still relevant. One reason? Its always competitive prices. They have an unbeatable lunch menu, and dinner prices aren’t much higher. We recommend pad thai, of course, and especially the green or red curries, perfect with white or light red wine.

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Tip: Located on a bright corner with light colors, it was one of Buenos Aires’ first restaurants designed by the talented Horacio Gallo.

Where: Guatemala 5602.

The renowned Roy Asato made a bold move in 2021 opening Orei in the emerging Echeverría passage in Belgrano. Ramen wasn’t trendy yet, but the chef already had fans for his Nikkei take on Japanese cuisine. It was all innovation: a horizontal kitchen, no hierarchy, entirely women-staffed, with meditation and yoga sessions to strengthen the team. It’s pure street food—you order digitally at the kiosk and wait for ramen on the sidewalk. After much experimentation, Asato achieved a broth with strong personality.

Tip: After its novelty phase, it has successfully settled as the city’s ramen reference.

Where: Echeverría 1677, Local 8.

The trend of specialization in gastronomy is global, and Buenos Aires is just catching up. Norimoto is the city’s first hand roll bar. If temakis are sushi cones, hand rolls are like churros. In a small, aesthetic space with just 17 seats, they serve different hand rolls based on the freshest fish available, always avoiding salmon.

Tip: The invitation includes eating with your hands, a growing trend to culturally resemble sushi enjoyment in Japan.

Where: Av. Del Libertador 6739.

Taiwanese cuisine made by an all-women staff in a simple but neat Recoleta spot with excellent price-quality. For some unknown reason, Bao Kitchen is more popular with tourists than locals, who barely know it. First-timers should order the Lurou Fan, their famous dish: pork shoulder and bacon ragout stewed over rice, egg, and cabbage pickles, prepared with peanut paste. The Mandarin chicken with natural orange sauce and curries are also favorites.

Tip: Almost all ingredients are organic, with a broad vegan and vegetarian offer. Solo diners can eat at the bar.

Where: Pueyrredón 1790.

Fast, well-made Korean food, perfect for a weekday lunch in the Microcentro. Fa Song Song excels at consistent quality — dishes come out the same every day. A rolling shutter reveals a modern, bright room. The integrated kitchen emits an irresistible aroma. We love the jejuk deobap, pork shoulder stir-fried with a gochujang-based sauce (warning: it’s spicy).

Tip: Try the tteokbokki — Korean “gnocchi,” actually rice flour cylinders served with spicy sauce, a popular street food in Seoul.

Where: Esmeralda 993.

Ensō joined the Japanese food boom with the motto "Asian soul and comforting food," in a neighborhood lacking this style.

They offer everything but sushi, from ramen to bowls and onigiris (rice balls filled with mushrooms and miso or pork in Ensō’s case). Also dumplings and baos. A complete and varied menu for the small space where a low bar next to the open kitchen is central. Warm aromas and attentive service.

Among the ramens, the most popular is tonkotsu with pork broth cooked for eight hours, though the spicy kimchi version is also recommended. Finish with a variety of Japanese sweets (dorayaki).

Tip: They have vegetarian options.

Where: Holmberg 2248.