Take a Trip to the Eastern World at These Asian Restaurants Around Scottsdale

When it comes to Asian cuisines, the first type to come to mind for a lot of people is probably Chinese food. After all, it is one of the most widespread Asian cuisines that you can find throughout the United States - whether that be in a big city or on the corner of a small town square. 

Asian food, however, is made up of more cuisines than you could probably even imagine, and oftentimes you’ll even find that they tend to blend together where different countries border each other. If you’re looking to dip your toes into some Asian food that you haven’t tried before, we’ve made it easy for you. Below, you’ll find a list of some of the best Asian restaurants in and around Scottsdale.

About GiftYa

When you’re unfamiliar with a certain cuisine, it can be difficult to discern exactly what price range you’re looking at when you first go to eat at a restaurant that serves that fare near you. GiftYa knows that you never want to be taken by surprise by a steep check that’s outside of your budget, and that’s why they’re making it their mission to make eating out at restaurants easier on you by providing e-gift cards to restaurants near you. Order one for an adventurous eater today!

Roka Akor

Simple ingredients can sometimes be the most effective in making sure you experience every flavor. Image courtesy of Roka Akor Instagram. 

7299 N Scottsdale Rd | Shores | rokaakor.com

Not every Asian restaurant you find in the Scottsdale area is going to be a modest hidden gem that looks unassuming from the outside but packs in a lot of flavor on the inside. At Roka Akor, for instance, they are not the least bit shy about making sure you’ll remember their name long after you’ve finished your meal.

With a particular interest in style, the folks here at Roka Akor have developed a unique experience for everyone who stops by to experience an exquisite melding of style in their decor, food, and atmosphere. Whether you’re just stopping in for a quick bite or you’re hoping to sit down and enjoy what they have to offer here, there’s quite a bit to admire.

Amidst the cool aesthetic they’ve cooked up using sleek lighting and beautiful wood tabletops, you’ll also have the chance to watch (and even interact with!) the hibachi chefs cooking up your meal. And alongside all of this, you can also rest easy knowing that their seasonal menu means your food will always be cooked up using the freshest of ingredients.

“Nice clean, professional establishment!!! Great service, the food was incredible, drinks to the perfection, all our group was extremely satisfied and happy!!! Sushi, the fish, all fresh and tasty!!! Good job!!!” - Yelp Review

Buy a GiftYa to Roka Akor >

Wok ‘N Roll

Stop at Wok ‘N Roll to experience the best of Chinese and Japanese fusion in Scottsdale. Image courtesy of Wok ‘N Roll Instagram. 

4412 N Miller Rd | Entertainment District | woknrollaz.com

Can we really say we’ve made a comprehensive list containing some of the best restaurants in the southwest without including at least one that uses a nifty play on words in its name? In Scottsdale, there is no restaurant with a more fitting punny name than Wok ‘N Roll, which is coincidentally located in the Entertainment District.

If you’re on the lookout for some delicious Asian fusion fare, Wok ‘N Roll has the perfect blend of Chinese and Japanese cuisines and is sure to satisfy whichever craving you can’t shake this week. With options for both traditional Chinese food (made with a wok, of course) and fresh sushi, you and your friends won’t even have to argue about where to eat with this as a choice!

All of the fish they use in their sushi is imported fresh to the restaurant every day of the week, and they’ve even got quite a collection of spirits and beers at their bar to help wash your food down. While you’re enjoying your meal here, don’t forget to take a look at all of the music themed decor they have lying around the dining room!

“My husband and I went here the other day...and it was delicious! The waitress was very friendly and attentive, the guy making the sushi was nice to us and it was super clean. The fried pot stickers were to die for!” - Yelp Review

Buy a GiftYa to Wok ‘N Roll >

Zu Izakaya Asian Kitchen

You’ll definitely want to invite all of your friends to your next outing here so you can all try as many dishes as possible! Image courtesy of Zu Izakaya Asian Kitchen Instagram. 

2210 N Scottsdale Rd | Papago Parkway | zuizakaya.com

While some restaurants like to tell you what they’re all about through a clever little play on words, there are some other restaurants that prefer to get straight to the point - and there’s nothing wrong with that! Zu Izakaya Asian Kitchen takes on a quite literal meaning with “Izakaya” translating to the Japanese equivalent of a tapas bar.

With a special focus on the different sakes they offer up at their bar here at Zu Izakaya, you’ll find that most of the food here actually comes in the form of bite sized snacks that have been designed to pair wonderfully with everything they offer at the bar. There are, of course other options on the menu that would fill you up just as much as a meal would if you’d like.

Zu Izakaya is the perfect place for you to meet up with your friends after a long week at work, or even to just head out for a happy hour with your coworkers. With a swanky ambiance and plenty of dishes to try, you’ll definitely want to be trying out this restaurant with a big group of people so you can all pick off of each other’s plates!

“Sooooo bomb! I ordered the golden cali roll togo and literally came right back to order seconds. This restaurant is not too far from my apartment, so I will definitely be back to try more of the menu.” - Yelp Review

Buy a GiftYa to Zu Izakaya Asian Kitchen >

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Tottie’s Asian Fusion

7901 E Thomas Rd, Ste 108 | Golfview | tottiesasianfusion.com

There are plenty of fairly Asian restaurants in the world that tend to fit themselves into a specific mold - and while there’s nothing wrong with that, sometimes you just want to wander into a place that has a personality of its own. And when it comes to Asian restaurants with big personalities in the Scottsdale area, no one does it better than Tottie’s Asian Fusion.

Tottie’s has been around for over twenty years now, and it has lasted this long for some pretty good reasons, if we have any say in the matter. Not only do they bring about a vibrant and lively atmosphere to the area, but they also cook up some of the most delicious, authentic, and beautifully presented Asian fare you’ll find for miles.

The owner, Tottie, actually grew up in Laos where she helped her mom in her renowned catering business and learned to cook in several different styles in the process. Today at Tottie’s, you’ll find a combination of Laotian, Chinese, Thai, and Vietnamese cuisines, and every single one of them will blow your mind.

“A restaurant that has been in business for 20 years is either doing something right or located in the ideal place.  Tottie is a great person and her restaurant has both going for her. Her food is delicious and the service is great.” - Yelp Review

Buy a GiftYa to Tottie’s Asian Fusion >

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Kodo Sushi & Sake

15040 N Northsight Blvd, Ste 104 | Northsight Center | kodosushisake.com

We’ve talked about quite a few Asian fusion restaurants around Scottsdale so far in this listicle, but since we know that some days you’ll find yourself not wanting to have to choose between too many options, we thought we’d include one that sticks to one type of fare: Kodo Sushi & Sake.

Here at Kodo, what you see is exactly what you’ll get - Japanese food and drink that you already know and love, served up with just enough creative twists to keep you interested. As you’ve probably gathered from the name, the primary things you’ll find on menus here are sushi and sake.

Alongside their stylish decor, you can treat yourself to some equally stylish sushi that has been handcrafted by Kodo’s very own Chef Choi. To paraphrase Chef Choi himself, his mission is to inspire and enrich anyone who visits the restaurant by coming up with fresh takes on Japanese classics - so don’t be shocked if you come across some flavors you never would have expected!

“This is now our fave sushi restaurant in town. Hole in the wall, no frill restaurant that serves great sushi and rolls. We usually get the toro, always fresh, and a few of the rolls: OMG & Volcano.” - Yelp Review

Buy a GiftYa to Kodo Sushi & Sake >

Kasai

If it doesn’t look just as beautiful as it tastes, well, we’d still eat it but we’d be sad we couldn’t post it on Instagram. Image courtesy of Kasai Instagram. 

14344 N Scottsdale Rd | Kierland | kasaiscottsdale.com

If you’ve ever been to a Japanese steakhouse before, you’re probably familiar with the hibachi style of cooking where they grill your food right in front of you. Did you know, however, that there’s actually another style of Japanese cooking that will give you the same dinner show experience - and there’s one located right in Scottsdale?

Using the more modern teppanyaki cooking style, Kasai brings you a fun and contemporary Japanese steakhouse that brings about just enough of a sleek design to give you the perfect photos for your next Instagram post. Not only is the space open with plenty of natural lighting, but you’ll find that the dishes they cook up are beautifully presented as well.

If you want to get technical about it, there actually isn’t that big of a difference between the hibachi and teppanyaki styles of cooking. In fact, they’re actually quite similar - the main differences being the different types of pans that are used for grilling and that hibachi has been around for much, much longer than the post-World War II teppanyaki.

“Inside it's bright, modern, and has aquariums. If you're coming in with a huge group, request to sit by the main aquarium! Prices are reasonable for what they offer, the atmosphere is fun and relaxed.” - Yelp Review

Buy a GiftYa to Kasai >

Branching out to try food from parts of the world you never would have dreamed of visiting may just introduce you to something you’ll never want to be without again. Let us know which of these restaurants altered your understanding of Asian food in the comments below!