Best Authentic Asian Restaurants on Convoy Street in San Diego

Authentic Asian Restaurants

Convoy Street is the area of San Diego in which you will find the most pan-Asian restaurants and businesses. It’s all about Authentic Asian Restaurants On Convoy Street.  Whether you are looking for Korean, Thai, Chinese, Japanese, or Vietnamese food, you will find it here.  The area stretches about 1.5 miles in the Balboa Ave/Clairemont Mesa neighborhood. It’s between Clairemont Mesa Boulevard and Balboa Avenue.  Not only will you find delicious, authentic food, but you will have so many options to choose from.

China Max Dumpling House

China Max Dumpling House is officially back, and honestly, they came back better than ever. The doors are open again, and the place feels like longtime fans remember. This is one of those Authentic Asian Restaurants that Convoy Street does so well. The AYCE menu is the real star and easily one of the best deals on Convoy Street. Everything comes out hot, fast, and full of flavor. It is the kind of restaurant that you bring friends to when you want to eat a lot and leave happy. China Max Dumpling House earning its spot again just proves it’s the heart of Convoy Street.

China Max Dumpling House

Kitakata Ramen Ban Nai

When the doors open at 5 p.m. at Kitakata Ramen Ban Nai, there’s normally a line. Serving delicious, authentic Japanese food, with generous portions, at great prices, has made this restaurant a favorite among its customers. If you are looking for ramen, this is the place to go.  With ten different ramen dishes, they take pride in the quality of the noodles, broth, and ingredients. I’m always on the lookout for authentic Asian restaurants like this.

beautiful bowls of ramen

bb.q Chicken

The chicken from bb.q Chicken is Korean fried chicken at its best at the Convoy District location. It is always juicy and tender inside, and perfectly crispy outside.  The flavors range from honey garlic and soy garlic to secret sauce. You can enjoy them as wings or boneless.  If you want to try something more traditional, the Cheesling Boneless is dusted in a medley of sweet cheeses. For those who love Authentic Asian Restaurants, bb.q Chicken delivers classic Korean flavors with every bite. San Diego has some great authentic Asian restaurants to try.

fried chicken available in different flavors

Song Hak Korean BBQ

If you’ve never had KBBQ before, you’ll have fun cooking at Song Hak. The tables have a special grill built for you to grill. It is a fun communal way of serving and enjoying a meal. I like the Prime Combo 4. It has a generous portion of Prime Beef Brisket, Prime Beef Rib Eye, and Prime Bulgogi. It also comes with a corn cheese plate, banchan, steamed egg pot, and kimchi stew. Perfect when you’re looking for authentic Asian restaurants.

Korean BBQ quality meats

Bonchon

Bonchon is the leading Korean Fried Chicken brand in the U.S.  Now with multiple locations in San Diego, they specialize in sweet & savory Korean fried chicken.  You will find wings, drumsticks, strips, and boneless chicken on the menu. You can choose their signature soy garlic or spicy sauces.  If you love bold flavors, check out this authentic Asian restaurants.

Authentic Asian Restaurants

Harmony Cuisine 2b1

You can go to Harmony Cuisine 2B1 with high expectations, as Chef Mickey Ninomiya is well-respected.  You will find so much creativity in the dishes. Some of my favorite items are the lemon salmon carpaccio and Japanese small bites. Also order the charcuterie box, nigiri platter, and spicy tuna roll. They also offer a $100 omakase comprised of a box of imported fresh fish. This spot is one of the Authentic Asian Restaurants that makes Convoy Street such a food destination.

Authentic Asian Restaurants

RakiRaki Ramen & Tsukemen

Japanese chef Junya Watanabe’s RakiRaki Ramen & Tsukemen is probably one of the most well-known restaurants in Kearny Mesa.  And for a good reason: their ramen is delicious. They stay open late, have a varied menu, and have many locations.  While I recommend their ramen, it is the Japanese fried chicken with which I have a fixation.   Expect a long wait, especially around dinner time. Authentic Asian restaurants are where you find the best comfort food.

RakiRaki Ramen & Tsukemen

ZZan Sushi & Soju

This restaurant transforms from a quiet sushi lounge to a nighttime eatery playing K-pop music and videos. In addition to sushi, you’ll find noodles, grilled items, and soups.  The live tanks filled with fresh seafood will probably convince you to order sushi. Authentic Asian Restaurants like this are why locals keep coming back to Convoy Street. Convoy Street is packed with Authentic Asian Restaurants, and this one stands out.

fresh sushi on Convoy Street

Kura Revolving Sushi Bar

The conveyor belt sushi at Kura Revolving Sushi Bar is an experience.  I’d agree that they do not have the highest quality sushi. It’s the social experience of dining here with friends is a not-to-be-missed opportunity.  At peak times, the wait for a table can be as long as 2.5 hours, so plan accordingly. 

Kura Revolving Sushi Bar

CoCo Ichibanya USA

On a Saturday evening, there could be a 2 to 3-hour wait. Many customers come because they’ve eaten at their locations worldwide.  I suspect that everything on the menu is as good as the dishes I ordered.  The Chicken Cutlet Omelet is one of the best curries I have had. The omelet is light and fluffy, and the chicken cutlet is perfectly crispy.  Definitely worth the wait for a highlight in San Diego’s Asian food hub. You can taste the tradition in these authentic Asian restaurants.

Chicken Cutlet Omelet

Cross Street Chicken and Beer

With locations on Convoy Street and Del Mar, Cross Street Chicken and Beer is known for tasty Korean fried chicken.  They have flavors including soy-garlic, garlic parmesan, Thai chili, original, and salt ‘n pepper. There is bound to be one that you will love. While you are there, don’t miss out on their craft beer and artisan cocktails. This is one of the authentic Asian restaurants that locals swear by.

Authentic Asian Restaurants

Up2You Cafe

For your sweet tooth cravings, visit UP2You Cafe.  Honey toast, crepe cakes, and waffles take center stage on their menu. They have all the sweetness and decadence that you could want.  They also have a large selection of tea, coffee, and boba.  You will quite easily want “one of each”. If you love Authentic Asian Restaurants, this is a must-stop on Convoy Street.

Dessert with ice cream, chocolate syrup, whipped cream, marshmallows, and fresh fruit on a thick slice of toast.

MNGO

MNGO Cafe is a dessert restaurant that specializes in kakigori (Japanese snow ice). They also have crème brûlée, sago, trio custard dip, and other delicious Asian fusion desserts and drinks. One thing is for sure: they have some of the sweetest mangos in San Diego. And a menu with something for everyone, looking to satisfy their sweet tooth cravings. Authentic Asian restaurants always deliver delicious desserts.

MNGO

Koon Thai Kitchen

Koon Thai is a great option when looking for Thai food. The menu features a full selection of authentic Thai dishes.  The ambiance is warm and inviting, and the service is impeccable.  This restaurant is a must-visit if you are looking for a taste of Thailand’s culinary brilliance.  The signature dish is a whole fish, which makes for a fantastic presentation and tasty dish. I could eat at authentic Asian restaurants like this every week.

Authentic Asian Restaurants

With so many authentic Asian restaurants, it was difficult to come up with my favorite. It’s hard to pick a favorite among so many authentic Asian restaurants. Convoy Street has so many good Asian restaurants. 

Here are some of my other  favorite authentic Asian restaurants on Convoy Street:

Read my post:  In-N-Out Secret Menu

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