Highest-rated Asian restaurants in Merced by diners

Asian food is having a moment. Nearly 3 in 4 United States counties have at least one Asian restaurant, according to a Pew Research Center analysis of SafeGraph data as of March 2023. While those are mainly Chinese, Japanese, or Thai, diners are increasingly trying other cuisines from the continent. That's brought Korean, Indian, Vietnamese, and Filipino food to the forefront of diners' culinary explorations.

Asian flavor combinations tantalize diners' expanding palates with flavorful sauces and a variety of spices. Those who like to turn up the heat love the different ways each country infuses pepper and spice into its food, from Korean gochujang sauce to Vietnamese chilies and fiery Indian peppercorns. Other dishes like Filipino chicken adobo and Vietnamese pho all pack a savory punch of umami.

The use of fresh ingredients and fermented foods like miso and kimchi brings a healthy aspect to many Asian cuisines. Unique fruits such as kumquat and yuzu also expand the range of flavors restaurants can bring to foods and drinks.

Many diners also like Asian foods because of their fun factor, with Korean barbecue and Chinese hot pot dishes offering communal experiences.

Stacker compiled a list of the highest-rated Asian restaurants in the Merced area using data from Yelp. Data is as of Aug. 6, 2025. Businesses were filtered to fall under at least one of these categories: Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Thai, Indian/Pakistani, Vietnamese, Filipino, Malaysian, Pan Asian, or Asian fusion.

Restaurants selected using Yelp's ranking system, which calculates an adjusted rating value that takes into account the number of ratings as well as the rating score itself. Only businesses with at least 20 reviews, and within a 10-kilometer radius of Merced were considered. Also, in an effort to highlight independent businesses and local chains, those with more than 10 locations nationally, based on our Yelp data, were not included.

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Thai Cuisine II

1 / 30

#30. Thai Cuisine II

- Rating: 3.3/5 (384 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 779 East Yosemite Ave. Ste G Merced, California
- Categories: Thai
- Read more on Yelp

Teriyaki Don

2 / 30

#29. Teriyaki Don

- Rating: 3.4/5 (206 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 6731 North Cedar Ave. Ste H Fresno, California
- Categories: Japanese, Sushi Bars, Asian Fusion
- Read more on Yelp

Atwater Sushi

3 / 30

#28. Atwater Sushi

- Rating: 3.4/5 (154 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1601 Bellevue Road Atwater, California
- Categories: Sushi Bars, Japanese
- Read more on Yelp

New China Cafe

4 / 30

#27. New China Cafe

- Rating: 3.5/5 (157 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 1002 West Main St. Merced, California
- Categories: Chinese, Asian Fusion
- Read more on Yelp

King's Asian Cuisine and Sushi Bar and Lounge

5 / 30

#26. King's Asian Cuisine and Sushi Bar and Lounge

- Rating: 3.5/5 (350 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 360 West Main St. Merced, California
- Categories: Chinese, Sushi Bars, Japanese
- Read more on Yelp

Hong Kong Chinese Restaurant

6 / 30

#25. Hong Kong Chinese Restaurant

- Rating: 3.6/5 (72 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 1115 Bellevue Road K-mart Shopping Center Atwater, California
- Categories: Chinese
- Read more on Yelp

Sushi Cuisine

7 / 30

#24. Sushi Cuisine

- Rating: 3.7/5 (344 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 3544 G St. Merced, California
- Categories: Sushi Bars, Japanese
- Read more on Yelp

Nagame Japanese Restaurant

8 / 30

#23. Nagame Japanese Restaurant

- Rating: 3.7/5 (131 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 2650 West 16th St. Merced, California
- Categories: Japanese
- Read more on Yelp

China Caff

9 / 30

#22. China Caff

- Rating: 3.8/5 (137 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 2840 G St. Merced, California
- Categories: Chinese
- Read more on Yelp

Golden Bowl Chinese Restaurant

10 / 30

#21. Golden Bowl Chinese Restaurant

- Rating: 3.9/5 (206 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 3144 G St. Merced, California
- Categories: Chinese
- Read more on Yelp

Houa Khong Restaurant

11 / 30

#20. Houa Khong Restaurant

- Rating: 3.9/5 (135 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 85 East 13th St. Merced, California
- Categories: Thai
- Read more on Yelp

Bangkok Thai Restaurant

12 / 30

#19. Bangkok Thai Restaurant

- Rating: 3.9/5 (238 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 235 West Main St. Merced, California
- Categories: Thai
- Read more on Yelp

Houa Khong 2

13 / 30

#18. Houa Khong 2

- Rating: 4.0/5 (158 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 3518 G St. Merced, California
- Categories: Thai
- Read more on Yelp

New Thai Cuisine

14 / 30

#17. New Thai Cuisine

- Rating: 4.0/5 (414 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 909 West 16th St. Merced, California
- Categories: Thai
- Read more on Yelp

Hao's Kitchen

15 / 30

#16. Hao's Kitchen

- Rating: 4.0/5 (95 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 1500 Yosemite Pkwy Merced, California
- Categories: Noodles, Soup, Cantonese
- Read more on Yelp

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Thai Cuisine

16 / 30

#15. Thai Cuisine

- Rating: 4.0/5 (135 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 23 East 16th St. Merced, California
- Categories: Thai
- Read more on Yelp

Sam Cafe

17 / 30

#14. Sam Cafe

- Rating: 4.1/5 (474 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 235 West 12th St. Merced, California
- Categories: Thai
- Read more on Yelp

Noah's Vietnamese Fusion Cuisine

18 / 30

#13. Noah's Vietnamese Fusion Cuisine

- Rating: 4.1/5 (478 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 1327 West 18th St. Merced, California
- Categories: Vietnamese, Coffee & Tea
- Read more on Yelp

Turmeric Indian Cuisine

19 / 30

#12. Turmeric Indian Cuisine

- Rating: 4.1/5 (381 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 731 East Yosemite Ave. Ste C Merced, California
- Categories: Indian, Wine Bars, Beer Bar
- Read more on Yelp

Mr Pho

20 / 30

#11. Mr Pho

- Rating: 4.1/5 (144 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 3360 North State Hwy 59 Ste D Merced, California
- Categories: Vietnamese
- Read more on Yelp

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88 Bao Bao

21 / 30

#10. 88 Bao Bao

- Rating: 4.1/5 (103 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 3564 G St. Merced, California
- Categories: Asian Fusion, Dim Sum, Ramen
- Read more on Yelp

Coconut Cafe

22 / 30

#9. Coconut Cafe

- Rating: 4.2/5 (237 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 3368 North State Hwy 59 Ste North Merced, California
- Categories: Laotian, Thai, Seafood
- Read more on Yelp

Chinese Kitchen

23 / 30

#8. Chinese Kitchen

- Rating: 4.2/5 (116 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 1853 Bellevue Road Atwater, California
- Categories: Chinese
- Read more on Yelp

Yummy Thai

24 / 30

#7. Yummy Thai

- Rating: 4.2/5 (82 reviews)
- Address: 2961 Beachwood Drive Merced, California
- Categories: Thai
- Read more on Yelp

Thai Star

25 / 30

#6. Thai Star

- Rating: 4.4/5 (182 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 57 West Alexander Ave. Merced, California
- Categories: Thai
- Read more on Yelp

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East Meats West

26 / 30

#5. East Meats West

- Rating: 4.6/5 (36 reviews)
- Address: 1936 East F St. Oakdale, California
- Categories: Food Trucks, Pan Asian, New American
- Read more on Yelp

Royal India Indian Cuisine

27 / 30

#4. Royal India Indian Cuisine

- Rating: 4.6/5 (53 reviews)
- Address: 3040 Park Ave. Ste E2 Merced, California
- Categories: Halal, Indian, Vegan
- Read more on Yelp

Jeff's Cuisine

28 / 30

#3. Jeff's Cuisine

- Rating: 4.7/5 (271 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 1135 Bellevue Road Atwater, California
- Categories: Filipino
- Read more on Yelp

Masala Express

29 / 30

#2. Masala Express

- Rating: 4.7/5 (174 reviews)
- Address: 560 West Olive Ave. Merced, California
- Categories: Indian
- Read more on Yelp

Asian Style Kitchen

30 / 30

#1. Asian Style Kitchen

- Rating: 4.8/5 (87 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 601 East Main St. Merced, California
- Categories: Asian Fusion, Food Trucks
- Read more on Yelp

This story features data reporting by Wade Zhou, writing by Jill Jaracz, and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 323 metros.