Highest-rated Asian restaurants in Santa Cruz 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 Santa Cruz 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 Santa Cruz 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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Akira Seabright

1 / 30

#30. Akira Seabright

- Rating: 3.9/5 (961 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1222 Soquel Ave. Santa Cruz, California
- Categories: Sushi Bars, Japanese, Asian Fusion
- Read more on Yelp

Scotts Valley Canton Restaurant

2 / 30

#29. Scotts Valley Canton Restaurant

- Rating: 4.0/5 (281 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 224 Mount Hermon Road Ste D Scotts Valley, California
- Categories: Chinese
- Read more on Yelp

Bangkok West

3 / 30

#28. Bangkok West

- Rating: 4.0/5 (336 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 2505 Cabrillo College Drive Aptos, California
- Categories: Thai
- Read more on Yelp

Ambrosia India Bistro - Aptos

4 / 30

#27. Ambrosia India Bistro - Aptos

- Rating: 4.0/5 (546 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 207 Sea Ridge Road Aptos, California
- Categories: Indian, Wine Bars, Beer Bar
- Read more on Yelp

Green Papaya Authentic Thai

5 / 30

#26. Green Papaya Authentic Thai

- Rating: 4.1/5 (40 reviews)
- Address: 8042 Soquel Drive Aptos, California
- Categories: Thai
- Read more on Yelp

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Star of Siam

6 / 30

#25. Star of Siam

- Rating: 4.1/5 (336 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 3005 Porter St. Soquel, California
- Categories: Thai, Seafood, Noodles
- Read more on Yelp

Full Steam Dumpling

7 / 30

#24. Full Steam Dumpling

- Rating: 4.1/5 (64 reviews)
- Address: 1001 Center St. Santa Cruz, California
- Categories: Pop-Up Restaurants, Dim Sum, Ramen
- Read more on Yelp

Thai Basil

8 / 30

#23. Thai Basil

- Rating: 4.1/5 (347 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 210 Monterey Ave. Ste 3 Capitola, California
- Categories: Thai
- Read more on Yelp

Noodle Time

9 / 30

#22. Noodle Time

- Rating: 4.1/5 (39 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1314 Ocean St. Santa Cruz, California
- Categories: Vietnamese, Bubble Tea, Chinese
- Read more on Yelp

Sawasdee

10 / 30

#21. Sawasdee

- Rating: 4.1/5 (520 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 5050 Soquel Drive Soquel, California
- Categories: Thai
- Read more on Yelp

Rumble Fish

11 / 30

#20. Rumble Fish

- Rating: 4.2/5 (520 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 4727 Scotts Valley Drive Scotts Valley, California
- Categories: Japanese, Sushi Bars
- Read more on Yelp

Miyako Japanese Restaurant

12 / 30

#19. Miyako Japanese Restaurant

- Rating: 4.2/5 (295 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1820 41st Ave. Ste G Capitola, California
- Categories: Japanese
- Read more on Yelp

Guang Zho Chinese Restaurant

13 / 30

#18. Guang Zho Chinese Restaurant

- Rating: 4.2/5 (340 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 3150 Portola Drive Santa Cruz, California
- Categories: Chinese
- Read more on Yelp

Kao Sook Thai Cuisine

14 / 30

#17. Kao Sook Thai Cuisine

- Rating: 4.2/5 (341 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 245 H Mt Hermon Road Scotts Valley, California
- Categories: Thai
- Read more on Yelp

Chloe's Kitchen

15 / 30

#16. Chloe's Kitchen

- Rating: 4.2/5 (210 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 2301 Mission St. Santa Cruz, California
- Categories: Asian Fusion, Chinese, Noodles
- Read more on Yelp

Fuji Sushi

16 / 30

#15. Fuji Sushi

- Rating: 4.3/5 (20 reviews)
- Address: 4610 Soquel Drive Soquel, California
- Categories: Sushi Bars, Ramen, Chinese
- Read more on Yelp

Four Streams Kitchen

17 / 30

#14. Four Streams Kitchen

- Rating: 4.3/5 (114 reviews)
- Address: 7960 Soquel Drive Aptos, California
- Categories: Szechuan, Seafood, Soup
- Read more on Yelp

Sushi San

18 / 30

#13. Sushi San

- Rating: 4.3/5 (188 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 6231 Graham Hill Road Felton, California
- Categories: Sushi Bars, Japanese
- Read more on Yelp

Thai Heart

19 / 30

#12. Thai Heart

- Rating: 4.3/5 (292 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 218 G Mt Hermon Road Scotts Valley, California
- Categories: Thai, Salad, Soup
- Read more on Yelp

Ambrosia India Bistro - Scotts Valley

20 / 30

#11. Ambrosia India Bistro - Scotts Valley

- Rating: 4.3/5 (413 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 6006 La Madrona Drive Ste D Scotts Valley, California
- Categories: Indian
- Read more on Yelp

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Oyuki Sushi

21 / 30

#10. Oyuki Sushi

- Rating: 4.4/5 (109 reviews)
- Address: 1010 Pacific Ave. Ste F Santa Cruz, California
- Categories: Sushi Bars, Japanese, Peruvian
- Read more on Yelp

Otoro Sushi

22 / 30

#9. Otoro Sushi

- Rating: 4.5/5 (1144 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 235 Mt Hermon Road Ste G Scotts Valley, California
- Categories: Japanese, Sushi Bars
- Read more on Yelp

四姐 Special Noodle

23 / 30

#8. 四姐 Special Noodle

- Rating: 4.5/5 (988 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 415 Ocean St. Santa Cruz, California
- Categories: Noodles, Chinese
- Read more on Yelp

Hanloh Thai Food

24 / 30

#7. Hanloh Thai Food

- Rating: 4.5/5 (84 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1011 Cedar St. Santa Cruz, California
- Categories: Thai
- Read more on Yelp

Far East + Kitchen

25 / 30

#6. Far East + Kitchen

- Rating: 4.6/5 (107 reviews)
- Address: 5600 Scotts Valley Drive Ste C Scotts Valley, California
- Categories: Sushi Bars, Chinese, Korean
- Read more on Yelp

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Namaste Grill & Bar

26 / 30

#5. Namaste Grill & Bar

- Rating: 4.6/5 (148 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 303 Beach St. Santa Cruz, California
- Categories: Pizza, Indian, Diners
- Read more on Yelp

Namaste India Cuisine

27 / 30

#4. Namaste India Cuisine

- Rating: 4.6/5 (210 reviews)
- Address: 1501 Mission St. A Santa Cruz, California
- Categories: Indian
- Read more on Yelp

Mariposa Coffee Bar

28 / 30

#3. Mariposa Coffee Bar

- Rating: 4.7/5 (102 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 1010 Pacific Ave. Ste East Santa Cruz, California
- Categories: Coffee & Tea, Cuban, Vietnamese
- Read more on Yelp

Fusion Fare Restaurant

29 / 30

#2. Fusion Fare Restaurant

- Rating: 4.8/5 (60 reviews)
- Address: 1003 Cedar St. Santa Cruz, California
- Categories: Szechuan
- Read more on Yelp

Latin Asian Fusion

30 / 30

#1. Latin Asian Fusion

- Rating: 4.8/5 (20 reviews)
- Address: 1402 Camden Ave. Campbell, California
- Categories: Food Trucks, Caterers, Asian Fusion
- 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.