Highest-rated Asian restaurants in Santa Maria 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 Maria 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 Maria 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.

Yanagi Sushi & Grill

1 / 24

#24. Yanagi Sushi & Grill

- Rating: 2.6/5 (276 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 2431 South Broadway Santa Maria, California
- Categories: Sushi Bars, Teppanyaki
- Read more on Yelp

Nipomo Sushi

2 / 24

#23. Nipomo Sushi

- Rating: 3.2/5 (148 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 539 West Tefft St. Nipomo, California
- Categories: Sushi Bars, Japanese
- Read more on Yelp

China One Restaurant

3 / 24

#22. China One Restaurant

- Rating: 3.4/5 (110 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1140 East Clark Ave. Santa Maria, California
- Categories: Chinese
- Read more on Yelp

Ming Dynasty

4 / 24

#21. Ming Dynasty

- Rating: 3.4/5 (117 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 2011 South Broadway Ste East Santa Maria, California
- Categories: Chinese, Buffets, Seafood
- Read more on Yelp

Sake Sushi

5 / 24

#20. Sake Sushi

- Rating: 3.5/5 (165 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 194 Town Center East Santa Maria, California
- Categories: Sushi Bars, Japanese, Korean
- Read more on Yelp

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California Roll & Sushi

6 / 24

#19. California Roll & Sushi

- Rating: 3.5/5 (144 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 416 East Main St. Santa Maria, California
- Categories: Sushi Bars, Japanese
- Read more on Yelp

Pearl East

7 / 24

#18. Pearl East

- Rating: 3.8/5 (73 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 1559 Stowell Center Plz Santa Maria, California
- Categories: Chinese
- Read more on Yelp

Magic Dragon Asian Cuisine

8 / 24

#17. Magic Dragon Asian Cuisine

- Rating: 3.8/5 (301 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 800 South Broadway Ste 105 Santa Maria, California
- Categories: Chinese, Seafood, Soup
- Read more on Yelp

Mikado Sushi Santa Maria

9 / 24

#16. Mikado Sushi Santa Maria

- Rating: 3.8/5 (448 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 209 Town Center West Santa Maria, California
- Categories: Japanese, Sushi Bars
- Read more on Yelp

Boonie Thai Cuisine

10 / 24

#15. Boonie Thai Cuisine

- Rating: 3.8/5 (261 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 618 East Main St. Santa Maria, California
- Categories: Thai, Seafood
- Read more on Yelp

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New Ocean Chinese Restaurant

11 / 24

#14. New Ocean Chinese Restaurant

- Rating: 3.9/5 (161 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 331 Town Center West Santa Maria, California
- Categories: Chinese
- Read more on Yelp

SizzlinGogi

12 / 24

#13. SizzlinGogi

- Rating: 4.0/5 (625 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1841 South Broadway Santa Maria, California
- Categories: Korean, Wine Bars
- Read more on Yelp

Haru Sushi

13 / 24

#12. Haru Sushi

- Rating: 4.0/5 (101 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1551 Stowell Center Plz Santa Maria, California
- Categories: Japanese, Sushi Bars, Seafood
- Read more on Yelp

Thai Villa

14 / 24

#11. Thai Villa

- Rating: 4.0/5 (261 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 626 West Tefft St. Nipomo, California
- Categories: Thai, Chinese, Beer, Wine & Spirits
- Read more on Yelp

Hamasato Japanese Restaurants

15 / 24

#10. Hamasato Japanese Restaurants

- Rating: 4.0/5 (135 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 230 East Betteravia Road Ste V Santa Maria, California
- Categories: Japanese, Sushi Bars
- Read more on Yelp

Baan Thai

16 / 24

#9. Baan Thai

- Rating: 4.0/5 (186 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 2530 South Bdwy Ste H Santa Maria, California
- Categories: Thai
- Read more on Yelp

Ichiban Japanese Restaurant

17 / 24

#8. Ichiban Japanese Restaurant

- Rating: 4.1/5 (171 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 2011 South Broadway Ste L Santa Maria, California
- Categories: Japanese, Sushi Bars
- Read more on Yelp

Viet Kitchen

18 / 24

#7. Viet Kitchen

- Rating: 4.1/5 (245 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 3558 Skyway Drive Santa Maria, California
- Categories: Vietnamese
- Read more on Yelp

Boba House

19 / 24

#6. Boba House

- Rating: 4.1/5 (119 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 2047 South Broadway Ste B Santa Maria, California
- Categories: Juice Bars & Smoothies, Chinese
- Read more on Yelp

North China Restaurant

20 / 24

#5. North China Restaurant

- Rating: 4.2/5 (636 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 113 North Broadway Santa Maria, California
- Categories: Chinese
- Read more on Yelp

Thai Hut Restaurant

21 / 24

#4. Thai Hut Restaurant

- Rating: 4.2/5 (291 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 120 East Foster Road Santa Maria, California
- Categories: Thai
- Read more on Yelp

AL PHO

22 / 24

#3. AL PHO

- Rating: 4.3/5 (643 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1201 East Main St. Ste B Santa Maria, California
- Categories: Vietnamese, Barbecue, fast food
- Read more on Yelp

FoodTrip

23 / 24

#2. FoodTrip

- Rating: 4.3/5 (124 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 230 Betteravia Road Ste F Santa Maria, California
- Categories: Filipino, Barbecue, Noodles
- Read more on Yelp

Capuno's Lutong Bahay

24 / 24

#1. Capuno's Lutong Bahay

- Rating: 4.9/5 (47 reviews)
- Address: 2025 South Broadway Ste B Santa Maria, California
- Categories: Filipino
- 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.