Highest-rated Asian restaurants in Ames 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 Ames 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 Ames 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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888 Restaurant

1 / 14

#14. 888 Restaurant

- Rating: 3.1/5 (60 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 809 Wheeler St. Ste 106 Ames, Iowa
- Categories: Chinese
- Read more on Yelp

Le's Restaurant

2 / 14

#13. Le's Restaurant

- Rating: 3.3/5 (89 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 113 Colorado Ave. Ste 117 Ames, Iowa
- Categories: Vietnamese, Chinese, Soup
- Read more on Yelp

FUJI Japanese Steakhouse

3 / 14

#12. FUJI Japanese Steakhouse

- Rating: 3.4/5 (124 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1614 South Kellogg Ave. Ste 101 Ames, Iowa
- Categories: Japanese, Steakhouses
- Read more on Yelp

Wok N Roll

4 / 14

#11. Wok N Roll

- Rating: 3.5/5 (42 reviews)
- Address: 120 Welch Ave. Ames, Iowa
- Categories: Chinese, Seafood, Soup
- Read more on Yelp

The Spice

5 / 14

#10. The Spice

- Rating: 3.6/5 (76 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 402 Main St. Ames, Iowa
- Categories: Thai
- Read more on Yelp

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May House Cuisine

6 / 14

#9. May House Cuisine

- Rating: 3.6/5 (43 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 3417 Lincoln Way Ames, Iowa
- Categories: Chinese
- Read more on Yelp

House of Chen

7 / 14

#8. House of Chen

- Rating: 3.8/5 (41 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 705 East Lincoln Way Ames, Iowa
- Categories: Chinese
- Read more on Yelp

Thai Kitchen

8 / 14

#7. Thai Kitchen

- Rating: 3.8/5 (132 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 2410 Chamberlain St. Ames, Iowa
- Categories: Thai, Bubble Tea
- Read more on Yelp

Szechuan House

9 / 14

#6. Szechuan House

- Rating: 3.8/5 (107 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 3605 Lincoln Way Ames, Iowa
- Categories: Szechuan
- Read more on Yelp

Joy's Mongolian Grill

10 / 14

#5. Joy's Mongolian Grill

- Rating: 3.9/5 (48 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 112 Hayward Ave. Ames, Iowa
- Categories: Dim Sum, Szechuan
- Read more on Yelp

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India Palace

11 / 14

#4. India Palace

- Rating: 4.2/5 (80 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 120 Hayward Ave. Ames, Iowa
- Categories: Indian
- Read more on Yelp

WASABI AMES

12 / 14

#3. WASABI AMES

- Rating: 4.3/5 (71 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 926 South 16th St. Ames, Iowa
- Categories: Asian Fusion, Sushi Bars
- Read more on Yelp

Pho & Tea

13 / 14

#2. Pho & Tea

- Rating: 4.5/5 (42 reviews)
- Address: 724 24th St. Ste 102 Ames, Iowa
- Categories: Vietnamese, Bubble Tea, Asian Fusion
- Read more on Yelp

1+1 Restaurant & Tea

14 / 14

#1. 1+1 Restaurant & Tea

- Rating: 4.6/5 (36 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 2814 West St. Ames, Iowa
- Categories: Chinese, Bubble Tea
- 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.