Highest-rated Asian restaurants in Iowa City 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 Iowa City 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 Iowa City 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.

You may also like: Highest-rated Chinese restaurants in Iowa City

Taste of China

1 / 29

#29. Taste of China

- Rating: 3.1/5 (22 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 2012 8th St. Coralville, Iowa
- Categories: Chinese
- Read more on Yelp

Sarku Japan

2 / 29

#28. Sarku Japan

- Rating: 3.2/5 (21 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1451 Coral Ridge Ave. Coralville, Iowa
- Categories: Japanese, fast food, Sushi Bars
- Read more on Yelp

Formosa

3 / 29

#27. Formosa

- Rating: 3.3/5 (183 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 221 East College St. Iowa City, Iowa
- Categories: Asian Fusion, Sushi Bars
- Read more on Yelp

Szechuan House

4 / 29

#26. Szechuan House

- Rating: 3.3/5 (158 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 320 East Burlington St. Iowa City, Iowa
- Categories: Szechuan
- Read more on Yelp

Taste of China Chinese Restaurant

5 / 29

#25. Taste of China Chinese Restaurant

- Rating: 3.5/5 (49 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 1705 South 1st Ave. Iowa City, Iowa
- Categories: Chinese
- Read more on Yelp

Red Ginger

6 / 29

#24. Red Ginger

- Rating: 3.6/5 (134 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 2419 2nd St. Coralville, Iowa
- Categories: Sushi Bars, Japanese
- Read more on Yelp

Masala Indian Cuisine

7 / 29

#23. Masala Indian Cuisine

- Rating: 3.7/5 (169 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 9 South Dubuque St. Iowa City, Iowa
- Categories: Indian
- Read more on Yelp

Thai Spice

8 / 29

#22. Thai Spice

- Rating: 3.7/5 (159 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1210 South Gilbert St. Iowa City, Iowa
- Categories: Thai
- Read more on Yelp

India Cafe

9 / 29

#21. India Cafe

- Rating: 3.7/5 (73 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 227 East Washington St. Iowa City, Iowa
- Categories: Indian
- Read more on Yelp

China Star

10 / 29

#20. China Star

- Rating: 3.7/5 (35 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 201 South Clinton St. Ste 118 Iowa City, Iowa
- Categories: Chinese
- Read more on Yelp

You may also like: Coat drives near Iowa City

Konomi Restaurant & Grill

11 / 29

#19. Konomi Restaurant & Grill

- Rating: 3.8/5 (146 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 843 Quarry Road Unit 140 Coralville, Iowa
- Categories: Sushi Bars, Japanese
- Read more on Yelp

Oryza Asian Cuisine

12 / 29

#18. Oryza Asian Cuisine

- Rating: 3.8/5 (91 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 5 Sturgis Corner Drive Iowa City, Iowa
- Categories: Chinese, Vietnamese, Thai
- Read more on Yelp

Haveli Indian Cuisine

13 / 29

#17. Haveli Indian Cuisine

- Rating: 3.9/5 (173 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 943 25th Ave. Coralville, Iowa
- Categories: Indian, Salad, Seafood
- Read more on Yelp

Thai Flavors

14 / 29

#16. Thai Flavors

- Rating: 3.9/5 (153 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 340 East Burlington St. Iowa City, Iowa
- Categories: Thai, Chinese
- Read more on Yelp

Oyama Sushi Japanese Restaurant

15 / 29

#15. Oyama Sushi Japanese Restaurant

- Rating: 3.9/5 (126 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1853 Lower Muscatine Road Iowa City, Iowa
- Categories: Sushi Bars, Japanese, Hot Pot
- Read more on Yelp

You may also like: Highest-rated seafood restaurants in Iowa City

China Garden

16 / 29

#14. China Garden

- Rating: 4.0/5 (42 reviews)
- Address: 245 Beaver Kreek Center North Liberty, Iowa
- Categories: Chinese
- Read more on Yelp

Iowa Pho

17 / 29

#13. Iowa Pho

- Rating: 4.0/5 (28 reviews)
- Address: 53 2nd St. Coralville, Iowa
- Categories: Vietnamese, Seafood, Sandwiches
- Read more on Yelp

Sumo Sushi & Ramen

18 / 29

#12. Sumo Sushi & Ramen

- Rating: 4.1/5 (43 reviews)
- Address: 122 East Washington St. Iowa City, Iowa
- Categories: Ramen, Sushi Bars
- Read more on Yelp

Exotic India

19 / 29

#11. Exotic India

- Rating: 4.1/5 (212 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 102 2nd Ave. Ste B Coralville, Iowa
- Categories: Indian
- Read more on Yelp

Hokkaido Ramen House

20 / 29

#10. Hokkaido Ramen House

- Rating: 4.2/5 (43 reviews)
- Address: 201 East 9th St. Ste 100 Coralville, Iowa
- Categories: Sushi Bars, Ramen, Izakaya
- Read more on Yelp

Red Ginger

21 / 29

#9. Red Ginger

- Rating: 4.2/5 (41 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1301 South Gilbert St. Ste 6 Iowa City, Iowa
- Categories: Sushi Bars, Japanese, Bars
- Read more on Yelp

LA Wine Bar & Restaurant

22 / 29

#8. LA Wine Bar & Restaurant

- Rating: 4.3/5 (21 reviews)
- Address: 180 East Burlington St. Iowa City, Iowa
- Categories: Korean, Bubble Tea, Music Venues
- Read more on Yelp

Soseki Café

23 / 29

#7. Soseki Café

- Rating: 4.3/5 (95 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 227 South Dubuque St. Iowa City, Iowa
- Categories: Sushi Bars, Japanese, Coffee & Tea
- Read more on Yelp

Long Xing

24 / 29

#6. Long Xing

- Rating: 4.3/5 (114 reviews)
- Address: 428 Highway 1 West Iowa City, Iowa
- Categories: Chinese
- Read more on Yelp

Blue Elephant Thai Restaurant

25 / 29

#5. Blue Elephant Thai Restaurant

- Rating: 4.4/5 (154 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 2301 2nd St. Coralville, Iowa
- Categories: Thai
- Read more on Yelp

SAIGON'S CORNER Authentic Vietnamese Cuisine

26 / 29

#4. SAIGON'S CORNER Authentic Vietnamese Cuisine

- Rating: 4.5/5 (100 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 201 South Clinton St. Iowa City, Iowa
- Categories: Vietnamese
- Read more on Yelp

Sushiya

27 / 29

#3. Sushiya

- Rating: 4.6/5 (260 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 745 Community Drive Ste A North Liberty, Iowa
- Categories: Japanese, Sushi Bars
- Read more on Yelp

Ramen Belly

28 / 29

#2. Ramen Belly

- Rating: 4.6/5 (83 reviews)
- Address: 1010 Martin St. Iowa City, Iowa
- Categories: Ramen
- Read more on Yelp

Taste Place

29 / 29

#1. Taste Place

- Rating: 4.7/5 (40 reviews)
- Address: 555 Hwy 965 North Liberty, Iowa
- Categories: Chinese, Seafood, Soup
- 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.