Highest-rated Asian restaurants in Durham 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 Durham 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 Durham 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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Indian Monsoon Restaurant & Bar

1 / 30

#30. Indian Monsoon Restaurant & Bar

- Rating: 4.3/5 (124 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 105 West Morgan St. Ste 100 Durham, North Carolina
- Categories: Indian, Cocktail Bars
- Read more on Yelp

Namu

2 / 30

#29. Namu

- Rating: 4.3/5 (881 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 5420 Durham-Chapel Hill Blvd. Durham, North Carolina
- Categories: Korean, Coffee & Tea, Beer Bar
- Read more on Yelp

Curry Up Now

3 / 30

#28. Curry Up Now

- Rating: 4.3/5 (38 reviews)
- Address: 3105 Shannon Road Ste 101 Bldg 2 Durham, North Carolina
- Categories: Indian, Halal, Sandwiches
- Read more on Yelp

Tandoori Bites

4 / 30

#27. Tandoori Bites

- Rating: 4.3/5 (126 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 5318 New Hope Commons Drive Ste 201-A Durham, North Carolina
- Categories: Indian, Desserts, Seafood
- Read more on Yelp

Thai star

5 / 30

#26. Thai star

- Rating: 4.3/5 (44 reviews)
- Address: 5410 NC-55 Ste F Durham, North Carolina
- Categories: Thai
- Read more on Yelp

BLR Bar and Curry

6 / 30

#25. BLR Bar and Curry

- Rating: 4.3/5 (43 reviews)
- Address: 10970 Chapel Hill Road Ste 108 Morrisville, North Carolina
- Categories: Breakfast & Brunch, Indian
- Read more on Yelp

Wheat

7 / 30

#24. Wheat

- Rating: 4.3/5 (103 reviews)
- Address: 810 9th St. Ste 130 Durham, North Carolina
- Categories: Noodles, Desserts, Szechuan
- Read more on Yelp

Viceroy

8 / 30

#23. Viceroy

- Rating: 4.4/5 (478 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 331 West Main St. Durham, North Carolina
- Categories: Indian, Bars
- Read more on Yelp

Flair Restaurant

9 / 30

#22. Flair Restaurant

- Rating: 4.4/5 (177 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 50100 Governors Drive Chapel Hill, North Carolina
- Categories: New American, Breakfast & Brunch, Asian Fusion
- Read more on Yelp

Bonjour Banh Mi & Tea

10 / 30

#21. Bonjour Banh Mi & Tea

- Rating: 4.4/5 (284 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 2121 Tw Alexander Drive Morrisville, North Carolina
- Categories: Vietnamese, Noodles, Sandwiches
- Read more on Yelp

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Kiichi Ramen

11 / 30

#20. Kiichi Ramen

- Rating: 4.4/5 (58 reviews)
- Address: 730 9th St. Durham, North Carolina
- Categories: Ramen
- Read more on Yelp

Bulkogi at Boxyard RTP

12 / 30

#19. Bulkogi at Boxyard RTP

- Rating: 4.4/5 (81 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 900 Park Offices Drive Durham, North Carolina
- Categories: Korean, Barbecue, Asian Fusion
- Read more on Yelp

M Tempura

13 / 30

#18. M Tempura

- Rating: 4.5/5 (117 reviews)
- Address: 111 Orange St. Durham, North Carolina
- Categories: Japanese
- Read more on Yelp

Sister Liu's Kitchen

14 / 30

#17. Sister Liu's Kitchen

- Rating: 4.5/5 (295 reviews)
- Address: 5504 Durham Chapel Hill Blvd. Ste 103 Durham, North Carolina
- Categories: Chinese
- Read more on Yelp

Yin Dee Lao & Thai Streetfood Restaurant

15 / 30

#16. Yin Dee Lao & Thai Streetfood Restaurant

- Rating: 4.5/5 (263 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 10970 Chapel Hill Road Ste 106 Morrisville, North Carolina
- Categories: Laotian, Thai
- Read more on Yelp

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Saffron Indian Cafe

16 / 30

#15. Saffron Indian Cafe

- Rating: 4.5/5 (42 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 2608 Erwin Road Ste 132 Durham, North Carolina
- Categories: Indian
- Read more on Yelp

KoKyu

17 / 30

#14. KoKyu

- Rating: 4.5/5 (232 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 245 NC-54 Ste 105 Durham, North Carolina
- Categories: Barbecue, Asian Fusion, Beer Gardens
- Read more on Yelp

Lime & Lemon Indian Grill & Bar - Durham

18 / 30

#13. Lime & Lemon Indian Grill & Bar - Durham

- Rating: 4.5/5 (316 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 811 9th St. Ste 150 Durham, North Carolina
- Categories: Indian, Cocktail Bars
- Read more on Yelp

Bulkogi Truck

19 / 30

#12. Bulkogi Truck

- Rating: 4.5/5 (116 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 5420 Durham Chapel Hill Blvd. Durham, North Carolina
- Categories: Food Trucks, Korean
- Read more on Yelp

M Sushi

20 / 30

#11. M Sushi

- Rating: 4.5/5 (706 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 311 Holland St. Durham, North Carolina
- Categories: Sushi Bars, Seafood, Japanese
- Read more on Yelp

Barsa New Indian

21 / 30

#10. Barsa New Indian

- Rating: 4.5/5 (22 reviews)
- Address: 105 West Morgan St. Ste 100 Durham, North Carolina
- Categories: Indian, Bars
- Read more on Yelp

Sushioki

22 / 30

#9. Sushioki

- Rating: 4.6/5 (403 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 4900 NC-55 Ste 510 Durham, North Carolina
- Categories: Sushi Bars, Asian Fusion
- Read more on Yelp

Urban Turban Indian Grill and Bar

23 / 30

#8. Urban Turban Indian Grill and Bar

- Rating: 4.6/5 (103 reviews)
- Address: 1125 NC-54 Ste 301 Durham, North Carolina
- Categories: Bars, Indian
- Read more on Yelp

Anjappar Chettinad Indian Restaurant

24 / 30

#7. Anjappar Chettinad Indian Restaurant

- Rating: 4.6/5 (32 reviews)
- Address: 201 East Main St. Ste 150 Durham, North Carolina
- Categories: Indian, Desserts, Seafood
- Read more on Yelp

Thai Angle Restaurant

25 / 30

#6. Thai Angle Restaurant

- Rating: 4.6/5 (79 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 200 North Mangum St. Ste 101 Durham, North Carolina
- Categories: Thai, Asian Fusion
- Read more on Yelp

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Hope Cafe

26 / 30

#5. Hope Cafe

- Rating: 4.6/5 (28 reviews)
- Address: 4711 Hope Valley Road Ste 1C Durham, North Carolina
- Categories: Noodles, Thai, Salad
- Read more on Yelp

Szechuan Mansion Hotpot

27 / 30

#4. Szechuan Mansion Hotpot

- Rating: 4.6/5 (74 reviews)
- Address: 746 9th St. Durham, North Carolina
- Categories: Hot Pot, Szechuan
- Read more on Yelp

KoKyu Na'Mean

28 / 30

#3. KoKyu Na'Mean

- Rating: 4.7/5 (819 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 245 East NC 54 Ste 105 Durham, North Carolina
- Categories: Sandwiches, Vietnamese
- Read more on Yelp

Gossip Tea Lounge

29 / 30

#2. Gossip Tea Lounge

- Rating: 4.8/5 (36 reviews)
- Address: 5318 McFarland Drive Ste 130 Durham, North Carolina
- Categories: Vietnamese, Bubble Tea, Coffee & Tea
- Read more on Yelp

Lime & Lemon - Chapel Hill

30 / 30

#1. Lime & Lemon - Chapel Hill

- Rating: 4.8/5 (289 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 100 Meadowmont Village Cir Ste 101 Chapel Hill, North Carolina
- Categories: Indian
- 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.