Global Asian food trends have been making their way to Goa for a while now. Whether you’re craving okonomiyaki or Cheung Fun or a couple of charcoal dumplings, you’ll find them all in Goa. Here is our pick of the top 5 Asian restaurants to stop by.
(Post-Covid, a lot of these are on Swiggy/Zomato or offer home delivery)
By Samira Sheth
Yazu-Pan Asian Beach Club, Candolim
Hip yet relaxing, this newly opened (late last year) and then reopened (in October this year) restaurant, with a branch in Mumbai, boasts fabulous views of the ocean. The open all day beach club and late night bar is bang on the beach, located inside Marquis Beach Resort in Candolim.
It’s easy to feel transported by the lovely ocean views and sunsets as you sip on a Yazu special Margarita (tequila Thai chilli, , yuzu juice and egg white) and dig into an extensive menu featuring all the hits – sushi, even a selection made with Manipur staple black rice; dim sum, baos, ramen bowls or an interesting Korean Ramyeon bowl. The recently popular Cantonese Cheung Fun can be found here and choose from the delicious Charcoal Pork or the Crispy Mushroom and Water chestnut. Signature drinks include the Green Jade Garden – a healthy mix of wheat grass, fresh turmeric and gin and sour as well as a range of the Japanese whisky Akashi while Chef recommends his signature Dragon Rolls and the Lemon butter lobster. The Pork belly fritters seasoned with fermented chilli bean sauce and the Truffle edamame dumplings make for great starters too and the exhaustive list of mains will keep you spoilt for choice. Desserts are equally tempting with the Imploding Chocolate Bomb (a 24 carat gold dusted chocolate bomb filled with Hazelnut mousse, served with hot chocolate ganache), matcha gelato or Nikkei inspired churros on offer.
Tataki – Immersive Asian Dining, Panjim
This striking space checks all the boxes for a fun night out – a great location in the heritage precinct of Panjim with lovely views from its pretty rooftop terrace, modern intimate interiors and excellent food. Tataki is usually always busy and with good reason. Goa suddenly can’t get enough sushi and the sushi here is really good – fresh and fun. Must haves are the Crunchy Asparagus and Avocado Roll, the Crispy Philly Cheese Roll and the Salmon rolls of course. Drinks are trendy too with all the new age fire and ice effects on offer. The menu is an interesting mix of old favourites and novel offerings and it boasts the Best Crabmeat Fried Rice Ever, (yes, that’s what it’s called and you need to try it to give it your own rating!) So while you’ll find the regular Prawn Har Gao and Pork Dumplings you’ll also find a Beetroot and Pine dumpling or a Sweetcorn Thermidor Dim Sum. The way to go here is to try lots of the small plates, with the standout Charcoal Black and White cream cheese dumplings being absolutely unmissable. Desserts are not really their forte though the Chikku Serradura is an adventurous option.
Tamari, Vivanta Goa, Panjim
Recently updated, Tamari is one of the earliest restaurants in Goa to bring us sushi and dim sum apart from a wide-ranging Pan Asian menu when there weren’t so many options to choose from. Post Covid the restaurant has recently opened its doors again and only for dinner as yet.
While a new four course set menu including a glass of wine has been introduced, the good news is that the full menu is also available to be ordered a la carte. Stand out dishes include the Okonomiyaki, a rarity in Goa. A popular street food from Osaka, the savoury Japanese pancake can be likened to Japanese pizza and is made with different fillings but usually includes flour, eggs, shredded cabbage and your choice of meat.
Keep an eye out for the ever changing and evolving menu here with popular favorites from Chinese, Thai, Vietnamese and Japanese cuisines as well a beautifully elegant tea menu. They’ve had some fun themed dining experiences over the years with the Sushi vs Dimsum/An all you can Sushi night/ customized Bento boxed dinners among them.
Ping’s Bia Hoi, Sangolda
This Vietnamese styled beer garden offers a lively vibe of a rustic local market and a high end cool hangout. While it offers a cozy indoor dining area, the sprawling outdoor space is better to fully savour Ping’s laidback ambience. The restaurant has a branch in Delhi and offers a similar menu in Goa, teeming with interesting treats alongside the always popular Thai curries, papaya salad and array of fried rice and noodle dishes. Before I knew I liked it, I was introduced to their signature Philadelphia Cream Cheese Dumplings and that is pretty much all I want to eat there now! Still, for the more adventurous, do try the delish Tapioca pops or the Nasi Goreng, which takes on a Goan twist by including the popular local Chorizo, all while sipping sweet cocktails like the Gingerbread Martini or Elderflower Spritzer or even their range of in house beers on tap from the Goa Brewing Company, Arbour Brewing Company or Bira.
Matcha, Anjuna
Blink and you might miss this tiny eatery tucked away in the winding lanes of Anjuna. A simple menu is on offer here but it’s all top notch authentic Japanese fare. Piping hot rice bowls, or bowls filled with hearty udon noodles and your choice of veggies or meats with accompaniments of crunchy tempuras have us going back for more. And we haven’t even mentioned the star of the show yet, the delectable sushi rolls that offer enough satisfying variety. Run by a small Japanese family, this casual roadside stop is a winner for those who want the joy of no frills but hearty good Japanese food. Though Matcha only has a few tables, it makes up for it by being take out friendly.
