São Paulo’s food scene is one of the most underrated in the world, and nowhere is that more obvious than in its Asian cuisine. Thanks to the city’s large Japanese, Chinese, and Korean communities — and a growing wave of chefs bringing lesser-known cuisines to the table — you can eat your way across Asia without leaving the city. This list covers the Asian Restaurants in São Paulo I keep coming back to, across cuisines and price points, with metro tips so you can actually find them.
Japanese
KuroMoon – Izakaya
This quite recent gem is the brilliant KuroMoon, a Japanese-Korean fusion bar that offers delicious small bites with a variety of textures and flavors. It’s also a great place to drink, as the cocktails — and the bartender who makes them — are famous for quality. You can get an online reservation via their Instagram or wait in line, which can get long, so I suggest booking ahead. Expect to spend a bit more than planned, as the food is so good you’ll want to keep ordering. I spent around 40 USD / 35 Euros on my last visit. It’s located downhill from the Line 2 – Green Brigadeiro station.
Hira – Ramen
I’m #TeamRamen, so sushi fans won’t find love here. Hirá is likely my go-to place for ramen in São Paulo, as they offer great bowls ranging from the classics to genuinely daring stuff — like a soba with bulgogi. The place is nice and well located right in the heart of Vila Madalena, so if you want to grab a drink afterward, you’ll have plenty of options. Be ready to wait, as the place’s reputation doesn’t go unnoticed. It’s not near any metro station, so you might want to get an Uber from either the Line 4 – Yellow Fradique Coutinho station or the Line 2 – Green Vila Madalena station. Walking from both is also perfectly doable.
Mugui – Ramen
My personal favorite is Mugui. I consider it the second best ramen I’ve ever eaten, losing only to Warsaw’s Zen On. I love the broth, the noodles, the atmosphere, the staff, the counter — everything here feels so welcoming I’d visit every day if I could. The gyoza are also fantastic, with a perfectly crispy outside. It’s also quite affordable and never too crowded, as it’s tucked inside a building. It’s close to the Line 1 – Blue Liberdade station, so I suggest coming on a Friday or Saturday — take a walk through the street stalls, admire the Japanese decorations, and come for lunch. If you want to stretch the afternoon, Liberdade is not far from Aclimaçāo Park, a quiet spot to digest and unwind.
Kan Suke – Sushi
Not to leave sushi fans entirely without a recommendation, this omakase is widely regarded as one of the best in the city — hence the Michelin star. Given its central location and more accessible prices (I’ve seen places that can reach R$1,000), this feels like the natural pick. “Accessible” is relative, of course — expect a bill starting at around 40 USD / 35 Euros. Some food critics note the restaurant has seen better days, but in terms of cost vs. benefit, you’ll be hard-pressed to find anything comparable.
Thai
Thaifood
As far as cost vs. benefit goes, Thaifood is probably my top pick in São Paulo. You can get a plate of Pad Thai for 2 people for 10 USD / 9 Euros, which is insane. And the quality is good too! Make sure to order their tea with lemon and their mango with sweet rice dessert, which are delicious. It’s a small house run by actual Thai people, located right next to the Saúde Station of the Line 1 – Blue.
Krapook Khao
This restaurant sits in a sweet spot between casual and upscale, with food good enough to stand out without reaching fine dining territory. It’s probably my wife’s favorite restaurant in São Paulo and has everything you’d expect from a Thai restaurant, with lots of options at a reasonable price — I often pay 16–19 USD / 14–17 Euros per visit. I’ve often heard Thai, Chinese, and English being spoken here, so it’s clearly popular with tourists as well. It’s located within walking distance from the Line 2 – Green Brigadeiro station.
Korean
Han Kang
There’s a lot of hype around Korean cuisine that I didn’t really get until I came here. Other Korean restaurants try to sell you on bibimbap or barbecue, but the only truly Korean food I’ve had in the city — spicy, vegetable-packed, with great meat — was at Han Kang. Hence the 4.8 score on Google Maps at the time of writing. As this is something of a hidden gem, you won’t wait long for a table, but budget accordingly if you want to try everything. I left 40 USD / 36 Euros on my last visit. It’s quite close to the Tiradentes station of the Line 1 – Blue. From my experience, this area can get sketchy after dark, so I suggest coming for lunch.
Vietnamese
Bahn Mi
Vietnamese cuisine is not well known in São Paulo, so my friends usually have no idea what to expect and are very pleasantly surprised when they try the pho bo at Bahn Mi. The place is small and really cozy, and the staff is friendly and attentive. The food is delicious — and although my preference is strictly for the pho bo, people also seem to love the small rolls. I find this place a bit pricey but absolutely worth it, having paid 18 USD / 16 Euros on my last visit. It’s within walking distance from the Line 2 – Green Brigadeiro metro station.
Indian
Tandoor
We’ve tried several Indian restaurants in town, and while there are some strong options, none had samosas as good as Tandoor’s — hence the pick. The house is also very scenic, making it a great spot for a meal with someone special. No need to overthink your order; just ask for whatever catches your eye and it’ll be good. The price is a bit higher than similar options — I paid 18 USD / 16 EUR per person on my last visit — but it’s completely worth it. It’s within walking distance from the Line 1 – Blue and Line 2 – Green Paraíso metro station.
Chinese
Ton Hoi
This one has been on my bucket list for a while. Since it’s a bit far from where I live and the prices aren’t exactly accessible, I haven’t made it there yet — but it’s one of the most talked-about spots in the São Paulo gastronomic scene, mixing both traditional and innovative Chinese cuisine. I could have picked another Chinese option, but I couldn’t leave this one out. The nearest metro is the Line 4 – Yellow Butanã station, though it’s not particularly close.
Taiwanese
Laomazi
Taiwanese cuisine is not an easy find in São Paulo, but this one is really at the heart of Liberdade. I went there expecting something very weird but found familiar food. Some noodles, meat and spicy flavors made their job, all while paying very reasonable 12 USD/10 Euro prices. Laomazi is right beside the Liberdade metro station and I want to go back there eventually for a second round.
There is an infinite number of other asian restaurants in São Paulo, but these are solid picks that will let you try our a bit of each side of Asia with quality and decent cost x benefit. If you want extra pícks, just let me know!
If you’re planning your route between these restaurants, the São Paulo transport guide has all the metro lines you’ll use. Not sure which neighborhood to base yourself near? The neighborhoods guide will help. And if you’re going out at night, the safety guide is worth reading first — a few of these areas need extra attention after dark.