Your guide to Asian food in South Africa
Find Your Next Favourite Asian Dish
Learn what to order, where to eat, and how to make the most of every new flavour.
Curious about a dish? Start here
Explore with Confidence, One Bite at a Time
Asian food in South Africa spans neighbourhood noodle shops, specialist grocers, family-run restaurants, and much more. Our guides help you recognise essential ingredients, understand menu terms, and choose dishes that suit your tastes, whether you are planning dinner out or cooking something new at home.
Get useful tips on dining customs, spice levels, shared plates, and the flavours that distinguish different cuisines. Then use what you have learned to explore local places to eat, ask better questions, and try unfamiliar dishes with confidence.
Choose a Guide Category
Ingredient Basics
Dining Customs
Explore Asian Cuisines
Find Places to Eat
Understand Menus
Order with Confidence
Shop and Cook With Confidence
Get to Know Asian Ingredients
Recognise the Essentials
Learn to spot ingredients such as miso, gochujang, fish sauce and rice noodles, and discover the salty, spicy, savoury or tangy flavours they bring to a dish.
Find It or Swap It
Check Asian grocers and supermarket international aisles in South Africa for key ingredients. When something is unavailable, explore practical substitutes while keeping the dish’s flavour in mind.
Enjoy the Meal, Respect the Setting
Dining customs vary widely across Asian cuisines, families and restaurants. At some tables, dishes are shared; elsewhere, each person orders their own meal. Follow your host’s lead, use serving utensils when provided and ask before taking the last portion. If you are unsure about chopsticks, eating with your hands or when to begin, a polite question is better than a guess.
In South Africa, restaurants may adapt traditions to local preferences, so pay attention to the setting rather than expecting one rule to fit every cuisine. Check the menu for spice levels and dietary ingredients, and let staff know about allergies before ordering. A little curiosity and consideration go a long way.
Try a New Cuisine in Three Steps
Step 1
Learn the Signature Dishes
Start with a few well-known dishes and their main ingredients so you can recognise flavours and choose what appeals to you.
Step 2
Choose a Place to Eat
Browse South African restaurant listings, compare menus and look for a place that serves the dishes you want to try.
Step 3
Order With Confidence
Ask staff about spice, portions and unfamiliar ingredients, then choose a signature dish or a few plates to share.
Find Asian Food Near You
Restaurants by Cuisine
From Korean barbecue to South Indian thalis
Neighbourhood Food Finds
Discover what is close to home
Asian Grocers & Markets
Ingredients for cooking at home
Questions Before You Explore?
Get practical answers for shopping, ordering, and enjoying Asian food across South Africa.
Where can I find Asian ingredients in South Africa?
Check Asian grocers and food markets in the directory for items such as rice noodles, miso, curry paste, and spices. Stock varies, so contact a shop before making a special trip.
How can I find a meal that suits my dietary needs?
Use listings to explore menus, then ask the restaurant about ingredients and preparation. Broths, sauces, and garnishes can contain meat, seafood, nuts, or gluten even when a dish looks suitable.
How do I enjoy an unfamiliar cuisine respectfully and find a good place to try it?
Start with our cuisine guides, browse nearby listings, and look for menus featuring regional dishes. Ask staff how a dish is served or eaten; customs differ, and a friendly question is usually welcome.
Put Your Food Guides to Work
Pick a cuisine you have not tried, find a nearby restaurant or grocer, and turn your next meal into a new discovery.