Top 5 Asian Restaurants in Winnipeg
Whether they’re served on shimmering plates and bowls or on skewers and banana leaves, Asian cuisine is notable for their colourful arrangements, rich flavours, and stories rooted in culture and history.
Besides being delicious, Asian food is also among the healthiest you can eat in the world. So, if you’re craving delicious and nutritious food, then take a look at the Asian restaurants we’ve reviewed to be the best in Winnipeg!
How much does Asian cuisine cost on average in Winnipeg?
Take a look at this table below for some of the most well-known Asian food you can find in Winnipeg and how much they’ll likely cost in restaurants:
Selecting the best Asian restaurants in Winnipeg
We considered the following criteria in selecting the top Asian restaurants in Winnipeg:
1. Viva Restaurant
| CRITERIA | RATING |
| FOOD SELECTION AND QUALITY | ★★★★☆ 4/5 |
| Variety | ★★★★☆ 4.5/5 |
| Quality and taste | ★★★☆☆ 3.5/5 |
| RESTAURANT AMBIANCE | ★★★☆☆ 3.5/5 |
| Clean and tidy | ★★★★☆ 4/5 |
| Relaxing and appetising | ★★★☆☆ 3/5 |
| PRICE RANGE | ★★★★★ 5/5 |
| CUSTOMER SATISFACTION | ★★★★☆ 4/5 |
Viva Restaurant is one of the most notable family-owned Asian restaurants in Winnipeg. Its menu includes a delicious lineup of Vietnamese dishes featuring chicken, beef, pork, fish, seafood, and various types of vegetables.
We tried some of its dishes and were pleased with the generous servings. For a price range of $7 to $16, groups of three to four can enjoy delicious Vietnamese meals and be full without spending a lot.
The restaurant’s cleanliness and cosiness also added to our dining experience, and we understood why many return here for more Vietnamese goodness.
Viva Restaurant also offers online delivery via DoorDash and SkipTheDishes. You can have your favourite Vietnamese dishes brought to you with just a few clicks and taps!
A limitation to this restaurant, though, is that it doesn’t have that many vegetarian options available.
Most of its salads and stir-fried veggies have bits of meat on them, which non-meat eaters may not appreciate. If you’re one of them, it’s worth mentioning to your server so that you can have your veggie dishes customised.
Another limitation is that this place only has one dessert available, which is cotton cheesecake. In terms of drinks, only canned soda (with different flavours) is offered other than water.
We’re also quite disappointed to hear that some of the customers had undercooked meat dishes delivered to them.
While we’re pleased that the food couriers offered refunds, we think that the restaurant should be more responsible in preparing its dishes as serving raw and undercooked food can send people to the hospital.
Pros
- Large servings
- Affordably priced
- Online delivery available via DoorDash and SkipTheDishes
Cons
- Non-meat, dessert, and drink options are quite limited
- A few instances of meat dishes being undercooked
Customer Reviews
Food came quickly and so fresh
“Came here for my first time today! Amazing friendly service. Food came quickly and so fresh! My Husband has always talked about how great it is here and I now fully agree! Cannot wait to be back and try his favorite chicken soup next time. Thank you for the amazing food and service!” – Sheryl Kazuk
Best Vietnamese place in Winnipeg
“My first time there at Viva was awesome. I love the pho and the banh mi. Super delicious and authentic. Best Vietnamese place in Winnipeg. And you can’t beat the price, which is very reasonable. Would definitely eat there again.” – Thach Vo
2. Kum Koon Garden
| CRITERIA | RATING |
| FOOD SELECTION AND QUALITY | ★★★★☆ 4.25/5 |
| Variety | ★★★★★ 5/5 |
| Quality and taste | ★★★☆☆ 3.5/5 |
| RESTAURANT AMBIANCE | ★★★☆☆ 3.5/5 |
| Clean and tidy | ★★★★☆ 4/5 |
| Relaxing and appetising | ★★★☆☆ 3/5 |
| PRICE RANGE | ★★★☆☆ 3/5 |
| CUSTOMER SATISFACTION | ★★☆☆☆ 2/5 |
Kum Koon Garden is a Chinese restaurant popular for its dim sum varieties served all day.
We have to give it to them in terms of food quality as we’ve heard that its dumplings, meat and vegetable buns, spring rolls, and chicken feet are the best in Winnipeg – and, based on our dining experience, they certainly are!
Dim sum isn’t the only thing to look forward to at Kum Koon as it also serves quite an array of Chinese specialties.
We looked into its menu and found dishes ranging from noodles to soups, braised meat, roasted fowl, and stir-fried platters.
Most of its dishes are also quite affordable, although we found some of its options quite pricey, especially those labelled as street food.
Despite this, we still think this place is ideal for Chinese cuisine due to its wide food selection, rich flavours, and large portions.
We also like Kum Koon Garden for being a suitable place to hold receptions for weddings, corporate events, and Chinese New Year.
While we understand that bigger gatherings can cause quite the buzz, it’s understandable that some customers may find the noise disruptive. It wouldn’t hurt for the restaurant to put out a notice in advance to give diners the option to eat elsewhere.
We also heard that staff members get more preoccupied with the banquets and have forgotten to also serve its regular diners many times, with some waiting several minutes to an hour to be served.
Hopefully, management can address these issues soon, as this puts a dampener on their excellent reputation.
Pros
- Great place for all-day dim sum
- Offers banquet services
- Outdoor parking area is spacious
Cons
- Some dishes are pricey
- Instances of booked events disrupting the ambiance
Customer Reviews
Best place for dim sum in Winnipeg
“The best Chinese restaurant in Winnipeg. The restaurant serves all day dim sum. Dim sums are freshly prepared every morning, that’s why their dim sums taste so good. We ordered from the menu as well, everything tasted great, we particularly liked their BBQ pork dish. Their fried beef noodle was great as well, we found out that the restaurant made their own noodle rather than buying premade packages, no wonder the noodles are QQ (chewy). Will definitely recommend this restaurant to others.” – Petrus W.
Food served here is true to Chinese food cart culture
“Kum Koon is always my go-to if I crave for Chinese dim sum. The quality of food is great, just like what I always eat back in Hong Kong. It preserves the culture of food carts in Chinese restaurants and the hot steamed dood will definitely make you smile.” – Karis Chong
3. Ivory Restaurant
| CRITERIA | RATING |
| FOOD SELECTION AND QUALITY | ★★★★☆ 4.5/5 |
| Variety | ★★★★★ 5/5 |
| Quality and taste | ★★★★☆ 4/5 |
| RESTAURANT AMBIANCE | ★★★★☆ 4/5 |
| Clean and tidy | ★★★★☆ 4/5 |
| Relaxing and appetising | ★★★★☆ 4/5 |
| PRICE RANGE | ★★★★★ 5/5 |
| CUSTOMER SATISFACTION | ★★★☆☆ 3.5/5 |
What sets Ivory Restaurant apart from other Asian restaurants in Winnipeg is that it has lunch and dinner buffets available all week long.
The best part about the buffets is that most of the options are vegetarian and vegan, which we’re pleased with as they allow for healthier breaks from mostly meat dishes.
While most of Ivory’s dishes are palatable for non-meat eaters, we’re still happy that its menu carries dishes with chicken, beef, lamb, and prawns so as not to isolate the rest of the crowd.
We also love that some of the courses are Halal, nut-free, and gluten-free. Overall, we praise Ivory Restaurant for being inclusive of different people’s dietary needs and religious customs.
Another strong point of Ivory Restaurant is that it offers catering services for birthdays, anniversaries, and other private gatherings.
Interested customers may book the restaurant’s fine dining spaces or avail of their catering services for events held at hotels and banquet halls.
Booking is also convenient via the restaurant’s website as clients can check which dates are free to reserve.
On the flip side, we’re not so pleased to find that the restaurant’s parking is quite small – it can only accommodate six cars maximum. The only saving grace here is that parking is free of charge.
We’re also not that happy to hear that some of Ivory’s restaurant’s staff work a tad slowly. From what we’re told, some diners got their orders an hour or two after they ordered and even got subpar dishes or the wrong orders.
Pros
- Offers many vegan options
- Has Halal, nut-free, and gluten-free food alternatives
- Provides catering and event booking services
Cons
- Parking space is quite limited
- Reports of slow service
Customer Reviews
Best Indian food in Winnipeg
“Ivory was recommended to us by a friend who said it was the best Indian food outside of Vij’s in Vancouver. With such a lofty recommendation, we had high expectations and were definitely not disappointed. We went for lunch and had the buffet, which must have had 50 different dishes including a station that cooked fresh naan bread. Our only complaint was that we were too full when we finally left having had to try every dish and some twice! One added nice touch is that they offer underground free parking right under the restaurant, which is very convenient given they are right on Main Street in central Winnipeg. If you enjoy Indian food, this is an absolute must!” – Mark W.
My go-to lunch place during work days
“So I work DT, and if I forget my lunch there are lots of options, but I’m always left hungry after! For less than $20 ivory does the trick, plenty of veggie and meat options! You will leave full and satisfied, that’s my guarantee!! My only complaint is the dessert options or lack of lol. Kheer and gulab jamun aren’t always the freshest.” – Khal Drogo
4. Ichiban Japanese Steakhouse & Pub
| CRITERIA | RATING |
| FOOD SELECTION AND QUALITY | ★★★★☆ 3.75/5 |
| Variety | ★★★★☆ 4/5 |
| Quality and taste | ★★★☆☆ 3.5/5 |
| RESTAURANT AMBIANCE | ★★★★☆ 4.5/5 |
| Clean and tidy | ★★★★★ 5/5 |
| Relaxing and appetising | ★★★★☆ 4/5 |
| PRICE RANGE | ★★★☆☆ 3.5/5 |
| CUSTOMER SATISFACTION | ★★★★☆ 4/5 |
Ichiban Japanese Steakhouse and Pub is one of the well-loved Asian restaurants n Winnipeg.
We like that its menu features fun fusion dishes such as sushi tacos, teriyaki wings, poke bowls, and Japanese-style poutine.
While many of its dishes are fusion creations, Ichiban prides itself in cooking teppanyaki the traditional Japanese way.
We tried it and were amazed by the iron-cooking method the chefs use to prepare steaks and all sorts of teppanyaki. The fun part is also watching meals get prepared in cooked right in front of you, which makes for an interactive experience.
Teppanyaki may be the highlight of this restaurant, but there are also other dishes we think diners should explore, especially during their first time dining at Ichiban.
The restaurant’s menu has dinner packages that, in our view, make it less intimidating and first-time diners. This allows them to sample dishes that go well together without having to figure out how to pair individual dishes from the menu.
Another favourable point of Ichiban is that it offers physical and virtual gift cards on its website.
Not only do the cards make great gifts for loved ones, but they’re also valid at Ichiban’s affiliate companies such as the Lakeview Hotels and Resorts and Salka Spa.
Do note that while the restaurant allows sharing, it requires a split plate charge of at least $12 for the soups, salads, and steamed rice–a price we think is quite steep, given the already-expensive menu.
Pros
- Cooks teppanyaki the traditional Japanese way
- Menu has dinner packages
- Offers physical and virtual gift cards
Cons
- Expensive menu
- Has a minimum split charge of $12
Customer Reviews
Been a loyal customer for years, and every experience is great
“Always a great experience! I’ve been a loyal Ichiban customer for 35 years and it’s always a fun evening! Decided to try takeout tonight and even without the “show” the food was amazing!!” – Tracey Jayson
Great food and place for friend dates
“Great friendly, experience. The food was good, drinks were great. Great setting for a group of friends. They have vegetarian options as well. A little pricey but still a fun experience 🙂 will definitely be back! Have more cups to collect!” – Samantha Carruthers
5. Sukhothai Restaurant
| CRITERIA | RATING |
| FOOD SELECTION AND QUALITY | ★★★★★ 5/5 |
| Many to choose from | ★★★★★ 5/5 |
| Quality of dish | ★★★★★ 5/5 |
| RESTAURANT AMBIANCE | ★★★★☆ 4.5/5 |
| Clean and tidy | ★★★★★ 5/5 |
| Relaxing and appetising | ★★★★☆ 4/5 |
| PRICE RANGE | ★★★★★ 5/5 |
| CUSTOMER SATISFACTION | ★★★★☆ 4.5/5 |
Sukhothai Restaurant specialises in Thai cuisine, and is one of the most popular dining destinations in Winnipeg.
If you’re worried about it serving mainly spicy dishes, you’ll be glad to know that its menu features mild flavours that serve as friendly yet still-authentic introductions to this cuisine.
Their menu offers quite an array of dishes – from soups and salads to wraps, noodles, skewers, curry, and fried rice. We think this allows diners to curate their own dining experience and explore various flavours and spice intensities.
We also love how the restaurant offers many vegetarian alternatives and dishes that can be modified to suit customers’ dietary preferences.
What we also like about Sukhothai is that they accommodate special requests – they take note of allergies and gluten-free preferences, and prepare the meals accordingly.
Their servings are also generous, which is quite nice. We tried dining here and were pleased that their platters can feed up to five people.
It’s just a tad disappointing that Sukhothai’s official website doesn’t have an organised menu displayed. Interested customers will have to look at unofficial websites to view the different meals and their prices.
We’re also bummed with the restaurant’s quite small parking space that can only accommodate up to seven cars.
Pros
- Large portions
- Offers tonnes of vegetarian options
- Dishes can be modified to suit diner’s dietary needs
Cons
- Official website doesn’t have digital menu
- Limited parking space
Customer Reviews
Definitely some of the best Thai food we’ve ever had
“Our first visit to Sukhothai, and we’re really sorry we hadn’t tried it sooner. Definitely some of the best Thai food we’ve ever had! We tried the Mee Krob, the Yellow Curry, Cucumber Salad (amazing! And blow-your-brains-out spicy!), and a bowl of Tom Yum soup. Everything was excellent, and the young lady looking after us was one of the best servers ever. We’ll definitely be back soon.” – Brian Hiebert
Very good Thai food and atmosphere
“I’ve been here about five times, and especially like coming here in groups of 6-10 people. There are lots of vegetarian options. Service is fast and friendly, but you can also linger and have long conversations if you want. Will come here again!!” – Sonia L.
FAQs on Asian Restaurants and Cuisine
And that ends our unbiased review of the best and must-try Asian restaurants in Winnipeg!
If you’re looking for reviews on other dining spots in Winnipeg, feel free to take a look at these other articles: