Columbus's Asian fusion tier runs from downtown pre-show counters to strip-mall standbys that have fed the same regulars for years. This list treats a drive-through hibachi window and a bubble tea room with the same seriousness: judged on the plate, not the postal code.
№ 01
Tiger + Lily
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Steps from the Palace Theater and the Riffe Center, this downtown counter is built for pre-show timing: fast tickets, casual seating, food out before curtain. The Szechuan numbing beef is the order to lead with, layered with the tingling Sichuan peppercorn heat the name promises. Fried dumplings hold up well; the Chicken Roman reads as the safer, blander choice by comparison.
What to orderSzechuan Numbing Beef, Fried Dumplings, Chicken Roman
№ 02
Bendi Wok n' Bar
$$
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Bendi Wok n' Bar in Columbus pairs a cocktail program with its fusion menu, and the Pink Elephant, a gin drink with citrus notes, is the one to order first. Pad thai and crispy spring rolls carry the food side, and the room reads as suited for a date over a group table. Catering orders have drawn separate praise from the standard dine-in plates.
What to orderPink Elephant, pad thai, crispy spring rolls
№ 03
Bento Go
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A drive-through window sets Bento Go apart from most fusion counters in Columbus. Salmon teppanyaki with vegetables is the dish regulars keep coming back for, and the California roll and edamame round out a menu built for speed over spectacle. Service moves quickly even at midday, with a staff that keeps the line short.
What to ordersalmon teppanyaki, california roll, edamame
№ 04
Lieu's Asian Cuisine
$$
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Lieu's Asian Cuisine runs takeout only, no dine-in room, and the shrimp and broccoli is the dish that keeps drawing comparisons to New York style Chinese cooking. Lo mein and fried rice come in portions large enough to stretch into a second meal. Spice level runs mild by default, so anyone wanting real heat should ask directly.
What to ordershrimp and broccoli, lo mein, fried rice
№ 05
Tai's Asian Bistro & Sushi
$$
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Tai's Asian Bistro & Sushi in Columbus spans East and Southeast Asian dishes on one menu, from the chicken egg roll to mapo tofu to kung pao chicken, which makes it an easy call for a table where everyone wants something different. Portions run large for the price, seating is ample, and the kitchen turns tables quickly even at busy hours.
What to orderchicken egg roll, mapo tofu, kung pao chicken
№ 06
True Food Kitchen
$$
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True Food Kitchen in Columbus leans New American with an Asian-inflected menu, and the edamame dumplings are the starter to order before the pizza arrives. The gluten-free-friendly menu draws a specific crowd, and happy hour pricing on the house red wine runs until 6pm. Patio seating adds a second reason to book ahead.
What to orderedamame dumplings, pizza, house red wine
№ 07
Red Chili Asian Kitchen
$
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Red Chili Asian Kitchen sits near campus in Columbus and has built a following on its ramen, the kind of bowl regulars return for twice a month through the coldest stretches of winter. Pork pad thai and spring rolls round out the order. Online ordering works well, though the counter can run quiet between rushes.
What to orderramen, pad thai, spring rolls
№ 08
The City Buffet
$$
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The City Buffet in Columbus covers sushi, pho, and hibachi under one roof, a spread wide enough to satisfy a table with conflicting cravings. The room reads as newer and cleaner than the typical buffet setup, with bright lighting throughout. Weekday lunch runs around fifteen dollars a person, with drinks priced separately.
What to ordersushi, pho, hibachi
№ 09
ZenCha Cafe & Tea
Bexley $$
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ZenCha Cafe & Tea in Columbus keeps its food menu short and its tea list long, and the Summer Blend fruit tea, built on mango, melon, and pineapple, is the drink to start with. The kitchen's Asian-influenced small plates back up the tea program well. Brunch service can run a wait even with a reservation, so plan around that.
What to orderSummer Blend fruit tea, Apple tea, Bubble tea
№ 10
Taste of Orient
$
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Taste of Orient in Columbus draws repeat orders for a reason: the chicken lo mein comes in a portion built for leftovers, and the dumplings lean straight into meat filling without the filler vegetables some counters default to. Prices stay low, the dining room runs warm, and fried rice rounds out a dependable weeknight order.
What to orderchicken lo mein, dumplings, fried rice
№ 11
Asian Kitchen
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Asian Kitchen near Easton has built a following worth the drive across town, and the egg rolls are the reason regulars keep coming back, often ordering extra to freeze. Steamed dumplings, wonton soup, and general Tso's chicken fill out a solid takeout order. The Pad Thai holds its own too, generous enough to share.
What to orderegg roll, wonton soup, general Tso's chicken
Frequently asked
What is the best Asian fusion restaurant near me in Columbus?
It depends on which part of the city you're in. Downtown near the theaters, Tiger + Lily is built for a fast pre-show meal. Near campus, Red Chili Asian Kitchen has built a loyal following on its ramen. Each listing here carries an Insider Score based on the review record, and no restaurant pays to be listed or to rank higher.
Which of these restaurants are actually in Columbus versus a suburb?
Every restaurant on this list sits within the city of Columbus proper, not in a separate ring municipality like Bexley, Dublin, or Worthington. Locations near Easton and near campus are still inside city limits, even though they sit outside downtown.
Are any of these restaurants buffets or all-you-can-eat?
Yes. The City Buffet is the one buffet-format restaurant in this guide, offering sushi, pho, and hibachi stations for a set lunch price. The rest of the list runs as counter service or sit-down ordering.
How is the Insider Score calculated for these restaurants?
The Insider Score is built from the public review record for each restaurant, weighing volume and consistency of feedback over time. It is not paid placement. No restaurant on this list, or any guide on this site, pays a fee to appear or to receive a higher score.
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The data first, then the verdict
We start with the review record, not a press release. Every room here is a real kitchen with a strong rating across a meaningful number of reviews, ranked on our 10-point Insider Score. We weight consistency over time and the rooms locals return to, not the ones tourists pass through once. The list updates as the data does. How we work →
Tommy Vu
Staff Writer · Top of Columbus
Tommy Vu is the Corridors and Heritage Editor at Top of Columbus. He grew up rolling silverware in his parents' pho shop in a Bethel Road plaza and has been eating his way through the city's strip-mall corridors ever since. If the best kitchen in the plaza has handwritten specials taped to the register, he has already ordered them.
