8 East Asian Restaurants

Leicester might be famous for curry, but you can find thrilling food from all over Asia too. The rising number of students from the Far East has helped fuel a boom in authentic restaurants serving regional Chinese, Korean and Japanese food. So, for example, in the city you’ll discover stir-fried rabbit with wild pepper, hand-pulled noodles from Xinjiang or barbecue beef bulgogi in a sweet Korean marinade. 

korean salad bowls
Food & Drink

Grounded Kitchen

When Ahmed Kidy returned from the Far East, he was convinced the UK was ready for Korean-inspired street food.

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chinese noodle dish

Karamay opened in 2015 as the first authentic Uyghur restaurant in the UK. It’s Chinese – but maybe not as you know it.

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Sushi restaurant and illustrative menu
Food & Drink

Kuru Kuru Sushi

Kuru Kuru is a tiny, easily-missed sushi bar with a big reputation. If you eat in, it may be a squeeze, but you will be rewarded with excellent sushi

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sushi platter

Mitsuki is a buzzy, classy Japanese restaurant done out in tones of cherry blossom and offering a wide range of high-quality dishes.

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onggi exterior

Onggi was one of the first of a new wave of Korean restaurants to open in Leicester.

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Indo-chinese curry dish
Food & Drink

Spicy Temptations

It may look a bit basic from the outside, but visit Spicy Temptations and you will find some thrilling, authentic Sichuan food.

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tempura fried prawns

Wakaze is a stripped-back, modern Japanese restaurant in the city’s heart, set up by former Leicester University students.

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