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The 5 Best Asian Restaurants in Edinburgh to Wok Your Way to a Great Meal

Dining Atmosphere: A bright street-food cafe does not work for a romantic anniversary dinner. We assessed whether each venue offers a casual drop-in vibe, a structured sit-down experience, or upscale fine dining.

Menu Variety: Options matter when dining with a diverse group. We compared each venue’s choices, from casual mains to sharing plates and set menus where available.

Dietary Accommodations: We reviewed vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free options and the dietary information available at each restaurant.

Booking Policies: Securing a table shouldn't involve restrictive conditions. We evaluated reservation rules, cancellation fees, and whether walk-ins are realistically accommodated.

Value and Experience: A high price tag needs to be justified by the food and the setting. We compared typical spending with the menus, dining formats, and atmosphere on offer.

A good dinner spot when you’re hungry is stressful to find, and the capital has so many options that making a choice feels impossible. You can end up walking around for an hour before settling on a mediocre plate of noodles. 

If you want to skip that frustration, you need a place that delivers on flavour without the guesswork. To figure out the real highlights, we compared menus, prices, and dining vibes across the city. 

Now, here’s our guide to finding the best Asian restaurant in Edinburgh, and what makes each spot worth your time!

How much does a meal at an Asian restaurant cost in Edinburgh?

A meal at an Asian restaurant in Edinburgh typically costs £10 to £50 per person, depending on the venue and menu. Upscale restaurants and special-occasion meals can cost £50 to £100 or more per person.

OptionTypical Price
Budget / Casual Dining£10 – £20 per person
Mid-Range Restaurants£20 – £50 per person
Fine Dining & Luxury£50 – £100+ per person

1. Dishoom Edinburgh

dishoom-edinburgh-logo

Website: https://www.dishoom.com/edinburgh/

Address: 3A St Andrew Square

Contact: +44 131 202 6406

Hours: Monday–Wednesday, Sunday: 8:00 AM–11:00 PM; Thursday–Saturday: 8:00 AM–12:00 AM

Dishoom Edinburgh opens at 8:00 AM daily, serving Bacon Naan Rolls and Bombay-inspired breakfast items. 

Their Bombay Irani café concept includes nods to Scottish town planner Patrick Geddes, giving the Edinburgh venue a local identity.

Their all-day menu runs from street-food bites to House Black Daal, so you can pop in for lunch or stay for dinner. Meanwhile, their dedicated vegan and gluten-free menus offer more choices. 

A friend of mine who uses a wheelchair even appreciates that the seating and accessible toilets are all on the same floor as the step-free entrance.

The trade-off hits you if you want to book an evening table for a small group. After 6:00 PM, they only take reservations for groups of six or more, meaning smaller parties just have to join the walk-in queue. 

Pros

  • Dedicated breakfast service seven days a week
  • Broad Bombay-inspired all-day menu
  • Dedicated vegan and gluten-free menus
  • Accessible step-free dining facilities

Cons

  • Evening reservations restricted to groups of six or more

Various Asian influenced meals

Stylish art deco era style restaurant with various Asian influenced meals.

We came here for breakfast where I chose a parsi omelette. My partner chose a sausage and bacon wrap. Both were infused with Asian spices which gave it a nice kick.

Coffee was good 👍

Service was excellent 👌

Vegetarian options are highlighted

The food is cooked fresh downstairs, seating is upstairs.

Food is described well on the menu.

Toilets are clean with great decor.

Booths available as well as group bookings.

Many thanks for the recommendation

— Tellus 12 | Google Review

The best by far Indian, Asian restaurant in town

The best by far Indian, Asian restaurant in town! From the service to the food, this place is flawless.

The flavours you get here from the beautiful food menu is better than any restaurant of it’s kind in the area. It’s a strong favourite of mine when I have visitors from out of town, it’s always a winner!

— Simeon Lee | Google Review

2. Tattu Edinburgh

tattu-edinburgh-logo

Website: https://tattu.co.uk/edinburgh/

Address: 18 West Register Street

Contact: +44 131 558 1922 | [email protected] 

Hours: Monday–Sunday: 12:00 PM–late

Sometimes you need a dining space that feels just as spectacular as the food on the plate. 

Tattu Edinburgh delivers contemporary Chinese-inspired dining in a dramatic room reflecting the city’s Old and New Towns. That setting makes them a strong contender for couples planning an anniversary dinner.

Their two- or three-course lunch option makes a pan-Asian meal easier to plan without navigating the full à la carte menu.

For larger events, you can book private dining spaces and enjoy their large-party and vegetarian tasting menus. 

Plus, their cocktail bar has its own drinks collection, giving you somewhere to start the evening before dinner.

But if your plans change suddenly, their booking policy is quite strict. Reservations from 5:00 PM onward need at least 24 hours’ notice to cancel, or a £20-per-person fee applies for late cancellations or no-shows.

Pros

  • Dedicated two- or three-course lunch experience
  • Wide selection of specialist and tasting menus
  • Private and semi-private dining options
  • Dedicated cocktails and drinks menus

Cons

  • £20-per-person late cancellation fee

An absolutely outstanding dining experience

An absolutely outstanding dining experience – a true highlight of Edinburgh!

What an extraordinary restaurant! Despite being incredibly busy, we received such a warm and genuinely friendly welcome when we arrived as a family of four with our two daughters.

We enjoyed a fabulous cocktail at the bar and, to our surprise, were seated at a table within less than ten minutes.

The menu is exceptional, and the food was simply sensational! We absolutely love Asian cuisine and have been fortunate enough to dine at some truly excellent Asian restaurants around the world….

— A B | Google Review

A very creative whole of several Asian dishes

Stumbled upon Tattu by accident, decided to stay for a drink which culminated into a full dinner. The menu is a very creative whole of several Asian dishes (Japanese, Chinese, Thai) with a wide variety of drinks. Also the personnel was very friendly and helpful! The interior is very well curated. They did a brilliant thing with the lighting and the trees inside. Definitely worth a visit! We will be back!

— Nelis | Google Review

3. Thai Express Kitchen Edinburgh

thai-express-kitchen-edinburgh-logo

Website: https://thaiexpress.co.uk/locations/thai-express-edinburgh/ 

Address: St James Square, St James Quarter

Contact: +44 131 353 0024 | [email protected] 

Hours: Sunday–Thursday: 11:30 AM–9:00 PM; Friday–Saturday: 11:30 AM–10:00 PM

Navigating a busy food court with a tray of hot soup is never a relaxing way to eat. 

Thai Express Kitchen Edinburgh solves that with a fully served, sit-down alternative to its usual takeaway outlets. This shift suits students and casual diners wanting a proper meal without fine-dining prices.

Their concept brings an expanded Southeast Asian-inspired menu beyond standard quick-serve locations. 

You can book a table online, which is handy for a brand usually associated with counter service. If you prefer to stay home, delivery is available through Deliveroo and Uber Eats, with ordering from 11:15 AM daily.

But you do have to watch the clock on weeknights, as they close at 9:00 PM from Sunday to Thursday. That earlier finish makes them less suitable for late dinners than other spots on this list. 

Pros

  • Full table service instead of fast-casual ordering
  • Expanded Southeast Asian-inspired menu
  • Online table reservations are supported
  • Delivery options through Deliveroo and Uber Eats

Cons

  • Closes at 9:00 PM from Sunday to Thursday

Packed with authentic Thai flavours

Had a fantastic meal at Thai Express Kitchen in Edinburgh. The food was fresh, full of flavour, and served really quickly. The Pad Thai was perfectly balanced, and the curry was rich, creamy, and packed with authentic Thai flavours. The portion sizes were generous and everything arrived hot.

The restaurant has a modern, welcoming atmospher.

Overall, a great dining experience with delicious foods. I’ll definitely be coming back and would happily recommend it to anyone looking for quality Thai food in Edinburgh.

— Jakia Abedin | Google Review

Conveniently located restaurant

This is such a conveniently located restaurant, it is inside a mall with plenty of seating and quick service. We ended up here for lunch on Saturday, got seated immediately without a reservation, the staff was lovely to deal with and the food was delicious. We ordered veg dumplings, pad thai tofu and chicken noodles – we liked everything. Will definitely recommend

— Mahima Rastogi | Google Review

4. Chaophraya Thai Restaurant

chaophraya-thai-restaurant-logo

Website: https://chaophraya.co.uk/thai-restaurant/edinburgh/ 

Address: 4th Floor, 33 Castle Street

Contact: +44 131 634 0023 | [email protected] 

Hours: Monday–Sunday: 12:00 PM–10:00 PM

Chaophraya Thai Restaurant sits on the fourth floor of Castle Street, pairing classic Thai dining with sweeping rooftop views of Edinburgh Castle and the Firth of Forth. 

This spot easily ranks among the top restaurants with a view for anyone looking to impress out-of-town guests.

Their menu covers signature dishes like Weeping Tiger fillet steak and Pad Thai, alongside vegan and gluten-free choices. Groups can choose individual à la carte plates or sharing platters. 

They also have private dining spaces, including a glass box for 20 and a terrace for up to 60.

However, sharing platters come with a condition: they’re priced per person and require at least two diners. 

Pros

  • Selection of classic and signature Thai dishes
  • Clear vegan and gluten-free dining options
  • Several private dining spaces for groups
  • À la carte and sharing-style dining options

Cons

  • Sharing platters require at least two diners

They’re the best

They’re the best. I did my birthday dinner tonight and they treat me special. Appreciate it. Glad I included the service tax , they deserve it. Love to come again.

As an Asian. I vouch for this place. Taste is nice!

— Nurul Huda | Google Review

One of the best Thai restaurants we’ve been to

Who doesn’t like a rooftop restaurant? But the food is what you’ll come back for. Absolutely one of the best Thai restaurants we’ve been to. We had chicken satay, Thai chicken tacos and tempura vegetables. All wonderful. And the service was great. We had no reservation and got in no problem at 5:30, but it quickly started filling up. Book ahead and ask for the glass house for seating. Has a great view to the castle. Don’t miss this place.

— Kevin D | Google Review

5. Rosa’s Thai Edinburgh

rosas-thai-edinburgh-logo

Website: https://rosasthai.com/

Address: 43 Frederick Street

Contact: +44 131 609 0003 | [email protected] 

Hours: Sunday–Thursday: 12:00 PM–10:00 PM; Friday–Saturday: 12:00 PM–10:30 PM

Trying to organise a casual lunch during the work week often means settling for a sad supermarket sandwich.

Rosa’s Thai Edinburgh offers a tastier alternative with Saiphin’s Set Lunch, available on weekdays from 12:00 PM to 5:00 PM. You get three Thai dishes and a soda, making it a great way to enjoy a proper midday break.

The main menu focuses on comforting Thai favourites, including Massaman Beef Curry, noodles, and spring rolls. They also have a good range of vegetarian and vegan dishes, so there are plenty of options for different diets.

If you’re buying a meal for someone else, you can even pick up a gift card that works for dine-in meals and walk-in takeaway at the Frederick Street location.

However, you’ll need to plan ahead if you want to try the Unlimited Classic Curries experience. It’s only available on Saturdays and Sundays from 12:00 PM to 4:00 PM.

Pros

  • Dedicated weekday set-lunch format
  • Clear vegetarian and vegan menu choices
  • Serves Thai classics, curries, and small plates
  • Gift cards usable for dine-in and walk-in takeaway

Cons

  • Unlimited curry experience restricted to weekend afternoons

Great place for Thai food in Edinburgh

Really good food! A great place for Thai food in Edinburgh. We ordered Tom Yum soup and Pad Thai, and everything was tasty, it remembered me the seasoning I used to eat in Thailand. The portions were a good size. They also have different seasonings you can add to your food.

The service was good, and we enjoyed sitting inside. The restaurant was clean, organized and had a good atmosphere. I’d recommend it.

— Lara Guimarães | Google Review

Every bite was a symphony of authentic Thai

I had one of the best experiences ever! Absolutely immaculate restaurant design, incredible Pad Thai, the most decadent Bangkok Spirit. Every bite was a symphony of authentic Thai. I admire Violet, a compassionate server, whose meticulous service exceeded expectations.

I strongly recommend going to Rosa’s Thai Edinburgh! The beautiful restaurant is a delightful solo culinary encounter or a first time date. With savory and sweet notes, both drinks and meals reveal a vibrant bite.

Thank you, Violet, for an incredible experience. I felt extremely welcomed!

— Soft Bunny | Google Review

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