People from all over the world have made their home here in Cleveland, each putting their own stamp on the city. Want to get in on the authenticity? Head to Cleveland’s AsiaTown, just a few blocks east of Downtown. We could go on and on about the resilient people you’ll meet, amazing food you’ll eat and the fabulous shopping you can expect, but words won’t do it justice. Check out just a few of the things we love about AsiaTown. We bet you’ll fall in love with it, too.
Dim Sum
You really can’t go wrong with any of the food in AsiaTown, but Li Wah is special. Indulge in Dim Sum dishes like steamed buns, dumplings and more, not to mention authentic Chinese dishes like Peking Duck and Salt Baked Squid.
Take-Home Treats
Swing by one of the neighborhood’s many Asian grocery stores so you can bring home a little piece of AsiaTown to cook up in your own kitchen. Foodies love the grocery options like the impressive Asia Food Co., Park to Shop (pictured), Tink Holl, Good Harvest Market and Kim’s Oriental Food. After you’ve filled your cart, reward your hard work with a cool milk tea.
Retail Therapy
Asia Plaza and Asian Town Center are indoor shopping meccas offering silk dresses, jewelry, collectibles and even Asian herbal remedies. It’s hard to walk through the myriad of retail shops without standing in awe of the eccentric swords and real-life nunchucks lining the walls or admiring the countless jade figurines and brass buddha bellies. Just don’t leave without waving goodbye to the lucky cats.
Koko Bakery
{^youtubevideo|(width)425|(height)264|(rel)True|(autoplay)False|(fs)True|(url)https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QWnyr8NYakc^}A good bakery can make a neighborhood, and AsiaTown hit the jackpot with Koko Bakery. Steamed buns are a specialty, featuring sweet and savory flavors, as well as other desserts like Green Tea Mousse and Japanese style cheesecake. No, you’re drooling.
Ball Ball Waffle
Tucked inside Asia Plaza, Ball Ball Waffle brings the Hong Kong bubble waffle to Cleveland. Whether you choose sweet chocolate or savory cheese, these warm bits of deliciousness may look like bubble wrap, but we can assure you they taste like heaven.
Galaxy KTV Karaoke Bar
Galaxy KTV is a crowd favorite. Grab a microphone in one of their 15 private karaoke rooms, or grab the one on stage in the lounge and sing songs in a variety of languages.
Art
You can’t walk very far in AsiaTown without seeing a gorgeous piece of art. From the colorfully painted animals representing the Chinese zodiac to Negative Space art gallery, there’s plenty of beauty and creativity on display.
Chinese Dumplings
In a town that celebrates the pierogi as much as we do, did you really think we’d neglect its Asian cousin? There are dumplings aplenty served throughout AsiaTown, but the soup dumplings at LJ Shanghai are definitely worth a try.
Vietnamese Pho
A battle rages among Clevelanders as to whose pho reigns supreme. The aptly named #1 Pho and Superior Pho both elevate the Vietnamese noodle soup to a true art form, revealing the clear winner: all of us.
Korean Barbeque
Can’t you already hear the sizzling of steak on the grill? That’s what Korean barbeque is all about. Grab a table with a group of friends at AsiaTown fave Miega Korean Barbeque for mouth-watering Korean fried chicken and pork belly.
