- Restaurants |
- Nightlife |
- Shopping |
- Movies |
- All
Asia Cuisine
Categories: Restaurants Chinese Restaurants Japanese Restaurants Korean Chinese, Japanese, Korean [Edit]
126 N Aurora StIthaca, NY 14850
(607) 256-8818
- Hours:
Mon-Thu 11:30 am - 9 pm
Fri 11:30 am - 9:30 pm
Sat 12 pm - 9:30 pm
Sun 12 pm - 9 pm
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Attire:
- Casual
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Takes Reservations:
- No
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Wi-Fi:
- Free
- Good For:
- Lunch, Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Beer & Wine Only
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Ambience:
- Casual
- Has TV:
- No
- Caters:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
39 reviews for Asia Cuisine
Review Highlights
-
"I always call it the "Carnegie Deli of Asian food." In 6 reviews -
"Their bento boxes are wonderful - I particularly like their..." In 3 reviews -
"...decadent, Asia Cuisine's fried sushi rolls are delicious." In 3 reviews
Loading...
39 reviews in English
-
Review from Aaron E.
Ithaca, NY
The best!
Recommend the jjam bong soup; such a nice spice and tasty vegan delight. -
Review from Yelper N.
New York, NY
5/10/2012 1 Check-in Here
Why is there a dearth of Japanese-Korean-Chinese awesome food places in Ithaca?! C'mon Cornell Univ. and Ithaca College is right there! ;p
You're better off heading to the Ithaca Farmers' Market, now there'll be some good eats. Last time we went we made off with fresh hot apple cider, fresh hot apple donuts, and fond memories of the mouth-watering, mind-blowing souvlaki gyros.
Addendum:
The servers were polite even as the service was slow. The place neat, though mostly emptied of diners on a Saturday early afternoon. The sushi was passable but not remarkable. My friend enjoyed his seafood soup, though he remarked that it was noticeably oiler than Rochester's Sodam and Flushing's Hahm Ji Bach. But for the price, you do get what you pay for with fairly decent proportions. But ultimately, even the all-encompassing and promising "Asia Cuisine" appellation, did not inspire a second visit. -
Review from Fresh A.
Ithaca, NY
3/6/2012
Pros: I have eaten here many times now and have loved the food every single time. Im not a fan of the sushi here but a fan of everything else :D
Con: Sat night is not a good time to eat here because they might forget about your table after seating you. That's the only bad experience I have had here. -
Review from Niki M.
Newfield, NY
5/21/2012
I go to Asian Cuisine every chance i get! I love the General Chicken and the sushi rolls. They are by far the best ive had in ithaca. I mostly order to go or take out because of how small the place is and i dont like cramped spots. Expecially if your seated by the window where the menu is and every person that walks by stares at it and makes you feel like your in a fish bowl! BUT the food is great and i have nothing bad to say about it!
-
Review from Danger C.
Ithaca, NY
4/16/2012
As a souther California native and Korean-American, Asia Cuisine is the best place in Ithaca to get your Korean style Chinese food fix. I recommend their noodle dishes (which they can make vegetarian). Their sushi is also not bad, and more reasonably priced than the Korean run Japanese place across the street. I'm a big fan of their seaweed salad as well. Lastly, I have to say that the standard Korean dishes, especially the jigaes, are decent, but not great.
-
Review from Adam P.
Schroon Lake, NY
4/9/2012 1 Check-in Here
Went in tonight looking for some good food. Not bad, miso soup was good, salad dressing was eh at best. Teriyaki salmon lacked flavor and did not come with enough sauce. Sushi was okay. Server was nice and knowledgeable. Service was a little slow however. Overall 3.5, rounds down.
-
Review from Jeff F.
Holly Springs, NC
4/8/2012
This place is kind of a dive, but it seems you can't find better Korean food anywhere in this part of NY! In fact, the food here ranks up there as some of the best I've had. The only downside is they only gave us 4 small banchan whereas other restaurants are much more generous, but it really didn't detract from the experience at all. The bimibap was very tasty, as was the pork and kimchi stew. My partner ordered a delectable glass noodle dish, and bulgogi which had the perfect amount of sweetness. The staff seemed very friendly and helpful. The amount of seating is limited, but we went on a Saturday night and had no problem getting a seat. Definitely a place I'd recommend to someone who loves Korean food!
-
Review from a n.
Ithaca, NY
4/18/2012
This place is a mixed bag. Some food is fine, other food is horrendous. The individual dishes are inconsistent, so you can get good food one time, but order the same thing the next two times and it be bland. I'd say the soup is generally the best thing they have (jam bong), but I've had it 3 times and though good the first two, the third time it was not very flavorful. The black bean sauce is good 50% of the time. I always enjoy the banchan given with every meal.
Anyway, I'd say if you're in the mood for something Asian this is among your best bets in Ithaca, which has pretty bad Asian food in general. Still, it's a gamble. Good luck! -
Review from Ellie C.
Ithaca, NY
5/11/2012
one of the best asian foods in Ithaca. Loooooovveeee the korean soups there, although the Spicy Salmon rolls are also one of my favorites. The only thing I have to complain about is the prices, some items (especially the Chinese Korean dishes) are so expensive for no good reason, around 20 dollars for beef in sweet sauce? You can get the same thing at Apollos for like 8 bucks.
-
Review from Dan P.
Irvington, NY
4/9/2012 1 Check-in Here
Went in on April 9th after walking around Ithaca Commons looking for a place to eat. After a five minute wait, we managed to find a table for three. The tables are spaced very close together and servers may have to lean over to serve the other tables. The tuna roll was good but not great but the Sesame chicken was excellent. You can order it with any amount of spice with 1 being the lowest and 5 being the highest. Overall a good, solid dinner. Service was great.
-
Review from chris b.
Ithaca, NY
2/8/2012
If you know what to order, Asia Cuisine is one of the better restaurants around. For consistently above-average food, stick to their Korean dishes (their Kimchi Jei Yook Bokum is OUTSTANDING - spicy pork with kimchi and tofu) and/or their Japanese noodles.
The sushi is ok, considering how landlocked Ithaca is, but it'll disappoint hardcore sushi lovers. The non-fish sushi is great, particularly the sweet potato roll. It's a fantastic blend of creamy/savory deep-fried sweet potato, with sticky rice and good wasabi. Mmmmm.
Don't f*** with the Chinese food here though, it's pretty poor. -
Review from Rachel S.
Ithaca, NY
10/16/2011
The service is typically casual and modestly polite, and the menu is quite extensive with lots of foreign items.
I was told that I must have the sam ssan(?) jja jang myun, so that's what I ordered for lunch. I'm glad I did, because it was one of the best asian dishes I've had here in Ithaca.
It's a delicious bowl of white noodles with a medley of vegetables and seafood in a thick black sauce.
I may have ruined my pink shirt for the day, but it was well worth it! -
Review from Geoffrey H.
Ithaca, NY
1/7/2012
This place has great options, but I usually go for the kimchi pork. It's difficult to have somebody else at the table order this dish when you could have, and should have done the same thing yourself.
-
Review from Joel N.
Ithaca, NY
1/16/2012
Despite the name Asia Cuisine is really a Korean Restaurant that serves Korean inspired takes on Japanese and Chinese. Compared to other Korean restaurants Asia Cuisine has more 'home-style' food, which I generally prefer. It may also, and somewhat oddly, have the best sushi in town (which is really more of a statement about the competition).
The bulgogi is much greasier than typical, but it works. The lunch specials are also a good deal. Generally most things on this menu will be tasty, but not much really stands out as amazing. -
Review from Melanne S.
Ithaca, NY
2/29/2012
For reliably good vegetarian-friendly Asian food in Ithaca, Asia Cuisine is near the top of my list. Although there are ample decent, well-priced Asian restaurants in within a 5 minute drive in any direction, I keep going back to A.C. for the simple, unpretentious ambiance. The corner spot is cozy and warm in the evening, bright and open during the day -- and for my menu favorites: avocado salad is impeccable -- fresh and light over seaweed with a light sweet/sour carrot-based dressing. Vegetable bibimbop with tofu - a perfectly satisfying bowl of lightly cooked spinach, sprouts, carrots and (duh) tofu, beneath a fried egg. Stir in some rice, add-you some sriracha..and you are within 15 minutes Self-Actualized. Try the sweet potato roll and marvel at the composition of the sauce drizzled over top. (Notes of cinnamon?). The mapo tofu is pretty close to perfection, crunchy from the water chestnuts, silky from the tofu and just the right degree of spicy, sweet, savory. I like my noodles like I like my men: firm, kinky and homemade. In veggie J-Jan Bang (? --item V-6) the noodles are addictive enough that you continue to try to make peace with the burn of the spicy reddish broth, even as you signal for more water. I only ordered the vegetable udon once (tip!) and other noodle-based dishes can be so-so. Also, choose the dduck bodu (? item A-7), intriguingly glutenous cylinders of rice cake in a spicy 'gravy' over the over-priced, rather disappointing veggie pajum, if you are okay with heat and texture. There is corn tea on tap for the kids and the caffeine-sensitive and a couple decent beers and sakes for the over-21 crowd. A.C. is kid- friendly. The service is always sweet and attentive.
-
Review from Sarah K.
Los Angeles, CA
12/7/2010
The sushi is ok, but for central New York standards it's pretty good. I've gone here with those that are all "This isn't big city sushi" and refuse to eat there again, but if you can get past that the nearest "big" city is 4 hours away, it's good sushi compared to the rest of whats around.
The service on the other hand is usually pretty slow. It's a small restaurant and there isn't anything special to the decor to the place.
I recommend the golden roll or the aurora roll. Those are pretty tasty. -
Review from matt h.
Ithaca, NY
10/12/2010
When I first walked into this restaurant I was a bit nervous. Most places in Ithaca can't even get one Asian country's cuisine right and this place was going to try and attempt Korean, Chinese, and Japanese food all in one spot? My expectations were low to say the least.
However, I was pleasantly surprised. The first thing I ordered here was the garlic eggplant, in the section of the menu containing mostly Chinese dishes. When it came out it was bright red, covered in a garlic chili sauce mimicking a combination of both Korean and Chinese flavors. On several other visits I have found that their Chinese food tends to come with a Korean flair, making it a bit unusual. It will be a tasty treat if you like Korean food, but perhaps an unwelcome surprise if you were expecting standard Americanized Chinese fair.
I have also enjoyed many of their Korean dishes such as their Bibim Bop (rice with fried egg, meat, kim chi etc.). It was warm, sweet, salty, and satisfying. Their noodle dishes are also quite good, but their Jap Chae can be a bit on the greasy side.
Just recently, I tried their sushi. I have been putting this off for quite a while, thinking that it might ruin how I feel about this restaurant. The sushi is better than all the places around the Commons (but about at the same level as Miyaki in collegetown although a little cheaper). I am really shocked that they do 3 cuisines justice here. They do the best Korean, best Chinese, and probably even the best Japanese in the area. My hats off to them. This place is a local gem.
I'm not going to comment about the atmosphere because their isn't any this place has good food but it isn't a visual stunner by any means. Service can be hit or miss. -
Review from Claude W.
Beacon, NY
7/16/2010
This place has unbelievably delicious food!
I just wanted to start off by saying the 1st thought in my mind when Asia Cuisine is mentioned. The restaurant itself is an odd space. The door is situated in such a way that, when it's cold outside, a very bitter draft slices right through the middle of the entire restaurant. Better hope for a seat against the wall on those days. The seating is also very cramped. I always call it the "Carnegie Deli of Asian food". When it is busy (which it usually is) it is not uncommon to be nearly elbow to elbow with other patrons.
So far this review doesn't sound promising, but you quickly forget your discomfort, and annoyance when the food starts to come. It is usually pretty quick to arrive, and my god is it good?! I have had several dishes here, but I always come for the deep-fried sushi rolls. They are the single most exquisitely delicious food item that has ever entered my mouth.
They have a wide selection of creative rolls, and many kinds of other meat, vegetable, and noodle dishes too. It is a really full menu, and everyone should be able to find something good. This isn't an exorbitantly priced place, but it's really easy to spend a lot here. Damn, I wish I could go there now. -
Review from Irene L.
Brookline, MA
5/26/2010
Asia Cuisine is always full for dinner. The menu is massive - vegetarian dishes, sushi (raw, deep fried, vegetarian), Korean, Chinese, bento boxes, etc. There's definitely something for everyone. As a college student, I find it a little on the expensive side, but it's worth it for me to spend $20 on dinner there every once in a while. Service is average when they're full, and super fast when they're not. It's also well-situated downtown, and there's often street parking (or parking in the lot).
I love the jajangmyun (noodles with black bean sauce) and the deep fried rolls. Then again, there are few deep fried things that I don't love. Ultimately, Asia Cuisine is one of my favorite Ithacan spots for Asian dishes. -
Review from Jennifer G.
Ithaca, NY
3/24/2010
After everything I'd read about this place - on yelp, in the Ithaca Times, on other websites - I was expecting to be blown away. Instead, I barely felt a breeze.
I went for lunch - service was fast and friendly, and the menu is extensive. There's something for carnivores and vegetarians alike, and if you like sushi, there are plenty of decently sized rolls. If you don't like sushi, there are a number of other Kroean and Chinese dishes to choose between. The lunch menu is very reasonably priced.
I ordered a seafood soup that was listed on the menu as "very spicy" and I confirmed with the waitress that I like spicy things. I was expecting a dish that would set my hair on fire - but what I got was only mildly more spicy than toast. It wasn't bad per se, it just wasn't exactly what I was expecting.
Meh. It's okay. I'd go back and try something else - and if I do, I'll be sure to update my review. -
Review from Ryan B.
6/6/2011
I was up from nyc visiting ithaca this weekend, and was lucky enough to enjoy a meal at this wonderful establishment. This is a great place to order a ton of stuff between a few friends and split it all up. My three companions and I did just this. We dabbled into Chinese, Korean, and Japanese dishes, all were spot-on. The four of us were taken on an asian food odyssey of epic proportions....it left us sooo pleasantly full and only cost us about twenty-five duckets apiece. Highlights include: Thompkins Roll, beef bibimbop, kimchi + noodle stew, and the chicken in light brown sauce. Everything comes out of the kitchen very rapidly, as the cooks complete it, & in no particular order. This was great because we were all real hungry, but I guess it can be troublesome if you're not prepared for it.
I am a frequent diner in chinatown and koreatown.....and this place gets my stamp of approval. Ithaca residents, enjoy this gem of a restaurant- I will be missing it. -
Review from Steve Y.
Burke, VA
10/24/2007
When I was stay Ithaca, Hotel recommend me to Mahogany Grill.
So I was heading out to the Mahogany Grill, but accidentally I found this Asian Cuisine on the way.
I was just try to check out what kind of menu they have, but I ended up eating in there.
They have a Korean and Korean style Chinese food, and taste was not too bad. But some some food was real spicy so be-careful about it.
If you are going to staying near Cornell University and craving for Asian food you got the spot. -
Review from Rebecca G.
Charleston, SC
7/12/2011
Great delicious Korean and Chinese food here. Fast, delicious, and a huge selection to choose from. The eggplant with garlic sauce was heavenly, and the fried rice dishes were delicious. The staff were friendly and helpful, and the food came out fast.
-
Review from Kara S.
Central Point, OR
9/9/2011
Delicious food, quality ingredients & interesting options. Great prices too. It's a nice place for a quick, fairly healthy dinner.
-
Review from Kateland M.
Ithaca, NY
5/9/2011
Enjoy this place A LOT. I like the sushi but I've had better. Seaweed salad is the best in Ithaca that I've had.The Korean dishes are delicious. Pretty much anything with Kimchi is worth getting like the Kimchi Bokum. I enjoy the tea that they give you on the table and the authentic Korean condiments you get with your meal. Staff is friendly and the food comes quickly out of the kitchen. The bento boxes and lunch specials are a seriously good deal if money is a concern.
The place is really small so it's best for parties of 4 or less, OR call for takeout which I do all the time. -
Review from Jenna N.
Burlington, VT
4/15/2011
This is a great place to go for a cheap lunch in Ithaca. Light-filled with a big brick wall, Asia Cuisine is casual, cute and serves yummy food. Their bento boxes are wonderful - I particularly like their tempura and noodles. Otherwise, their sushi is the best I've had in the area. I particularly like their sweet potato and avocado roll, as well as their fancier rolls. If you want to be particularly decadent, Asia Cuisine's fried sushi rolls are delicious!
-
Review from natatat g.
Brooklyn, NY
1/10/2009
I don't know how this place does it. Deal with the devil? Evil robots? Gnomes? I have never experienced faster service in my life. A friend and I ordered some Korean dishes for dinner. They came out of the kitchen in under 4 minutes, and were surprisingly good.
-
Review from Margot C.
Ithaca, NY
11/6/2010 1 Check-in Here
Must've been an off night-service was slow. I got the hwe dup bap, but it had a gamey bit of mystery seafood.
-
Review from Phil H.
Philadelphia, PA
7/12/2008
Asia Cuisine. Exactly what the name says is exactly what they offer. They offer Japanese, Chinese, and Korean platters. I've eaten their twice, once for lunch, once for dinner. I've taken out countless times. It's kind of small (seats maybe 30 people) but the service is great, the food is great, it's situated right on one of the main streets that runs through Ithaca.
-
Review from tim c.
Ithaca, NY
9/30/2011
I don't know how this place is still around. The place is infested with rats.. how did the dept. of health not close it down yet? The food & service are not good at all. The people are nasty too. If your job falls under the category of customer service, don't be rude to your customers!
-
Review from S.B. P.
Manhattan, NY
8/14/2011
Asia Cuisine is a very friendly, delicious place to eat. The first time I went, I ordered Bibimbap. The waiter was very nice, and made good recommendations. The dish was so fresh and absolutely divine, and the sauces were good too. I will definitely be returning!
-
Review from Cow I.
Ithaca, NY
1/6/2007
I've eaten here twice during lunchtime and took advantage of their bento box lunch special both times. Under $10. Very fresh, tasty and authentic. Although bento box meals are traditionally Japanese they offered Korean dishes in them also. Situated right on the SW corner of W. Seneca and N. Aurora you can also engage in some great people watching if you get a window seat.
-
Review from Missleendah K.
Orange County, CA
11/9/2009
Asia Cuisine is not very authentic nor is it very good. The Korean options are the better bet when compared to the Japanese. The staff was also not very knowledgeable about what they have to offer and it was frustrating when trying to determine the contents of some of the sushi rolls. Overall, I would not recommend coming here unless you were absolutely desperate for some semblance of asian food.
-
Review from Liang Z.
Philadelphia, PA
3/27/2010
Asia Cuisine has hands down the best asian food in Ithaca. The variations of jiajiangmyun (noodles) is pretty good and their meat dishes are official, especially Jei yu gui. I've been there about a dozen times and also been to almost every other asian place in Ithaca (chinese, korean, thai, almost all the japanese) and this place has the most legit food.
I'm not sure about most of their rolls but their Empire Roll is clutch city. It's a bit spicy, but not overbearing, and is all around one of the best specialty rolls I've had anywhere.
I guess their Chinese dishes aren't any special - they're good, but nothing to twitter home about. If you go, go for the Korean dishes and try the Empire Roll. It's a shame I didn't discover this place till senior year, but now I go every time I'm back in town to visit. -
Review from Kevin L.
Ithaca, NY
8/1/2011
I could feel the MSG in their stew :( But their mapo tofu was amazing.
-
Review from Anna D.
Bryn Mawr, PA
7/24/2011
Mhmm, excellent sushi and korean. My favorite place to go in Ithaca. The New York Roll (salmon, tuna, apple) is so simple and yet so good. The prices here are really good! Can get crowded and wait staff seems overwhelmed sometimes. I highly recommend this restaurant.
-
Review from Rachel B.
Ithaca, NY
3/6/2011
Best sushi in Ithaca!! Smaller restaurant but it seems people come, eat, and go at a variety of times during the day and evening so I have rarely found it too crowded to get a table. Fresh still warm rice is used to make their sushi and everything is always fresh and made to order. They happily comply with any food allergies or requests. They offer many different kinds of sushi, plus chinese, japanese, and korean dishes. The service is always quick and friendly. The complimentary corn tea is wonderful too.
-
Review from Simon X.
Hockessin, DE
7/6/2010
The Jackson Pollock of Asian food. Delivers a truly unique experience with its eclectic array of food to stuff your face with. This was what Willis was talking about.
-
Review from Eyks S.
Ithaca, NY
6/27/2010
OMG, so this place was so tastey I felt compelled to write my first review ever. I really enjoyed the food I got and the service was really fast and very friendly! I ordered the Bibimbap and it was absolutely delicious. I'm definitely going to have to go there again! I have been craving this particular meal and I was starving and I definitely left very satisfied. The food must have come in about 5, maybe 6 minutes which I was very impressed by. The beef was very flavorful and I really have no complaints other than next time I might ask for a little extra meat. Also, the prices are fairly reasonable. A little expensive but worth it in my opinion. (The meal was $9.99) Good portions, very filling, and very satisfying!
