The best street food venues of type "Asian Cuisine" in Cologne
Mrs. Miao cooks with such care and authenticity that it feels as if Barbarossaplatz were in Bangkok: unpretentious, genuine, and spicy. Highlights: Som Tam with fermented shrimp paste, Pad Kra Pao, Pad Thai, and Kuay-Tiaw. One of the best—maybe even THE best—Thai spots in Cologne.
Advanced Shaanxi cuisine at Cologne’s Friesenplatz. The biang-biang noodles with pork rolls and a secret house sauce are exceptionally good, as are the handmade Chinese burgers—filled with your choice of beef, chicken, pork, tofu, or crispy duck.
A simply designed snack bar with a unique flair and a small, refined selection of dishes. In addition to the handmade Tibetan momos and noodle soups, there are regularly changing specials as well as the standard appetizers: kimchi, edamame with lime salt, and a radish-cucumber salad.
Bao-Benchmark is a simply furnished snack bar on Neumarkt—the combination of pork belly, cilantro, and roasted peanuts is especially delicious, and there are also two vegan options. The jiaozi and biang-biang noodles are also highly recommended.
A simple, always bustling self-service Thai bistro with a laid-back atmosphere and Thai music. The few high tables are always packed—no wonder, since the Khao Soi, Pad Krapaow, and other dishes taste incredibly fresh and authentic. Thanks to the chef!
Owner Xue Bai had long dreamed of a restaurant where the food tastes just like home in Chongqing—so she went ahead and opened it herself. Her spicy noodle soups and dumplings with chili oil are famous throughout the city. A real hidden gem, however, is the trio of skewers.
A laid-back Vietnamese fast-food restaurant with fresh, delicious dishes—available either crisp and fresh or comforting and warm, and always vegan—that will win over even die-hard chicken-breast eaters across the board. Everything here tastes great. Especially delicious: the banana blossom salad.
A standout Asian restaurant offering the best of both worlds: Here, the vegan-Vietnamese cuisine of the former Veggie Vu is combined with the Chinese classics of the former NiHao: squid in black bean sauce, rice noodles with tofu and vegetables, or curry chicken with lemongrass.
Located right next to the Eigelsteintorburg, this Asian fusion restaurant presents its dishes with entertaining dry-ice effects and imaginative plate arrangements. Fans of colorful, vegan sushi, crispy tempura rolls, and fresh salads will be delighted here.
Ten Years of Phở and Bánh Mì in Cologne – Happy Birthday, 1980! This lovingly run café behind Neumarkt has long since become an institution for homemade rice noodle soup and Vietnamese sandwiches—especially the ones with braised ox cheeks, which are absolutely amazing.
A cocktail bar with a side program: Pretty smart. When developing the concept, the team led by Little Link boss Stephan Hinz drew inspiration from traditional Japanese pub culture—except that here, everything is pretty bold, both in color and style.
Malatang is hot pot’s cool little brother—faster, simpler, and customized. The concept: With over 100 ingredients to choose from, everyone can put together their own favorite combination. The ingredients are weighed before the broth is poured over them. Ingredient quality? Okay. Selection: phenomenal.
Colorful dumplings and hearty noodle soups just a short walk from Cologne Cathedral. The xiaolongbao—filled with meat or vegetables and served in a spicy broth—are dipped in aromatic ginger vinegar before you slurp them up. The sheng jian bao, filled with spinach, bamboo shoots, and shiitake mushrooms, are delicious and vegan.
Authentic Korean food not far from the cathedral. The Pocha concept combines a relaxed atmosphere with a variety of anju dishes such as crispy mandu (dumplings), tteokbokki (rice cakes), kimchi pancakes, and squid in a sweet and spicy sauce. All served with Korean fried chicken and beer.
Double-fried, love at first bite. But your love for these crispy, sticky chicken pieces should be accompanied by a healthy dose of patience. Don’t miss: tteokbokki (rice cakes) and pajeon, a pancake specialty topped with green onions.
Vietnamese street food meets unconventional sushi—which used to be strictly plant-based but now also includes seafood, meat, and fish. Vegans will still find plenty to enjoy, especially with the special rolls, such as those with sweet potato spirals and vegetable tempura.
A Vietnamese snack bar with a street-food vibe and a cool, folkloric interior design. Among the Saigon tapas, the eggplant with chili and lime and the scallops with scallion oil are particularly delicious; among the specials, try the Com Tam: grilled pork loin with a fried egg.