After being ranked 4th among Yelp's Top 50 Most Prolific Elites of 2025, a distinction recognizing my consistent community engagement and high-quality contributions, I decided that this year, as an All-Star Yelp Elite, I not only wanted to be the first to discover new restaurants and businesses, and bring them to the attention of the public, but also to go back and write follow-up reviews on those restaurants that impressed me the most during 2025, and Cafe Asia 2, in Roanoke, Virginia, is a perfect example of one of them. This Asian fusion restaurant in the Cave Spring area of Roanoke, is definitely one of my favorite restaurants of all times. And my first visit and review is something that I will always hold very dear. When you finish reading this review I invite you to go back and read that review and view my photographs accompanying that review, for it was a very unique dining experience that I will never forget. From the time you arrive at this restaurant the contemporary building design seems to beckon you to approach and enter. I love their unique logo design made up of letters and a number of a particular font that communicates a certain air of distinction. Once inside, you're like in another world altogether. If the outside of the building was impressive, the interior immediately captures your attention and mesmerizes you with it's beauty. When I arrived today, a very lovely and distinguished lady, dressed very elegantly, welcomed me and led me to the table of my choice. Later did I find out that she was the owner of the restaurant, and I had an opportunity of talking with her about the restaurant, its Sushi Bar, and Sushi chefs. Soon after, my friendly server, who was from Indonesia, came to introduce himself and take my order. To drink I had a Vietnamese Iced Coffee. It was served in a tall glass and tasted marvelous. As appetizer, I had the Dim Sum Platter. It contained 3 shrimp dŕhumai, 3 pork dumplings, 3 pork wasabi shumai, and 2 roasted pork buns. One of those items was extremely spicy, I had to drink water to cool down. The others tasted reasonably good. As my main entrée I had the Lobster Tail Tempura Maki. It was very colorful and tasted, and completely filled me up. My original server did an excellent job serving me the food and coming by to check on me. But then he disappeared and another server, also Indonesian came to bring me my main entrée. I think it might have been a shift change, but feel the first server should have let me know about this fact. But if the first server wad excellent, the second was amazing. He answered all the questions I had about items on the menu, and while delivering special dishes to other customers, he allowed me to photograph this food for the benefit of the readers of this review. Then, at the end, he helped me choose the dessert to have for the Grand Finale of my meal: the Banana Basket. It was amazingly delicious and had slices of bananas, kiwi, mangos, whipped cream, and strawberries. And topped with caramel and chocolate sauces. Considering its friendly and relaxing ambiance, its extensive menu with a wide range of Asian dishes, from traditional Chinese entries to a full sushi bar with raw and cooked options, and its amazing customer service, I definitely highly recommend this restaurant from my own experience. Every time I've dined there I've had an exceptional fine dining experience, and as I'm leaving I'm already looking forward to returning. read more

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Everything we had from here was flavorful, hot & delicious! The restaurant inside is beautifully decorated, it wasn't crowded when we arrived at 5:40pm on a Monday evening. They were doing a heck of a carry out business, and know I know why. My husband had the wonton soup - he must of enjoyed them because I didn't get to try them, however that broth - oh my delicious- I finished that - easily. I had an order of the crab wontons - mostly cream cheese tasting - wish there was a bit more crab/shrimp, overall tasty. We shared our first hot pot - ribeye, carrots, peppers, stewed tomatoes served with your choice of rice - we chose the fried. Our shrimp tempura roll was yummy! Oh and we also each had a strawberry sangria although they do have other cocktails - I totally missed out on a screwdriver but the sangria was good too. Service was excellent- very nice people. Look forward to returning in the future! read more

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Excellent food and service. Every dish we've ever had here is amazing! Sushi, noodles, soups, Asian dishes. All are great! read more

Something has definitely changed, I am sad to say! The pad thai this time was very different and not nearly as good. Portions also seem to have changed. For the prices they are charging, I likely won't be coming back. read more

Café Asians food is always fresh and served beautifully. Their sushi is spot on and their other options for there is cuisines is spot on.

I enjoyed my fried rice. It seems there are a lot of gluten free options which isn't usually the case for Asian food. The service was quick and friendly. A little expensive but the portions were big. read more

Ordered Szechuan Beef & Tempura Chicken for lunch. Restaurant was busy but not packed. My greasy Szechuan Beef came out of the kitchen lukewarm and my wife's lunch came out 10 minutes later. Sweet & Sour soup was interesting The dipping sauce for the Tempura Chicken was strangely smokey flavored. The restaurant had a nice atmosphere, but you can't eat atmosphere. read more

We don't eat sushi here but we do eat their Chinese. Sometimes it's excellent and other times it's so-so. It's better than most of the Chinese in the area read more

Great rolls dessert and service! Definitely worth it if you're in Salem/Roanoke Virginia

Ate here three times... First time sat at bar and ordered sushi.. the sushi was very fresh. The sushi staff was friendly. One star away for when a younger white man yelled at me for writing on the paper sushi list with a pencil... for checking the boxes. Maybe it was the wrong paper? I had done this before, but not sure why he snapped at me. My partner got noticeably upset from him, I told him don't worry, He may just be an uptight person. Anyways, second time we got Sushi to-go, excellent. Third time we got a table, with a family member. Good. I love sushi, so I do care read more

Haven't been here in a long time (maybe six months or so). Still have the warm towels. Other than that, it was, mehh! I ordered General's shrimp. Shrimp were seriously overcooked. Rubbery! Husband ordered General's chicken ... out came more shrimp!! My husband does NOT like shrimp! An order was placed, and came out in probably fifteen minutes. Bill was adjusted, but no other credit given. We agree we are going to stick with Ichiban and Red Palace from now on. Over-hyped, and under-delivered! read more

Trendy, but ample portions. Service was appropriate, and the food was a hit. Have been twice, will consistently make this a destination for Asian cuisine. read more

Cafe Asia 2 never disappoints! Food and service was absolutely fantastic as usual! Our boy Danny was our server, he hooked it up and was very attentive and polite fr fr. You know I had to get that crazy roll and that goldin drawgon roll, and my shawty got tha orange chikkin. You gotta get those tempura fried Oreos with that NECTAR sauce (ask for extra) bc those critters are bussin! The vibes were chill, we had a party table behind us and Daniel rocked that, knew his stuff, went hard with the hawt towels and shii so ask for ya boy to serve you. Will be returning soon! Definitely tap in to this spot ong read more

Great food with excellent service. Very friendly staff and a nice atmosphere. I would highly recommend but if you like spices dishes be sure to stay with mild or medium heat. I got spicy and cried while I ate my delicious food! read more

Used to be great. Harbor maki used to be delicious with the crabmeat and pine nuts on top. They stopped the pine nuts. Disappointed but would still order it. Bothered me that the menu still states pine nuts. Then I ordered a month ago and they substituted the crabmeat with some fake lumpy white stuff. Just ordered again and now there's no crabmeat and I'm not sure what it's replacement is this time. They poured red hot sauce on top that hurt my stomach. Doesn't look anything like what's on the menu. It used to be just like the picture. So sad and disappointing. The price has gone up while ingredients have gone down. Never again. Dug out of trash and took the photo. read more

Cafe Asia 2 - Sushi Bars Near Me - Roanoke, Virginia

We order from Cafe Asia 2 regularly. Everything is always excellent, pretty and fresh. read more

We got a la carte sushi & dim sum platter -- super quick and friendly service. We'd been in the car all day, so the hot towel before the meal was a nice touch. read more

Cafe Asia 2 - Dim sum platter - Sushi Bars Near Me - Roanoke, Virginia

The food is delicious and never disappoints! Carry out is simple and makes it easy to order on line for pick up in a reasonable amount of time. read more

Enjoyed our lunch at Café asia 2. The lunch specials were both good although the Sichuan shrimp had very little heat to it. Kind of bland. We ordered potstickers which I expected to come pan fried , so soft on top and crunchy on the bottom, but they came deep fried. The server was happy to have them redone For us. The picture in their menu shows them the way I expected them , not the way they came. They were so/so, have had better many times in other places. I will give them a thumbs up for presentation and portion size but mediocre on taste. Probably not someplace to go back to for us. read more

When I'm in town, this is the GO TO. Every time. Best sushi, best Chinese and best Japanese food in town. Roanoke has a couple of pretty good places such as Wasabi or BenGui's but Cafe Asia 2 is #1 in my heart! I've been here here at like 30x and they're always consistent and reliable. Few items that are a go to for my family: pad Thai, general tso's and drunken noodles. I'd recommend against the pho and the shumai (they're just lower quality for the price) read more

Cafe Asia 2 - Sushi Bars Near Me - Roanoke, Virginia

We called ahead and asked if we could make a reservation for 7. We were told they don't take reservation. Then we get there and let them know how many and was told 35 to 40 minutes. An hour later our table was ready but we were told that we could be seated until the 3 top in front of us was. EVEN WITH OUR TABLE SITTING EMPTY! But when you looked at the list 6 parties that came in after us were setted. Tell me how that makes since? I believe they definitely need to re-do their reservation policy if this is how it's going to be. An hour and a half later we finally were setted. The service and food was great! But the seating when it's busy needs to have a better system. read more

I would say I am a "Sushiholic"...been eating sushi since the early 70's in many places such as NYC, San Francisco, Los Angeles, and in Kyoto and Tokyo Japan as well as in several places across the U.S. as well as in several countries in Europe and Asia.......so I would say I am extremely well versed in good quality, fresh fish and know the difference when it's less than. If I could give this place 10 stars I gladly would. While I have never had any of their hot dishes (although all the hot Chinese style entrees that have passed by looked and smelled wonderful) I have only had their steamed Dim Sum plate and Shumai...otherwise I pretty much only eat sushi and sit at the bar. The staff know me well as I eat there at least twice, sometime three times a week. I alway order custom, or ala carte sushi and sashimi and the presentation is always stunning ! I'm not really one for rolls but again they are all so creative. They automatically bring me my preferred bottle of sake...and at the bar, you always get a warm hand towel before and after the meal...also if the sushi chefs aren't swamped, you will get a complimentary spicy imitation Kani (crab) salad...but only at the bar. I highly recommend Cafe Asia 2. It's the best of what Roanoke and the surrounding area has to offer, hands down ! read more

Cafe Asia 2 - Pictured here is: Hamachi (yellowtail), Salmon and White Tuna Sashimi...Unagi, Tobiko and Ama Ebi with the fried heads. - Sushi Bars Near Me - Roanoke, Virginia

Good mix of Asian fusion, even some American options on kids menu. Super busy on a Saturday night, at least 15-20 min wait. Decent portions, average prices, great service. read more

My family has been ordering from Cafe Asia 2 for years. It's a hit or miss on freshness. With family coming in from out of town, we decided to try this place once more so that we had time for more togetherness rather than cooking/cleaning up. Spent well over $100 and first off the fried rice was dark brown....almost burnt tasting. I'm assuming too much soy sauce. Then the chicken from 3 orders of General Tsos was almost uneatable. There were pieces that once you started chewing would become stringy and clump into a ball and you could not swallow it. I don't know if that is a sign of freezer burn, old, or not even chicken. But it was disgusting . The beef and broccoli had no flavor and that was with a 2 star spicy added to it. Sorry to say that was the last time ordering. Makes me sad but being a "miss" for the last 3 times, we are done. read more

The food is good but the prices just are wack. For a regular bowl of pho you're gonna pay $20 For a good sushi roll you're gonna pay $20 I hope I don't have to tell you that's outrageous If you want really good sushi for a good price check out Sakura If you want pho check out pho Saigon. The shumai is a JOKE. Pretty sure they buy it at the grocery. read more

Cafe Asia is a nice local restaurant with a great variety of Japanese and Chinese dishes. I'm always searching for good sushi, and I was really impressed the first time I went during their anniversary! They had some of the most flavorful sashimi I've eaten in Roanoke, and I made a point to come back. However, it did not stay as consistent when I returned. On my second visit to celebrate the reopening of their dining room, I split a boat with the table--the fish was just average. And on my third visit, the sashimi deluxe was a little unpleasant, with jagged chinks of yellowtail and very fishy tasting white tuna. It's important to note that I am very picky about sushi, and it may be harder to get fresh fish in Roanoke compared to a bigger city. To the restaurant's credit, my friends have always seemed to enjoy the other dishes they order. While Cafe Asia 2 no longer holds the position for my go-to sushi place in Roanoke (a designation which at the present remains vacant), it's still a good place to go with friends for dinner. If you like Japanese or Chinese food and you're in the area, it's worth a try. read more

Cafe Asia 2 - the interior of the restaurant - Sushi Bars Near Me - Roanoke, Virginia

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20$. Tiny rice. Its an insult. Theres absolutely no reason to pay full price and get a tiny little amount of rice. Food is delicious though read more

A good dining experience from start to finish. We were quickly greeted and seated in a very attractive restaurant. Our food arrived quickly as ordered and beverages were kept filled. The food was good and as we ordered. This is a restaurant we will gladly visit often. read more

Cafe Asia 2 - Sushi Bars Near Me - Roanoke, Virginia

It's fine but the sushi is very pricy and small. They do have great pad Thai and lunch menu is good.

Hit or miss on Asian fusion dishes in a modern space. + Ambiance is intimate, modern dining room in = Food here is Asian fusion fare. Chinese, Thai, Japanese, Korean, Vietnamese....nothing is authentic. Menu is large and is well done with pictures for select dishes. Their portions are average size and one main and appetizer (as a meal) will suffice most of us. I had Tom Ka and it was pretty good with strong lemon grass flavor but my Singapore noodles was just odd. I had to doctor it up with soy sauce and vinegar!!! Ugghhh. My relatives liked their hot and sour soup and lettuce wrap. + Service was prompt and attentive. They provided steamed wash cloth before and after the meal. Nice touch! We came at 7pm and was seated, ordered, served right away. They weren't super busy but was about 80% of the tables were occupied. Our servers wasn't that familiar with the menu but checked on us throughout the meal. + Price was reasonable. + Parking is free, shared with other retailers. Cafe Asia 2 has nice ambiance and some good dishes and some not so much. Food looked better than tasted. read more

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The hot towels are a lovely touch. Psssing through Roanoke and stopped, as I thought they had Thai food. No dice, at least on their lunch menu. Ordered kung pao chicken, which was entirely not special, and loaded with vegetables. I have no gripe with veggies, but an authentic kung pao has none. I would not choose to return. There simply are many better options in Roanoke. read more

Super delicious! the service was awesome! Highly recommend the orange chicken! Great place! Love it! read more

You know... when I was first looking through the area about where to eat sushi, this place and its prequel, "Cafe Asia" popped up and I was confused... but the sequel had more reviews so we jumped on it Called early to see if we could get a reservation. Nope. Unless you call a day ahead. Same day reservations aren't available. Arrived at the restaurant, and the entrance inside the place was PACKED. Promising. Wait was 30 minutes, literally down to the T. Ordered Shumai for starters... and it tasted as if it got defrosted and placed on the plate. At least the sauce was good! We ordered the Cherry blossom Maki (Tempura salmon, cream cheese, and cucumber topped with kani and chef's special sauce) and the Red Dragon Roll (Shrimp tempura roll with spicy tuna on top). First impressions: let's give this a try. Looks appetizing enough. The red dragon roll was a lot of sushi rice, but the tuna on the top and the tiny tempura shrimp in the middle kind of made up for it. It tasted decent, nothing too special. The cherry blossom maki was the better out of the two. If one didn't know any better, it's that "Kani" is just Japanese for imitation crab on top. "ITS A TRAP" is what I'd say to those we weren't feeling crab, lol. But it was good. The chef's special sauce tasted like eel sauce... Bottom line: a lot of their chef specialties and non-sushi related entrees looked great when the waiters/waitresses walked by with them. Might have to try that the next time we make our way back. As for the sushi, I might take a pass on it the next time I'm craving it. That soft shelled crab looks mighty good! read more

Cafe Asia 2 - Shumai 1/18/2020 - Sushi Bars Near Me - Roanoke, Virginia

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So good! Literally no complaints all around. Service, speed, and meals were 5/5! Great parking too. read more

Cafe Asia 2 - Sunflower roll on the specials board! - Sushi Bars Near Me - Roanoke, Virginia

The front of house team is definitely struggling, but really trying. It's clear they need more staff. The front of house team is very sweet and really was running their butts off. However, they didn't have enough people - which means the ownership of Cafe Asia 2 needs to pay more. Yes, I know all the arguments - pay your employees more and you will find more employees. The second part of this review is for the food. The food wasn't great. The sushi was homemade grade - I tried a spicy tuna roll to test their sushi because it's hard to mess that up. Whelp, I'm not sure what they did to it, but they can't actually ROLL their rolls well, it was sloppy and all over the place. Also, the spicy tuna wasn't good - it was the nightmare: mushy. Um, no thank you. We also tried one Chinese (?) dish and one Thai dish - orange chicken and drunken noodles. The orange chicken, for all the orange peel in it, was really lackluster - very little taste. It was bland. The drunken noodles - the tomatoes were really, really mushy. The beef wasn't good quality. While I realize it's hard to find staff right now and it's hard to train cooks - the actual food here is in no way four star. read more

Amazing food. Thai seafood fried rice was delicious. The wonton soup was something special. I had to get it again and again.

Had dinner with my wife here a few months ago. Anytime I eat at a place like this, I always ask to make sure there aren't any mushrooms in the food (allergy). We started with the pot stickers, and when I asked the question the waitress said "I'm not sure we literally bought them from Kroger" Hopefully it was just a supply chain issue and they don't constantly do that. Onto the entrees. My wife had their pad Thai which was good, I had a rice and veggie dish where the veggies were the frozen pea and carrots mixture that again you can find in any grocery store. The 2 stars was for my wife's food, but for what we paid, and the quality of the rest, you're better off. read more

Always a great place! Food is great and never had bad service. Everyone in the family is sure to love.

Great sushi place! They have a pretty good sake selection also which I love! It is beautiful inside and they even bring you warmed towels to clean your hands when you first sit down. Every roll I've had there tasted great. The ingredients seem very fresh. I'd definitely recommend this place! read more

This a great place for takeout! They bring it right to your car! I have had the Kung pao shrimp. It was good but the shrimp were not the best. I liked that there were lots of celery and carrots. The drunken noodles was also good and I loved the green and red peppers. I like spicy food and would recommend level 3. I tried 4 and it was too much! read more