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    The Asian Bistro

    4.0 (1.5k reviews)
    Closed 4:00 pm - 2:30 am (Next day)

    Order The Asian Bistro Takeout or Delivery

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    THE ASIAN BISTRO ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Casual
    Moderate noise
    Happy hour specials
    Good for groups

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    THAI ICED TEA
    Raiden S.

    Nice place to be after a night out. Welcoming and warm staff. Been here twice and enjoyed both. Thanks!

    Thai basil fried rice with beef
    David W.

    Among the list of things I have low expectations for, Thai food at 2AM is up there. I've only ever known this time of the night to belong to halal stands and taco trucks. I stopped by with a group of 7 to end the night after bar hopping, and we all enjoyed our dishes. I opted for a basic thai basil beef fried rice at a spice level of 4 out of 5. It was quite literally exactly what I needed after a night out. Additionally, the Tom Kam soup has a uniquely savory taste to it that contrasts the spice of the basil fried rice. I can't speak on this fusion restaurant's more ambitious dishes (such as pho or roasted duck noodle soup) since I didn't want to take that risk, but they certainly hold their own in terms of Thai cuisine. Bonus points for the beautiful wall decor and open layout! The interior felt very welcoming despite being the one of the only restaurants open in all of Hillcrest.

    menu 2026
    Nathalie Q.

    Located in hillcrest I had a great experience here overall. The waitress with short hair and sleeve tattoos was incredibly sweet and welcoming. Service was fast, attentive, and made the whole meal enjoyable. I love the fact they had their thai tea wirh the option of half and half or coconut milk. They're open till 2:00 am which was a plus for me since we're traveling-- craved thai food. The restaurant interior was also very cool! Great service guys!

    Belldandy O.

    The Asian Bistro is a Thai, Asian fusion restaurant in the Hillcrest area of San Diego. There isn't a dedicated parking lot for the restaurant, but there is street parking all over the area. What led us to visit The Asian Bistro Saturday night was the fact that they didn't close until 2:30AM, which was rather surprising. My boyfriend and I parked our car about a block away and walked over. There were multiple parties already seated, but we were seated shortly after arriving since no one else was waiting in line to be seated besides us at the time. The menu has a variety of Asian dishes and lots of drinks, non-alcoholic and alcoholic! We ordered a small portion of the House Fried Chicken, Chicken Pad See Ew, Joy Luck Club (crispy roasted half duck tossed with their house garlic sauce, served on a bed of spinach and choice of rice), Emerald Iced Tea, and Taro Iced Tea. The drinks were great and refreshing. They were served in pretty large glasses. The House Fried Chicken was HOT (temperature wise) and delicious. The entrees were a bit of a miss for both of us though. The Pad See Ew was too sweet and the Joy Luck Club was overly saucy it was hard to enjoy. It helped to have the rice to balance out the sauciness of the roast duck at least. The service was good for the most part. It did get very busy for the restaurant after we were seated. There was a line formed out the door and lots of to-go orders waiting. The restaurant itself is pretty small, but they decorated for Halloween, which was cute!

    Outside
    Daniela A.

    I've been wanting to try this place for so long! But honestly it fell pretty short for me.. It feels like once places get hype or a lot of social media acknowledgment, they don't try as hard anymore.. We parked down the street and had to pay so keep that in mind when going to Hillcrest. There was a lot of beautiful art on the wall and rainbow decorations because of the restaurant being in Hillcrest. We walked in and waiting about 3 minutes for someone to come out from the back and seat us. I was concerned so I called the place to tell them we were waiting to be seated like their sign said but then the server came out and seated us. We started with a Thai Ice Tea and an Emerald Ice Tea. We ordered them with coconut milk and I think the coconut made the teas taste with little watered down. They were both pretty decent though. We ordered a Seaweed Salad, the Butterflied Garlic Shimp Skewers, the E-Sarn Sausage, the Krah Pow and the Roasted Duck Noodle. The Seaweed Salad had a lot of citrus in it but it was okay and still refreshing. The Garlic Shrimp Skewers were grilled nicely and had a really nice fish sauce that came with it. Honestly I was using the sauce for everything because it was pretty good. The E-Sarn Sausage was pretty good also, it was served with sticky rice in foil that was hard to eat with chopsticks or a fork. The sausage was pretty good too, but it was honestly the only thing I ate.. The Krah Pow taste like it was made with sugar and soy sauce and that's it.. it tasted really cheap and not worth the $16.. it had too much suger honestly which gave the impression that they were trying to make up for a lack of something.. I took one bite and didn't eat anymore. The Roasted Duck Noodle was super bland.. I have had Duck noodles before and I know it is a subtle taste but there's still flavor. This one was so bland.. I was pretty upset because of the $18 price tag on it. I was waiting for the server to ask for salt or soy sauce but after five minutes of no one coming out from the kitchen I just got up and grabbed a soy sauce from the table with condiments. The soy sauce didn't help.. the noodles were good quality and the Duck was very tender but it also lacked flavor. I ended up just eating the Seaweed Salad, two shrimp skewers and the sausage with the sauce from the shrimp skewers. It was pretty disappointing.. Overall, Asian Bistro was a let down, flavors lacked, service lacked and prices weren't justified. I would skip it and try somewhere else.. It truly broke my heart to waste my money like this..

    BBQ Chicken and Wings
    Sean C.

    I have been ordering DoorDash from Asian Bistro for years and good reason... their food quality is ALWAYS consistent and has the best flavor. So good that I'll be at a bar 1:30am and order before I leave so it's waiting for me when I get home I highly recommend the Mother Chili wings pictured here. 10/10 always along with the BBQ chicken which is my other fav

    VANILLA ICE-CREAM FRIED
    Gwyneth N.

    Thai tea 5/5 Pad thai w chicken (got medium but should've gotten hot) 4/5 Drunken noodle 5/5 Overall very cute small business in hillcrest in a great area to walk around! Came here specifically for the fried ice cream and it didn't disappoint;however, the only thing I would mention is it's more American level spicy and not thai spicy right when ordering. Workers were nice and we got seated right away!

    Michael G.

    I have eaten here several times already. Whenever my wife craves Thai food late at night, this is where we go when other Thai restaurants are closed. This Restaurant closes late every day. Sunday through Thursday, they are open until 12 a.m., and Friday and Saturday until 2 a.m. That's what I was told by our server when we dined in there. My wife always gets her Lychee Palmer drink, she said she loves it. We recently tried their Chicken Tom Yum, Fried rice, Yellow Chicken Curry, and Drunken noodles. The tom yum was alright, but there was not much of ingredient on it. I hope they added a few more of veggies. Their Fried rice was good, and their Yellow Curry Chicken tasted just okay. The staff are nice and with cool decor inside.

    Brian N.

    Nice place and chill ambiance, will come back again. Staff were friendly and helpful :)

    Brenda L.

    D'lish! our server Estela was friendly and helpful, the tea selection was tasty the parking is super close across the

    John Prician P.

    Food was amazing! Their whole fried chicken is tender, juicy and crispy with delicious marinate! You guys should try it! Our Salmon Panang Curry was bomb as well! Yummy curry sauce and perfectly cooked salmon! We also had a Duck Pho which was rich in flavor! Must try! Great place to go after a night of drinking in Hillcrest! Service is Fast. There could be a short wait on a busy weekend night but once you're seated you'll be serviced right away. It's a small location too so it can really be packed. Also, try their Thai tea! Yumm!!

    Eleana S.

    After our trip to the San Diego Zoo with the boys, it was time for dinner! I tried the crab fried rice, which was good (I couldn't even finish it, haha!). My husband enjoyed his drunken noodles with a nice kick of spice, just the way he likes it. There's so much to try here, and I'm glad we gave it a shot. The place is busy, in a great location, and the server was really nice. Definitely worth it!

    Bar area
    Peter Z.

    Service was very fast and good. The ambience was really nice and chill. The food was bussing.

    Starters

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    1 month ago

    So delicious! They have such a solid drink options. I highly recommend the drunken noodle and red curry!

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    4 months ago

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    1 month ago

    The best place ever for amazing food and atmosphere. My favorite place I keep returning to.

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    2 months ago

    The Asian Bistro has great service and great food can't go wrong very tasty I highly recommend this place

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    5 months ago

    Nice, friendly atmosphere, good service and music. I love their Thai tea warm and iced. It's like melted ice cream :)

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    5 months ago

    Best drunken noddles in SD hands down shout out to Erik he's the man!! Been coming here for years!

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    5 months ago

    I really like the vibe in here. It's open late and the food smells good. .they cool af! I'm excited to try the food!

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    2 years ago

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    Page 1 of 38

    The Asian Bistro Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - The Asian Bistro

    Will you be open on Christmas Eve 2024?

    Yes, we only close for Thanksgiving. We stay open everyday

    Do they take reservations?

    Yes

    Are they open on Christmas Day 2021?

    Yes, we will be open for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day from 4PM-11AM. We will have a first come, first serve basis due to the volume of customers.

    Is this restaurant, Asian Bistro, opened for indoor dining yet?

    Yes

    View All 7 Questions

    Common Stock

    Common Stock

    4.7
    (1.2k reviews)
    0.1 mi
    $$

    Excellent bar and restaurant in the North Park area you won't want to miss! It has a classy and…read moreupscale vibe but come as you are. We happened upon this place for happy hour, which is a great deal. The old fashioned was really good and they have a decent wine list, both at great prices. We also ordered some popcorn chicken, Brussels, and the chicken sandwich. The Brussels were absolutely out of this world, as was the sandwich! The popcorn chicken was also really good...but the Brussels sprouts are worth coming for alone. The service was great and there is plenty of bar seating. If you're in the North Park area make sure to stop by, especially at happy hour!

    I been meaning to leave this review but haven't gotten to it. Thoroughly disappointed in one of the…read morestaff members service. I came in for happy hour with some of my clients, those of which had been there for a few hours, we missed the HH but joined in. Their original server was extremely nice and attentive. The server who helped us, not only was extremely dismissive and rude, he lied and brought over the POS mini when closing us out, I had asked if the tip was already included given the group size. He said "no." So I added tip. After having the receipt texted to me. I noticed the auto grat for 20% (which is standard), but I then added an 18% tip on that, as I was told it wasn't included. Especially for how rude he was - I'm extremely unhappy with his dishonesty. Will absolutely never come back. Food was ok...drinks were great.

    Photos
    Espresso martinis!
    Espresso martinis!
    Roasted Carrot & Parsnips
    Roasted Carrot & Parsnips
    Great food & drinks ....friendly welcoming service !!! Thank you HARVEY !!!!

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    Great food & drinks ....friendly welcoming service !!! Thank you HARVEY !!!!
    NOLA on 5th

    NOLA on 5th

    3.7
    (395 reviews)
    0.3 mi
    $$

    I've been wanting to visit this place for a while. I came in the afternoon after the pride parade…read more Surprisingly, it wasn't crowded at all. We were able to get a parking spot right out front and got a table right away. They have a nice menu with traditional Cajon dishes. They also have good happy hour items (not available that day due to pride parade). We ordered a triple D special - the portion is big! It came with a roasted beef sandwich, jambalaya and fries (we got sweet potato fries and they were so good with brown sugar). We also ordered their wings with Cajun rub - they were so flavorful even without any dipping sauce - but parm garlic sauce was really good). We also got mac n cheese with NOLA roasted beef and fried cheese curds...Soo good! My least favorite was gumbo but still good though. Overall, my experience has been great. The waitress was friendly. I'd come back soon.

    The food is insanely good. Loved my meal and no one in my party had an issue with the food…read more Seriously delicious! The service is a different story. We had a server who was rude from the moment we walked in. We were standing in the entrance and he walks by and says: UGH MORE? Then he is impatient with us as we are ordering. Making sassy comments repeatedly. Never Checks back on us. Always ready with a rude comment. Glad the food was great. Probably will not return because I can get great food with better service elsewhere. But bless him! Hope he finds joy

    Photos
    NOLA Inside Entry
    NOLA Inside Entry
    Louisiana Hot Chicken Biscuits and Gravy
    Louisiana Hot Chicken Biscuits and Gravy
    Hurricane on 5th

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    Hurricane on 5th
    Pop Pie

    Pop Pie

    4.5
    (1.8k reviews)
    1.1 mi
    $$

    Delicious, surprisingly light on the stomach, in the textures and flavors have that homemade vibe…read more I got the chicken pot pie and the apple pie slice. The lady at the counter said that a lot of people say the apple pie slice is better than Julian's apple pie. I think that if it were as fresh as the Julian one, I would agree but because the slice tasted like it have been sitting there for at least six hours, maybe even overnight, I would just say that it's a really good slice of apple pie. It has a crumb topping, which is a nice addition which the Juliann apple pie does not have. The filling is chunky and very brown sugar-y which makes it very delicious. The ice cream was also good. The chicken pot pie was my favorite though. So warm, and the crust was nice and flaky. The portion is really good. That was my dinner and it was the perfect amount. The inside had a generous amount of chicken which I really appreciated overall. It's such a comforting food and I love that. It doesn't taste like it's 1,000,000 cal. It was $13 for the pot pie, which is a little much but considering that it's pretty big and filling as a meal I wouldn't say that it's toooo bad.

    For my 1st I must say customer service was excellent. I went weekday during the afternoon. The…read moreparking is a different story though. I decided to get the steak and ale and their special of the month Butter Chicken pie. I also could not resist the Salted Carmel Crumble pie cream. I ate the steak and ale at the location. I thought it was ok. The crust was amazing but I felt the flavor was lacking a little. I had a few chunks of meat. Didn't really taste the Ale and it was a little dry for my liking. Now the Butter Chicken pie was amazing. I think they should keep that one on the menu. I reheated it in the air fryer. The curry flavor really comes through and of course their crust is like no other. My highlight was that salted carmel crumble apple lice ice cream combo. Of course the vanilla ice cream is from next door Stella Jeans. Oh this dessert is sinful and I highly recommend.

    Photos
    View of food case and interior seating
    View of food case and interior seating
    (D) Pumpkin Cream Cheese Pie - Slice
    (D) Pumpkin Cream Cheese Pie - Slice
    Inside

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    Inside
    Hash House A Go Go

    Hash House A Go Go

    4.1
    (8.9k reviews)
    0.3 mi
    $$

    This dining establishment is in a word outstanding. Our server gave us the best recommendations and…read moreextremely attentive, especially after being served to make sure all our orders were correct. Great personality and superb service. The food is incredible and with so many choices you really can't go wrong. Can't wait to go back again.

    Wow! Everything about this place was phenomenal. The atmosphere, the food, and the service…read more The inside gives western diner in the absolute best way possible! It's got the decor, chairs, and art to match. Jessica was our server and she was amazing! She gave us lots of suggestions on what to try and what is on the menu since it was my first time here. She recommended the bloody Mary flight so did grab that to try! We also ordered the biscuits and gravy to share and orange juice. The portions are so large! So I am glad we decided to share the biscuits and gravy but let me run down each thing. Bloody Mary Flight: Honestly every single one was amazing. My favorite was definitely the pickle Mary! Everything tasted so delicious and was garnished beautifully. Well worth the 22 dollars. Biscuits and Gravy: Absolute perfection of comfort food. The biscuits were so fluffy and well seasoned. The gravy was also soooo good, just like my mom makes. The sausage in it was also cooked so well and juicy. I've never tried mashed potatoes with the biscuits and gravy but it worked very well! Orange Juice: Not a fan really, not pulpy enough and I wasn't a fan of the flavor. Overall this is definitely a must visit! I will definitely be back.

    Photos
    Dining Room
    Dining Room
    1. Smoked Bacon Fresh Avocado
    1. Smoked Bacon Fresh Avocado
    Iced coffee 10/10

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    Iced coffee 10/10
    Great Maple San Diego

    Great Maple San Diego

    4.2
    (5.1k reviews)
    0.7 mi
    $$

    1M/10 Teleport, don't walk…read moreTruly the best food my boyfriend and I have ever had. I'm also a breakfast/brunch enthusiast so I was in heaven. We went for breakfast on my boyfriend's birthday and it was the highlight of our day so unfortunately nothing else compared the rest of the day The donuts came out first and made us speechless! The crust perfectly protects the light and fluffy inside and holds the maple icing beautifully! The bacon is crunchy and crispy and the perfect complimentary salty crunch to the soft warm dough. It's a unique mouth feel and you want to eat all 3. I recommend ordering them last The caramelized brie and braised duck skillet hash was so unique and delicious, we had never had something like that before. The meat was juicy and melted in your mouth with the brie and soft scrambled eggs. The bread was toasted a crisp golden brown and was the perfect vehicle for the hash. They came with a side which wow THE CRISPY POTATOES OMG they were one of our favorite bites. So herbaceous and topped with coarse flakey salt for a tasty balanced bite. By time we got to the french toast logs I was ready to tap out, but boy momma didn't raise no quitter and my man knows that applies to him as well so we did what we had to do. They're extremely dense, thick, and very filling so I would split with at least one other person. I slathered them bad larry's in whatever magical whipped butter they gave us and got to work. I had to be pried away from the plate and table and airlifted home because of how full I was, but I couldn't stop eating it. We had leftovers and they heated up decently, as well as the donuts! Neither got soggy from refrigeration or microwaving, so that was impressive!

    I had a great experience here at great maple. My friend and I sat outside and enjoyed a really…read moreprivate breakfast for most of the time. Service was fast and courteous! I got a simple two weed breakfast with sausage and it didn't disappoint! Everything was perfectly done and tasted great. I was happy the eggs were done over hard as requested. The chicken sausage were also very tasty!

    Photos
    Front counter
    Front counter
    Fruit bowl
    Fruit bowl
    Ice tea with lime and syrup

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    Ice tea with lime and syrup
    Soup Du Jour

    Soup Du Jour

    4.7
    (450 reviews)
    4.4 mi
    $$

    Food: everything tasted clean and delicious! Loved their congee chicken, Chinese donut, braised…read moremeatball soup the noodles were excellent and chewy and we also got their spicy chicken! Me and my husband was impressed for their food! We will be coming back!!! Customer service! Great service and the food came out so fast! Parking is plenty for retail parking! We can't wait to try more braised meats from this restaurant. Thank you chef!

    Soup du Jour, a French? (No, Taiwanese fusion) restaurant in Convoy? (No, just south of Convoy)…read morelocated in a crouded strip mall? (No, lodged in an apartment complex). This place is decieving on many levels and subverts expectations in the best way possible. Walking in you wouldn't think much. I was surprised by the tall ceilings; this place is not large in square footage but it doesn't feel cramped in any way. We opted for the online menu as it included pictures, though not on every item. Very reasonable prices for generous portions. Every dish was a winner, though some better than others in the minute details. The Hainanese Chicken Rice was tender and rich that the ginger sauce cut through, but the color was strikingly yellow. The Rotisserie Chicken Salad offered a welcome sight of veggies, though the chicken itself tasted like that straight from Costco. The Scallion Pancake was crispy on the edges, doughy in the center, and you only get one per order. The Shitake Mushroom Minced Pork had no drawbacks, and would come back just for this. Combining familiar flavors and spices, adding roasted vegetables and rice made this a complete meal! We were unbothered by the service staff the entire time until asking for the check, strange as we were the only two in the restaurant. However, with these minor setbacks, I will be coming back to try their noodles, soups, and desserts!

    Photos
    Chicken and front counter
    Chicken and front counter
    Fried bread for congee
    Fried bread for congee
    Soup Du Jour

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    The Asian Bistro - thai - Updated August 2026

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