The Best Asian Flavors in Santa Fe
It’s only natural that, in a city known for spicy sauce-drenched enchiladas and hearty chile- and cheese-topped burgers, a hungry visitor’s taste buds may crave something different once in a while. A drizzle of salty soy sauce on sashimi, say. Or a bit of creamy coriander- and clove-infused chicken tikka masala. The thing about visiting Santa Fe is, with one restaurant for every 254 inhabitants, you’re nearly guaranteed to find what you’re hankering for. Read on for our list of the best Asian restaurants in Santa Fe.
Izanami
21 Ten Thousand Waves Way, Santa Fe, NM 87501
Small plates: $10-$16 or more for specialty meats
The Japanese izakaya-style restaurant at world-renowned Ten Thousand Waves spa opened to immediate acclaim in 2013, landing a James Beard Award semifinalist nod for best new restaurant. A decade later, Chef Kiko Rodriguez continues to impress. The menu is replete with both traditional Japanese and fusion dishes served as small sharing plates. The black sesame noodles, grilled eggplant and miso mole gyoza are some of our favs. Izanami also offers a lengthy sake menu, table-and-chair or traditional tatami (floor) seating and mountain views from their peaceful covered dining deck.
Izanami’s outdoor patio overlooks the foothills just outside of Santa Fe
Raaga-Go
410 Old Santa Fe Trail, Unit A, Santa Fe, NM 87501
Mains: $16-$30 / Apps: $6-$8
Reservations: N/A
Much to the dismay of his devoted local fans, Chef Paddy Rawal closed his uber-popular Indian restaurant Raaga in 2017 on the advice of his doctor. But, ever the passionate chef, Rowal couldn’t keep away from the kitchen. A year later, he opened Raaga-Go, a take-out and delivery joint serving up the same gourmet mix of traditional and modern Indian cuisine he served at its sit-down predecessor. Rawal’s coriander- and clove-infused chicken tikka masala bested Food Network celebrity chef Bobby Flay’s dish on Beat Bobby Flay in 2020. Other standout eats include spinach chatt (a flash-fried salad with onion, tomatoes and a yogurt dressing), paneer makhani (farmers cheese in a creamy tomato sauce) and kurkuri bhindi (fried okra).
Paper Dosa
551 W Cordova Rd, Santa Fe, NM 87505
Mains: $13-$27 / Apps: $5-$13
Reservations: Call (505) 930-5521; Only available for groups of 6+
Where Raaga-Go specializes in north Indian classics, Paper Dosa has nearly cornered the market on south Indian favorites like dosas (thin crepe-like pancakes made from fermented rice and lentils) and uttapam (a thicker dosa variant). Chef Paulraj Karuppasamy also cooks up a soul-enriching collection of pan-Indian curries and apps. The flavors at Paper Dosa are rich and layered, the plates brimming with culinary artistry. Add mood lighting, modern décor and Indian accents and Paper Dosa is date-night perfection. In terms of eats, we especially adore the Dahi Vada, a lentil fritter topped with a kaleidoscopic design of tamarind and mint chutneys and spiced yogurt. The classic masala dosa and mysore chutney dosa also stand out.
The Su Room at El Nido
1577 Bishop’s Lodge Road, Santa Fe, NM 87506
Omakase: $75 / A la carte: $5-$35
Reservations: Check back when reopened
Nearly 700 miles separate Santa Fe from the ocean, and yet fresh, swoon-worthy sushi is on offer just up the hill. The Su Room at El Nido, a delish fine-dining restaurant in nearby Tesuque village, bests the in-town competition, offering a $75 omakase (read: chef’s choice) option and a rotating menu of sashimi, nagiri and maki. Only trouble is: In September 2022, the Su Room closed temporarily after its chef chose to return to Japan. Owners plan to reopen the space as soon as possible, so check El Nido’s website for updates. Our fingers are crossed for a swift return.
Dumpling Tea & Dim Sum
Located in the Plaza Galeria
66 E. San Francisco St., #10, Santa Fe, NM 87501
Dim Sum: $4.50-$11 / Noodles & Soups: $11-$14
Reservations: Not needed
Don’t let the pared-down, strip-mall vibe of this Chinese café fool you. Dumpling Tea & Dim Sum serves up some of the tastiest eats in the city. Dumplings or bao are hand-filled before your eyes with either pork of veggies, and steamed or pan fried. Wontons and noodles round out the menu. If you like your lunch to pack a punch, order the dan dan noodle soup and revel in the sweet scald of the red chile oil drizzled on top. The pan-fried pork dumplings or steamed bao are favorites as well.
Bo’s Authentic Thai
502 Old Santa Fe Trail, Santa Fe, NM 87505
Mains: $12.95-$14.95 / Apps: $4.95-$9.95
Reservations: Not needed
Once a vacant eyesore, the lot at the corner of Paseo de Peralta and Old Santa Fe Trail has blossomed into a foodie haven, hosting half a dozen or so semi-permanent food trucks and a smattering of tables and chairs. Come warm weather, the lot, which is located across from the New Mexico State Capitol building, is hopping. A newcomer, Bo’s Authentic Thai is fast filling a relative void in Santa Fe’s Asian flavors offerings. Until now, decent Thai has been hard to find. At Bo’s, simple is beautiful. The menu is no-frills, populated by the usual suspects – pad thai, green curry, Panang curry, pad see ewe, etc. – and the flavors are fresh and robust. The star of each dish is the rainbow of snappy, perfectly cooked fresh vegetables. Pick your protein and spice level, and voila. A fast, hearty, healthy meal.
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