4 new Asian restaurants in New York, for Indian, Japanese and Southern-tinged Chinese food

From a Korean joint with chicken and champagne to a sushi and bento spot to a Chinese-American fusion restaurant, 4 openings in Manhattan

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A selection of dishes at New York Chinese-American fusion restaurant Figure Eight. We look at this and other exciting new Asian food options in the city, from a Korean fried chicken specialist to an Indian restaurant. Photo: Figure Eight

Chris Dwyer

Published: 7:15pm, 29 Jul 2024Updated: 10:57pm, 29 Jul 2024

New York’s dining scene is known for its creative chefs who serve food from around the world.

While many of New York’s most authentic Asian restaurants are found in Flushing, in Queens, and Sunset Park and Bensonhurst in Brooklyn, here are four new openings in Manhattan flying the flag for South Korea, India, Japan and China.

1. Coqodaq

We had originally planned to dine at Cote, a steakhouse chain with Korean accents that has taken New York, Miami and Singapore by storm.

Coqodaq’s The Bucket List set, featuring Korean fried chicken. Photo: Coqodaq

However, a power outage there meant a last-minute transfer to its sister restaurant, Coqodaq. It is a few doors down, and one of the hottest tables in New York.

The dining room has light fixtures that resemble bamboo poles and the surface of the wall panels resembles the skin of fried chicken.

In Korea, chimaek refers to the pairing of fried chicken with beer, but at Coqodaq, champagne is popular.

There are more than 400 bottles on offer, 100 of them costing under US$100 each. As far as cocktails go, the Coqodaq-iri blends two types of rum with pisco, lime and hallabong, a mandarin native to Korea’s Jeju Island.