Restaurants, Far East, "Edinburgh"

Small and staunchly independent, Tollcross gem Passorn is now approaching its fourth birthday. Owner Cindy Sritsotorn has carved out a niche among larger and longer-established haunts by holding true to her passion for good cooking and uncompromising…

An inconspicuous door and narrow staircase lead you down to the four small, connected stone–walled rooms that form Shilla, which is clearly popular with Edinburgh’s Eastern Asian community who seem to take precedence with the serving staff. You’ll…

Sushiya is Edinburgh’s bite-sized taste of Tokyo, as tiny, bright and inviting as the futo maki sushi. With only 25 covers it is undeniably small, but the stylish, minimalist interior keeps the feel spacious even when it’s busy and there’s a steady…

Down in a West End basement, Songkran is in its tenth year of serving local professionals and those patrons who look hard enough to find it. The small venue maintains a very personal operation through staff that make that extra effort and does a brisk…

Oishii is everything you would expect from a Japanese restaurant, from its shining black walls and benches to the red accents and white paper lanterns in the window. Take a seat at the sushi bar and watch Chef Katsuo deftly fold, roll and slice…

A perennial player in the mix of Edinburgh's top Thai restaurants, Dusit proves that consistency needn’t be dull, dishing up the same brand of polished, Thai fine dining in the heart of city for over a decade. Nestled on Thistle Street away from the…

Lying just far enough outside the city centre to be considered off the beaten track, Causewayside is never the less blessed with some decent dining options, of which Celadon is one of the best. The atmosphere is casual but homely thanks to some rustic…

The convivial Sampans restaurant within Edinburgh's Holiday Inn is a smart and inviting space with a straightforward menu of Oriental favourites. Pale woods and zingy walls give the restaurant a modern, uncluttered feel, with an airy glass frontage that…

In a new home or a restaurant, basements have a reputation for being filled with flotsam and jetsam, with just the occasional gem showing up how a well an underground space can be used – Ruan Siam is one such space. While intimate, fairy-lit nooks will…

Situated just a quick sidestep off of the Royal Mile, Thai Orchid could be forgiven for trading on its tourist friendly site. However, aside from its unassuming decor, the laughing Buddhas and bamboo screens that seem rather kitsch, everything else…

Sporting a fresh lick of paint and a new menu, Sing Thai sits at the top of a small flight of steps in Stockbridge’s cosmopolitan St. Stephen’s Street. Run by a husband and wife team, this cosy restaurant has built up a strong reputation with locals for…

Absolute Thai is an unassuming treasure. On stepping through the curtained doorway, diners feel sequestered from the outside world. The restaurant may be small, but the limited space makes for a feeling of cosy intimacy with small touches of kitsch…

Zen kitchen serves up unique pan-Asian cuisine. The premises are bright and sleekly designed and the well-laid out menu outlines cooking times, spice levels and potential allergies as well as identifying the origin of each dish. The menu includes small…

Veteran restaurateur Bill Parkinson has been in the business for 46 years and it shows. Service is a speciality: he wants people to relax while they eat. If you’re enjoying his pre-theatre menu before heading across the road to the Playhouse you might…

Bar Soba on Hanover Street is the Edinburgh outpost of a successful Glasgow chain, born of the unusual idea that a pan-Asian noodle kitchen might fit nicely in a busy pre-club venue. Upstairs is the bar, with graffitied walls, trendy DJs and omnipresent…

Entering from the grey Georgian slope of North Castle Street, the immediate impression fostered by the distractingly named Time 4 Thai is that of a well-turned-out place. The designers pursued a purple theme, with folded plum napkins, mauve chairs and a…

Run by the gregarious Stephanie Lo, Wok and Wine occupies a particular niche at the more elaborate end of Edinburgh’s Chinese dining scene. Beige walls, potted plants and long tablecloths give an upper-crust air that disguises its basement location, and…

Slap bang in the middle of busy South Bridge, noodle bar Yocoko has developed a knack for packing 'em in. The location is one factor, bringing in a steady stream from tourists at lunchtime to late-night revellers taking advantage of the 11.30pm closing…