Unique Pan-Asian Dishes to Try in the UK (and Where to Find Them in Romford)

Pan-Asian cooking brings the food of many countries onto one menu — Japanese sushi, Thai curries, Chinese stir-fries, Indian-inspired grills. Across the UK it has become one of the best ways to eat out, especially for groups who want variety, bold flavour, and plates made for sharing.

Here are the Pan-Asian dishes worth seeking out, what makes each one special, and where to find them if you're dining in or around Romford.

What is Pan-Asian cuisine?

Pan-Asian cuisine combines dishes and techniques from across Asia — including Japan, Thailand, China, Korea, and India — on a single menu. Rather than sticking to one national style, it mixes ingredients and methods to create range. That's exactly why it suits sharing, and why it works for a table where everyone wants something different.

Colourful plated Pan-Asian dish at Minoa Romford, garnished and ready to serve

Unique Pan-Asian dishes to try

A few dishes show off what a good Pan-Asian kitchen does best:

Chicken gyoza. Japanese-style dumplings, pan-fried so the base turns golden and crisp while the top stays soft, filled with juicy seasoned chicken and served with a dipping sauce. They're the plate most tables end up ordering twice.

Veg tiger tear uramaki. An inside-out sushi roll with the seasoned rice on the outside and fresh vegetables and nori within. Light and crunchy — a real option for vegetarians who want more than a cucumber roll.

Tofu dumplings. Tofu, vegetables, and aromatic herbs folded into soft dough, then steamed or pan-fried. Proof that a vegetarian dumpling can carry as much flavour as any meat version.

Thai curries. From fragrant green curry to richer massaman, these balance heat, sweetness, and citrus in a way few other cuisines manage.

Dim sum and bao buns. Small steamed plates and soft filled buns, made for grazing across a long, social meal.

dumplings served with dipping sauce at Minoa Romford

Why Pan-Asian food is perfect for groups and celebrations

Planning dinner for a mixed group? A Pan-Asian menu quietly solves the problem of different tastes at one table:

• Variety — mild to fiery, light to rich, there's a dish for every palate.

• Sharing — sushi platters, dumplings, and mixed grills are built to pass around, which turns dinner into something social.

• Dietary range — vegetarian, vegan, and halal options sit comfortably alongside everything else, so nobody is left ordering off to the side.

Halal Pan-Asian dining in Romford

For diners who want Pan-Asian food without compromise, halal matters. At Minoa in Romford, the kitchen serves a fully halal Pan-Asian menu and never serves pork — so everyone in your group can order freely from the same menu. There's a full cocktail bar as well, for those who'd like it. Got a question about how a particular dish is prepared? Just ask the team when you book or arrive.

Where to eat Pan-Asian food near Romford and Essex

Minoa sits inside The City Pavilion on Collier Row Road, a short drive from across Romford, Ilford, and east London, with free on-site parking. The menu spans sushi, dumplings, curries, and grills, and the space works as well for a relaxed dinner as it does for a celebration — it's one of the largest dining and events venues in Essex, seating over 300 guests.

Ready to taste it for yourself? View the full menu or book a table. Planning something bigger? Explore private hire for birthdays, anniversaries, and group events.