Best Asian Restaurants in Galveston, TX

Galveston has eight currently-open Asian restaurants spread across the island, covering Vietnamese, Chinese, Thai, Japanese, and Indian food. This guide covers the island proper — from the East End ferry landing west to around 100th Street — and leaves out Bolivar Peninsula, Jamaica Beach, and the mainland. Every restaurant below was confirmed open on its own official website or official social page in October 2026.

The short list

• Vietnamese pho on a weeknight: Pho Tai, Broadway and 37th St, family-owned and one of the island's longest-running spots.
• Biggest menu: Pho 20, with pho in more than a dozen styles, bubble tea in seven flavors, and a dedicated vegetarian section.
• Seawall view with your banh mi: Viet Cajun at 8910 Seawall Blvd, the only Asian restaurant on the Seawall.
• Oldest dining room: Happy Buddha on 61st Street, open since 1972 with Polynesian cocktails still on the menu.
• Reliable Chinese: China Sea on Broadway, consistently rated the island's top Chinese spot.
• The one dish you can't get on the Houston side: The Garden Thai's Crab Pad Thai — jumbo lump crab and a whole soft-shell crab, in the Strand historic district.
• Sushi with longevity: Yamato on 61st Street, open since 1988, fish flown in three times a week.
• Indian food: Curry Lounge near the ferry landing, the first Indian restaurant on Galveston Island, opened March 2025.

How we define Galveston

This guide covers restaurants within Galveston city limits on Galveston Island — from the East End ferry area heading west toward 100th Street. It does not include Bolivar Peninsula, Jamaica Beach, or other Galveston County cities. If you're driving from Houston, the day trips from Houston guide covers ferry schedule and parking logistics.

Vietnamese

Pho Tai — Midtown, near 37th Street

3728 Broadway Ave J, Galveston

Pho Tai is one of the most established Vietnamese restaurants on the island, family-owned and typically open Monday through Friday. The draw is the broth: the House Special Pho Dac Biet comes with brisket, tendon, tripe, and two kinds of meatballs. The Vietnamese coffee is a serious secondary reason to go.

Order: House Special Pho Dac Biet, grilled honey chicken with fried rice, Vietnamese egg rolls. Typically open 11 AM to 8 PM, Monday through Saturday — check the official site before you go.

Pho 20 — East End / Central Broadway

2101 Broadway Ave J, Galveston

Pho 20 runs an extensive menu, unusual for a pho house. It covers pho in more than a dozen styles, Mi Xao Don (crispy fried egg noodles — the standout dish by most accounts), Banh Xeo (Vietnamese crepe), and bubble tea in seven flavors. Pho 20 is the only place on the island serving bubble tea. The menu has a dedicated vegetarian section — tofu dishes, vegetable stir-fries, and build-your-own pho — making it a reliable call for mixed groups.

Order: Mi Xao Don, any of the 13 pho styles, Banh Xeo. Typically open Monday through Saturday, 11 AM to 9 PM.

Viet Cajun — Seawall Boulevard

8910 Seawall Blvd Suite E, Galveston

The only Asian restaurant on the Seawall, Viet Cajun does Vietnamese soul food — banh mi, pho, vermicelli bowls — alongside Gulf Coast crawfish boils in citrus butter and garlic. The charbroiled pork banh mi is the standout item.

Order: Charbroiled pork banh mi, salt and pepper wings, meatball pho. In season, the live crawfish boil. Typically open seven days a week — check the official site for current hours and holiday schedules.

Chinese

Happy Buddha — 61st Street

2827 61st Street, Galveston

Happy Buddha has been operating since 1972, making it easily the oldest continuously-operating Asian restaurant on the island. The menu is traditional Cantonese and Mandarin — Char Shew Pan, Fantail Shrimp, General Tso's Chicken — and it comes with a full bar running Polynesian cocktails, a direct throwback to the tiki-lounge era in which the restaurant opened. Typically open daily.

Order: Cantonese Delight (shrimp, chicken, and beef stir-fried with vegetables), Char Shew Pan (roasted pork with vegetables), Fantail Shrimp. The Polynesian cocktail menu is worth a look.

China Sea — Central Broadway

4402 Broadway Street, Galveston

China Sea consistently rates as the island's top Chinese restaurant on local guides. The egg rolls and Mongolian Beef get the most specific praise. No frills — reliable execution in a diner-style dining room. Typically open Monday through Saturday.

Order: Crab Meat and Cheese Fried Wonton, Mongolian Beef, Hunan Chicken, Pork Fried Rice.

Thai

The Garden Thai Cuisine — The Strand Historic District

216 Tremont Street (23rd Street rear), Galveston

The Garden Thai is the only dedicated Thai restaurant on Galveston Island. The signature dish is the Crab Pad Thai — loaded with jumbo lump crab meat and a whole fried soft-shell crab on top — a combination that has no equivalent in the Houston Thai restaurant scene. The Thai Boat Noodle Soup, a spicy beef broth with braised beef and meatballs, is the second must-order.

Order: Crab Pad Thai (the signature; the reason to come here specifically), Thai Boat Noodle Soup, Khao Soi, Penang Curry, Mango Sticky Rice in season.

Typically open for lunch and dinner with a mid-afternoon break on weekdays. Hours vary — check the official site before going.

Japanese and sushi

There is no dedicated Korean restaurant on Galveston Island as of October 2026. The nearest Korean BBQ options are in the Clear Lake and Webster areas on the mainland.

Yamato Japanese Restaurant — 61st Street

2104 61st Street, Galveston

Yamato has been operating on the island since 1988, over 35 years. The kitchen flies in sushi-grade fish three times a week from international suppliers. Hibachi tables and a sushi bar share the same room, so a group can split styles without splitting tables. Currently dinner only — no lunch service.

Order: Tuna Tartare with toasted pine nuts, Rock and Roll Special (tempura shrimp, pickled mango, avocado in soy paper), fresh sashimi sampler. Typically open Sunday through Thursday 5 to 9:30 PM, Friday and Saturday until 10 PM.

The best sushi in Galveston guide covers the full sushi picture across the island.

Indian

Curry Lounge Indo Chinese Cuisine — East End / Ferry District

502 Ferry Road, Galveston

Curry Lounge opened in March 2025 as the first and only Indian restaurant on Galveston Island. It covers both traditional Indian curries and Indo-Chinese fusion — a distinct cuisine popular across South Asia that blends Indian flavors with Chinese cooking methods. The Chili Chicken, Gobi Manchurian (crispy cauliflower in a savory sauce), and Chicken Lollipop come from the Indo-Chinese side. Vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free options appear throughout the menu.

Order: Butter Chicken (the top seller), Chicken Tikka Masala, Goat Biryani, Gobi Manchurian. Closed Tuesdays; check the official site for current hours before going.

Tip: The location near the Galveston–Port Bolivar ferry dock keeps weekday hours reliably busy even on quiet island days.

How we chose

Each restaurant had to show a current open status on its own official website or an official listing page (VisitGalveston.com, the restaurant's own social media). Restaurants where we could not find an active official presence were not included — several candidates from older lists fell out for that reason alone, including Pho Saigon, Golden Palace, Star Asia, and New Lucky Garden. Happy Buddha's 1972 origin date comes from its VisitGalveston directory listing; current hours were confirmed through the same source. All hours are typical as of October 2026 and change seasonally. Check the official site before you drive.

Save this: a Galveston Asian food day

Galveston's Asian restaurants cluster in three parts of the island, making it easy to plan by neighborhood.

Strand and Downtown: Lunch or dinner at The Garden Thai on Tremont for the Crab Pad Thai — the signature dish you won't find anywhere in Houston.

61st Street corridor: Dinner at Yamato for sashimi and hibachi. Walk to Happy Buddha for a Polynesian cocktail to close out.

Broadway and Midtown: Lunch at Pho 20 for pho and bubble tea, then China Sea a short drive east for a second stop.

Seawall: Viet Cajun at 8910 Seawall for the banh mi and a Gulf view.

If you want Korean BBQ: Head to Clear Lake on the way back to Houston — dedicated Korean options are about 30 minutes north.

For the broader Galveston dining picture, see our Galveston day trip guide and the best brunch in Galveston. For a comparison to the Vietnamese scene in Houston, best Vietnamese restaurants in Houston is the benchmark.

Last verified: October 2026.

Frequently asked questions

What are the best Asian restaurants in Galveston TX?

Galveston has eight verified-open Asian restaurants as of October 2026: three Vietnamese (Pho Tai, Pho 20, Viet Cajun), two Chinese (Happy Buddha, China Sea), one Thai (The Garden Thai Cuisine), one Japanese sushi bar (Yamato), and one Indian (Curry Lounge Indo Chinese Cuisine).

Is there a Korean restaurant in Galveston TX?

There is no dedicated Korean restaurant on Galveston Island as of October 2026. The nearest Korean BBQ options are in the Clear Lake and Webster areas, about 30 minutes north on the mainland.

What is the only Thai restaurant in Galveston?

The Garden Thai Cuisine at 216 Tremont Street in the Strand Historic District is the only dedicated Thai restaurant on Galveston Island. Its Crab Pad Thai — topped with jumbo lump crab and a whole soft-shell crab — is the signature dish.

How long has Happy Buddha been open in Galveston?

Happy Buddha at 2827 61st Street has been operating since 1972, making it the oldest continuously-operating Asian restaurant on Galveston Island. The full bar still serves Polynesian cocktails from the same era.

Is there Indian food in Galveston TX?

Yes. Curry Lounge Indo Chinese Cuisine at 502 Ferry Road opened in March 2025 as the first and only Indian restaurant on Galveston Island. It serves traditional Indian curries alongside Indo-Chinese fusion dishes like Gobi Manchurian and Chili Chicken.

Which Asian restaurant in Galveston is on the Seawall?

Viet Cajun at 8910 Seawall Blvd Suite E is the only Asian restaurant on Seawall Boulevard. It serves Vietnamese banh mi, pho, and vermicelli bowls alongside Gulf Coast crawfish boils.