10 Family-Favorite Asian Recipes For Every Taste!
Discover 10 easy, family-friendly Asian recipes—full of flavor, tradition, and warmth—to make mealtime special and bring everyone together at home.
There is something warm about cooking at home, especially when the kitchen is filled with an aroma of sautéed garlic, simmering broth, or bubbling sweet soy sauce cooking on the stovetop.
Asian cooking, with its richness of flavor and ritualistic nature, has such a lovely way of elevating ordinary meals to special occasions that it is worth discussing. And shared with family? All the more special.
Throughout most of Asia, food is not just about filling the belly—it’s about sharing. It’s about grandma teaching you the proper way to wrap dumplings, or the whole family sitting down together to roll up spring rolls before dinner.
These meals are not just tasty—they carry stories, warmth, and tradition in every bite.
If you’ve ever wanted to bring that same feeling into your own home, here’s a good place to start. These 10 family-loved recipes are full of flavor, easy to make, and most importantly, made to be shared.
Table of Contents
1. Chicken Teriyaki (Japan)
This salty-sweet classic is a weeknight favorite. And how do you make it? Sauté boneless chicken thighs in a pan until brown, then simmer in a mixture of soy sauce, mirin, sugar, and sake (or water).
The sauce cooks down into a shiny glaze bursting with flavor. Served over rice with steamed broccoli for a simple, comforting dinner that’s quick to make—and always a hit.
2. Pad Thai (Thailand)
Pad Thai is Thailand’s most beloved noodle dish—and for good reason. It’s the perfect balance of tangy and sweet. It is made with tamarind, crunchy peanuts, springy noodles, and sweet-savory sauce.
On top of that it is mixed with scrambled egg, bean sprouts, and your protein of choice (prawns or chicken are classics). All that you need for a colorful, crowd-pleasing meal.
3. Korean Beef Bulgogi (Korea)
This Korean dish is a hit that you must try. Thin strips of beef marinated in soy, garlic, sesame oil, and sugar translate to tender, caramelized pieces of perfection when pan-cooked or grilled. Bulgogi is a fun family meal when served DIY-style too with lettuce wraps, rice, and plenty of side dishes on the table so everyone can assemble their own bite. It’s Korean taco night ( sort of ).
4. Wonton Soup (China)
Wonton soup is a soothing and light treat—good for kids and adults alike. Wontons of pork or shrimp are cooked in a light broth flavored with ginger and garlic. It’s the Asian version of chicken noodle soup, and each household needs to have this in its pocket for indoor rainy days.
5. Vietnamese Spring Rolls (Vietnam)
These rice paper rolls are Vietnam’s favorite dish or at least these are high on the list. Filled with fresh vegetables, vermicelli noodles, herbs, and an occasional shrimp or tofu, they’re a healthy and flavorful family dinner to do together as a group.
Set up a roll-your-own station and witness everyone’s involvement—dinner is now a meal and an adventure at the same time!
6. Butter Chicken (India)
Light, creamy, and subtly flavored with warm spices, butter chicken is an easy choice for Indian cuisine beginners. Chicken is braised in rich tomato and cream sauce, which is perfect for dipping naan or spooning over basmati rice ( or doing both really ).
7. Japanese Curry (Japan)
Not all curry is hot—Japanese curry is a good case in point. It’s sweet, rich, and mild, topped with crispy breaded pork or chicken (katsu) cutlet. It’s a comfort meal much favored by kids and an instant hit at the dinner table in cold weather.
8. Fried Rice (All over Asia)
Every Asian kitchen has a fried rice variation, and it is always a lifesaver when there is leftover rice stored in the refrigerator. Mix in some eggs, soy sauce, chopped vegetables, and maybe some diced ham or prawns, and dinner in 15 minutes is ready. It is also a great way of getting more vegetables into the kids’ diet.
9. Dim Sum Dumplings (China)
Homemade dumplings is an activity the whole family can enjoy engaging in. Fill store-bought wrappers with a mix of minced pork, some garlic, ginger, spring onions, soy sauce, and sesame oil. Prawn and vegetable fillings like mushroom and cabbage can also be experimented with.
Seal each dumpling by folding it in half and pinching the edges. Steam them for 6–8 minutes or pan-fry until golden, then add a splash of water and cover to steam through.
Serve with a simple soy sauce and vinegar dip. And if you’re looking for speciality variations, visit a family-friendly restaurant that serves dim sum to explore new flavors and aromas.
10. Filipino Chicken Adobo (Philippines)
Savory, tangy, and ever so slightly sweet, chicken adobo is the Philippines’ national dish for a reason. It’s an easy recipe made by braising chicken in vinegar, soy sauce, garlic, bay leaves, and peppercorns. Such basic ingredients yet massive flavor. Eat it over hot rice, with the sauce lapped up like gravy.
Conclusion
These Asian dishes aren’t just delicious—they’re made for sharing. Whether you’re passing plates around the table or going back for seconds, they turn mealtime into something more.
These dishes are also super adaptable: swap proteins, heat up or down, or make them veggie—it’s easy to suit every dietary need at the table.And on those nights when cooking feels like too much, heading out to a family friendly restaurant can offer the same comforting flavours with none of the cleanup.
Whether home-cooked or eaten out, these meals are designed to bring people together. And that’s what makes them unforgettable.