How to Celebrate Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month in St. Louis

The month of May is a special time to amplify and celebrate the important role that Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders have played in our shared history.

In St. Louis, attending Chinese Culture Days at the Missouri Botanical Garden is one of the most enticing – and the most exciting – ways to honor Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month. On May 3 and 4, the Garden will come to life with Chinese pageantry, music, dance and art. At the event, you can also immerse yourself in the history and legends of China while savoring traditional cuisine.

To experience other flavors from local Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders, snag a seat at one of these delicious eateries:

Curry puffs, kao soi and pad Thai – Aubergine Cafe has all the crowd-pleasers. Within walking distance of Busch Stadium and Gateway Arch National Park, it’s the perfect place to tame your hunger as you explore downtown St. Louis.

Inspired by kala namak, a cherished spice in India, Black Salt puts a bold twist on classic Indian cuisine. Committed to exceptional ingredients, dynamic flavors and generous portions, the fine-dining experience is nothing short of extraordinary. Start with a spread of samosa chaat, tandoori chicken salad and lamb seekh kebab, followed by harmonious mains such as korma chicken, butter paneer and ajwaini bhindi. Every meal balances tradition and innovation, and we recommend rounding it out with truffle-garlic naan.

Experience the rich culinary culture of China at Cate Zone in Chesterfield, Missouri. Using traditional cooking techniques and high-quality ingredients, the chefs meticulously prepare Chinese specialties such as hong shao pai gu (red braised pork ribs), Chengdu chicken, Sichuan boiled beef and kung pao shrimp. Herbivores will also delight in soybean paste eggplant, garlic bok choy and dried bean curd with jalapeños.

ChiliSpot will fire you up! From mapo tofu to pork knuckle and lamb spine to frog legs, the traditional restaurant offers spicy Sichuan cuisine for the adventurous eaters among us.

Fork & Stix, a casual Thai restaurant in the Delmar Loop, serves the best khao soi in town. It also specializes in dishes from the Northeast region of Thailand – think som tum, a salad made from shredded green papaya, and khao niao mamuang, a luscious seasonal dessert prepared with steamed sticky rice, fresh mango, sweetened coconut milk and palm sugar.

At Indo, chef Nick Bognar melds Thai flavors and Japanese techniques to honor his family’s heritage and create magic in the kitchen. Hamachi crudo, palm sugar ribs, shrimp toast, crab fried rice, lamb tartare – every flavor tells a story.

For two decades, Kim’s Bakery has been baking by hand using all-natural ingredients. Visits to the family-owned and -operated business shouldn’t be rushed, and if it’s your first time, we recommend starting with chestnut milk bread, white bean paste pastries, black tea cookies and coconut chips, along with anything else that strikes your fancy.

Using fresh ingredients to create complex Asian flavors, Kimchi Guys will delight your taste buds with classic dishes – think tteokbokki, bibimbap and Korean fried chicken any way you want it.

Dim sum is a social experience, best enjoyed with a group of your favorite travel companions. Along Olive Boulevard, you’ll find a slew of dim sum spots, including Lu Lu Seafood & Dim Sum, which consistently draws crowds of epicures.

Launched in 1985 as the first Vietnamese restaurant in St. Louis, Mai Lee serves more than 200 dishes, each with its own distinct flavor. Don’t let its humble strip mall setting fool you – this family restaurant led by Qui Tran was a James Beard Award Semifinalist for Outstanding Restaurant in 2020.

After spending three years in Japan honing his skills, Steven Pursley launched his own ramen shop in St. Louis. Menya Rui serves housemade noodles, including ramen, tsukemen (dipping ramen) and mazemen (broth-less ramen), alongside appetizers such as cucumber salad and karaage (Japanese fried chicken). Reminiscent of ramen shops in Japan, the space is snug. The dining area is 960 square feet, with seating for 25 to 30 people, who are willing to wait in a line outside the building to get a taste of Pursley’s creations – they’re that good!

Slurping is encouraged at Nudo House. Alongside spicy kimchi, aromatic pho and comforting bánh mì, the restaurant dishes out steaming bowls of rich ramen. Since its inception, chef-owner Qui Tran has refined the menu, and today, one of the most popular noodle dishes is Shroomed Out, featuring mushroom broth, king oyster mushrooms, bok choy, menma (bamboo shoots), Ajitsuke Tamago (ramen egg) and black garlic.

Poke bowls are the star of the menu at PokeDoke, as evidenced by its name. Build your own bowl with ingredients such as rice or noodles, spicy tuna or tofu, avocado, edamame, kimchi, mango and seaweed.

Another curated concept from Nick Bognar, Sado offers impeccable sushi, nigiri and sashimi on The Hill. Don’t sleep on the madai (clean, bright, citrusy sea bream), masu (mild, slightly sweet ocean trout) and sake toro (fatty, oily, bold salmon belly). Although raw fish is the main draw, we encourage you to diversify your table with a miso-ginger salad, Japanese pumpkin doused in green curry sauce, black tiger prawn tempura and salmon yaki.

A central mural, cultural masks and wooden crafts set the scene at Sen Thai in downtown St. Louis. The restaurant, menu and staff capture the essence of Thailand, including the country’s spiritual devotion, kind people and spicy food. The menu is extensive – and everything is tasty – so you should be able to satisfy any craving.

Influencing public perceptions of Indian food, Turmeric reflects India’s widely diverse cuisine, which owner Ranjul Dayal says changes every 100 to 200 kilometers. Located in the Delmar Loop, the vibrant restaurant dazzles diners with in-house creations such as the rack of New Zealand spring lamb marinated in spices and herbs, baked in a tandoor with Dijon mustard and served with mint rogan sauce. Turmeric also has a location in the food hall at City Foundry STL, where you can build your own kathi rolls, dosa rolls and rice bowls with proteins such as paneer taka tak, Chettinad mushroom and Andhra chili chicken. 

Other St. Louis residents, including Min Jung Kim of the Saint Louis Art Museum, Lars Nootbaar of the St. Louis Cardinals and Fionna Gemzon of None of the Above, are leaving their mark on St. Louis. Digging into their stories and enjoying their curated experiences is a wonderful way to celebrate Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month.

If you find yourself in Forest Park, we recommend visiting the refreshed and revamped 1904 World’s Fair exhibit at the Missouri History Museum, as well. To paint a complete picture of the historic event, the Missouri Historical Society has delved into the Filipino experience, among other wonderful yet complex aspects of the fair.

Throughout the month, St. Louis County Library will also host more than 20 programs for all ages, including art events, film discussions and cooking demonstrations. You can practice origami, try bubble tea, watch Turning Red, make fresh spring rolls, join a Demon Slayer video game tournament, learn about the Hawaiian lunar calendar and more.

We hope that these ideas inspire you to connect with St. Louis’ historical and cultural narrative, which has been influenced by the world.