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Where to Celebrate AAPI Heritage Month in New York City
April 17, 2025, 4:31.20 pm ET

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Photo: Demo and Dine/James Beard Foundation

Each May, Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month invites New Yorkers to reflect, honor, and—let’s be real—eat. From delicate dumplings to seafood kissed by curry, the city’s AAPI-owned restaurants and events are speaking volumes through their plates. And there’s no better way to celebrate culture than with a fork in hand.


Photo: James Beard Foundation

Sugar, Spice, and Solidarity
On Sunday, May 4, head to Market 57 at Pier 57 for the Shop and Eat: AAPI Heritage Month Bake Sale, where New York’s AAPI pastry chefs, bakers, and culinary creatives gather for one deeply delicious afternoon. Expect small-batch sweets from standouts like Bessou, Breaking Bao, Brooklyn Fare and Bánh by Lauren, along with drinks from Makku, Lucky Ox and Lunar Hard Seltzer. It's a bake sale with purpose—ticket proceeds support Heart of Dinner, the nonprofit delivering care packages to NYC’s elderly Asian American community. Tickets are $25 here

From Taiwan With Love (and Cheese Tea)
Curious about Taiwanese food beyond bubble tea? On Wednesday, May 7, chef and food stylist Jessie YuChen invites diners to explore the bold, viral, and deeply nostalgic flavors of Taiwan. At their Demo and Dine at Market 57, guests will sample staples from the Night Markets of Tapai like popcorn chicken and cheese tea, paired with Taiwanese craft beer from Ugly Half Beer. It’s equal parts education and indulgence, no passport required. Tickets are $95 here


Photo: Market 57

New Opening, Big Flavor
Fresh to Market 57, Essex Pearl reimagines the lobster roll through a Southeast Asian lens, topping it with crispy shallots and loading it into a toasted brioche bun. As an AAPI-owned spot focused on coastal Southeast Asian flavors, Essex Pearl joins a culinary lineup curated by the James Beard Foundation and dedicated to platforming women- and BIPOC-owned businesses. [See our interview with Chef Daniel Le]


Photo: Restaurant Yuu

Tables Worth Booking Now
If tasting is a form of storytelling, these AAPI chefs are writing some of the city’s most compelling chapters.

Restaurant Yuu in Greenpoint is redefining omakase. Chef Yuu Shimano’s 13-course French-Japanese tasting earned a Michelin star in just six months. One bite and it’s easy to see why.


Photo: Ippudo v

Ippudo V in Dumbo, the first vegan outpost of the ramen empire, proves there’s no meat needed for a soul-warming slurp. Founder Shigemi Kawahara brings decades of noodle know-how into this entirely plant-based bowl.


Photo: ISHQ

ISHQ in the East Village is where regional Indian flavors go to glow up. Chef Vamshi Adi’s Bib Gourmand-awarded menu spotlights dishes from Awadh to Adi's home of Hyderabad, served beneath soft lights and floral fixtures.


Photo: Hortus NYC

Hortus NYC in NoMad has long been one of the city’s best-kept secrets for pan-Asian cuisine. Under Managing Partner Suhum Jang, the menu blends Chinese, Korean, Japanese, and Southeast Asian flavors—and the garden patio upstairs? A springtime dream.

Whether you’re diving into a lobster roll at the pier, sipping cheese tea under the skyline, or savoring a 13-course feast in Brooklyn, there are countless ways to experience AAPI Heritage Month across NYC. This May, support the chefs and bakers shaping New York’s food scene—one plate, one pastry, one unforgettable meal at a time.



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