17 Asian recipes that will have you counting down to mealtime

Photo of author

| Published:

Who says waiting for dinner has to feel like forever? These Asian-inspired dishes might just have you checking the clock more often than you’d like to admit, hoping time moves faster. From bold stir-fries to fulfilling soups, each one brings enough excitement to make you rethink your usual dinner lineup. These recipes aren’t just meals—they’re the main event your day has been waiting for.

Close-up of Cashew Chicken featuring tender chicken, broccoli, edamame, cashews, and red bell peppers. This delightful dish is topped with sesame seeds and served over a bed of rice.
Cashew Chicken. Photo credit: My Reliable Recipes.

Orange Chicken

A bowl of crispy tofu coated in sesame sauce, garnished with green onions and sesame seeds, served on a bed of lettuce.
Orange Chicken. Photo credit: Hungry Cooks Kitchen.

Delivering the perfect mix of crispy and tangy, Orange Chicken is a dinner that feels both indulgent and comforting. Each bite hits the sweet spot, making it impossible not to reach for more. It’s one of those dishes that disappears almost too quickly, leaving you planning your next excuse to whip it up. With this on the menu, mealtime can’t come soon enough.
Get the Recipe: Orange Chicken

Thai Coconut Shrimp Curry

Close-up of a shrimp curry dish with rice, topped with black sesame seeds and chopped green onions.
Thai Coconut Shrimp Curry. Photo credit: Pocket Friendly Recipes.

Creamy, rich, and absolutely packed with flavor, Thai Coconut Shrimp Curry takes dinner to a level that feels almost celebratory. The balance of spice and depth keeps every spoonful exciting, making it a dish you’ll think about long after the last bite. It’s hard not to glance at the clock, counting down the minutes until it’s ready to be served. Meals like this prove that the wait is always worth it.
Get the Recipe: Thai Coconut Shrimp Curry

Sesame Chicken

A close-up of glazed chicken pieces with sesame seeds and chopped scallions on a bed of rice.
Sesame Chicken. Photo credit: Hungry Cooks Kitchen.

Bold, crispy, and completely addictive, Sesame Chicken has a way of making even the busiest weeknight feel special. That perfect crunch paired with a bold sauce ensures it’s anything but boring. Every bite is a reminder of why this dish is always a crowd favorite. Sharing might not be easy with this one, so plan accordingly.
Get the Recipe: Sesame Chicken

Tom Yum Soup

Close-up of a spicy tom yum soup with shrimp, mushrooms, tomato chunks, lime wedge, and chopped herbs in a rich, red broth.
Tom Yum Soup. Photo credit: My Reliable Recipes.

Packed with spice and warmth, Tom Yum Soup brings a comforting heat that turns any mealtime into an experience. Its bold flavors and aromatic broth make every spoonful feel like something to enjoy. As you wait for it to be ready, the anticipation builds, knowing what’s coming is more than worth the time. With this soup, dinner quickly becomes the highlight of the day.
Get the Recipe: Tom Yum Soup

Kung Pao Chicken

A close-up of a stir-fry dish featuring pieces of chicken, snap peas, red bell peppers, scallions, and black sesame seeds.
Kung Pao Chicken. Photo credit: Pocket Friendly Recipes.

Bringing just the right amount of spice and crunch, Kung Pao Chicken is the perfect dish to shake up your dinner routine. The balance of flavors ensures every bite is as good as the last, keeping you hooked from start to finish. It’s the kind of meal that makes you wonder why you don’t have it on the table more often. Fair warning: leftovers are unlikely to survive the night.
Get the Recipe: Kung Pao Chicken

Shrimp Tempura

A bowl of crispy fried shrimp with slices of green onions and jalapeños.
Shrimp Tempura. Photo credit: Hungry Cooks Kitchen.

Light, crispy, and undeniably rewarding, Shrimp Tempura knows how to steal the spotlight at the table. Its perfect balance of texture and flavor makes it a dish you’ll look forward to every single time. As soon as it’s served, it’s hard not to dive right in, knowing these crispy bites won’t last long. Whether it’s a snack or part of a bigger spread, it always leaves you wanting more.
Get the Recipe: Shrimp Tempura

Kimchi Stew

Close-up of a wooden spoon in a vibrant kimchi stew with tofu and pork, garnished with sliced green onions and red pepper flakes.
Kimchi Stew. Photo credit: My Reliable Recipes.

Bold, vibrant, and packed with heat, Kimchi Stew is the kind of dish that turns up the excitement at mealtime. Each spoonful delivers a depth of flavor that feels like a warm hug, even on the coldest days. Waiting for dinner when this is cooking feels like the ultimate test of patience. Once it’s on the table, there’s no doubt it will be the highlight of the night.
Get the Recipe: Kimchi Stew

Sweet And Sour Sauce

A spoon rests inside a glass jar filled with a thick, brown liquid.
Sweet And Sour Sauce. Photo credit: Hungry Cooks Kitchen.

Adding just the right balance of tangy and sweet, Sweet And Sour Sauce takes any meal from good to unforgettable. Whether drizzled or dipped, it has a way of making every bite pop with flavor. Anticipating a meal featuring this sauce feels like counting down to a special treat. It’s the kind of addition that quickly becomes a staple in your rotation.
Get the Recipe: Sweet And Sour Sauce

Chicken And Broccoli Stir Fry

Close-up of a stir-fry dish with chicken, broccoli, mushrooms, and sesame seeds, coated in a soy-based sauce.
Chicken And Broccoli Stir Fry. Photo credit: My Reliable Recipes.

Perfect for a quick and flavorful dinner, Chicken And Broccoli Stir Fry hits all the marks for a go-to meal. The tender chicken and crisp broccoli create a pairing that feels both hearty and fresh. It’s hard not to look forward to this dish, knowing how it delivers on both taste and ease. Bonus points for how well it handles leftovers, though they rarely stick around.
Get the Recipe: Chicken And Broccoli Stir Fry

Asian Style Pork Chops

Close-up of sliced grilled pork belly garnished with sesame seeds and green chili, served on a bed of kale.
Asian Style Pork Chops. Photo credit: Pocket Friendly Recipes.

Juicy, tender, and bursting with flavor, Asian Style Pork Chops are the upgrade your dinner lineup needs. They turn any meal into an occasion, with their bold taste leaving a lasting impression. When these are on the grill or stove, the countdown to dinner feels especially long. Trust me, once you try them, they’ll be in your regular rotation.
Get the Recipe: Asian Style Pork Chops

Sushi Bake

A dish of loaded fries inspired by sushi bake, topped with avocado slices, diced cucumbers, green onions, sesame seeds, and drizzled with sauce.
Sushi Bake. Photo credit: My Reliable Recipes.

A layered masterpiece, Sushi Bake offers all the fun of sushi without the rolling, making it a meal worth anticipating. The flavors come together in a way that feels indulgent, yet surprisingly approachable. As it bakes, the aroma alone will have you setting the table early. Once it’s served, good luck resisting a second helping.
Get the Recipe: Sushi Bake

Thai Drunken Noodles

A colorful dish of shrimp stir-fry with noodles, vegetables, and sesame seeds, garnished with basil leaves and green onions. Chopsticks rest on the dish.
Thai Drunken Noodles. Photo credit: Pocket Friendly Recipes.

Spicy, bold, and endlessly rewarding, Thai Drunken Noodles are the kind of meal that makes you forget about takeout. The perfect combination of noodles and flavor means every bite hits just right. It’s a dish that’s quick to make and even quicker to disappear from your plate. Waiting for this to hit the table feels like the ultimate test of patience.
Get the Recipe: Thai Drunken Noodles

Easy Bibimbap

A bowl of bibimbap with sliced beef, egg yolk, carrots, cucumber, greens, and bean sprouts, topped with sesame seeds and red sauce.
Easy Bibimbap. Photo credit: My Reliable Recipes.

With its vibrant mix of textures and flavors, Easy Bibimbap makes dinnertime feel a little more exciting. It’s customizable, fun, and perfect for when you want something that feels a bit special. Watching the final dish come together only adds to the anticipation of digging in. Once you’ve tried it, it’s hard not to think about the next time you’ll make it.
Get the Recipe: Easy Bibimbap

Grilled Thai Chicken Skewers

Thai chicken skewers topped with a creamy sauce and garnished with chopped herbs and peanuts, served over a bed of white rice.
Grilled Thai Chicken Skewers. Photo credit: Pocket Friendly Recipes.

Smoky, flavorful, and easy to enjoy, Grilled Thai Chicken Skewers are a meal that brings fun to the table. Whether you’re serving them for a weeknight dinner or a casual gathering, they never fail to impress. The aroma while they grill makes waiting almost unbearable, but the end result is always worth it. Just be prepared for them to disappear faster than you expected.
Get the Recipe: Grilled Thai Chicken Skewers

Easy Chow Mein

A close-up view of a plate of chow mein stir-fried noodles with vegetables and black sesame seeds, with chopsticks visibly picking up a portion.
Easy Chow Mein. Photo credit: Pocket Friendly Recipes.

Quick, delicious, and always fulfilling, Easy Chow Mein is a dish that earns its spot in your regular meal rotation. Its simple preparation and bold flavors make it perfect for busy nights when you still want something exciting. You might find yourself checking the clock as you wait, counting down to that first bite. Once it’s ready, it’s a guaranteed hit with anyone at the table.
Get the Recipe: Easy Chow Mein

Korean Corn Dogs

Several breaded and fried corn dogs on sticks, drizzled with mustard and ketchup, placed on white crumpled paper.
Korean Corn Dogs. Photo credit: Pocket Friendly Recipes.

Crispy, fun, and a little over-the-top, Korean Corn Dogs turn mealtime into a playful experience. The crunchy exterior combined with its bold filling creates a snack that’s hard to resist. These are the kind of treats that make you wish dinnertime came around more often. Fair warning: they’re so good, you might want to make extra.
Get the Recipe: Korean Corn Dogs

Cashew Chicken

Close-up of Cashew Chicken featuring tender chicken, broccoli, edamame, cashews, and red bell peppers. This delightful dish is topped with sesame seeds and served over a bed of rice.
Cashew Chicken. Photo credit: My Reliable Recipes.

Balancing textures and bold flavors, Cashew Chicken is a dish that delivers on all fronts. It’s hearty enough to satisfy, yet flavorful enough to leave you wanting more after every bite. Knowing this is on the menu makes waiting for dinner feel like an exercise in patience. One taste, and it’s easy to see why it’s such a popular favorite.
Get the Recipe: Cashew Chicken

Leave a Comment

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.