Asia's Weirdest Restaurants

Eating dinner in a tree pod is unusual for sure, but that’s nothing compared to a medical-themed restaurant with drinks served from an IV drip bottle! Asia might be the world’s weirdest continent when it comes to outrageously themed dining spots. Only here can you eat dinner sitting on a toilet seat, snack on insect tapas, and dine in a sex toy-themed restaurant. No Asia tour is complete without trying at least one of these bizarre and amusing restaurants. Here are Asia’s most weird and wonderful restaurants. Pitch Black Restaurant in China Dine in the dark in this Beijing restaurant, where waiters in military-grade night vision goggles greet you at the door. You’ll take your meal in complete darkness. By starving your sense of sight, your sense of taste and smell will be stimulated to full alert. You may find that your food will taste like it's never tasted before. Friends the Restaurant in Cambodia This innovative restaurant was founded by a former street kid in Phnom Penh, who now hires and trains marginalized Cambodian youth here. The street kids make wonderful food while learning the skills to build successful careers. The colourful restaurant is a popular stop on many Asia tours, and it’s earned a reputation for its legendary frozen shakes and daiquiris, as well as its delicious blend of Asian and Western style tapas. Robot Restaurant in China Robots cook dumplings and noodles, and wait tables at this futuristic restaurant in Harbin, China. As diners enjoy their food, a singing robot entertains them. There are 20 robots working at the restaurant, each was designed and built by a local firm. This restaurant marks a new chapter of artificial intelligence in hospitality - you heard it here first! Graveyard Restaurant in India They say the food at the New Lucky Restaurant in Ahmedabad, India is to die for... which would make sense since the bustling restaurant is built on top of a graveyard. Erected in the middle of an old Muslim cemetery, New Lucky Restaurant is known for its milky tea and buttery rolls. Owner Krishan Kutti Nair thinks the location is good for business. “The graveyard is good luck. Our business is better because of it,” he says. Cannibalistic Restaurant in Japan Nyotaimori (which literally means "female body plate" in Japanese) is the name of the Tokyo restaurant that serves sushi and sashimi on a naked woman's body. The Japanese practice of nyotaimori – serving sushi on a naked body – is said to have its origins in the samurai period in Japan. In some restaurants, the body is actually made from food and placed on a table, much like on a surgeon's table in a hospital. Patrons can cut into the body which even bleeds. But fear not, everything is completely edible.

Bugs Café in Cambodia Bugs Café is the first ever insect tapas restaurant in Siem Reap. They’re on a mission to show people that insects can be delicious! Adventurous eaters can consume crickets, scorpions, grasshoppers, ants, bees, silkworms, spiders and more, combined with quality Khmer and Western products and seasonings. Afraid to eat a creepy critter? Don’t worry, most of the restaurant’s dishes can be served without insects. Related Article: Waiter, Where's the Fly in My Soup?

Cabbages & Condoms in Thailand The interior of Bangkok’s Cabbages and Condoms Restaurant, found in both Bangkok and Chiang Mai is decorated with all sorts of sex toys and condoms. Customers are even given condoms (not mints) with their receipt. Profits from the restaurants goes to various AIDS and safe sex awareness campaigns of The Population and Community Development Association (PDA) in Thailand. Bird’s Nest Restaurant in Thailand Bird’s Nest Restaurant, located in the Soneva Kiri Eco Resort in Thailand, has become one of the main attractions there. Food is served in tree pods or nests that are 16 feet above the ground. The pods are set amidst a beautiful forest overlooking sparkling turquoise waters. The waiter uses a zip line to deliver food and drinks!

Hospital-Themed Restaurant in Taiwan D.S. Music Restaurant in Taipei, Taiwan is a medical-themed restaurant with crutches on the wall, waitresses dressed as nurses, and drinks served from an IV drip bottle! The owner of Taipei’s most infamous restaurant came up with the idea to express his gratitude for care he received at a local hospital. Modern Toilet Restaurant in Taiwan This unique bathroom-themed restaurant chain, based in Taiwan, now has several branches throughout Asia. Dining at the restaurant is a complete toilet experience. Customers eat on glass tables with a sink base, sit on toilet bowls throughout the meal, drink from miniature urinals instead of a glass, and use toilet paper as a replacement for napkins. Dessert of chocolate ice cream is served in a dish that resembles a squat toilet. We’re not joking!

 

Floating Restaurant & Tacsiyapo Wall in Philippines The Isdaan (fishery) Restaurant is a famous northern Philippines tour landmark that offers great food in an unusual atmosphere. The restaurant’s facade is decorated with gigantic Aztec-themed statues as well as humongous fish carved in stone. The massive place is like an amusement park - it’s hard to miss! Need more inspiration for your next Asia vacation? Contact our Asia experts at 1-800-387-8850.

By Adam Hodge