A Massive New Asian Food Destination Has Arrived In California, And It’s Unlike Your Typical Restaurant

A chef painted Levi’s Stadium and the Winchester Mystery House onto blue-and-white kitchen tiles. Then he built a two-story Asian food emporium around them. I love that kind of commitment.

The space covers 15,000 square feet. It holds open kitchens for wok cooking, dim sum, tandoori, grill work, and noodles.

Chinese, Korean, Thai, Indian, Japanese, and Vietnamese dishes all share the same roof.

The husband-and-wife team behind it already made a big name in San Francisco. Now they’ve brought that energy south, into one of the busiest shopping spots in California.

I believe this is the kind of place you plan a whole afternoon around.

There’s a sushi counter downstairs and a lounge upstairs. There’s even a shop selling award-winning chili crisp. How do you choose where to start?

One Roof, A Whole Continent Of Flavor Waiting Inside

Asia Live is less a single restaurant and more a compact Asian food district. The two-story space stretches across 15,000 square feet inside Westfield Valley Fair.

That size matters, because the menu travels far. Chinese, Korean, Japanese, Thai, Vietnamese, Indian, and Indonesian cooking all show up here.

Most restaurants pick one lane and stay in it. Here, you can bounce from dim sum to tandoori to wok-fried noodles in one meal.

The owners describe it as a spot for travelers who explore by palate. That’s a fancy way of saying your taste buds get the passport.

Honestly, it’s a good idea for groups that never agree on dinner.

The main dining hall seats around 220 people, while the entire complex accommodates approximately 350. So yes, your large family gathering finally has a fighting chance.

Sharing plates fits the setup nicely. Order a few dishes from different regions, pass them around, and compare notes at the table.

The word Live in the name points to the open kitchens. It also hints that the place keeps changing and growing.

That means each visit could look a little different from the last. Not a bad problem for curious eaters.

The Duo Behind It Already Won Over San Francisco

George Chen and Cindy Wong-Chen are no strangers to big food projects. The pair built China Live in San Francisco before heading to Silicon Valley.

Asia Live marks their debut in the South Bay. The project took roughly a year and a half to develop.

Chef Chen is known around the world for his cooking. He personally curates the seasonal menu in the main dining hall.

About half the dishes were created just for this location. The rest came over from China Live, which is great news for longtime fans.

So you get familiar favorites alongside fresh ideas. It’s a bit like a band playing classic hits and new songs in one show.

The couple also curated the retail shop together. Their touch shows up across the whole building, from menu to shelves.

I like that this place comes from people with real experience running something this ambitious. A 15,000-square-foot food hall is not a beginner’s project.

The grand opening event happened on June 5, 2026. Public doors opened shortly afterward, bringing the couple’s vision to California’s tech corridor.

Watch The Woks Fire Up Right In Front Of You

Dinner and a show sounds expensive. At Asia Live, the show comes built into the kitchen design.

Exhibition kitchens line the space with dedicated stations. There’s one for wok cooking, plus fry, grill, salads, noodles, and dim sum.

The list keeps going with charcuterie, barbecue, and tandoori. That’s a lot of cooks doing a lot of different things at once.

Watching chefs work can make waiting for food more fun. Kids especially tend to love seeing flames jump from a hot wok.

It also helps you decide what to order. Spot something sizzling on the grill, and suddenly your plan changes.

Open kitchens show off the craft behind each dish. You can see dumplings being folded and noodles being tossed instead of guessing what happens behind a door.

Here’s a tip for curious diners. Ask for a seat with a view of the stations if one is available.

The tandoori station deserves extra attention. It’s not something you see in many Chinese-led kitchens, and it shows how wide this menu reaches.

Peking Duck In Sesame Pockets Leads A Seriously Long Menu

Kumquat-glazed Peking duck tucked into sesame pockets is a strong opening act. It’s one of the standout dishes on the Asia Live menu.

From there, the choices spread out fast. Dungeness crab, shrimp hand rolls, and fried scallion bread all make appearances.

Char Siu pork crunch buns bring a fun twist on a dim sum classic. Wok-fried noodles hold down the comfort food side of things.

Sushi lovers have spicy tuna rolls and salmon and avocado rolls to consider. That’s a lot of variety before dessert even enters the chat.

The main dining hall menu changes daily based on the season. Chef Chen uses sustainable, farm-to-table practices to guide it.

That means you might spot something new depending on when you go. A rotating menu keeps things interesting for repeat visits.

My advice is simple. Bring a few friends and order to share, so you can sample more of the map.

Going solo works too, of course. You’ll just need to make some tough choices, and maybe plan a return trip.

Head Downstairs For Skewers, Sushi, And Late-Week Omakase

Ginza Social sits on the lower level and has a personality all its own. Think sushi counter, patio seating, and a Japanese-focused menu.

Yakitori skewers come off the grill here. You’ll also find nigiri, sashimi, and sushi rolls.

It feels like a separate stop inside the same trip. That’s handy when part of your group wants duck and another wants fish.

The real headliner happens Thursday through Sunday nights. Chef Tomonori Nagai offers Edomae-style omakase during those evenings.

Edomae style comes from old Tokyo, once called Edo. Chefs back then used curing and marinating to keep fish fresh before modern refrigeration.

Omakase means you trust the chef to choose each course. It’s a relaxed way to try things you might never order on your own.

Since it runs only four nights a week, plan ahead. Booking early is the smart move for a special occasion.

The patio seating adds a nice option on mild California evenings. Fresh air and nigiri make a pretty great pair.

Your Kitchen Pantry Is About To Get Jealous

Leaving with chili crisp in your bag might become a habit. The retail shop at Asia Live makes that very easy.

Chef Chen and Cindy Wong-Chen picked the products themselves. Shelves hold Asian spices, sauces, condiments, snacks, and unique kitchenware.

Some house-made items carry Good Food Awards. Chef Chen’s Famous Chili Crisp is one of them.

The Chili Bean Sauce also earned that honor. So did something called Peking Duck Fat Popcorn, which sounds like a movie night upgrade.

I can’t imagine walking past that popcorn without at least picking it up. It’s the kind of snack that starts conversations.

The shop works well for gifts too. A jar of award-winning sauce beats another candle for a food-loving friend.

Home cooks can find tools and flavors to try new recipes. That turns one meal out into many meals at home.

Give yourself a few extra minutes before or after eating. Browsing the shelves is half the fun, and you might discover a new favorite ingredient.

Look Up, Because The Walls Have Stories To Tell

Blue-and-white tiles usually show dragons or flowers. In the main kitchen at Asia Live, they show Silicon Valley landmarks instead.

Chef Chen designed the tiles himself. You can spot Stanford University, the Winchester Mystery House, and Apple’s corporate headquarters.

Levi’s Stadium makes the cut too. It’s a playful way to blend Chinese porcelain style with local pride.

Elsewhere, century-old Shanghai posters line the space. They come from Chef Chen’s personal collection.

Those posters offer a peek into early 1900s Shanghai advertising. The bold colors and fashion make them fun to study between bites.

Teak and white oak furnishings warm up the room. The wood keeps a huge space from feeling cold or sterile.

Upstairs, BarLucy brings an award-winning design to its lounge. It serves curated beverages in a glamorous setting, and plenty of non-alcoholic options suit any guest.

Here’s a fun challenge for families. See who can find every landmark on the tiles first, then decide who earns the last dumpling.

Plan Your Trip Around Valley Fair And Daily Hours

Finding Asia Live is easier than choosing what to eat there. Head to 2855 Stevens Creek Blvd, Suite 1891, Santa Clara, CA 95050.

That address places it inside Westfield Valley Fair. The mall sits in the heart of California’s tech corridor.

Doors open at 11 a.m. every day of the week. Closing time is 10 p.m., so lunch and late dinners both work. Consistent hours make planning simple. No need to memorize which days run short.

Shopping and eating fit together nicely here. Knock out a few errands, then reward yourself with dumplings.

A private dining area is also available. It’s worth considering for birthdays, team dinners, or family celebrations.

With around 220 seats in the main dining hall, bigger groups have room. Still, making a reservation for busy evenings is a wise choice.

The omakase nights, Thursday through Sunday, definitely deserve advance planning. Seats at a sushi counter are naturally limited.

Whatever brings you to Santa Clara, this stop adds flavor to the day. One building, many cuisines, and a chili crisp souvenir waiting by the exit.