AAPI Heritage Month is here, and there’s no better way to celebrate than by heading to a restaurant that’s worth the hype. That’s why we enlisted Jaeki Cho of Righteous Eats to share his go-to spots in NYC and the surrounding boroughs. And while his social following and spot-on recs speak for themselves, we also did our due diligence to see how his picks measure up with other Lyft riders. Pick your favorite option, plan your Lyft ride, and consider your weekend plans made. Read on to hear what he loves about his favorite restaurants, in his own words.

🎁 Most generous diners: Half of riders leave a tip

“Yo, wedged between chain spots pushing soggy fries and reheated chicken strips, Burmese Bites roars to life like a motorbike in a polluted temple courtyard. The tea leaf salad crackles with fermented funk, the mohinga punches you with lemongrass, and Myo (owner) behind the counter’s got more charisma than most PR-trained sommeliers in Manhattan. My guy knows how to sell. Queens Center Mall rarely delivers on its name, but this stall? It’s Queens, for real.”

 🤝 Most loyal diners: 1 out of every three riders are repeat customers

“Aight, let's be honest...you don’t end up at Cơm Tấm Ninh Kiều by accident. It’s one of the rare Vietnamese spots holding it down in the Bronx, where grilled pork chops hit like they’ve been kissed by smoke and the broken rice is soft, but never soggy. A quiet holdout from an East Asian Bronx community that’s all but disappeared. It’s less about fusion, more about preservation. One of the borough’s unsung classics.”

👑 Most popular: Highest ride count

“Man, I was told by several names to never blow up this spot. But here I am...dry snitching. In classic East Village fashion, this is a postage-stamp-sized kitchen slinging momos with more integrity than half the fusion spots on Avenue A. (No SHOTS!) Cafe Himalaya doesn’t shout...it simmers. Their thukpa is low-key comfort, and their ngopas (curry variety) tastes like a borrowed recipe from a sherpa who knows how to use chili efficiently. It’s not flashy, but it never misses. An East Village gem that’s remained humble while everything around it got priced out or rebranded. Just saying…”

🤼🤼🤼 Best for groups: 9% of rides XL Lyfts

“Walking into Lakruwana feels like entering a maximalist’s fever dream. There’s a giant peacock. Murals. Bronze masks. The owner’s daughter, Julia, is the literal mascot. And yet the food? Undeniably fuego. The lamprais (rice wrapped in banana leaf aka Ski Lankan bento) is a slow-cooked lesson in layered spice, and the deviled chicken comes with enough heat to slap your ancestors. It’s part art project, part family shrine, and fully worth the ferry ride.”

🏋️ Most dedicated: Lyft riders travel 5 miles, on average

“Forget QR codes and gentrified chilli crisp. Nah, Golden Palace is dim sum the way your uncle from Pell Street that moved to 8th Ave remembers it. Plastic tablecloths. Aunties yelling numbers in Cantonese. Carts you chase down before the next table grabs all the shrimp siu mai. No English menu? Even better. It’s gritty, steamy, and gloriously unapologetic...a banquet hall time capsule tucked away from Instagram discovery zones. For now at least.”

🔥 Hottest: Fastest growing on this list in 2025

“There’s fried chicken…and then there’s old-school Korean fried chicken that comes out glistening, thinly layered, seasoned with a kick like it was blessed by Admiral Sang-hoon not Sanders. Yetnal Tongdak isn't trendy. The name literally translates to: "Old-school Fried Chicken." The jokbal (braised pig’s feet) is gelatinous joy, and the chicken has that crunch that lingers. No frills, no filters. Just real-deal Anju food. served like you’re on the third round roaming the streets of Seoul, circa 2007.”