Openings

The Asia de Cuba Reboot Offers Shrimp Churros, Duck Confit, and Casabe Cakes

By
“Chino Latino” with lechon, jasmine rice, bean sprouts, egg, and edamame. Photo: Paul Wagtouicz

Back in 2011, when Jeffrey Chodorow closed Asia de Cuba at Morgans, it caused quite a stir: Like the Tao of today, it was a celebrity magnet — but critics actually liked the food, too. Now the restaurant, which specializes in Asian-meets-Latin cuisine, has reopened in Noho.

Chodorow and chef Luis Pous, a Havana native, have updated the menu, offering a mix of classics (tuna tartare, crispy calamari, crab dumplings) and more inventive dishes. Casabe cakes feature the traditional yuca bread; the Barrio Chino steak is a Creekstone Farms dry-aged cut; and the wok-fried duck confit includes brown rice and a poached egg.

Designer Rafael de Cárdenas created a space that’s less splashy and ornate, and more sleek and modern. The restaurant seats 100, and there’s a spacious bar, where you can order drinks like the Patong Palmer — a riff on an Arnold Palmer made with Thai iced tea, lemon, aperol, and coconut milk. Take a look at a few of the dishes and the interior:

Rocoto-glazed black cod with orange mojo and avocado poblano purée.
Rocoto-glazed black cod with orange mojo and avocado poblano purée. Photo: Paul Wagtouicz
Casabe cakes with guava-barbecue pork, onion mojo, and fresno pepper
Casabe cakes with guava-barbecue pork, onion mojo, and fresno pepper Photo: Paul Wagtouicz
Gulf shrimp with watermelon, cucumber, napa cabbage, sesame, and crispy wonton.
Gulf shrimp with watermelon, cucumber, napa cabbage, sesame, and crispy wonton. Photo: Paul Wagtouicz
Mojo duck confit with brown rice, orange, Thai basil, Thai chili, and a poached egg.
Mojo duck confit with brown rice, orange, Thai basil, Thai chili, and a poached egg. Photo: Paul Wagtouicz
Hamachi with Thai mango salad and a rocoto-miso vinaigrette.
Hamachi with Thai mango salad and a rocoto-miso vinaigrette. Photo: Paul Wagtouicz
Shrimp churros with sesame and Thai coconut curry.
Shrimp churros with sesame and Thai coconut curry. Photo: Paul Wagtouicz
Tunapica tartare with crispy wonton, Spanish olives, currants, toasted coconut, almond, and avocado ceviche.
Tunapica tartare with crispy wonton, Spanish olives, currants, toasted coconut, almond, and avocado ceviche. Photo: Paul Wagtouicz
Thai-coconut-and-lemongrass Flan.
Thai-coconut-and-lemongrass Flan. Photo: Paul Wagtouicz
An Old Fashioned.
An Old Fashioned. Photo: Paul Wagtouicz
The dining room.
The dining room. Photo: Paul Wagtouicz
And, of course, the bar.
And, of course, the bar. Photo: Paul Wagtouicz

Menu [PDF]

Asia de Cuba, 415 Lafayette St., 212-726-7755

Tags:

Asia De Cuba Reopens