Asian City

Yaso is a fast casual restaurant inspired by the vibrant flavors and swift service of Shanghainese street hawker fare. To the palate accustomed to Chinese American General Tso’s chicken or even Cantonese chow fun, the Shanghainese cuisine at Yaso will be a revelation. Characterized by a fresh, mellow, and nuanced flavor profile, Shanghainese cuisine is considered to be one of the “Ten Great Traditions” of Chinese cuisine and originated in the Ming and Qing dynasties over half a millennium ago. To put the richness of that culinary legacy in perspective, let’s just say that the first tomato didn’t reach Italy until the following century. Started by three childhood friends from Shanghai and their culinary yaso or “uncle” in 2015, Yaso has garnered wide acclaim from The New York Times, New York Magazine, Thrillist, and other outlets for their simultaneously authentic and inventive cuisine.