food is pricy 10 dollars for a Thai tea and it's not even good Cambodian rice bowl is the worst rice bowl I ever had read more

Studio East Asian Gastropub - Gastropubs Near Me - Halifax, Nova Scotia

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Won't go back...the chicken burger was just swimming in this awful sweet sauce.. Restaurant was freezing as all the cold air comes in while you were trying to eat this crap food... If I could give it a zero start I would. read more

I've been to Studio East a number of times, both at the old and new locations, and not once have I had a bad experience. I've been with a group of 10, and with just my wife and myself. We've been midweek, and on the weekend; early dinner and late supper, but never when it's anything less than packed full. This is a very popular place to eat and for very good reason. The staff is on the ball (and they have to be with the business going through the place), friendly, informed, and committed to your enjoyment. The food is, in a word, inspired. We've gone through the entire menu over the times we've been there, and precisely because of that we struggle over what to order. Nothing on the menu is anything less than exemplary. The owners/chefs have taken the very best of their grandmothers' recipes and turned them into dishes anyone would salivate over. Studio East has won our business through their commitment to excellence in every facet of the experience of dining out. Give them a chance and they'll win yours too. read more

Had an opportunity to eat in the new location on Agricola street last evening. The new restaurant is awesome and boosts more room. Food was awesome as always as was the service.. Highly recommend this spot for a drink or a meal. read more

The service was very good, our server was attentive and thorough. The food was pretty overflavored/ too saucy. The bao bun hoisin sauce was very salty, the sticky ribs were drowned in a very sweet sauce, the love curry was good, but soooo much lemongrass. It's worth a visit, but just know that you may get a lot of extra punch in your food (that you may not want). read more

The ambience is wonderful. The staff, amazing! The Food, we had the lamb dish and a ramen. The lamb was good, my partner said. But the ramen...there was No seasoning! Fried pork belly was 90% fat and the other pork belly that was not deep fried was the same. Not a single drop of salt (or pepper). So I was literally eating fried non-seasoned pork FAT and tasteless broth. It wasn't a very good experience. I was excited to bring my husband because my first experience was good. But that evening, it was a flop. I hope they just forgot that night. But if the ramen has always been served that way, it's not good. I would think their chef is not asian, coz he's not hitting the right flavors at all. I have extensively travelled the world for 30 years. My recommendation, if you take pride in serving asian food, please hire a great Asian chef. Or at least an Asian food tester. If you have your own food critics, please pay for them to travel, (if not to Asia) even just to Toronto or Vancouver! To eat in Ramen shops, or simple Vietnamese and Chinese restaurants. I can guarantee you that the food you serve will be elevated to new heights. read more

I had a great time at the new location. It's got the hospitality and the same great atmosphere, on top of the amazing cocktails and food!

Definitely book as this is a very popular place. The food here is very good infused with so much flavour. We were sitting a little too close to the kitchen where you could smell some of the food, but not too bad. They make the most amazing cocktails, should try a few for sure. Our server was very friendly. Good size portions. read more

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This place is AWESOME I would highly recommend. The atmosphere is amazing, the staff are super friendly, and the food is spectacular. They have meat, vegetarian, and vegan options, so there really is something for everyone. I got the tofu rice bowl, potato dumplings, and tofu bao bun (all pictured below), and they were all so ridiculously delicious that I'm still thinking about them. I will definitely be returning soon!!! read more

Studio East Asian Gastropub - Rice bowl with tofu - Gastropubs Near Me - Halifax, Nova Scotia

I cant believe this is my first review for studio east gastropub!! Their food is definitely our favorite spot in Halifax to frequent via Uber eats - we have never been in the restaurant, but when that delivery arrives at the door... we know were in for something delicious, made with passion and respect for the ingredients. my wife is quite fond of the Chickens crisps, and i can never say enough about their Bao bun creations.. i always get excited when i see they've introduced a new one ;) keep up the amazing work, and thank you for showing respect for the products , and really showcasing the Asian fusion flavors!! to many many years of success! Houseofbrady read more

Food was very good; ambience is lovely, service was good. Very pricey for what you get.

The Food and Staff were excellent. My wife and I had a great experience with flavours of the dishes we had Will be back for another visit in a few weeks read more

I dined in with a friend for the first time last night for the and had such a great experience! The host (Jess) greeted us and was extremely friendly. We were apprehensive as there were no tables available, but Jess reassured us that the bar seating was a fun spot to watch the bartenders make cocktails, and she was right! The food/cocktails were amazing and bar staff was also friendly and accommodating. My friend described that kind of drink he was craving, and was made a custom cocktail to his liking. The wait times were also very reasonable. Great value for the price; I look forward to going back and trying more of the menu! read more

Studio East Asian Gastropub - Gastropubs Near Me - Halifax, Nova Scotia

Came here for Burger Week, and the food was good: the feature burger and cauliflower-brussels sprouts appetizers very nice; the General Tso chicken burger was average. The place was fairly loud with a definite hipster vibe, and service was very friendly, if a bit halting and not knowledgeable: We knew what "nuoc mam" was, but for kicks, we asked the server to see how she'd explain it (you know, since this is an Asian-fusion restaurant owned and run by non-Asians). She went away to get the answer, and came back with "It's a Korean vinaigrette that's vegetarian". Lol. Wrong, it's none of these, but that's definitely a hipster-Asian-fusion kind of answer/version for what this fish sauce should be. That's the only reason I'd take off a star. A solid three-star effort, in a city that has a lot of other good, authentic Asian dining experiences. read more

Excellent food and service. Every dish is well thought out and amazing. This place is a family favourite.

Food is excellent and the service is spot on. It was a wonderful dining experience. We tried the cauliflower and brussel sprouts, Ultimate ramen, Cambodian Thai Love Curry and General Tso chicken sandwich. Each original, unique and equally delicious. read more

I can't believe I haven't written a review for studio east! I love this place. They have this pork belly rice bowl that is to die for. I cave it all the time, have ordered it repeatedly, I love it so much I've tried to make it at home.. the true sign you've eaten something good. The atmosphere is nice, but when it's too crowded, it's too much. Like any popular bar/resto. I love the tiki drinks here, so fun and come in cute cups. Brunch - I'm obsessed with the Vietnamese coffee, I like that you can get breakfast food, but also lunch food for brunch. For some crazy reason I guess I was craving fish and chips, they were really good, and the breakfast burger was delicious too. I highly recommend for both dinner and brunch. Surprisingly enough, brunch was less crowded. read more

Studio East Asian Gastropub - Brunch! Vietnamese coffee and fish and chips and whatever he had - Gastropubs Near Me - Halifax, Nova Scotia

I live in Washington state and purchased a Gift Cert for my daughter. The staff was so helpful with the process. The owner called and emailed me, making sure that the transaction was successful. thank you all for being so helpful and caring. can't wait to visit myself! read more

The food is amazing and it has gluten free options I would highly recommend this restaurant

Just left the place. I had the Brussels sprouts and cauliflower dish, and the calamari and shrimp dish. First of all, thank you for these combos! I'm Always in an either/or conundrum with these foods. Secondly, just delicious. The seafood was just the perfect amount of spicy, and the veg was cooked to perfection. And the server was fantastic! I'll be back with friends and family for sure! read more

Long story short, partway through dinner I received terrible news from home. Cast something of a pall over the meal... before that it was fun. It's in a residential neighbourhood which gives it a cool local vibe. Seating options include the bar, tables and wooden banquettes outside. The studio ribs were flavourful if a bit fatty. Beer flights are $9. They carry a selection of local ciders. read more

I find it really difficult to give any business 5 stars. In my book 4 is a top rating and anything above that is just exceptional. I am a huge brunch fan, usually every week I go to a new or favourite spot to enjoy some good eats. Lately I have found myself coming back here again and again. Is it my favourite brunch spot in Halifax? Definitely one of them. They have great coffee, and use pork belly in lots of their dishes. Last visit I went with Num Pang with Hand Cut Fries fermented sausage wrapped in bacon, sunny side egg, pork belly, chicken pâté, asian slaw, hoisin, gochujang spicy mayo. Dangerously delicious!! Next time I think I will try dinner or some late night eats... Worth a visit... read more

Went around 6pm and we walk in and the greeting was weird, the waiter looked at us and went "can i help you?" Not in a very polite way, more like we were an inconvenience for him. Asked if we had a reservation, we said no. The seating isn't "cozy" it's crowded. We got the pork ramen bowl and it was delicious it just took 40 minutes for us to receive it. The waiter came over to us and said "sorry about taking forever, theres only me here once more staff comes in it'll be more professional" the waiters and waitresses would get very close to you and it actually made me uncomfortable. It was a long wait to get the bill and the whole experience was just weird read more

I have been to Studio East twice now and both were stellar experiences. First time was for drinks and food at the small bar. We had a fantastic time with the bartender and watching the action in the kitchen. The ramen is a must try! Huge portion, delicious broth and donuts! Sadly I have no pic from that trip. Second time was for brunch. I was excited to try the buns but they had just run out when we got there. I was very disappointed but shouldn't have been. I ordered the conger and was the envy of the table. also tried a white wine I'd never had before which can often lead to less than great results. Not so in this case...it was well priced and delicious. Cannot recommend this restaurant more strongly. Awesome food, great prices and delightful service. Can't wait for my next visit! read more

Studio East Asian Gastropub - Congee with donuts! - Gastropubs Near Me - Halifax, Nova Scotia

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Very cute, cozy and friendly vibe in this place. I came here on a freezing cold day and it was just the right spot to thaw out and eat a tasty meal. Service was on point and helpful as well as friendly. We got the calamari appetizer, which I was skeptical of as I generally don't like cauliflower (which was also in the dish), but boy was I blown away. The calamari dish was absolutely amazing. Full of flavor, the right textures, everything was spot on. I also got the curry for my main and it was okay. I wasn't as impressed with it, but it was decent. Just a little too rich for me and could have used some different textures. I'm not a huge fan of cut potatoes in curries. Overall, really good though and I'd highly recommend. read more

After giving it some time to settle into its groove, I came by recently with a friend on a busy Friday evening to check out Studio East. When we arrived just before 6pm, it was already pretty full, but seating was still readily available. Shortly thereafter though, it was SRO, as staff soon began taking numbers for the waiting list. We sat at the the communal table in the centre of the main dining room, while the open kitchen, bar and some other seating is in the other room. There was a good vibe in the room from the crowd, but it wasn't loud enough that you had to yell across the table to be heard. The menu is heavily South East Asian, with a lot of Cambodian influences coming from co-owner Saronn Pov, which is a nice addition to the culinary scene in Halifax. To start, we got a dozen oysters to split, and I ordered one of the local brews that they had on tap. The oysters came with fresh horseradish and a cucumber-apple yuzu mojo, which the interwebs tells me is an Asian fruit mixed with the other items in a mojo sauce. With oysters I'm one for simplicity though, and took them plain or just a squeeze of lime, which worked perfectly with the large, succulent oysters. For my main, I was pulled in a couple directions while perusing the menu, as the ultimate pork ramen bowl, and nam pang (Cambodian sandwich) were both long in tasty-sounding pork ingredients. I ended up going with the ultimate pork ramen, with its bold name and killer ingredients of a pork and chicken broth, char siu BBQ pork, crispy pork, pork belly, poached egg, kimchi, and Chinese fried donuts. Donuts in soup? Yeah, I'll give that a go. While the oysters had taken a little while to come out, our mains came out shockingly quick. Being pretty hungry though, I certainly wasn't one to complain. First off, in true ramen fashion, the bowl was massive. The bowl and the portion size within, I should say. It certainly lived up to its lofty of claims of ultimate-ness, as there was a ton of great flavours going on here. First off: the hunks of donut - more like an airy, French pastry than the donuts that we're used to, I snapped these tasty morsels up with my chop sticks before they turned to mush. The char siu was spot on with its five spice seasoning, although the crispy pork got less crisp and/or lost amongst all the other porcine items in the ramen. The pork belly was the star of the ramen, with large pieces of ultra-tender pork that made you want more with each bite. Items like the kimchi, cilantro and the runny yolk of the poached egg even more depth of flavour to the ramen. The noodles themselves were good - long and with a nice chew to them - but almost superfluous to what would still have been a great soup without them. The bite I had of my buddy's nam pang was par for the course with the rest of my delicious meal. The sandwich was jam packed with flavour between two slices of crispy bread, including a spicy hit from the gojuchang mayo. Service was absolutely fantastic - very helpful with the questions we had, and stopping by just when needed to check in or clear plates. While the recent boom in bars and restaurants in the north end has been great, seeing Studio East open just a few blocks from my apartment in the west end was great news, and made all the more better after this awesome meal. read more

Studio East Asian Gastropub - Ultimate pork ramen - char siu BBQ pork, crispy pork, pork belly, kimchi, poached egg, veggies and Chinese donut - Gastropubs Near Me - Halifax, Nova Scotia

A new neighbourhood gem! Although the menu is short, everything we tried was outstanding and the delicious smells wafting from neighbouring tables make me want to return asap! Studio East purports to use lots of local ingredients in their dishes, to support our strong local food movement. The tofu steam buns were just incredible, savoury sauce, soft steamed buns, crunchy with slaw, mouthwateringly good. We also tried the ultimate pork ramen bowl with an incredible pork and cchicken broth, a variety of meaty pork components floating in the soup, and nice doughy noodles. We hardly let a drop go to waste, and it was not a small serving. I tried the Vesper martini, which was delivered with an appropriate James Bond story. They have a good beer selection of local and imported, including some Asian imports that are not often found around Atlantic Canada. I look forward to trying the happy hour special of meat sticks with dipping sauce and draft beer. The service was great - the servers and bartender totally worked as part of a team. If one was busy, and another saw an opportunity to check on us, they went for it, so we felt completely taken care of. Everyone seemed super happy and relaxed, contributing to the awesome atmosphere. There are a variety of tables and I hope they had one in the front window near the bar - there is only one larger table in a front window but where you enter you can smack into the dining room and can go left to a separate but open bar area with a couple of smaller tables, and a big empty window space that might be the best seat in the house once it has a seat in it. I like the high wooden slab table on wheels with tall stools. A couple of things I'd tweak as time goes on for this brand new spot are the low metal folding chairs that no one would want to sit in for a long time, plus the mid-late 90's alt-rock soundtrack that got to be a bit much after a little while. I hope there will be variety in music (they have live music Sunday afternoons that looks promising!) as well as an upgrade in some of the seating, and then this place will have no trouble keeping my 5 star review, provided the changing menu of local ingredients continues to amaze and impress! read more

Studio East Asian Gastropub - Oysters du jour- with pretty greenish shells! - Gastropubs Near Me - Halifax, Nova Scotia

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I've lived and travelled around the world and am a self proclaimed foodie. I am by no way a food critic but I have learned to appreciate good food. I am currently living in California Surrounded by amazing restaurants but always get excited to make it to Halifax in the summer months. After eating at Studio East, I made it a point to immediately write a review. I ordered the Pork Belly. It was easily the best tasting thing I have ever put in my mouth. It instantly made me happy. Very unique dish with it's Asian influence. A little spicy and sweet at the same time. They really nailed this dish. Everyone at our table of 12, was over the moon about their food. read more

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Absolutely loved our dinner here. Came with my coworkers on a Friday night. Place was busy yet service was great. Food is amazing! I had the pork belly rice bowl and I ate the whole thing!! All the dishes looked delicious, and made of fresh ingredients. Drinks are awesome too!!! Decor is funky and eclectic. Love the vibe and the ambiance it exudes. Highly recommend this place. read more

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This was one of the best meals we've had in a while. Everything from start to finish was mind-blowing. Perfect combination of Halifax and Korean /Japanese food. Will definitely return. read more

I have been going here regularly for a couple of years for dinner service and have never been disappointed. Easily the best meal in Halifax, incredible service every time, and the drink menu is gorgeous! I saw on the sign out front that they were doing brunch again. I was so excited because I never had brunch here back in the day when they first opened. My girlfriends and I promptly came to brunch at studio east and were seriously impressed. $6 mimosas! The sweetest, friendliest, funniest server! I ordered the veggie hash. A delightful dish of brussels sprouts, celery root, potatoes, crispy onions, poached eggs, all soaked in brown butter... it was absolutely to die for. All of the flavours blended together was something I have never experienced. Best brunch I have EVER had. I will continue to come back here again, and again, and again. read more

AMAZE!! being celiac, eating in this city is a chore. Wow. Look no more. DEDICATED GLUTEN FREE FRYER. And about 65% of the menu was actually gluten free, not "option", no legit. The server was pretty great too, he was attentive (until the end when a large group came in, but he acknowledged and apologized) and he was just super nice. I ordered so many things! Calamari, Japanese fried chicken, fries, warm sushi. It was all so fantastic. And the drinks, so so so so great. It's also a neat little spot. Great place for a date or hanging out with friends. I think I found my new go to. read more

We went here twice in the four days we were in Halifax. It was that good. We made our second reservation after the first couple of bites on our first visit. The Bao were great. The Cambodian Curry was incredible as was the Karage Chicken. The layering of flavours was amazing. Lots of complementary and contrasting flavours with nothing competing. A lot of work has obviously gone into developing the dishes. The service was spot on. Good recommendations, attentive without being obtrusive. we had a combination of Jess and Adam each night and they were wonderful. The staff moves quickly to attend to the customers, but seems to have the time to engage as well. We felt welcomed and valued. But the food - Wow. We also had the Char Siu Pork, which we would also order again. We ended up having two desserts, which is something we almost never do. The Vietnamese coffee crème brûlée was good (and I don't care for coffee. But the Yuzu cheesecake stole the show. I really like cheesecake, so am fussy about quality. But this was noteworthy. We will go again at our first opportunity. read more

Really disappointing experience. Made a reservation for 8:30pm. After waiting for 20 minutes past our reservation, the server/host wouldn't give us a clear answer (or even vague estimate) on our continued anticipated wait time. She tried to have the three of us sit at the bar where only 2 seats were available to continue to wait for a table, at which point we left. read more

Of the many times I visited, I have tried their steamed buns, Bao Buns, Num Pang, fried chicken sandwich, congee, sausage omelette, and ramen bowl. The first four are especially delicious, hands down; they're tasty, well plated, and clearly can attract long term customers. My concern is the ramen bowl, of which I tried today. Japanese onsen egg and nori, Chinese Char-siu pork and you-tiao (donut), English Cabbage, and Korean Kimchi - I liked eating each item on their own, but my ramen was ruined when I tasted everything together... For instance, I love kimchi, but when you put it right into the broth, it ruins its flavor so sourly that it makes me feel bad that all the work your chefs put into preparing it just goes down the drain; there was A LOT of pork in it but sadly I was not able to taste any of it in the broth... At least put the kimchi and chili sauce in a separate dish like some Korean or Japanese restaurant would do. If this bowl was meant to represent a unity of ethnicity, I think it only did the opposite by having so many conflicting flavors in the bowl... Koodos to you guys for trying to put together something bold, but this comes together more as an overpriced jambalaya than a humble ramen... Now if I wasn't so much of a ramen fanatic, I would have probably gave you guys 4 stars, but there is one other small problem: the tables are honestly too high, especially the ones along the walls. It makes eating very uncomfortable, especially when some tables are slanted. Furthermore, can you please relocate the paintings so it is not so close to the tables? They fit well with the rest of your decors but I wouldn't want to accidentally get sauce on it when I am seated so close to it Truth to be told, I really want to like Studio East; its ambiance, its locally sourced food, and its trendy flare are all the things many restaurants are working hard to strive for these days, and I applaud them for it. I am giving it 3 stars not because I think the food is hopeless; I'm doing so because I think there is definitely room for improvement, and if by word of mouth I hear improvement with this place in the future, I might just return for a reconciliatory visit. read more

This place is a true 5-star. I've had the pleasure of eating at Studio East several times. It never disappoints. The Ultimate Pork Ramen Bowl is one of my go-to. Pretty sure there's like 5 different cuts of pork in this. The portion is massive! And the burger here... It's un-friggin real. Quality beef, cooked perfectly. Some sort of Asian style slaw, pork belly and a fried egg cooked sunny side up. This burger blew every burger week burger I tried out of the water. Craft beer selection here is on point. Usually something from Unfiltered Brewing and I believe I have tried a Wayfarer's ale here. Studio East also does take out which is great if you're looking for something fast and delicious at home. I've never waited longer than 15 mins when calling in an order. Top notch Studio East... You're all legends!!! read more

This place is really cute. Our bartender/server was friendly and helpful with the drinks menu. Our cocktail was fantastic (Thai Basil Smash, I think?). Brussels sprouts were a little bit raw in the middle still, but the seasoning was really good. Great fries! I'd definitely go back. read more

Being a musician I have to give this place props, this is one stage that you can perform on without being with the "In Crowd" or knowing the second cousin of one of the members of Alert the Medic. Its a spot that you can play, they will live stream it, you get a link to your broadcast or you used to. Its a great spot to get out and play. As a patron, the food is wicked awesome, the drinks are all well executed and delicious, and the people/ambiance is second to none. Its not downtown, but its close, its in a safer area right by the commons. I love that they put it there. Anyway, I would say give it a try if you haven't yet. Its one of the better spots for a drink out. read more

I recently went to studio east for my friends 24th birthday. At the beginning on the night, my friends and I were not enjoying our experience and the service was very poor by our servers. However, the bartender Alex went out of his way to come over to our table and make my friends birthday special. Out servers didn't even provide us cutlery and the birthday girl couldn't eat her meal. Alex (bartender) was sweet but honestly the rest of the servers in this establishment are trash. read more

This was a lovely way to end my visit to Halifax. The staff were wonderful and that is an important ingredient in the restaurant experience. We started with the special dumplings, stuffed with mango rice and covered in a curry. Excellent. The Chicken Karaage with ponzu sauce was probably one of the best things I've had recently. It was spectacular. I followed up with the rice bowl with fried chicken. Same fried chicken as in the appetizer. Not as flavourful as the appetizer, but a solid dish. I would get it again, but the menu was so creative I would probably try something different for the hell of it. As Arnold would say, "I'll be back". read more