Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month is an important opportunity for visitors to get to know Austin's diverse community. Learn more about locally-owned businesses, cultural organizations and events, then celebrate Austin's AAPI communities with us this May!

Couple sitting outside of the Fresas patio in Austin Texas
Credit Nick Simonite.

Cultural Organizations

The three pan-Asian organizations; Network of Asian American Organizations (NAAO), Greater Austin Asian Chamber of Commerce (GAACC), and the Asian American Resource Center Nonprofit (AARCNP) along with the Asian American Quality of Life Commission are tasked with educating and advocating for the less privileged in the community. Check their websites for activities and events throughout the year that celebrate Asian culture and history in Austin.

Table at Kemuri Tatsu-ya. Credit Kirsten Kaiser.
Kemuri Tatsu-ya. Credit Kirsten Kaiser.

Asian-Owned Restaurants in Austin

Austin's culinary scene is top notch—from luxury and award winning dining to family-operated mom and pop eateries, there's no shortage of yummy food to help discover new cultures and traditions while you're in town. 

Fill up on meat at Kemuri Tatsuya, a restaurant that blends Japanese izakaya with Texas barbecue. Slurp homemade noodles and rich broths at Julie's Noodles, located in North Austin. Try authentic Northeastern Thai street food at Dee Dee Thai, including their famous mango sticky rice. OMG Squee serves up the cutest sweet treats like mochi donuts, small-batch taiyaki and bubble tea.

That's just a small sample of your options in town. For more Asian cuisine, check out our guide to Asian-owned restaurants in Austin.

Shaded concrete pathway in the Taniguchi Japanese Garden at Zilker Botanical Garden.Taniguchi Japanese Garden. Courtesy of Zillker Botanical Garden Conservancy.

Asian Arts & Attractions

Home to world-class museums and galleries, Austin’s burgeoning creative scene is home to visual artists, performers, filmmakers and writers such as Jieun Beth, PJ Raval, Vy Ngo and many others. Check out Asian American and Pacific Islander artists, performing arts organizations and galleries while you're in town. 

Y'all We Asian is Austin's only all-Asian improv comedy troupe, performing regularly every first Friday of the month at Fallout Theater along with specialty shows throughout the year. Take in natural beauty at the Isamu Taniguchi Japanese Garden in Zilker Botanical Garden with ponds containing koi fish, lotus and water lilies. Francisca Tung opened Lotus Gallery in 2001 with a focus on Asian art and antiquities. Visit to view a curated selection of art and sculptures, jewelry, furniture and more. 

Visit our guide to Austin's Asian arts & culture for more.

Image of a traditional dragon dancer surrounded by people at the annual CelebrASIA event.
Courtesy of the Asian American Resource Center.

Upcoming Events

5/1/24 - 5/31/24
The Floating World Exhibit
Blanton Museum of Art
The Floating World Exhibit features woodblock prints and painted scrolls that depict the lifestyles, pleasures and interests of the population during Japan’s Edo period from 1603-1868. This exhibit is on view until June 30.

5/3/24
Y'all We A.I.sian
Fallout Theater
You won't want to miss out on this hilarious night of laughs with Austin's first all Asian American improv troupe. The group has garnered national coverage and acclaim and is back at Fallout Theater this May. 

5/18/24
CelebrASIA
Asian American Resource Center
CelebrASIA is an annual free, community celebration of Asian Pacific American Heritage Month. Bring the whole family and enjoy performances, food vendors, exhibits and various cultural experiences.

5/18/24
AAPI Vendor Market
Meanwhile Brewing
Meanwhile Brewing is hosting a vendor market to celebrate Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Month this May. The market will feature local Asian-owned businesses like Kaiju Cut & Sew, Spark Collection, Mimi’s Orgamis with more being announced before the event.

5/18/24
VACAT Vietnamese American Cultural Celebration
Holy Family Catholic Church
Immerse yourself in the rich tradition and heritage of Vietnamese culture for Vietnamese American Day. This free, family-friendly event will feature performances by local Vietnamese artists, authentic Vietnamese cuisine, a lantern parade, a traditional lion dance performance and much more.

5/19/24
Asian Hawaiian Pacific Islander Heritage Month Celebration
Central Library
Celebrate Heritage Month at the Central Library in downtown Austin with fun for the whole family. Bring the kids to the ArtSmart storytelling hour to hear about different Asian dragon folklore, myths and stories, listen to a traditional Carnatic violin performance, join artist Yamin Li in making dynamic portraits out of repurposed cardboard and try tasty mochi treats from OMG Squee.

5/25/24
Night Market
Distribution Hall
The Lunar Foundation and the Greater Austin Chamber of Commerce have partnered to host Night Market, a celebration of the year of the Wood Dragon through an immersive, story-driven experiential event. Night Market highlights the best of the Asian community in and around Austin with vendors, food, live music, onsite activations and more. 

For more events centered around celebrating Asian American and Pacific Islander cultures in Austin, see our full events calendar. And to learn how you can celebrate Austin's Asian community year-round, explore our guide to Asian-owned businesses in Austin.