An interior view

Inside the Belvedere Square Market, this notable noodle shop introduces Japanese ramen tradition to Malaysian flavors with results that have made for many outspoken supporters of the union.

Website: ejjiramen.com
Number of seats: 150 inside and 200 outside
Average per-person check: $20
Popular dishes: Laksa Ramen: curry shellfish broth, shrimp tempura, surf clams, crab, bonito flakes, bean sprouts, fried tofu, basil and lime; Miso Corn Ramen: miso corn broth, crispy shallots, corn, bamboo shoots, enoki mushroom, scallion and a poached egg; Mac & Cheese Ramen Dog — beef hot dog wrapped in ramen with a cheese sauce, tempura battered, fried and served with apricot wasabi mustard.
What people come for: Catering options
Address: 529 E. Belvedere Ave.
Phone Number: 410-435-8688

Mac & cheese ramen dog

Sawagani crabs

Baltimore’s hottest restaurants highlight the cuisines of Japan, India and Malaysia

This offshoot of the revered Ambassador Dining Room brings similar strains of upscale Indian food to a sumptuous, stately setting in nearby Maple Lawn, about a half-hour from downtown.

Website: anandarestaurant.net
Number of seats: 260, plus 120 in the banquet hall
Average per-person check: $30
Popular dishes: Gobinda — roasted cauliflower tossed with lime, chile and tamarind, topped with toasted sesame; Shahi Korma — lamb braised in cream sauce with nuts and raisins; Jingha Karari — jumbo shrimp sautéed with garlic, ginger, green chiles and coriander.
What people come for: Happy hour, eight working fireplaces, outdoor fire pit, and an outdoor veranda.
Address: 7421 Maple Lawn Blvd., Fulton, Md.
Phone Number: 301-725-4800

This collaboration between chefs Aarón Sánchez and John Besh, who have another location of the same concept in New Orleans, positions itself as a Mexican taqueria with more than tacos on its mind.

Website: caesars.com/horseshoe-baltimore/restaurants/johnny-sanchez
Number of seats: 222
Average per-person check: $35
Popular dishes: Slow-cooked chicken enchilada with chile colorado sauce, crema, queso fresco and pickled onion; crispy shrimp tacos with chile mayonnaise, cilantro and pickled carrot; shrimp empanadas with queso Chihuahua, poblano peppers and chipotle sauce.
What people come for: Handcrafted margaritas, special tequila tasting room
Address: 1525 Russell St.
Phone Number: 443-931-4575

Live sea urchin

Avocado and roasted corn salad

Aaron Sanchez and John Besh

A view of the terrace

In the Four Seasons hotel on the Inner Harbor, this Japanese jewel mixes Asian culinary tradition with progressive artistry tipped to decidedly upscale tastes.

Website: azumirestaurant.com
Number of seats: 235
Average per-person check: $85
Popular dishes: Live Santa Barbara sea urchin with fresh wasabi and nikiri sauce; Sawagani crabs with sea salt and lime; Habanero Salmon Signature Roll — mango, tomato and cilantro wrapped in soy paper and topped with salmon.
What people come for: Wide variety of sake and Japanese whiskeys, DJ on weekends, outdoor patio with water views
Address: 725 Aliceanna St.
Phone Number: 443-220-0477