In celebration of Asian-American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, we interviewed chef Pushkar Marathe, who dished about his acclaimed restaurant Stage Kitchen and revealed his top picks for delicious Asian fare in The Palm Beaches.

Chef Pushkar Marathe’s culinary ventures have taken him from his hometown of Nagpur, India, to some of the most exotic places in the world. Trained as a chef in India and Switzerland, he spent more than a decade traveling the globe and gathering international cooking inspiration from local traditions and the restaurants where he worked in the Caribbean, the Cayman Islands, across the U.S. and the Middle East. Marathe, 37, spent several years working internationally alongside his mentor, famed farm-to-table chef Dean Max. But after having perfected his work in kitchens worldwide, The Palm Beaches are where he chose to share his culinary gifts with the world. One of the featured chefs in the annual Palm Beach Wine and Food Festival and SOBEWFF® in Miami Beach (and a busy husband and dad!), the Jupiter resident is the first to admit that he hasn’t had much time to dine out lately. But in honor of Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, he sat down with us to discuss the vast catalogue of cuisine that can be classified as Asian—including Korean, Japanese, Thai, Chinese, Indian, Vietnamese and Filipino—and divulged three Asian restaurants that he’s had on his list to try locally. Here are his top selections—and a bit about his famous restaurant Stage Kitchen and his highly anticipated Ela Curry Kitchen, coming soon to Palm Beach Gardens.

Stage Kitchen and Ela Curry Kitchen, Palm Beach Gardens

Marathe—who brought bold flavors to Indian cuisine with the opening of Ghee Indian Restaurant in Miami’s design district in 2017, a collaboration with Niven Patel—opened his lauded Stage Kitchen in Palm Beach Gardens in February 2020. Showcasing globally-inspired cuisine, foodies flock to the restaurant for traditional Indian flavors such as Butter Chicken, Chickpea Curry and a rich selection of mouthwatering Naan flatbread, as well as dishes inspired by other international fare such as Korean BBQ ribs, Japanese-inspired Wagyu steak and his raved-about spicy tuna bomb, a culinary work of art made with semolina puri, spicy soy and avocado. Soon, Marathe will open another much-anticipated restaurant near Jupiter: this one featuring traditional Indian fare, driven by the countless requests he’s received for more authentic Indian cuisine locally. Ela Curry Kitchen will focus on refined and culturally-focused cuisine from across India, serving a dynamic selection of street food and fresh, daring thali-style dishes. The restaurant is expected to open in July. Marathe’s Stage Kitchen is located at 2000 PGA Boulevard in Palm Beach Gardens. Call (561) 408-3685 or visit StagePGA.com. Ela Curry Kitchen is expected to open in July near Jupiter at 4650 Donald Ross Road in Palm Beach Gardens.

Eathai, Delray Beach

Serving authentic Thai food with a contemporary twist, Eathai on Federal Highway in Delray Beach has quickly become the go-to restaurant for anyone “in the know” about great food. “Every chef I know raves about Eathai,” Marathe said, citing the distinguished taste of friends like fellow chef Jeremy Bearman of Oceano Kitchen and High Dive West Palm. A family-owned and operated restaurant, owner Sopanut Sopochana (or “Chef So,” as friends call him) opened the location in 2016 following a successful career in New York that included working his way up from a dishwasher to owning and operating three restaurants. He has earned a reputation in culinary circles locally for his famous hot sauce, something that Marathe said he’s dying to try. “All of the food at Eathai looks fantastic,” he said. With delicious traditional dishes like Pad Thai, Papaya Salad, Grilled Lamb Satay and a wide selection of tofu dishes, the restaurant is known for adventurous seafood fare such as its exceptional Roasted Banana-Wrapped Catch of the Day and Panang Curry with Panko-Crusted Salmon. Its celebrated Spicy Oxtail Soup offers a hearty meal of chunks of tender braised meat served in a beef broth with cherry tomatoes, white onions, cilantro, cinnamon and star anise. And if you’ve never tried Thai rolled ice cream, you’re in for a treat; the restaurant offers any number of combinations to choose from to design your perfect dessert. Eathai is located at 1832 South Federal Highway in Delray Beach. Call (561) 270-3156 or visit EatThaiFlorida.com.

Sunset Sushi, Boca Raton

An upscale treat for sushi aficionados, Sunset Sushi along Federal Highway in Boca Raton has earned a reputation for its traditional Omakase style dining experience, or Japanese tasting menu—something that has drawn Marathe’s interest for some time. “I’ve heard that Sunset Sushi serves an amazing curated Omakase experience,” he said. “I’m going to go there as soon as possible.” The restaurant is the creation of Chef David Bouhadana, a Boca Raton native who began his training in the art of sushi locally and later lived and worked in Japan, where he continued honing his craft. He then opened several successful sushi concepts in New York City (where he was named one of the top chefs in the country under 30 by Zagat), Chicago and South Florida. With fresh seasonal fish flown in daily from Toyosu Fish Market in Japan, Sunset Sushi is Boca Raton’s first Omakase counter and offers guests an intimate eight-seat culinary experience that features a two hour, 15-17 course sushi spread of Tokyo-style sushi. Sake options include a Sunset Sake tasting of three pours, with premium individual selections such as the “forbidden wooden box” of Toko Ultraluxe Junmai Daiginjo or the exclusive HeavenSake Junmai Daiginjo, crafted in Japan. Also available are a selection of chef’s choice Omakase To Go boxes, with distinctive selections such as a delicious Hamachi (Japanese Yellowtail) and Scallion Roll or a Truffle Dusted Vegetable Roll with cucumber, shisho leaves and daikon sprouts. Sunset Sushi is located at 2433 North Federal Highway in Boca Raton. To book a reservation, visit sunsetsushi.com.

Pho & Hot Pot, Lake Park

A local favorite in the heart of downtown Lake Park, Pho & Hot Pot has long been on Marathe’s radar. “It’s a hidden gem,” he said. “It’s a restaurant that I’ve been wanting to visit and support because I’ve heard so many incredible things about it.” Offering some of the best Vietnamese fare in the region, this family-owned business features an expansive dining space that is divided into two sides. One side serves beloved dishes such as a plentiful selection of Pho (a traditional soup dish of broth, rice noodles, herbs and meat) and Bun Bo Hue (spicy lemongrass and pork soup), while the other side of the restaurant offers a truly unique concept: the hot pot option, which offers guests the opportunity to create their own soup at their table. With each table equipped with its own hot plate, the staff provides the broth and guests select their ingredients from a large, refrigerated display case. Gluten-free and vegan options abound, and families love the chance to be creative with ingredient choices. The restaurant is owned and managed by longtime local Julie Thach, who has owned the adjacent Saigon Oriental Market since 1991. With delectable appetizers like summer rolls, curry puffs and dumplings, Pho & Hot Pot offers dry noodle dishes such as Bun Dac Biet (grilled pork and shrimp on sugarcane, served with vegetables and delicate rice vermicelli noodles) and flavorful rice dishes such as Com Dac Biet (grilled pork chop with Chinese sausage, egg and vegetables with rice). Pho & Hot Pot is located at 826 Park Avenue in Lake Park. Call (561) 842-3443 or visit phoandhotpot.com.

Linnea Bailey

Linnea Bailey is an award-winning journalist based in West Palm Beach. Her freelance work can be found in Travel + Leisure, Southern Living, The Palm Beach Post, Florida Weekly, Modern Luxury, art&culture magazine and more. Linnea enjoys traveling, spending time with family and experiencing all the arts and cultural offerings The Palm Beaches have to offer. Find her on Instagram @linneabaileymedia.