If you’re planning a Christmas party, New Year’s celebration, or another holiday gathering and want to serve something beyond the usual dips, cheese boards, and finger foods, these Asian appetizers are a fun way to mix things up. Think crispy dumplings, sushi, savory pancakes, chicken wings, skewers, and plenty of small bites that are easy to share.
I’ve never given Christmas food much attention on Pickled Plum because my cooking has always leaned heavily toward Japanese and other Asian flavors. But the more I thought about holiday entertaining and the more I realized how many of the recipes I have are perfect for sharing at a party.
This collection of Asian Christmas appetizers includes Japanese, Korean, and Chinese recipes, with a mix of hot and cold dishes, vegetarian options, seafood, and heartier party food. Choose a few from different sections to build a spread with plenty of flavor, color, and texture.
If Japanese food is going to be the focus of your holiday menu, my Easy Japanese Recipes to Make at Home collection offers plenty of ideas to help you build the perfect holiday feast.
Table of contents
Asian Christmas Appetizers and Party Food
Cold Appetizers and Salads
Hamachi Crudo
Buttery slices of hamachi are topped with a bright citrus and soy dressing for a fresh, savory appetizer with a hint of heat. It’s an elegant choice for a holiday spread and gives the table something light to balance richer and heavier dishes.
Scallop Crudo
Sweet scallops, a bright dressing, and only 10 minutes of prep. I love this one for entertaining because it tastes clean and fresh, looks beautiful on a plate, and doesn’t require spending half the evening in the kitchen.
Edamame with Soy and Sesame Sauce
Edamame gets much more interesting when it’s tossed with toasted sesame oil and soy sauce. Put a big bowl on the table and let everyone suck on these tasty pods – it’s a great conversation starter!
Japanese Macaroni Salad
Creamy Japanese macaroni salad gets its distinctive flavor from Kewpie mayonnaise and imitation crab. It has the nostalgic, comforting quality of a classic party salad, but with a distinctly Japanese flair.
Japanese Potato Salad
Japanese potato salad is one of those dishes I can happily eat straight from the bowl. Mine is creamy and savory with plenty of tang, plus thinly sliced pickled cucumber for a little crunch and zing.
Kani Salad (Japanese Crab Stick Salad)
Kani salad is one of Japan’s most popular and loved salads. It’s a simple combination of imitation crab and sliced cucumber, mixed in a sweet and tangy mayonnaise dressing.
Dumplings & Buns
Vegetable Bao Buns
These bao are soft, fluffy, and stuffed with napa cabbage, bamboo shoots, and mushrooms. They are so delicious that you will immediately want another one after the first bite.
Oven Baked Shrimp and Cheese Dumplings
Shrimp and cheese tucked into crispy dumpling wrappers — what’s not to like? With only six ingredients needed and a quick bake in the oven, this is a wonderfully easy-to-make party snack.
Mushroom Cabbage Dumplings
These meat-free dumplings are filled with earthy mushrooms and a savory cabbage mixture. The result is a batch of moist, tender bites of pure deliciousness.
Kimchi Tofu Mandu
These Korean dumplings are crispy outside, soft inside, and packed with smoky, spicy kimchi flavor. They’re especially good with a cold beer or a little hot sake, which makes for a very festive pairing.
Egg Dishes & Savory Pancakes
Honey Sriracha Deviled Eggs
Deviled eggs already belong at a party. Add honey, sriracha, and bacon and suddenly they become the item everyone asks about. Sweet, creamy, a little spicy — there’s a lot going on in one bite.
Wasabi Deviled Eggs
These are classic creamy deviled eggs with a little wasabi heat sneaking in at the end. Plus, they take just 20 minutes to make, which is always nice when there are ten other things on the holiday to-do list.
Tamagoyaki – Japanese Omelette
Soft, slightly sweet, and savory, tamagoyaki is one of my favorite simple Japanese egg dishes. Slice the rolled omelet into bite-sized pieces and serve them with toothpicks.
Chinese Scallion Omelette
This simple scallion omelette gets plenty of savory flavor from Maggi seasoning and oyster sauce. Cut it into wedges or small squares and serve it warm or at room temperature.
Okonomiyaki
Cabbage and bean sprouts tucked into a savory Japanese pancake, then covered with sweet and tangy okonomi sauce, Japanese mayo, and bonito flakes. Cut it into smaller pieces and let everyone dig in.
Kimchi Pancake
Crispy edges, chewy bits, lots of savory kimchi flavor, and a fiery soy dipping sauce on the side. Perfect for those who enjoy a little heat with their food!
Sushi Rolls & Rice Bites
Temari Sushi
These little sushi balls are almost too pretty to eat! Their bright colors and bite-sized shape make them especially lovely for Christmas, New Year’s, or any occasion when you want the table to feel a little more festive.
Inari Sushi
Inari sushi is made with sweet and savory tofu pockets stuffed with seasoned sushi rice and is a popular party food across Japan. They’re chewy, slightly sweet, savory, and conveniently made for eating with your hands.
California Roll
Creamy avocado, crisp cucumber, and imitation crab make California rolls one of those easy-to-love sushi classics. They’re also a great choice for sushi beginners or anyone who doesn’t eat raw fish.
Spicy Tuna Roll (Canned Tuna Version)
A kid-friendly spicy tuna roll recipe made with canned tuna! No fresh fish needed and ready to serve in just 25 minutes.
Onigiri – Rice Balls
Making onigiri is very easy and always a crowd pleaser. In this post, I share four popular flavors and show you how to make them. They’re simple, satisfying, and ideal for a party platter since they don’t require any utensils or plates.
Vegetable Kimbap
Egg, pickles, and crunchy vegetables rolled with sesame-seasoned rice and seaweed make kimbap as pretty as it is tasty. Slice the rolls, arrange them on a big platter — and watch them disappear.
Crispy & Fried Appetizers
Vegetable Egg Rolls
Easy vegetable egg rolls filled with cabbage, carrots and scallions, and seasoned with ginger and garlic. Serve them with your favorite dipping sauce or scroll down for more dipping sauce options.
Shrimp Tempura
Crispy shrimp tempura served with a simple tsuyu sauce or seasoned with a pinch of salt. This is a very popular appetizer and something a little different than your classic shrimp cocktail.
Beef and Potato Croquettes – Korokke
A Japanese comfort food classic, beef and potato croquettes will please even the pickiest guests at your holiday feast!
Konnyaku Karaage
If you’ve only had konnyaku simmered or tossed into soups, this recipe is a completely different experience. Karaage-style konnyaku gets wonderfully savory and crisp, with a texture that reminds me a little of fried squid or chicken. And it’s 100% vegan!
Poultry & Meats
Bacon Wrapped Asparagus With Honey Miso Glaze
This recipe will make your family and guests go crazy! Smoky, salty, and packed with umami, these bacon-wrapped asparagus spears take only 25 minutes to prepare and make a delicious party snack.
Baby Back Ribs (Japanese Style)
These Japanese-style baby back ribs are marinated with a mixture of onion, garlic, red wine, ketchup, and soy sauce, then slowly cooked with sake. The result is tender, savory ribs with a deep, slightly smoky flavor, perfect for a holiday feast.
Teriyaki Pork Rolls
Thin slices of pork are wrapped around green beans, carrots, and red bell pepper, then pan-fried and coated in a simple soy and sugar teriyaki sauce. They’re sweet, savory, colorful, and perfect for both kids and adults!
Yakitori Style Beef Kebabs
Beef kebabs marinated in soy, sake and mirin. The marinade gives the beef plenty of umami and a little sweetness, and the skewers make these easy to serve at a holiday party.
Baked Korean Chicken Wings
These wings are marinated in a mixture of garlic, ginger, soy sauce, honey, gochujang, rice vinegar, and sesame oil, and baked until golden brown. They’re sweet, savory, a little spicy, and packed with classic Korean-style flavors.
Tips for Planning a Christmas Spread
When I’m putting together a spread like this, I like to choose dishes that each bring something a little different to the table. A fresh or chilled appetizer, something crisp and hot, a rice or dumpling dish, and one or two more substantial bites usually give you plenty of variety without making the menu feel repetitive. It also keeps the cooking manageable, which is always a bonus when there are a dozen other things to do during the holidays.
If you’re cooking several dishes, look for recipes that can be partially prepared ahead. Dumplings can be assembled in advance, some can be frozen, and cold or room-temperature dishes can be prepared before you begin cooking hot appetizers.
When serving a larger group, it’s also helpful to include at least one vegetarian option for guests who don’t eat meat. Vegetable egg rolls, mushroom cabbage dumplings, kimchi tofu mandu, vegetable bao buns, and edamame all work well alongside seafood and meat dishes.
Dipping Sauces for Asian Appetizers
A few simple dipping sauces can make an appetizer spread feel more complete, especially if you’re serving finger foods that need a dip.
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