Asia Live at Valley Fair: A World of Flavor Has Landed in Santa Clara

If you haven't been to Westfield Valley Fair lately, it might be time to go back. The Santa Clara mall has quietly become one of the best dining destinations in the South Bay, and its newest addition is turning heads. Asia Live opened its doors on June 19, and it's already shaping up to be one of the most exciting restaurant concepts this area has seen in years.

A Restaurant Unlike Anything Else in the Mall

Asia Live is the brainchild of George Chen and Cindy Wong-Chen, the husband-and-wife team behind China Live, the beloved San Francisco restaurant that helped elevate Chinese dining in the city. Their new Santa Clara venture is bigger in every sense. Spread across 15,000 square feet on two floors with seating for up to 350 guests, Asia Live isn't just a restaurant -- it's an experience.

Unlike China Live's more focused menu, Asia Live casts a much wider net, drawing inspiration from Thailand, Japan, Korea, India, and China. The open kitchen puts the cooking on full display, giving the space an energy that's part upscale dining, part lively food hall. It's the kind of place where you could easily spend two hours working your way through the menu and still feel like you missed something.

What to Order First

If you're not sure where to start, co-owner Cindy Wong-Chen has a suggestion: the Pad Banh. It's a creative fusion dish that blends the flavors of Thailand's Pad Thai with Vietnam's Bánh xèo, served as a crepe in a banana leaf. Inventive, flavorful, and a little hard to categorize – which is kind of the point.

Fans of the original China Live won't want to overlook the Sheng Jian Bao, the pan-fried soup dumplings that have been a signature item since the San Francisco location opened. They made the trip south for good reason.

What This Says About Santa Clara

Here's the thing about a restaurant like Asia Live choosing Valley Fair as its home: it doesn't happen by accident. George Chen has spoken openly about the mall's foot traffic and its draw for both local residents and visitors from across the region. When a team with China Live's track record decides to plant a flag somewhere, it says something about the community they're planting it in.

For people considering a move to the South Bay, Santa Clara often gets overshadowed by its neighbors. But the city sits at the center of Silicon Valley, surrounded by some of the best schools, neighborhoods, and now dining options in the entire region. The arrival of Asia Live at Valley Fair is one more data point in a compelling case.

Westfield Valley Fair already counts Eataly among its tenants. Asia Live is right across from it. That's not a typical mall food court -- that's a legitimate dining destination that can hold its own against anything in San Jose or the broader Bay Area.

Come for the Food, Stay for the Neighborhood

Whether you're a longtime Santa Clara resident or someone exploring the South Bay for the first time, Asia Live is worth adding to your list. It's located at 2855 Stevens Creek Boulevard, Suite 1891, right next to Shake Shack and across from Eataly.

If you're also in the process of thinking about where to put down roots in Silicon Valley, I'd love to help you explore what Santa Clara and the surrounding communities have to offer. The dining scene is just one part of what makes this area such a compelling place to live.