20 Best TV Shows Featuring All-Asian Casts You Must Watch

From sweeping historical epics to sharp modern dramas, these series spotlight Asian storytellers, performers, and cultures across genres and countries. You will find Korean period thrillers, Japanese contemporary dramas, Chinese costume sagas, Indian crime series, and more. Each entry includes the key premise, principal cast or creators, and where it first made its mark. Use this list to discover acclaimed shows from across Asia that have reached audiences worldwide.

‘Pachinko’ (2022– )

This multigenerational drama follows a Korean family that migrates to Japan and spans several decades and locations. It is based on Min Jin Lee’s novel and features Kim Min ha, Youn Yuh jung, Lee Min ho, and Jin Ha. The series uses Korean, Japanese, and English with careful subtitles and captions. Season one premiered on a global streaming platform with eight episodes and received multiple international awards attention.

‘Kingdom’ (2019–2020)

Set in the Joseon era, this historical thriller centers on a mysterious plague and political intrigue surrounding the crown prince. It stars Ju Ji hoon, Bae Doona, Ryu Seung ryong, and Kim Sung gyu. Two seasons were released with an additional special episode titled Ashin of the North. The show was one of the first major Korean series produced as a global streaming original.

‘Reply 1988’ (2015–2016)

This ensemble family drama follows five friends and their neighbors in a Seoul neighborhood during the late 1980s. The cast includes Hyeri, Ryu Jun yeol, Park Bo gum, Go Kyung pyo, and Lee Hye ri. It blends coming of age stories with cultural touchstones from the era. The show aired on cable television in Korea and later expanded its audience through streaming.

‘Crash Landing on You’ (2019–2020)

A South Korean heiress accidentally crosses the border and meets a North Korean officer, which sets off a cross border story about loyalty, family, and duty. The series stars Hyun Bin and Son Ye jin with a large supporting Korean cast. It aired on tvN in Korea and was distributed internationally on streaming. The production filmed in multiple locations including Switzerland for key sequences.

‘Mr. Sunshine’ (2018)

This period drama is set in the early 1900s and follows a Korean man who returns to his homeland as a United States Marine officer. It stars Lee Byung hun, Kim Tae ri, Yoo Yeon seok, and Byun Yo han. The series explores resistance movements and historical events leading up to annexation. It aired on tvN and reached global viewers through streaming release.

‘D.P.’ (2021– )

This military drama follows a deserter pursuit team tasked with apprehending soldiers who abandon their posts. Jung Hae in and Koo Kyo hwan lead the cast with Kim Sung kyun and Son Suk ku in key roles. The show examines hazing, hierarchy, and legal procedures within conscription. Two seasons have been released on a global streaming platform.

‘Extraordinary Attorney Woo’ (2022)

This legal drama follows Woo Young woo, a rookie attorney on the autism spectrum who joins a top Seoul law firm. Park Eun bin leads the cast alongside Kang Tae oh and Kang Ki young. The show presents case of the week storytelling with overarching firm politics. It premiered on ENA in Korea and was picked up worldwide through streaming.

‘Itaewon Class’ (2020)

After a wrongful conviction, a young man opens a bar restaurant in Seoul’s Itaewon district and challenges a powerful food conglomerate. Park Seo joon and Kim Da mi star with Yoo Jae myung and Kwon Nara in supporting roles. The series is adapted from a popular webtoon of the same name. It originally aired on JTBC and later streamed internationally.

‘Midnight Diner’ (2009–2019)

Set in a small Tokyo eatery that opens late, each episode focuses on a different patron and the dish tied to their story. Kaoru Kobayashi plays the Master who cooks simple meals by request. The series began on TV Tokyo and later continued as ‘Midnight Diner Tokyo Stories’ with seasons produced for streaming. Its anthology format makes each episode a self contained character study.

‘Alice in Borderland’ (2020–2022)

Three friends are transported to an empty Tokyo where they must compete in deadly games tied to playing card suits. Kento Yamazaki and Tao Tsuchiya lead the cast with supporting Japanese performers. The first season adapted early volumes of Haro Aso’s manga and the second season concluded the main storyline. The show was released globally as a streaming original.

‘Hanzawa Naoki’ (2013–2020)

This corporate drama follows a resourceful banker who confronts corruption and power struggles in Japan’s financial sector. Masato Sakai stars as Hanzawa with a large ensemble cast across both seasons. The series became a ratings phenomenon on TBS and spawned spin off specials. Each arc centers on internal investigations, loan recoveries, and boardroom maneuvering.

‘Nirvana in Fire’ (2015)

This Chinese historical series follows Lin Shu, who returns under an alias to clear his family’s name and navigate court politics. Hu Ge, Liu Tao, and Wang Kai head the cast. The production is known for detailed costumes, elaborate sets, and strategic plotting. It aired on Beijing TV and Dragon TV and later gained a large international viewership online.

‘The Untamed’ (2019)

Adapted from Mo Xiang Tong Xiu’s novel, this fantasy drama centers on cultivators Wei Wuxian and Lan Wangji as they uncover conspiracies among powerful clans. Xiao Zhan and Wang Yibo star with an ensemble of Chinese actors. The show features extensive location shooting and martial arts choreography. It streamed on Tencent Video and achieved wide popularity across Asia and beyond.

‘Story of Yanxi Palace’ (2018)

Set in the Qing dynasty, this palace drama follows Wei Yingluo as she enters the Forbidden City to investigate her sister’s death and rises within the court. Wu Jinyan and Nie Yuan lead the cast with Qin Lan and Charmaine Sheh. The series aired on iQIYI and multiple regional broadcasters. It became one of the most streamed Chinese dramas of its year and inspired related projects.

‘Three-Body’ (2023)

This mainland Chinese adaptation of Liu Cixin’s novel depicts scientists and officials confronting the first contact fallout tied to events during the Cultural Revolution. Zhang Luyi, Yu Hewei, and Chen Jin are among the lead performers. The series originally released on CCTV and Tencent Video with high production values for physics and period sequences. It presents the initial arc of the Remembrance of Earth’s Past trilogy.

‘Sacred Games’ (2018–2019)

This Mumbai set crime drama follows a police officer who receives a cryptic warning from a notorious gangster, which triggers a race to prevent a catastrophe. Saif Ali Khan and Nawazuddin Siddiqui headline with Radhika Apte in a key role. Anurag Kashyap and Vikramaditya Motwane served as showrunners across two seasons. It was one of the first major Indian originals for global streaming.

‘Paatal Lok’ (2020– )

A Delhi police officer investigates a high profile assassination attempt and uncovers a network tied to politics, crime, and media. Jaideep Ahlawat leads the cast with Neeraj Kabi and Abhishek Banerjee in pivotal roles. The series debuted on an international streaming platform and received critical recognition within India and abroad. A subsequent season expanded the investigation and character arcs.

‘The Family Man’ (2019–2021)

This action drama follows Srikant Tiwari, an intelligence operative who balances covert missions with family life. Manoj Bajpayee stars with Priyamani and Sharib Hashmi. The show released two seasons on a global streaming service and filmed across multiple Indian cities. It mixes domestic storylines with counterterrorism operations and regional politics.

‘Girl From Nowhere’ (2018–2021)

This Thai anthology series centers on Nanno, a mysterious transfer student who exposes secrets and hypocrisy at different schools. Kitty Chicha Amatayakul stars as Nanno with a rotating Thai cast each episode. Season one aired on GMM 25 in Thailand and later reached international audiences on streaming, with season two produced as a streaming original. Episodes explore bullying, exploitation, and social media scandals in standalone stories.

‘Delhi Crime’ (2019–2022)

Inspired by real investigations, this series follows the Delhi Police as they tackle complex cases with a focus on procedure and community impact. Shefali Shah leads the cast with Rasika Dugal and Rajesh Tailang. Season one examined the aftermath of a high profile case and season two focused on a different set of crimes. The show premiered on a global streaming platform and received major international awards recognition.

Share your favorite picks and any must add titles in the comments so everyone can discover more great shows.