I have heard some restaurant recs from people on this board by word of mouth, but wanted to put together a list - where have you enjoyed good international cuisine (Japanese, Chinese, anything not Italian!) in Florence?

Could we do a sticky for various restaurant recs in different cities, Italian and non?

Two suggestions:

• Buddakan - Asian fusion Cuisine, Largo Bangellini, 7/8, tel. 055 2346123
• Tomo-Sushi - for sushi and there's an oriental market next door, Via Pratese, 128, tel. 055 301368. It's approximately 4 blocks away from the Ikea

Buon appetito! and ciao, Ben

Ciao!
I lived i Florence for almost 24 years, just moved fulltime out to Certaldo.

There are quite a few( over 100) chinese restaurants in Florence, I am from San Francsico and prefer to just do a stir fry at home, too much MSG out.

There are several sushi places and one UDON noodle place.

Some indian places ( 3 in town now I think and there was a more expensive really good one in Fiesole, not sure if still there)

I would suggest going to VIVI market near the medici chapel, an international grocery store..
they even have frozen wonton.. cranberry juice...
and mexican, american, philipino, chinese, japanese and other ingredients.

I grew up in San Francisco, lived in NYC, travelled to East Asia many years ago, and visit my sister in Sydney every few years. In my experience, every Chinese restaurant in Italy serves the absolute worst Chinese food ever. I had to go all the way to Brussels, Belgium, for a really great Chinese meal. I'd love it if someone could contradict me.

The Chinese options here are pretty sad. I would recommend Il Mandarino, however, on Via Corso in Florence. They have a 12 Euro lunch special that gives you a ton of food, and I would say that they would most closely resemble high quality American Chinese food. I had homestyle tofu that was excellent, OK fried rice. Anyone else's reccomendations are welcome.

I have found that all of the Chinese restaurants around San Lorenzo are awful.

I want to try Sushi Mania soon, a new sushi place that delivers (!) but haven't gotten to it yet. Anyone been?

I did find that upstairs in the San Lorenzo market, in the back, there is a vegetable seller that has many Asian products, including Thai fish sauce, rice wines, etc. that are the building blocks of making Asian cuisine at home. I might start to get into that as you suggest, Diva! I already bought my own cilantro plant.

I have been to the Indian restaurant in Fiesole which I believe is one of the best in the country. I have not been recently though.

Today I also went to "Mi Tienda Latina" on Via Ponte alle Mosse today. Very expensive, but all Latin American products. I bought a jarred mole sauce.

Is the Udon noodle place on Via dei Banchi? If so I already spotted it, it's in a random caffe, and they said that the ramen will start up again this month. I doubt it will be like Momofuku was in NYC, but beggars can't be chosers!

I recently went to Kome http://www.komefirenze.it/
Japanese BBQ & Sushi and it was surprisingly good. actually really good. We went upstairs to the BBQ tables and then ordered sushi and sashimi as well. My OH and I (recently moved from nyc) were saying you almost feel like your in an nyc restaurant, closest thing to it in florence at least. The sushi was excellent tasted very fresh/not fishy at all, presentation was great/attention to detail. BBQ meats that you get to cook yourself was good pretty basic but the sauces were nice.
A little pricy, but hey when you have an anything but pasta craving... The only bad thing was the next day we both woke up with horrible headaches (i had no wine) we were thinking MSG. but i will go back!
Also recently went to "India" the place you mentioned in Fiesole. Was also very good but everything sadly lacked that hot spiciness you normally get with indian food. I even ordered the chicken vindaloo which is supposed to be HOT, but was soo mild. we asked for hot sauce but they just brought more vindaloo sauce! probably will try it again...apparently they have a sister restaurant in the florence center, maybe we'll go there instead.
Went to Rose's in the center, for lunch.
http://www.roses.it/
tiny posh looking place with small lunch menu - salads and burgers! (they have a sushi bar too, but didnt try) I had a great burger and fries, (no barrow Street burger but was good!) they also have ginger ale there ....will def go back.
I also want to check out SeSame - a french moroccan place. Not sure if it's still open or not, but it's next on my list.