Asian city referred to during break, as operator recalled (5)
I believe the answer is:
osaka
'asian' is the definition.
(I've seen this before)
'during break as operator recalled' is the wordplay.
'during' indicates a hidden word.
'recalled' says the letters should be written backwards (to recall can mean to bring something back).
'akaso' is hidden within 'break as operator'.
'akaso' back-to-front is 'OSAKA'.
'city referred to' acts as a link.
This may not be right. Some or all of it may be part of another bit of the clue.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for osaka that I've seen before include "Japanese port, Bay" , "Port city of southern Honshu" , "Japanese port, on Honshu" , "Japan's third-largest city" , "Port city on Honshu, Japan" .)