The present approaches for disaster recovery assessment most often solely concentrate on the tangible outcomes officially documented by local authorities. Therefore, they face shortcomings in addressing impacted populations’ complex experiences and perspectives. Top-down disaster recovery evaluation methods emphasize macro-level variables, including infrastructure restoration and economic revitalization. Conversely, bottom-up evaluation methodologies emphasize community-level perceptions, including recovery assessment, residents’ emotional well-being, and satisfaction. By integrating top-down and bottom-up disaster recovery assessment methods, this study seeks to close this knowledge gap and provide a more comprehensive understanding of the disaster recovery assessment approaches that followed the 2008 Wenchuan and 2003 Bam earthquakes in China and Iran. This chapter found that while Wenchuan’s recovery benefited from a more structured and comprehensive approach, insufficient public involvement presented significant challenges. In contrast, Bam’s reliance on community participation underscored the significance of meticulous planning and accountability in attaining long-term recovery success. Temporal recovery trends over reconstruction years in Wenchuan revealed that recovery trends varied throughout the region. The local government’s main priority was rehabilitating the built environment and infrastructure. However, the public regarded social and economic recovery as more important factors for a successful recovery after a disaster. Thus, it is imperative to prioritize comprehensive planning to balance long-term social and economic development strategies and immediate infrastructure needs.