Japan is the highest destination in Asia for gastronomes this yr, in accordance with latest rankings released by the 50 Best organization.
The country is home to 17 of the region’s “best” 100 restaurants, which were released in two parts in March.
Singapore and Thailand tied for second place, with 15 restaurants on the list each. Hong Kong — last yr’s top destination — saw 13 establishments on the list.
William Drew, director of content for Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants, said Japan’s strong performance is “no surprise.”
“Japan has long been thought to be one in all the nice gastronomic countries of the world with a culinary heritage that’s admired across the globe — combined with innovation, dedication, knowledge and talent,” he told CNBC.
The highest 50 restaurants in Asia
This yr commemorates the tenth anniversary of the “Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants” list. This yr’s rating includes restaurants from 19 cities, with 7 latest establishments on the list.
Singapore and Thailand each count the very best variety of entries on the highest 50 list with nine restaurants each. Thailand took home the highest honor with Bangkok’s Le Du named “The Best Restaurant in Asia 2023” — moving up three spots.
Le Du’s menus champion the usage of seasonal and native ingredients — enforcing its steadfast belief in the prevalence of Thai produce.
Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants 2023
This yr’s rating saw some shake-ups: Japan’s Den, which was No. 1 in 2022 — dropped three spots to No. 4, while Bangkok’s Sorn tumbled from No. 2 to No. 9.
Japan’s Sezanne rose a powerful 15 places to emerge at No. 2, clinching the title of “Best Restaurant in Japan” for the primary time.
Hong Kong’s The Chairman, which ranked No. 1 in 2021, lost further ground because it slipped from No. 5 to No. 13.
The “Highest Entry” award also went to Avartana from India, which debuted on the list at No. 30.
Asia’s ‘best restaurant’
Asia’s top restaurant, Thailand’s Le Du, is a one-Michelin-starred restaurant that first entered the list in 2017 at No. 37.
Opened in 2013, head chef and owner Thitid ‘Ton’ Tassanakajohn gives Thai food a contemporary spin through a French-leaning lens.
His menus champion the usage of seasonal and native ingredients — enforcing his steadfast belief in the prevalence of Thai produce.
Once I opened the restaurant, [people] said, I won’t ever make it because I only use local produce.
Thitid Tassanakajohn
chef/owner of Thailand’s Le Du restaurant
Talking to CNBC after the award ceremony on Tuesday night, Tassanakajohn said taking the coveted spot feels “unreal.”
“I didn’t expect it in any respect … 10 years ago, after I opened the restaurant, [people] said, I won’t ever make it because I only use local produce and you might have to make use of imported ingredients,” he shared.
“I’m so glad to represent Thailand and produce Thai ingredients to the forefront of Asia.”
Asia’s top 50 restaurants
The list of “Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants” for 2023 are:
1. Le Du (Bangkok, Thailand)
2. Sezanne (Tokyo, Japan)
3. Nusara (Bangkok, Thailand)
4. Den (Tokyo, Japan)
5. Gaggan Anand (Bangkok, Thailand)
6. Odette (Singapore)
7. Florilege (Tokyo, Japan)
8. La Cime (Osaka, Japan)
9. Sorn (Bangkok, Thailand)
10. Narisawa (Tokyo, Japan)
11. Labyrinth (Singapore) — Highest Climber Award (from No. 40 in 2022)
12. Sazenka (Tokyo, Japan)
13. The Chairman (Hong Kong)
14. Villa Aida (Wakayama, Japan)
15. Mosu (Seoul, Korea)
16. Masque (Mumbai, India)
17. Meta (Singapore)
18. Fu He Hui (Shanghai, China)
19. Indian Accent (Latest Delhi, India)
20. Ode (Tokyo, Japan)
21. Zen (Singapore)
22. Suhring (Bangkok, Thailand)
23. Onjium (Seoul, South Korea)
24. Burnt Ends (Singapore)
25. Euphoria (Singapore)
A dish from Japan’s Sezanne, which rose a powerful 15 places to emerge No. 2.
Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants 2023
26. Cloudstreet (Singapore)
27. Les Amis (Singapore)
28. Mingles (Seoul, South Korea)
29. Neighborhood (Hong Kong)
30. Avartana (Chennai, India) — Highest Latest Entry Award
31. Ensue (Shenzhen, China)
32. Cenci (Kyoto, Japan)
33. Ms. Maria & Mr. Singh (Bangkok, Thailand)
34. Da Vittorio (Shanghai, China)
35. Potong (Bangkok, Thailand)
36. Born (Singapore)
37. Wing (Hong Kong)
38. Raan Jay Fai (Bangkok, Thailand)
39. Wing Lei Palace (Macau)
40. Anan Saigon (Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam)
41. Mono (Hong Kong)
42. Toyo Eatery (Manila, Philippines)
43. Sichuan Moon (Macau)
44. L’Effervescence (Tokyo, Japan)
45. Mume (Taipei, Taiwan)
46. Baan Tepa (Bangkok, Thailand)
47. Born & Bred (Seoul, Korea)
48. Metiz (Makati, Philippines)
49. Caprice (Hong Kong)
50. Refer (Beijing, China)
Asia’s best restaurants: 51-100
That is the third yr the prolonged list has been released. There are 17 latest entries spanning 17 cities — including L’evo at No. 60, the primary ever restaurant from Toyama, Japan to make the list.
Ten restaurants that ranked amongst Asia’s best 50 restaurants last yr fell into the 51-100 rating this yr.
Most notably, Joo Okay fell 33 spots from No. 18 to No. 51 and Samrub Samrub Thai dropped 51 places from No. 31 to No. 82.
Ete also saw a drop of 49 spots from No. 41 to No. 90.
A dish from Hong Kong’s Yong Fu. Hong Kong leads the 51-100 list with eight places.
Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants 2023
Hong Kong continued its reign with probably the most variety of restaurants within the 51-100 list, with eight making the rating.
Singapore’s Thevar saw the largest jump on this list — catapulting from No. 92 to No. 56 — edging near the very best 50 list. India’s Bukhara also closed its gap, moving 14 spots from No. 66 to No. 52.
Here’s the prolonged list:
51. Joo Okay (Seoul, South Korea)
52. Bukhara (Latest Delhi, India)
53. Ta Vie (Hong Kong)
54. Yong Fu (Hong Kong)
55. seventh Door (Seoul, South Korea)
56. Thevar (Singapore)
57. Logy (Taipei, Taiwan)
58. Jade Dragon (Macau)
59. Jin Sha (Hangzhou, China)
60. L’evo (Toyama, Japan)
61. Ando (Hong Kong)
62. Estro (Hong Kong)
63. Lolla (Singapore)
64. Sugita (Tokyo, Japan)
65. Ultraviolet by Paul Pairet (Shanghai, China)
66. Americano (Mumbai, India)
67. Esquisse (Tokyo, Japan)
68. Eatanic Garden at Josun Palace (Seoul, South Korea)
69. Ministry of Crab (Colombo, Sri Lanka)
70. 8 1/2 Otto e Mezzo Bombana (Hong Kong)
71. Cote by Mauro Colagreco (Bangkok, Thailand)
72. Wana Yook (Bangkok, Thailand)
73. Lerdtip Wanghin (Bangkok, Thailand)
74. Dewakan (Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia)
75. Nihonryori RyuGin (Tokyo, Japan)
76. Fu1015 (Shanghai, China)
A dish from Indonesia’s August, a latest entry at No. 95. The restaurant also won the “One To Watch” award.
Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants 2023
77. Ling Long (Beijing, China)
78. The Table (Mumbai, India)
79. Eat and Cook (Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia)
80. The Pizza Bar on thirty eighth (Toyo, Japan)
81. Gaa (Bangkok, Thailand)
82. Samrub Samrub Thai (Bangkok, Thailand)
83. Nae:Um (Singapore)
84. Jaan by Kirk Westaway (Singapore)
85. Claudine (Singapore)
86. Summer Pavilion (Singapore)
87. Adachi Sushi (Taipei, Taiwan)
88. Obscura (Shanghai, China)
89. Meet the Bund (Shanghai, China)
90. Ete (Tokyo, Japan)
91. Hommage (Tokyo, Japan)
92. Golden Flower (Macau)
93. Ekaa (Mumbai, India)
94. Nadodi (Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia)
95. August (Jakarta, Indonesia)
96. Liberte (Kaohsiung, Taiwan)
97. Sushi Hare (Hong Kong)
98. Nahm (Bangkok, Thailand)
99. Xin Rong Ji (Hong Kong)
100. Vea (Hong Kong)
‘Tremendous yr’ for Singapore
Singapore’s restaurants hold nine coveted spots — a rise from seven last yr. Odette, which has been named Asia’s best restaurant twice, leads the charge at No. 6.
Its pastry chef Louisa Lim also took home the “Asia’s Best Pastry Chef” award.
All of Singapore’s restaurants — except Jaan by Kirk Westaway — saw improvements on the highest 100 list.
For instance, Australian barbecue restaurant Burnt Ends, regained footing after dropping 27 places last yr — jumping 17 spots to No. 24.
The inside view of Labyrinth in Singapore, which won the “Highest Climber” award this yr.
Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants 2023
Labyrinth also rose 29 spots to No.11, winning the “Highest Climber” award. Born is Singapore’s highest rating latest entry this yr at No. 36.
This has been a “tremendous yr” for Singapore’s culinary scene, Drew told CNBC.
“There are myriad explanations as to why some regions have a robust showing — it might be a case of various Covid restrictions across certain countries lately,” he added.
“Or more broadly speaking, it might be a sign of shifting culinary tastes, or it could also represent that a geographical area is becoming more vital.”
How the list is made
The list is an “annual snapshot” of opinions of greater than 300 industry experts, said the 50 Best organization, known as “the academy.”
They’re made up of food writers, critics, chefs and restaurateurs from across the region.
The 50 Best organization added that the panel is “gender-balanced,” and every member was given 10 votes to nominate restaurants — with a maximum of seven situated inside their home country.
A Scottish blue lobster dish from Singapore’s Odette. The restaurant, which has been named Asia’s best twice, got here in at No. 6 this yr.
Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants 2023
