The 2018 edition of the prestigious and fiercely competitive Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants, sponsored by S.Pellegrino and Acqua Panna, was revealed at an extravagant awards ceremony in Macao on 27th March, topped once again by Gaggan, voted The Best Restaurant in Asia for the fourth consecutive year.
Winning Chef Gaggan Anand accepted his award with a somewhat tongue-in-cheek speech suggesting the first time, “Everyone thought it was a fluke, the second year they thought we had bribed, the third year, we just won it, whilst this year, well I don’t think we have to prove anything.”
Serving up what Chef Gaggan describes as progressive Indian cuisine with constantly evolving tasting menus matched with warm Thai-style hospitality, Gaggan is one of seven Bangkok restaurants on the list. Indonesia’s top restaurant was once again the delightful Locavore in Ubud, which crept up one place to 21st, Odette repeated its success and was named Singapore’s number one, moving from ninth last year to fifth in 2018. Den leap-frogged Les Créations de Narisawa and Nihonryori Ryugin, to claim Japan’s top prize while Amber in Hong Kong retained its status as China’s best, despite falling four places.
In a reflection of the ever-rising regional standards there were eight new entries including La Cime in Osaka, which entered at number 17 and scooped the Highest New Entry Award. Meanwhile the Highest Climber Award went to The Chairman in Hong Kong which catapulted from 47th to a mighty 22nd.
Congratulations to all!
Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants 2018 – The Full List (2017 in brackets)
- Gaggan, Bangkok, Thailand (1) – Named Best Restaurant in Asia and Thailand
- Den, Tokyo, Japan (11) – Named Best Restaurant in Japan
- Florilège, Tokyo, Japan (14)
- Sühring, Bangkok, Thailand (13)
- Odette, Singapore (9) – Named Best Restaurant in Singapore
- Les Créations de Narisawa, Tokyo, Japan (6)
- Amber, Hong Kong, China (3)
- Ultraviolet by Paul Pairet, Shanghai, China (8) – Art of Hospitality Award
- Nihonryori Ryugin, Tokyo, Japan (7)
- Nahm, Bangkok, Thailand (5)
- Mingles, Seoul, South Korea (15) – Named Best Restaurant in Korea
- Burnt Ends, Singapore (10)
- 8 1/2 Otto e Mezzo Bombana, Hong Kong, China (4)
- Le Du, Bangkok, Thailand (37)
- RAW, Taipei, Taiwan (24) – Named Best Restaurant in Taiwan
- Ta Vie, Hong Kong, China (33)
- La Cime, Osaka, Japan (new entry) – Highest New Entry Award
- Mume, Taipei, Taiwan (43) – Highest Climber Award
- Indian Accent, New Delhi, India (30) – Named Best Restaurant in India
- L’Effervescence, Tokyo, Japan (12)
- Locavore, Bali, Indonesia (22) – Named Best Restaurant in Indonesia
- The Chairman, Hong Kong, China (47) – Highest Climber Award
- Waku Ghin, Singapore (20)
- Lung King Heen, Hong Kong, China (17)
- Ministry of Crab, Colombo, Sri Lanka (29) – Named Best Restaurant Sri Lanka
- Jungsik, Seoul, South Korea (25)
- Sushi Saito, Tokyo, Japan (27)
- Il Ristorante – Luca Fantin, Tokyo, Japan (new entry)
- Les Amis, Singapore (16)
- Fu He Hui, Shanghai, China (48)
- Paste, Bangkok, Thailand (new entry) – Best Female Chef
- Neighborhood, Hong Kong, China (new entry)
- Eat Me, Bangkok, Thailand (31)
- Hajime, Osaka, Japan (34)
- Jade Dragon, Macau, China (31)
- Corner House, Singapore (23)
- Bo.lan, Bangkok, Thailand (19)
- Quintessence, Tokyo, Japan (18)
- Issaya Siamese Club, Bangkok, Thailand (21)
- Belon, Hong Kong, China (new entry)
- Ronin, Hong Kong, China (45)
- Toctoc, Seoul, South Korea (new entry)
- The Dining Room at The House on Sathorn, Bangkok, Thailand (36)
- JAAN, Singapore (42)
- Nihonbashi, Colombo, Sri Lanka (49)
- Caprice, Hong Kong, China (Re-entry)
- Shoun Ryugin, Taipei, Taiwan (new entry)
- La Maison De La Nature Goh, Fukuoka, Japan (Re-entry)
- Wasabi By Morimoto, Mumbai India (46)
- Whitegrass, Singapore (new entry)
