The 2023 list of Asia’s 50 best restaurants has been revealed. Created from the votes of the Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants Academy, an influential group of more than 300 leaders made up of food writers and critics, chefs, restaurateurs and regional culinary experts, this year’s list includes restaurants from 19 cities across the region, featuring seven new entries and a further eight re-entries.
Le Du, in Bangkok, which has remained consistently on the list since 2017, has secured the coveted No.1 spot. Under the tutelage of dynamic young chef Thitid ‘Ton’ Tassanakajohn, the restaurant presents a modern take on refined Thai food interpreted through a French-leaning lens. Its menus champion the use of seasonal and local ingredients and the steadfast belief in the superiority of Thai produce.
Chef Ton and the team’s ability to combine their passion for Thailand’s culinary heritage, respect for homegrown ingredients and flair for modern cooking techniques is what makes the restaurant a true winner.
William Drew, Director of Content for Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants
Bangkok is represented by a total of nine restaurants on the list, among which Nusara, also helmed by Le Du’s Chef Ton, places No.3. Gaggan Anand re-enters the rankings at No.5, along with restaurants Sorn (No.9), Sühring (No.22) and Raan Jay Fai (No.38). Potong and Baan Tepa debut at No.35 and No.46 respectively.
Singapore’s restaurants also hold nine coveted spots, with Odette leading the charge at No.6. A timeless fine-dining destination helmed by chef Julien Royer, the restaurant has been a regular feature in the top ten rankings since 2017. Marking a double win for the restaurant is pastry chef Louisa Lim, who brings home the Asia’s Best Pastry Chef Award. Her imaginative confections, which exude a delicate harmony of flavours, are a significant draw to the Odette experience. Rising up an impressive 29 spots, LG Han’s ‘new Singaporean’ dining destination Labyrinth (No.11) wins the Highest Climber Award.
Tokyo is represented by seven spots on the list. Sézanne, at No.2, climbs up an impressive 15 places. Den, which was named The Best Restaurant in Asia last year, places No.4 in the ranking. At No.7 is Florilège, whose chef-owner Hiroyasu Kawate also wins the peer-voted Inedit Damm Chefs’ Choice Award. Narisawa (No.10) celebrates being on the Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants list for 11 consecutive editions since it debuted at No.1 back in 2013, and Sazenka follows at No.12. Ode sits at No.20 and L’Effervescence, whose executive chef Shinobu Namae was awarded the Icon Award, sits at No.44.
Shanghai and Macau are represented by two spots each. In the former, haute vegetarian restaurant Fu He Hui is at No.18 and Da Vittorio is at No.34. Macau’s opulent Wing Lei Palace climbs up seven places to No.39, and Sichuan Moon re-enters the rankings at No.43. Nordic dining destination Refer breaks into the list at No.50 and is Beijing’s sole representation at the awards. Shenzhen is represented by Ensue (No.31), with its dynamic young female sommelier Della Tang also crowned the Beronia Asia’s Best Sommelier 2023.
Manila’s Toyo Eatery re-enters the ranking at No.42 and also wins the Flor de Caña Sustainable Restaurant Award. Chef and owner Jordy Navarra is an advocate for conservation and preservation and believes that there is no linear way or cookie cutter approach to sustainability. Preferring to work with small-scale producers, he maintains that respecting traditions, cultures and terroirs are all a part of the sustainability loop.
Asia’s 50 best restaurants for 2023
- Le Du (Bangkok)
- Sezanne (Tokyo)
- Nusara (Bangkok)
- Den (Tokyo)
- Gaggan Anand (Bangkok)
- Odette (Singapore)
- Florilege (Tokyo)
- La Cime (Osaka)
- Sorn (Bangkok)
- Narisawa (Tokyo)
- Labyrinth (Singapore)
- Sazenka (Tokyo)
- The Chairman (Hong Kong)
- Villa Aida (Wakayama, Japan)
- Mosu (Seoul)
- Masque (Mumbai)
- Meta (Singapore)
- Fu He Hui (Shanghai)
- Indian Accent (New Delhi)
- Ode (Tokyo)
- Zen (Singapore)
- Suhring (Bangkok)
- Onjium (Seoul)
- Burnt Ends (Singapore)
- Euphoria (Singapore)
- Cloudstreet (Singapore)
- Les Amis (Singapore)
- Mingles (Seoul)
- Neighborhood (Hong Kong)
- Avartana (Chennai, India)
- Ensue (Shenzhen, China)
- Cenci (Kyoto, Japan)
- Ms. Maria & Mr. Singh (Bangkok)
- Da Vittorio (Shanghai)
- Potong (Bangkok)
- Born (Singapore)
- Wing (Hong Kong)
- Raan Jay Fai (Bangkok)
- Wing Lei Palace (Macao)
- Anan Saigon (Ho Chi Minh City)
- Mono (Hong Kong)
- Toyo Eatery (Manila)
- Sichuan Moon (Macao)
- L’Effervescence (Tokyo)
- Mume (Taipei)
- Baan Tepa (Bangkok)
- Born & Bred (Seoul)
- Metiz (Manila)
- Caprice (Hong Kong)
- Refer (Beijing)
