Le Du from Bangkok emerged tops at Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants 2023, beating runners-up Sézanne from Tokyo and Nusara, also from the Thai capital.
Announced at a ceremony in Singapore on 28 March, the top three were joined by nine Singapore restaurants, with Odette (No.6) leading the way.
The French fine dining restaurant was joined by Labyrinth (No.11th), Meta (No.17), Zén, (No.21), Burnt Ends (No.24), Euphoria (No.25), Cloudstreet (No.26), Les Amis (No.27), and Born (No.36).
There were six new restaurants on the list this year, with Avartana (No.30) named as the highest new entry. Other debutants included Ms. Maria & Mr. Singh (No.33) and Potong from Bangkok (No.35), Singapore’s Born (No.36), Metiz in Makati (No.48), and Refer in Beijing (No.50).
China had 11 restaurants and the most number of entries on the 2023 list, with Hong Kong’s The Chairman (No.13) flying the flag. Sézanne (No.2) was the highest placed restaurant out of the 10 from Japan, followed by Thailand’s nine winners.
They were joined by four restaurants from India and South Korea respectively, and one each from Taiwan and Vietnam.
The highest climber went to Singapore’s Labyrinth, which jumped 29 spots last year to 11th this year.
Last year’s number one restaurant Den fell to fourth place in 2023.
Other awards at Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants 2023
Besides the top 50, other prizes were announced at the ceremony. The inaugural Beronia Asia’s Best Sommelier Award was given to Della Tang of Ensue in Shenzhen, and Toyo Eatery from the Philippines won the Flor de Caña Sustainability Award. Odette’s Louisa Lim was recognised with Asia’s Best Pastry Chef Award, while Zén in Singapore was presented the Gin Mare Art of Hospitality Award. Tokyo’s Florilège also won the Inedit Damm Chef’s Choice Award, the only peer-voted medal of the evening.
There were also other awards given out in the lead up to the main event. The 51-100 list featured 17 new entrants and six Singapore restaurants. Johanne Siy of Lolla was named Asia’s Best Female Chef this year, a first for a Singapore-based chef, while Shinobu Namae of L’Effervescence in Tokyo was given the Icon Award for reducing fine dining’s impact on the environment. Jakarta’s August was also recognised with the American Express One to Watch award for leading the gastronomic wave in Indonesia’s capital.
What is Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants?
Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants is a regional spinoff of the World’s 50 Best Restaurants, an annual list that aims to be a global guide to the best dining experiences around the globe. The first Asia edition took place in Singapore in 2013, and returned to the city-state for its tenth anniversary. The winners have traditionally been announced at a live ceremony in a host city ever year, with the 2020 to 2022 editions taking place virtually due to the pandemic.
Here is the full list of winners on Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants 2023
1. Le Du (Bangkok, Thailand)
2. Sézanne (Tokyo, Japan)
3. Nusara (Bangkok, Thailand)
4. Den (Tokyo, Japan)
5. Gaggan Anand (Bangkok, Thailand)
6. Odette (Singapore, Singapore)
7. Florilège (Tokyo, Japan)
8. La Cime (Osaka, Japan)
9. Sorn (Bangkok, Thailand)
10. Narisawa (Tokyo, Japan)
11. Labyrinth (Singapore, Singapore)
12. Sazenka (Tokyo, Japan)
13. The Chairman (Hong Kong, China)
14. Villa Aida (Wakayama, Japan)
15. Mosu (Seoul, South Korea)
16. Masque (Mumbai, India)
17. Meta (Singapore, Singapore)
18. Fu He Hui (Shanghai, China)
19. Indian Accent (New Delhi, India)
20. Ode (Tokyo, Japan)
21. Zén (Singapore, Singapore)
22. Sühring (Bangkok, Thailand)
23. Onjium (Seoul, South Korea)
24. Burnt Ends (Singapore, Singapore)
25. Euphoria (Singapore, Singapore)
26. Cloudstreet (Singapore, Singapore)
27. Les Amis (Singapore, Singapore)
28. Mingles (Seoul, South Korea)
29. Neighborhood (Hong Kong, China)
30. Avartana (Chennai, India)*
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, Singapore)*
37. Wing (Hong Kong, China)
38. Raan Jay Fai (Bangkok, Thailand)
39. Wing Lei Palace (Macau, China)
40. Anan Saigon (Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam)
41. Mono (Hong Kong, China)
42. Toyo Eatery (Manila, Philippines)
43. Sichuan Moon (Macau, China)
44. L’effervescence (Tokyo, Japan)
45. Mume (Taipei, Taiwan)
46. Baan Tepa (Bangkok, Thailand)
47. Born & Bred (Seoul, South Korea)
48. Metiz (Makati, Philippines)*
49. Caprice (Hong Kong, China)
50. Refer (Beijing, China)*
* New entries
This story first appeared on Lifestyle Asia Singapore
(Main and featured images: Le Du)
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Answer: The 50 Best brand is owned and managed by William Reed, a UK-based publisher that covers the food and drinks sector.
Answer: Asia's 50 Best Restaurants are decided by 318 regional voters, who are made up of chefs and restauranteurs, food writers, and well-travelled gourmets.
Answer: Each voter is given ten anonymous votes, and they are required to have visited the restaurant at least once in the past 18 months. They are allowed to vote for seven restaurants in their country, with the option to vote for three restaurants overseas. The voting process is then independently adjudicated by audit and assurance company Deloitte.
Answer: The first Asia's 50 Best Restaurants awards was held in Singapore in 2013.
Answer: Other awards include the 51-100 best restaurants list, Asia's Best Female Chef, and the Icon Award, which is given to people who have made an outstanding contribution to the restaurant industry. There is also the American Express One to Watch award, which highlights upcoming culinary stars.
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