The 50 Best Restaurants In Asia List Is Revealed And Bangkok Is On Top

Food Republic•

Gaggan, a modern Indian restaurant in Bangkok run by Gaggan Anand (pictured), was named this year's best restaurant in Asia.

The World's 50 Best Restaurants isn't just another listicle from a content puppy mill du jour, but a full-on statement from Restaurant magazine, sponsored by bottled-water companies San Pellegrino and Acqua Panna. OK, the whole thing is complicated, but it's what we've got and what the industry observes as the biggest awards around. When the big list is revealed every June in London, it's pretty much the most important day of the year in high-end dining (like if the Michelin Guide released all its rankings at once or James Beard wasn't afraid of flying). You've heard Noma called the "world's best restaurant"? That's because it's landed on top of the World's 50 Best list several times.

In a ceremony earlier today in Singapore, the list for the 50 Best Restaurants in Asia was revealed, and as expected, there were some surprises (as any BEST IN THE WORLD lists will tend to produce). Bangkok's Gaggan — a modern Indian restaurant helmed by el Bulli alum Gaggan Anand — jumped two spots to #1. Last year's champion, Nahm, also located in Bangkok, fell six places to #7. Its Australian chef, David Thompson, is widely considered the father of modern Thai cooking and was previously the first chef to be awarded a Michelin star for Thai cooking in Europe.

As in previous years, Tokyo and Hong Kong restaurants took several of the top honors. Below is the complete list of the top 50 restaurants, which grades restaurants in the following countries: Bangladesh, Bhutan, Myanmar, Brunei, Cambodia, China, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Japan, South Korea, Laos, Macao, Malaysia, Maldives, Micronesia, Nauru, Nepal, Pakistan, Philippines, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, Thailand, Timor-Leste and Vietnam.

  1. Gaggan | Bangkok, Thailand
  2. Narisawa | Tokyo, Japan
  3. Ultraviolet by Paul Pairet | Shanghai, China
  4. Nihonryori Ryugin | Tokyo, Japan
  5. Restaurant André | Singapore
  6. Amber | Hong Kong, China
  7. Nahm | Bangkok, Thailand
  8. 8 ½ Otto e Mezzo Bombana | Hong Kong, China
  9. Waku Ghin | Singapore
  10. Jungsik | Seoul, Korea
  11. Jaan | Singapore
  12. L'Effervescence | Tokyo, Japan
  13. Les Amis | Singapore
  14. Hajime | Osaka, Japan
  15. Fook Lam Moon | Hong Kong, China
  16. Fu1015 | Shanghai, China
  17. L'Atelier de Joël Robuchon | Hong Kong, China
  18. Iggy's | Singapore
  19. Fu He Hui | Shanghai, China
  20. Lung King Heen | Hong Kong, China
  21. Mr. and Mrs. Bund | Shanghai, China
  22. Indian Accent | New Delhi, India
  23. Robuchon au Dôme | Macau, China
  24. Tenku Ryugin | Hong Kong, China
  25. Eat Me | Bangkok, Thailand
  26. Le Moût | Taichung, Taiwan
  27. Ryunique | Seoul, Korea
  28. Bo Innovation | Hong Kong, China
  29. Wasabi by Morimoto | Mumbai, India
  30. Burnt Ends | Singapore
  31. Nihonbashi | Colombo, Sri Lanka
  32. Shinji by Kanesaka | Singapore
  33. Takazawa | Tokyo, Japan
  34. 28 Hubin Road | Hangzhou, China
  35. The Chairman | Hong Kong, China
  36. Tippling Club | Singapore
  37. Bo.Lan | Bangkok, Thailand
  38. La Yeon | Seoul, South Korea
  39. Issaya Siamese Club | Bangkok, Thailand
  40. Sushi Saito | Tokyo, Japan
  41. Bukhara | New Delhi, India
  42. Caprice | Hong Kong, China
  43. Ministry of Crab | Colombo, Sri Lanka
  44. Sukiyabashi Jiro | Tokyo, Japan
  45. Osteria Mozza | Singapore
  46. Hakkasan | Shanghai, China
  47. Imperial Treasure Super Peking Duck | Singapore
  48. Antonio's | Tagaytay, Philippines
  49. Quintessence | Tokyo, Japan
  50. Cuisine Wat Damnak | Siem Reap, Cambodia
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