Best restaurants in Asia — most are in Japan, Singapore and Thailand

Japan is the highest foodie destination in Asia this 12 months, in line with the brand new rankings released by the organization 50 Best.

The country is home to 17 of the region’s 100 “best” restaurants, which were released in two parts in March.

Singapore and Thailand tied for second place with 15 restaurants on the list. Hong Kong, last 12 months’s top destination, ranked 13 on the list.

William Drew, Content Director of Asia’s Top 50 Restaurants, said Japan’s strong performance “comes no surprise”.

“Japan has long been considered one in all the world’s best culinary countries with a culinary heritage that’s admired around the globe – combined with innovation, dedication, knowledge and talent,” he told CNBC.

This 12 months we have fun the tenth anniversary of the “Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants” list. This 12 months’s list includes restaurants from 19 cities, the list includes 7 latest establishments.

Singapore and Thailand have probably the most entries in the highest 50 list with nine restaurants. Thailand won the very best accolade, winning the title of “Best Restaurant in Asia 2023” from Bangkok’s Le Du, moving up three places.

There have been some upheavals on this 12 months’s rankings: Japan’s Den, which was No. 1 in 2022, has dropped three places to No. 4, while Sorn in Bangkok has dropped from No. 2 to No. 9.

Japanese restaurant Sezanne moved up a powerful 15 spots to take second place, earning the title of “Best Restaurant in Japan” for the primary time.

The President from Hong Kong, who ranked No. 1 in 2021, lost much more as he fell from No. 5 to No. 13.

The “Highest Entry” award also went to Avartan of India, who debuted on the list at No. 30.

Asia’s best restaurant, Le Du in Thailand is a one-Michelin-star restaurant that was first listed in 2017 at No. 37.

Opened in 2013, chef and owner Thitid “Ton” Tassanakajohn brings a contemporary twist to Thai food with a French lens.

His menu relies on seasonal and native ingredients, which reinforces his unwavering belief in the prevalence of Thai products.

Speaking to CNBC after the awards ceremony on Tuesday night, Tassanakajohn said it felt “unrealistic” to take the coveted spot.

“I didn’t expect it in any respect… 10 years ago once I opened the restaurant, [people] he said I’d never do this because I only use local produce and you’ve to make use of imported ingredients,” he said.

“I’m very completely satisfied to represent Thailand and produce Thai ingredients to the fore in Asia.”

The list of Asia’s “50 Best Restaurants” for 2023 is:

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 fortieth place in 2022)

12. Sazenka (Tokyo, Japan)

13. Chairman (Hong Kong)

14. Villa Aida (Wakayama, Japan)

15. Mosu (Seoul, Korea)

16. Mask (Mumbai, India)

17. Meta (Singapore)

18. Fu He Hui (Shanghai, China)

19. Indian Accent (New Delhi, India)

20. Oda (Tokyo, Japan)

21. Zen (Singapore)

22. Suhring (Bangkok, Thailand)

23. Onjium (Seoul, South Korea)

24. Burnt Ends (Singapore)

25. Euphoria (Singapore)

26. Cloudstreet (Singapore)

27. Les Amis (Singapore)

28. Mingle (Seoul, South Korea)

29. Neighborhood (Hong Kong)

30. Avattana (Chennai, India) – Award for the very best novelty

31. Ensue (Shenzhen, China)

32. Cenci (Kyoto, Japan)

33. Mrs. Maria and Mr. Singh (Bangkok, Thailand)

34. Da Vittorio (Shanghai, China)

35. Potong (Bangkok, Thailand)

36. Born (Singapore)

thirty seventh 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 and Raised (Seoul, Korea)

48. Metiz (Makati, Philippines)

49. Whim (Hong Kong)

50. Refer (Beijing, China)

This is the third 12 months that the prolonged list has been published. There are 17 latest entries spanning 17 cities – including L’evo at number 60, the primary restaurant from Toyama, Japan to make the list.

Ten restaurants that were ranked among the many top 50 restaurants in Asia last 12 months are ranked 51-100 this 12 months.

Most notably, Joo Ok dropped 33 places from 18th to 51st, and Samrub Samrub Thai dropped 51 places from thirty first to 82nd.

Ete also saw a drop of 49 places from forty first to ninetieth place.

Hong Kong continued its reign with probably the most restaurants on the list 51-100, with eight ranked.

Singapore’s Thevar made the most important jump on this list – catapulting from 92nd to 56th – approaching the highest 50 list. India’s Bukhara also closed its gap, moving up 14 places from 66th to 52nd.

Here is an prolonged list:

51. Joo Ok (Seoul, South Korea)

52. Bukhara (New 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. Crab Ministry (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. Devakan (Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia)

75. Nihonryori RyuGin (Tokyo, Japan)

76. Fu1015 (Shanghai, China)

77. Ling Long (Beijing, China)

78. 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 Bundu (Shanghai, China)

90. Ete (Tokyo, Japan)

91. Hommage (Tokyo, Japan)

92. Golden Flower (Macau)

93. Ekaa (Mumbai, India)

94. Nadodi (Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia)

August 95 (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)

Restaurants in Singapore have nine coveted spots – up from seven last 12 months. Odette, which has been voted Asia’s best restaurant twice, ranks sixth.

Her confectioner Louisa Lim also received the “Asia’s Best Pastry Chef” award.

All restaurants in Singapore, except Jaan by Kirk Westaway, improved in the highest 100 list.

For example, Australian barbecue restaurant Burnt Ends has recovered from falling 27 places last 12 months – jumping 17 places to twenty fourth.

Maze also moved up 29 places to eleventh, winning the “Top Climber” award. Born is Singapore’s highest rating this 12 months at thirty sixth.

It’s been an “amazing 12 months” for Singapore’s food scene, Drew told CNBC.

“There are countless explanations why some regions are performing well – it may very well be a case of various Covid restrictions in some countries lately,” he added.

“Or more broadly, it could indicate a change in culinary tastes, or it could also mean that a geographic area is becoming more necessary.”

The list is an “annual compilation” of opinions from greater than 300 industry experts, in line with the 50 Best organization, which is known as “The Academy”.

They are created by food writers, critics, chefs and restaurateurs from across the region.

50 Best added that the panel is “gender-balanced” with each member receiving 10 votes to nominate restaurants – a maximum of seven positioned of their country.