Here are Asia’s top dining destinations for 2020

The restaurant industry is facing tough times, with global lockdowns preventing people from enjoying meals out as they normally would.

Yet, there may be no better time to honor the finest establishments in the hospitality world and add some exceptional culinary spots to our future travel agendas.

The winners of Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants were revealed on Tuesday, with a virtual ceremony replacing the originally planned in-person event, streamed live across the continent.

The prestigious culinary awards, often considered the Oscars of fine dining, saw the luxurious Singaporean restaurant Odette claim the top honor for the second consecutive year.

Led by Chef Julien Royer, Odette, situated in Singapore’s National Gallery, has earned acclaim for its innovative French cuisine with an Asian twist.

Royer expressed his gratitude in a statement on the restaurant's Instagram page, saying, 'We embrace this glimmer of hope with thanks.'

'Our thoughts are with our industry colleagues who are working relentlessly every day to serve their guests. We pray for brighter days ahead and will continue to support one another,' he added.

Noteworthy rankings

Unlike many others on the list, Odette is still open for business, though visitors must undergo temperature checks and travel declarations at the entrance to the National Gallery.

The restaurant is renowned for its signature creations, such as Normandy brown crab with wasabi oil and Nashi pear, as well as a Kampot pepper-crusted pigeon.

Japan stood out as the most represented country on the 50 Best list, with a total of 12 restaurants making the cut.

The highest-ranking Japanese restaurant was Den, created by Chef Zaiyu Hasegawa, which secured the impressive third position.

Other Tokyo restaurants in the top 10 include Florilège at number seven, known for its inventive French cuisine, and Narisawa at number nine, offering a unique take on Japanese food.

Tokyo has recently been facing the tough decision of whether to postpone the 2020 Summer Olympics, with a final decision made on Tuesday to delay the Games by one year.

On Monday, the governor of Tokyo warned residents that a city-wide lockdown could be implemented if coronavirus cases continued to increase.

André Chiang’s new venture, Sichuan Moon at the Wynn Palace in Macau, secured the Highest New Entry Award, debuting at number 23 on the rankings.

Chiang made headlines in 2017 when he decided to close his famed Restaurant Andre and requested the return of its two Michelin stars.

Since opening last year, Sichuan Moon has garnered glowing reviews and has already earned two Michelin stars.

While the restaurant is currently closed, it's still worth perusing its social media photos and imagining future dining experiences.

Another standout on the list is Sorn at number 16. The Bangkok eatery earned the Highest Climber Award, drawing praise for its reinterpretation of Southern Thai cuisine.

The restaurant announced yesterday that it will be temporarily closed.

The title for sustainable restaurant went to Amber, located in the Landmark Mandarin Oriental Hotel in Hong Kong, which ranked 31st overall.

Every dish at Amber is both dairy and gluten-free, with a strong emphasis on sustainability in every meal served.

Unprecedented times

The list of Asia's best restaurants is compiled through votes from the Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants Academy, a group of over 300 industry leaders from across the continent.

This panel includes food writers, critics, restaurateurs, and chefs.

Several chefs were honored, including Yusuke Takada, who won the Inedit Damm Chefs' Choice Award for his work at La Cime in Osaka.

Natsuko Shoji of Été in Tokyo was named Asia’s Best Pastry Chef.

“I am truly honored to be the first Japanese female chef to be included in Asia’s 50 Best,” she shared on her Instagram.

Cho Hee-Sook, the chef-owner of Seoul's Hansikgonggan, was named Asia's Best Female Chef for 2020, while Yoshihiro Murata received the 2020 American Express Icon Award.

William Drew, director of content for Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants, acknowledged the challenges faced by the restaurant industry across Asia, stating, 'We are undoubtedly in unprecedented times.'

He added, 'Now, more than ever, it’s crucial to support restaurants throughout the continent in their recovery, celebrate their achievements over the past year, and send a message of solidarity.'

Here is the full list of the 2020 winners:

1. Odette, Singapore

2. The Chairman, Hong Kong

3. Den, Tokyo

4. Belon, Hong Kong

5. Burnt Ends, Singapore

6. Sühring, Bangkok

7. Florilège, Tokyo

8. Le Du, Bangkok

9. Narisawa, Tokyo

10. La Cime, Osaka

11. Les Amis, Singapore

12. Vea, Hong Kong

13. Indian Accent, New Delhi

14. Mingles, Seoul

15. Gaa, Bangkok

16. Sorn, Bangkok

17. Il Ristorante Luca Fantin, Tokyo

18. Mume, Taipei

19. Neighborhood, Hong Kong

20. Fu He Hui, Shanghai

21. Jaan by Kirk Westaway, Singapore

22. Wing Lei Palace, Macau

23. Sichuan Moon, Macau

24. Nihonryori RyuGin, Tokyo

25. Seventh Son, Hong Kong

26. JL Studio, Taichung

27. TocToc, Seoul

28. Zén, Singapore

29. Sazenka, Tokyo

30. Ministry of Crab, Colombo

31. Amber, Hong Kong

32. 8 1/2 Otto e Mezzo Bombana, Hong Kong

33. Lung King Heen, Hong Kong

34. Hansikgonggan, Seoul

35. Ode, Tokyo

36. Raw, Taipei

37. Locavore, Bali

38. Paste, Bangkok

39. Bo.Lan, Bangkok

40. La Maison de la Nature Goh, Fukuoka

41. Ultraviolet by Paul Pairet, Shanghai

42. Corner House, Singapore

43. Shoun RyuGin, Taipei

44. Toyo Eatery, Manila

45. Bukhara, New Delhi

46. Sushi Saito, Tokyo

47. 80/20, Bangkok

48. L’Effervescence, Tokyo

49. Inua, Tokyo

50. Nouri, Singapore