Top 50 Restaurants in Asia for 2017

The rankings were determined by over 300 chefs, restaurateurs, and experts from six Asian countries casting their votes.

A culinary trifecta. A gastronomic three-peat. Out of millions of eateries across Asia, one consistently stood above the rest: Gaggan.

At the fifth edition of the Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants awards, presented by S.Pellegrino & Acqua Panna, Gaggan took the top spot for the third consecutive year, showcasing innovative Indian dishes in Bangkok, Thailand—not even in its home country, India.

“I wish I could divide this award into 50 pieces and share it with every chef here,” said chef/owner Gaggan Anand, expressing gratitude for his family, his team, and the sponsors. “This is for my homeland, India, for my daughter Tara, and for my team of 67, the best I’ve ever worked with.”

Gaggan’s victory came after the votes of 318 independent experts, overseen by six regional academy chairs. While the win was rewarding, it came with personal sacrifices, including time spent away from his wife and newborn child.

“I jokingly told the organizers that next time we should partner with a hospital as a sponsor,” Gaggan laughed.

Introducing Gaggan Anand, the ‘World’s Best’ Indian Chef

A tattoo on the menu?

Bangkok rolled out the red carpet as Asia’s culinary elite gathered to honor Gaggan’s crowning as the region's top restaurant.

As a true gastronomic celebration, the event faced the challenge of satisfying the appetites of its star-studded guests. This task was easily met with offerings ranging from gourmet cheeses by Les Frères Marchand to spicy northern Thai curries from Maan Mueang, a popular Bangkok restaurant.

The final reveal left the crowd in awe, with gasps echoing through the room and thousands more watching the live stream from around the globe. The top 10 were unveiled with suspense, narrowing down to three contenders for the top three spots, but which restaurant would take the lead?

When Singapore’s Restaurant Andre was named second, it was clear that Gaggan had once again secured the top spot.

As Paul McCartney’s “Live and Let Die” blared, Gaggan took to the stage, becoming a familiar face to the crowd.

The champagne (and sparkling water) flowed freely as the night reached its peak, with after-parties continuing well into the early hours for those in the know. Gaggan joked that he might even get a permanent memento of his three victories.

“If my team decides to get tattoos to celebrate, I’ll join them,” he said.

The World’s 50 Best Restaurants 2016 – Full List of Winners

Asia’s Top 10 Restaurants

1. Gaggan (Bangkok)
68/1 Soi Langsuan, Ploenchit Road, Lumpini, Bangkok; +66 2 652 1700

3. Restaurant Andre (Singapore)
41 Bukit Pasoh Road, Singapore; +65 6534 8880

4. Amber (Hong Kong)
7/F, The Landmark Mandarin Oriental, The Landmark, 15 Queen’s Road, Central, Hong Kong; +852 2132 0066

6. Waku Ghin (Singapore)
Level 2-01, Atrium 2, The Shoppes, Marina Bay Sands, 10 Bayfront Avenue, Singapore; +65 6688 8507

5. Nahm, Bangkok

6. Narisawa, Tokyo

7. Nihonryori Ryugin, Tokyo

7. Ultraviolet (Shanghai)
c/o Bund 18, 6/F, 18 Zhongshan Dong Yi Lu, Shanghai; +86 21 6323 9898

9. Indian Accent, New Delhi

10. Lung King Heen, Hong Kong

11. Den, Tokyo

12. L’Effervescence, Tokyo

13. Suhring, Bangkok

14. Florilege, Tokyo

15. Mingles, Seoul

16. Les Amis, Singapore

17. Lung King Heen, Hong Kong

18. Quintessence, Tokyo

19. Bo.Lan, Bangkok

20. Waku Ghin, Singapore

21. Issaya Siamese Club, Bangkok, Thailand

22. Locavore, Bali, Indonesia

23. Corner House, Singapore

24. Raw, Taipei

25. Jungsik, Seoul

26. Sushi Saito, Tokyo

27. Tippling Club, Singapore

28. Le Mout, Taichung, Taiwan

29. Ministry of Crab, Colombo, Sri Lanka

30. Indian Accent, New Delhi

31. Eat Me, Bangkok, Thailand

32. Jade Dragon, Macau

33. Ta Vie, Hong Kong

34. Hajime, Osaka, Japan

35. Gallery Vask, Manila, Philippines

36. The Dining Room at The House on Sathorn, Bangkok

37. Le Du, Bangkok

38. La Yeon, Seoul, Korea

39. The Tasting Room by Galliot, Macau

40. L’Atelier de Joel Robuchon, Bangkok

41. L’Atelier de Joel Robuchon, Hong Kong

42. Jaan, Singapore

43. Mume, Taipei

44. Shinji by Kanesaka, Singapore

45. Ronin, Hong Kong

46. Wasabi by Morimoto, Mumbai, India

47. The Chairman, Hong Kong

48. Fu He Hui, Shanghai

49. Nihoni, Colombo, Sri Lanka

50. Takazawa, Tokyo

For more details on the winners, head over to the official Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants website.