The biggest movers and shakers at Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants 2019

Specialising in modern French cuisine with an Asian touch, Odette in Singapore has taken top honours at Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants, beating out Gaggan in Bangkok, which had held the #1 spot since 2015. Here’s how the rest of the region fared on the list.

Greater China dominates the 2019 list with 16 entries across China, Hong Kong, Taiwan and Macau. Shanghai’s Ultraviolet by Paul Pairet (#6 on the Asia list) was named China’s top restaurant, while Hong Kong counts two first-time entries Vea (#34) and Seventh Son (#44) among its winners. Soaring 11 places to #7, Mume in Taipei was Taiwan’s best restaurant, beating out two-time winner Raw, which sits at #30. Host destination Macau has two restaurants on the list, Jade Dragon (#27) and Wing Lei Palace (#36).

Japan comes in next with 12 entries including Den (#3) which clinched Best Restaurant in Japan for a second consecutive year. Chef Zaiyu Hasegawa of Den also won the Chef’s Choice Award. Rounding out Asia’s top five is Florilège, featuring Chef Hiroyasu Kawate’s creative French cuisine.

In addition to Odette, the Lion City holds six spots on the list, including newcomer Nouri at #39 and long-time favourites Burnt Ends and Jaan rising from #12 and #44, to #10 and #32, respectively.

Gaggan may have lost the top spot, but Thailand has a lot to be proud of. Entering the list at #16, Gaa in Bangkok claims the Highest New Entry Award with the restaurant’s executive chef, Garima Arora, also named Asia’s Best Female Chef. Among the remaining six Thailand entries, Sorn, located in Bangkok and specialising in Southern Thai cuisine, was new at #48.

Popular Seoul restaurant Mingles (#13) continues its four-year reign as Best Restaurant in Korea, while contemporary casual French-Asian bistro TocToc had a one-spot jump from #42 to #41 this year.

Locavore in Bali moved from #21 to #42 this year but still retains the title of Best Restaurant in Indonesia. It also won the Sustainable Restaurant Award, presented to the restaurant with the highest environmental and social responsibility rating.

Making Malaysia proud is Dewakan, the country’s only entry on the list at #46. The menu features modern Malaysian cuisine that uses rare and forgotten ingredients.

2018’s winner of the Miele One To Watch Award, Toyo Eatery, proudly enters the list this year at #43. The dishes at this lively eatery are designed to be a modern representation of the Filipino identity.

For the fifth consecutive year, Indian Accent in New Delhi wins Best Restaurant in India, coming in at #17. The restaurant also has branches in New York and London.

Located in a preserved 400-year old Dutch hospital, Sri Lanka’s Ministry of Crab takes the spot of top restaurant in the country, for the fourth time, coming in at #35 on the list.

Other award winners included Fabrizio Fiorani of Tokyo’s Bulgari Il Ristorante Luca Fantin, who won Asia’s Best Pastry Chef; Hong Kong’s 8½ Otto e Mezzo Bombana, known for its highly refined but warm atmosphere, won The Art of Hospitality Award and JL Studio in Taichung, Taiwan, owned by Singaporean chef Jimmy Lin, won the Miele One To Watch Award.

SEE ALSO: Here are the winners of the World Restaurant Awards 2019