There may not have been a glittering awards ceremony this year, but the latest list of Asia’s 50 Restaurants
continues to dazzle.
Topping the list for the second time in a row is Singapore’s three-Michelin-starred Odette, helmed by Chef Julien Royer – who opened Louise here in Hong Kong last year. Also in the Lion City, fine-dining institution Les Amis wins the Gin Mare Art of Hospitality Award.
At an astounding number 2 is Hong Kong’s own Cantonese stalwart The Chairman, leaping nine rungs since 2019 and swooping The Best Restaurant in China award. We’re also giving ourselves a big pat on the back right now for recognising The Chariman in 2013 with our Foodie Forks Editors’ Choice Legendary Local Food award. Discovering talent is what Foodie does best!
For the rest of the top 5, Den in Tokyo stands at number 3, retaining the title of The Best Restaurant in Japan, and Hong Kong makes an appearance once again, with neo-Parisian bistro BELON coming in at number 4.
Japan counts the most – 12 – entries on the top 50 list, with many of the country’s chefs winning coveted awards. Yusuke Takada, the chef at La Cime (10) in Osaka, has won the peer-voted Inedit Damm Chefs’ Choice Award, while culinary icon Yoshihiro Murata of Kikunoi restaurant in Kyoto is this year’s recipient of the American Express Icon Award and Natsuko Shoji of Été in Tokyo is Asia’s Best Pastry Chef 2020 – the first female Japanese chef to be recognised by Asia’s 50 best.
Now that Gaggan in Bangkok has closed its doors, Sühring (6) has been named The Best Restaurant in Thailand. The Highest Climber Award goes to Bangkok’s Sorn, jetting 32 places to number 16.
In South Korea, Mingles (14) in Seoul has been named The Best Restaurant in Korea for the fifth consecutive year, while Cho Hee-sook of first-time entry Hansikgonggan (34), also in Seoul, has been crowned Asia’s Best Female Chef 2020 – the first Korean to be awarded this prestigious title.
In other country awards, Ministry of Crab (30) in Colombo is The Best Restaurant in Sri Lanka, The Best
Restaurant in Indonesia goes to Bali’s Locavore (37), Indian Accent (13) in New Delhi is The Best Restaurant in India for the sixth year in a row and Manila’s Toyo Eatery (44) wins the title of The Best Restaurant in the Philippines once again. Taipei’s MUME (18) retains the title of The Best Restaurant in Taiwan.
Masque in Mumbai, India, is the recipient of the Miele One to Watch Award – a restaurant not on the top 50 list, but a rising star in the region.
Six other HK restaurants make notable appearances in the top 50: VEA (12), Neighborhood (19), Seventh Son (25), Amber (31), which also claimed the Sustainable Restaurant Award, 8½ Otto e Mezzo Bombana (32) and Lung King Heen (33).
Climbing 22 places from last year, we’re especially excited to see VEA shining so brightly, with its formidable young chef, Vicky Cheng, winning our Foodie Forks Editors’ Choice Chef of the Year award back in 2014 for working his culinary magic at his then restaurant Liberty Private Works.
Our neighbour Macau achieved a top 50 spot for André Chiang’s newcomer Sichuan Moon (23), the recipient of the Highest New Entry Award. Also located at the Wynn Palace hotel, Wing Lei Palace sits at 22.
Asia’s top 10 restaurants 2020
1. Odette (Singapore)
2. The Chairman (Hong Kong)
3. Den (Tokyo)
4. BELON (Hong Kong)
5. Burnt Ends (Singapore)
6. Sühring (Bangkok)
7. Florilège (Toyko)
8. Le Du (Bangkok)
9. Narisawa (Tokyo)
10. La Cime (Osaka)
Hong Kong restaurants
2. The Chairman
4. BELON
12. VEA
19. Neighborhood
25. Seventh Son
31. Amber
32. 8½ Otto e Mezzo Bombana
33. Lung King Heen
Click here for the complete list of Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants 2020.
Let’s hope these turbulent times for the world stop soon and we can get back to dining out at all these wonderful restaurants and more.
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