Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants 2020: Odette Keeps Top Spot, Les Amis Wins Big For Hospitality

PUBLISHED March 24th, 2020 07:31 pm

As COVID-19 rages on and lockdowns cripple the world, things are looking bleak for our beloved F&B businesses. The show went on today for the Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants 2020 awards, though, and what a heartening reminder of fine dining heights it was. Thanks to coronavirus concerns, the eighth edition went entirely virtual this year – but the community’s shared love for food shone through nevertheless.

After its surprise unseating of Gaggan from the top spot last year, Singapore’s very own Odette held on to its crown as Asia’s best restaurant. It’s joined by five of last year’s winners – Burnt Ends (No. 5), Les Amis (No. 11), JAAN (No. 21), Corner House (No. 42), and Nouri (No. 50) – along with one new entrant, famed Swedish chef Bjorn Frantzen’s Zén (No. 28). Les Amis in particular pulled off a stunning leap of 22 places up the ranks, and also became the first-ever Singapore restaurant to take home the Gin Mare Art of Hospitality Award.

To no foodie’s surprise, Japan dominated the show with a good 12 restaurants making the ranks. Den (No. 3) maintains its stronghold as Best Restaurant in Japan for the third year running, while French fusion spot Ode (No. 35) and ex-Noma chef Thomas Frebel’s Inua (No. 49) are the new kids on the Tokyo block.

Other Tokyo counterparts including Florilège (No. 5), Narisawa (No. 9), and Il Ristorante Luca Fantin (No. 17) made a remarkably consistent showing. Gourmets outside the capital will be glad to see the return of Fukuoka’s La Maison de la Nature Goh (No. 40) and Osaka’s La Cime (No. 10), with La Cime chef Yusuke Takada also clinching the Inedit Damm Chefs’ Choice Award.

The Land of Smiles sees seven restaurants in the spotlight this year (with now-defunct star Gaggan sorely missed). Sühring (No. 6) fills in Gaggan’s place as Bangkok’s best restaurant, backed by stalwarts such as Le Du (No. 8) and Gaa (No. 15). With its mix of bold flavours and traditional techniques, Southern Thai sensation Sorn (No. 16, previously No. 48) makes a meteoric rise to bag the Highest Climber Award. For something new, on the other hand, head to 80/20 (No. 47) for zany reinterpretations of Thai cuisine.

Hong Kong’s finest are blazing a trail, with The Chairman (No. 2) rising nine ranks to second place and progressive French restaurant Amber (No. 21) winning the Sustainable Restaurant Award. Over in Macau, feted chef André Chiang is also making waves with his exquisite Sichuan fare at Sichuan Moon (No. 23), the Highest New Entry for this year.

Meanwhile, Seoul is making a splash with Hansikgonggan (No. 34), a Korean restaurant carving out a name for its elegant take on modern palace dining. Fondly dubbed the ‘godmother of Korean cuisine’, Chef Cho Hee-Sook also clinches Asia’s Best Female Chef 2020.

With luck, the day that we can travel to visit these marvellous restaurants is near. In the meantime, here’s the full list of Asia’s 50 Best 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, 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, Taiwan
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, Taiwan
27. TocToc, Seoul
28. Zén, Singapore
29. Sazenka, Tokyo
30. Ministry of Crab, Sri Lanka
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, Taiwan
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, Taiwan
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

For more information, visit the Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants website. 

Top Image: Hospitality team at Les Amis, Singapore