Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants 2023: Thailand’s Le Du Makes It To The Top of the List

PUBLISHED March 29th, 2023 01:16 am | UPDATED May 18th, 2023 08:18 pm

Food does wonders in bringing people together, especially as we gathered to celebrate the greatest dining experiences on the planet with Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants 2023, making these spots some of the best places to visit in Asia. You’ll want to bookmark this for your next world-class gastronomic adventure in the region!

All eyes are on Thailand and Chef Thitid ‘Ton’ Tassanakajohn, who heads Le Du (no.1, Best Restaurant in Thailand) and Nusara (no.3) this year. Climbing from number 17 last year, Sézanne makes it to number two, earning its spot as the Best Restaurant in Japan. Tokyo’s Den steps down to fourth place, ahead of the crowd’s favourite re-entry, Gaggan Anand (no.5). The Best Restaurant in Singapore, Odette (no.6), basks with pride as its pastry chef, Louisa Lim also received the Best Pastry Chef award. Japan’s Florilège (no.7 ) and La Cime (no.8) and Thailand’s Sorn (no.9) slips back, but secures their positions within the top ten alongside Narisawa (no. 10).

The five new entries this year include Beijing’s Refer (no.50), the Philippines’ Metiz (no. 48), and Thailand’s Mexican-Indian restaurant Ms. Maria & Mr Singh (no. 33). Singapore’s Born (no.36) makes its debut on the list less than one year from opening, while Chennai’s Avartana (no. 30) bagged the Highest New Entry Award with its South Asian food.

Singapore and Japan are the most represented on the list with nine restaurants each country. Mod-Sin poster boy LG Han’s Labyrinth (no.11) snagged the Highest Climber Award, moving through 29 places, while Chef Rishi Naleendra’s  Cloudstreet (no.26) and Chef Dave Pynt’s Burnt Ends (no.24) move up 18 and 17 spots respectively. Zen (no.21) takes the Gin Mare Art of Hospitality Award and vegetable-focused Euphoria debuts in the top 50 list at No. 25. Last year’s new entry Meta makes it  no.17 and Les Amis stands at No.27.

From Wakayama comes the hidden gem Villa Aida (no.14), while Tokyo’s L’Effervescence makes it to number 44. Moving up the scale is Kyoto’s Cenci (no. 32), with Sazenka (no. 12) and Tokyo’s Ode (no.20) slipping back this year.

With the increasing popularity of Korean food, Korean restaurants that made their way up the list include Mosu (no.15),  Onjium (no.23), and Korean beef specialist Born & Bred (no. 47). Mingles (no.28), on the other hand, slips 12 spots. This year, Hong Kong’s The Chairman (no. 13) and Neighborhood (no.29) falling out of the top 10. Modern Cantonese restaurant Wing (no.37), Caprice (no.49), and South American restaurant Mono (no.41) round up the SAR’s five restaurants on the list.

In China, Shanghai’s Da Vittorio takes no. 34, while Californian farm-to-table restaurant Ensue is now no.31. Destination Award winner Fu He Hui (no.18) is also the Best Restaurant in Mainland China. Over in Macau, the lavish Sichuan Moon (no.43) makes its first foray into Top 50, while Wing Lei Palace (no.39) bags the Best Restaurant in Macau. Mume (no.45) is Taipei’s Best restaurant, and Vietnam’s Anan Saigon (no.40) bags two awards as the Best Restaurant in Vietnam and the Best Destination Award.

Philippines’ Toyo Eatery (no.42) is winner of the Flor de Caña Sustainable Restaurant Award and The Best Restaurant in The Philippines. And in India, Mumbai’ Masque (no.16) makes it to the Best Restaurant in India, with New Delhi’s Indian Accent (no.19) moving up the ranks.

Here’s the full list of Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants 2023. Names bolded denote that the establishment is the best restaurant in its country:

1. Le Du, Bangkok
2. Sézanne, Tokyo
3. Nusara, Bangkok
4. Den, Tokyo
5. Gaggan Anand, Bangkok
6. Odette, Singapore
7. Florilège, Tokyo
8. La Cime, Osaka
9. Sorn, Bangkok
10. Narisawa, Tokyo
11. Labyrinth, Singapore
12. Sazenka, Tokyo
13. The Chairman, Hong Kong
14. Villa Aida, Wakayama
15. Mosu, Seoul
16. Masque, Mumbai
17. Meta, Singapore
18. Fu He Hui, Shanghai
19. Indian Accent, New Delhi
20. Ode, Tokyo
21. Zen, Singapore
22. Sühring, Bangkok
23. Onjium, Seoul
24. Burnt Ends, Singapore
25. Euphoria, Singapore
26. Cloudstreet, Singapore
27. Les Amis, Singapore
28. Mingles, Seoul
29. Neighborhood, Hong Kong
30. Avartana, Chennai
31. Ensue, Shenzhen
32. Cenci, Kyoto
33. Ms. Maria & Mr Singh, Bangkok
34. Da Vittorio, Shanghai
35. Potong, Bangkok
36. Born, Singapore
37. Wing, Hong Kong
38. Raan Jay Fai, Bangkok
39. Wing Lei Palace, Macau
40. Anan Saigon, Ho Chi Minh
41. Mono, Hong Kong
42. Toyo Eatery, Philippines
43. Sichuan Moon, Macau
44. L’Effervescence, Tokyo
45. Mume, Taipei
46. Baan Tepa, Bangkok
47. Born & Bred, Seoul
48. Metiz, Makati
49. Caprice, Hong Kong
50. Refer, Beijing

For more information, special awards, and the full lists (1-50, 51-100), please visit The World’s 50 Best Restaurants website.