The ubiquitous spread of information, especially the rise of social networking, has no doubt played a role in promoting restaurants, driving people to seek out the best ones. In this golden age of restaurants, there are many who search for good restaurants, no matter where they may be located in the world. Top chefs are now highly popular and respected, on par with celebrities. Thus, chefs are on alert, striving to push their restaurants to the top in various restaurant rankings.
One of the most prestigious awards in the foodservice industry is the World’s 50 Best Restaurants. This award also has a subdivision—Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants, which focuses specifically on Asia. In 2018, its awards ceremony took place at Wynn Macau, Macau, on 27 March. Robb Report received an exclusive invitation to join the event. Let’s take a look at the details!
The real event started since March 26, with 50 Best Talks organized at Wynn Macau, Macau. Four chefs took center stage in these talks, including:
Hiroe Higuchi, chef from Shima Kankou Hotel, Japan
TEAM MUME from MUME, Taiwan
Vijay Mudaliar from Bar Native, Singapore, and
Andre Chiang from Restaurant Andre, Singapore.
Most remarkable about these talks was the opportunity to speak with Chef Andre Chiang, one of Asia’s most talented chefs. Recently, he had closed down his Restaurant Andre, although it was met with unprecedented success. He described to us his feelings on the last day of opening his restaurant. For fans of Chef Andre, there is still good news! The star chef says that this is not the end for him, but just a milestone for new beginnings. Chef Andre has announced that he will establish two new restaurants in 2018. Stay tuned!
Next, on March 27 came Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants event. This is the first year that the event has been organized in Macau; last year, it was held in Bangkok. Voters for best restaurants consisted of three groups of people, namely Chefs & Restaurants (34%), Food Writers (33%), and Well-travelled Gourmets (33%).
This year’s results are ones that the whole foodservice industry in Thailand should be proud of. Gaggan from Thailand won first place, fourth year in a row and Chef Bee Satongun from Paste won the title of Asia’s Best Female Chef 2018. Furthermore, an impressive nine restaurants in Thailand made the list; this is only second place from Japan, with eleven restaurants. Also, The Den restaurant from Japan gains the 2nd place and Florilege, Which was received the one to watch prize in 2016, This show the superb standard setting of Japan and the Chef’s Choice Award is not belong to chef Yoshihiro Narisawa.
At this point, we at Robb Report would like to clap for all the talented chefs in Thailand that were able to deliver fine gastronomic creations, hospitable service, and memorable experiences to their customers. We hope that restaurants in Thailand will continue to adhere to such high standards and become even more prominent in the world spotlight in the future. See you again at Macau next year!
Asia’s best 50 Restaurants
1 GAGGAN Bangkok, Thailand 2 DEN Tokyo, Japan
3 FLORILEGE Tokyo, Japan 4 SUHRING Bangkok, Thailand
5 ODETTE Singapore 6 NARISAWA Tokyo, Japan
7 AMBER Hong Kong, China 8 ULTRAVIOLET BY PAUL PAIRET Shanghai, China
9 NIHONRYORI RYUGIN Tokyo, Japan 10 NAHM Bangkok, Thailand
11 MINGLES Seoul, Korea 12 BURNT ENDS Singapore
13 8 1/2 OTTO E MEZZO BOMBANA Hong Kong, China 14 LE DU Bangkok, Thailand
15 RAW Taipei, Taiwan 16 TA VIE Hong Kong, China
17 LA CIME Osaka, Japan 18 MUME Taipei, Taiwan
19 INDIAN ACCENT New Delhi, India 20 L’EFFERVESCENCE Tokyo, Japan
21 LOCAVORE Bali, Indonesia 22 THE CHAIRMAN Hong Kong, China
23 WAKU GHIN Singapore 24 LUNG KING HEEN Hong Kong, China
25 MINISTRY OF CRAB Colombo, Sri Lanka 26 JUNGSIK Seoul, Korea
27 SUSHI SAITO Tokyo, Japan 28 IL RISTORANTE LUCA FANTIN Tokyo, Japan
29 LES AMIS Singapore 30 FU HE HUI Shanghai, China
31 PASTE Bangkok, Thailand 32 NEIGHBORHOOD Hong Kong, China
33 EAT ME Bangkok, Thailand 34 HAJIME Osaka, Japan
35 JADE DRAGON Macau, China 36 CORNER HOUSE Singapore
37 BO.LAN Bangkok, Thailand 38 QUINTESSENCE Tokyo, Japan
39 ISSAYA SIAMESE CLUB Bangkok, Thailand 40 BELON Hong Kong
41 RONIN Hong Kong, China 42 TOC TOC Seoul, Korea
43 THE DINING ROOM AT THE HOUSE OF SATHORN Bangkok, Thailand 44 JAAN Singapore
45 NIHONBASHI Colombo, Sri Lanka 46 CAPRICE Hong Kong, China
47 SHOUN RYUGIN Taipei, Taiwan 48 LA MAISON DE LA NATURE GOH Fukuoka, Japan
49 WASABI BY MORIMOTO Mumbai, India 50 WHITEGRASS Singapore
Individual Awards
Lifetime Achievement Award : Andre Chiang
Asia’s Best Female chef 2018 : Bee Satongun
Asia’s Best Pastry Chef : Nicolas Lambert
Chef’s Choice Award : Yoshihiro Narisawa
One To Watch Award : Toyo Eatery Manila, Philippines
Highest New Entry Award : La Cime Osaka, Japan
Highest Climber Award : Mume Taipei, Taiwan
The Art of Hospitality Award : Ultraviolet by Paul Pairet Shanghai, China
Sustainable Restaurant Award : L’Effervescence Tokyo, Japan
