Bangkok’s Gaggan has retained its No.1 position on Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants list for the second consecutive year.
In addition to first position, Gaggan was also named The Best Restaurant in Thailand. Described as inventive, adventurous and highly individual, chef Gaggan Anand's cuisine draws inspiration from Indian street food which he then reinterprets via modernist cooking techniques. While his approach is unique, Gaggan says that his food will always be respectful of India’s rich culinary traditions.
Tokyo’s Narisawa came in at second position, followed by Singapore’s Restaurant Andre, Hong Kong’s Amber and Tokyo’s Nihonryori RyuGin.
Tetsuya Wakuda’s Waku Ghin just missed out on a position in the top five, coming in at sixth position – three positions higher than it ranked last year.
David Thompson’s Nahm – which held the No.1 position on the 2014 list – slipped back one position from 2015’s list, but still made it into the top ten coming in at No.8.
In addition to claiming the No.8 position, Thompson was also presented with the 2016 Diners Club Lifetime Achievement Award.
On receiving the award, Thompson said: “Usually I am rather embarrassed by awards but to receive something as significant as this, voted for by my peers in the industry, does indeed make me proud and grateful. I still have the same joy in cooking as I had when I first began. It is a timeless pleasure for me, so I feel very lucky.”
Now in its fourth year, the 2016 list welcomes 10 new entries – three of which are from Japan. The list comprises restaurants across 13 nations, 13 of which are in China, 10 in Japan and a further 10 in Singapore.
“…These awards reflect the growth and diversity of Asia’s dining scene,” says William Drew, group editor of Asia’s 50 best Restaurants. “The 2016 list includes 10 new restaurants and showcases the best dining experiences in 13 countries, more than ever before. Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants strives to reward creativity as well as culinary excellence and all 50 restaurants on the list, as well as the individual award-winners, exemplify these qualities.”
