The Chairman has taken top honours at the Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants 2021 awards ceremony, becoming the first Hong Kong restaurant to claim the No.1 spot and earning the titles of The Best Restaurant in Asia.
Hong Kong leads the list with 11 restaurants on the list, followed by Japan (9) and Singapore (8).
The first Hong Kong restaurant to claim the No.1 spot, The Chairman is renowned for its ingredient-driven Cantonese cuisine and single-minded commitment to authentic flavours. Launched in 2009, The Chairman has been a regular entry on Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants list since the inaugural list in 2013 and first appeared on The World’s 50 Best Restaurant list in 2019, landing at No.41.
Aside from The Chairman, Hong Kong is also represented by newcomer Mono (No.44) as well as re-entries Caprice (No.28) and Ta Vie (No.38).
Leading Singapore’s eight entries, after holding the top spot for two years, Odette moves to No.2 while retaining the title of The Best Restaurant in Singapore. Singapore also counts three newcomers to the 2021 list.
Cloudstreet makes its entrance on the list at No.31, while Euphoria bows at No.41. Labyrinth makes its debut at No.40 and wins the Flor de Caña Sustainable Restaurant Award. Other Singapore restaurants to make the ranking are Les Amis (No.13), Burnt Ends (No.14), Zén (No.23) and Jaan by Kirk Westaway (No.42).
For its modern interpretations of Korean culinary traditions, Meta claims the coveted American Express One To Watch Award. Adding another feather in Singapore’s cap is fusion restaurant Meta, which took home the coveted American Express One To Watch Award.
Retaining its No.3 place, Den wins the title of The Best Restaurant in Japan for a fourth successive year while Florilège and Narisawa both maintain their respective places within the top 10, at No.7 and No.9. Climbing an impressive 29 places to No.19, Tokyo’s L’Effervescence is the winner of this year’s Beronia Highest Climber Award.
Japan’s other returning favourites include La Cime (No.8), Sazenka (No.12), Ode (No.27), La Maison de la Nature Goh (No.30) and Nihonryori RyuGin (No.35).
William Drew, Director of Content for Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants, says: “In the last year, the restaurant sector has faced extraordinary challenges. We are proud to support the restaurants in their recovery by showcasing the region’s creative talents, celebrating the industry’s pioneers and recognising culinary excellence.”
The legendary Supinya ‘Jay Fai’ Junsuta – the 75-year old Thai hawker who put Thai street food on the world map after receiving a Michelin star two years in a row took home the Icon Award.
After closing his award-winning restaurant Gaggan in 2019, popular chef Gaggan Anand makes a dramatic return to the list. His namesake Bangkok restaurant, Gaggan Anand, enters at No.5, securing the Highest New Entry Award.
Among Thailand’s six entries this year, chef Thitid ‘Ton’ Tassanakajohn has double reason to celebrate. His high-profile Le Du (No.4) is named The Best Restaurant in Thailand for the first time, edging out last year’s title holder Sühring (No.6), while his latest venture, Nusara, debuts at No.20. Sorn (No.11) and Gaa (No.46) round out the Thailand entries.