Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants 2020

The 50 Best Restaurants (Asia, World…) is a ranking of great restaurants managed by an independent media organisation on the basis of a world-wide panel of foodies and restaurant experts. It is an interesting alternative to the Michelin’s guide that is based on expert’s visits. It is also a much more exclusive list. One criticism I have is that the list seems to ignore Vietnam and Northern Thailand, two of my top food destinations. Bangkok, Tokyo, Hong Kong, and Singapore seem to be disproportionately represented. However some of the restaurants, especially in lesser cities, are absolute gems. For example Goh in Fukuoka only recently has been awarded one star by the Michelin Guide but it is has been on this list for a while and it should not be missed.

The 2020 Asia’s list was released on 24 March during a live event (the planned event in Saga was cancelled due to the cornonavirus pandemic).

I usually include at least one of these restaurants during my regional trips (or I shall say “I used to”… travel is going to change a lot…).

Here’s the 2020 list. I have linked the reviews of restaurants I have visited. The full list is of course available on the the dedicated website.

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, Japan
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 — Taipei
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 (visited the Shanghai branch)
26. JL Studio — Taichung, Taiwan
27. TocToc — Seoul
28. Zen — Singapore
29. Sazenka— Tokyo
30. Ministry of Crab — Colombo, Sri Lanka (visited Shanghai branch)
31. Amber — Hong Kong
32. 8 ½ Otto e Mezzo Bombana — Hong Kong (visited Shanghai branch)
33. Lung King Heen — Hong Kong
34. Hansikgonggan — Seoul
35. Ode — Tokyo
36. Raw — Taipei
37. Locavore — Bali, Indonesia
38. Paste — Bangkok
39. Bo.Ian —  Bangkok
40. La Maison de La Nature Goh — Fukuoka, Japan
41. Ultraviolet by Paul Pairet — Shanghai
42. Corner House — Singapore
43. Shoun RyuGin — Taipei
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