Asia’s top 50 Best Restaurants 2022 unveiled

By Manas Sen Gupta

The top 50 of Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants 2022 were announced at events held simultaneously in Bangkok, Macau and Tokyo on 29 March. The announcement comes a week after the release of Asia’s best restaurants ranked 51-100.

Tokyo-based restaurant Den was adjudged Asia’s best restaurant. This is only the second time ever that a restaurant from Japan took the top spot.

Dewakan was awarded the best restaurant from Malaysia. The restaurant was ranked No.50 on the list and was the only one from the country. Headed by chef Darren Teoh, Dewakan was opened seven years ago and is located at Sky Views, Naza Tower. It is known for using local ingredients in exquisite dishes focused on Malaysia’s heritage and agriculture.

The 10th edition of Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants, which focuses on the best places to experience the continent’s fine dining and hospitality, was hosted by William Drew, Director of Content at Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants, and Hong Kong actor Marcus Kwok.

While Drew announced the winners of the special prizes, Kwok revealed the list of the 50 best restaurants in Asia.

The event was aired live on the social media handles of 50 Best, which is headed by William Reed Business Media. For the first time since the COVID-19 pandemic, it was open to in-person attendance at three locations — Pullman in Bangkok, Wynn in Macau and Palace Hotel Tokyo.

Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants: Winners of special awards

Natsuko Shoji, who previously won the Best Pastry Chef Award, was named the Best Female Chef. The owner of Été, a restaurant in Tokyo she opened at the age of 24 in 2014, Shoji became the first chef ever to win both the honours in the history of 50 Best.

Shoji is one of the handful of high-profile female chefs in Japan and sees food as objects of art.

Following her 2022 win, she said, “The reason why I call each dish or dessert a curation or collection is because I want it to be seen as a work of art. Through awards like this, I hope that we can make the fashion community  become more aware of what’s going on in the food industry.”

South Korea’s Jeong Kwan was the winner of the prestigious Icon Award. A practising female Buddhist nun and the Master of Chunjinam Hermitage at Baekyangsa Temple, Kwan is known as a legend in Korean temple cuisine, which she perfected over 40 years.

Eat and Cook from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, was among the other winners. The restaurant won the One to Watch Award. The newcomer was ranked No.81 on Asia’s 50 Best 2022 list of 51-100.

Maira Yeo of Cloudstreet, Singapore, was named Asia’s Best Pastry Chef, while the Chefs’ Choice Award went to David Lai from Hong Kong who is known for his sustainable cooking techniques.

Taipei-based iconic restaurant Mume won the Sustainable Restaurant Award. In his address post the announcement of the award, Richie Lin, the renowned chef-owner of Mume, appealed to the world. He said, “Let’s make better choices together every day, on how we grow, cook, serve and eat. Let’s build a more sustainable restaurant industry together.”

Villa Aida located in rural Wakayama of Japan was named the winner of the Highest New Entry Award. For rising 14 places to No.13 on the 2022 list, Ode in Tokyo won the Highest Climber Award.

The Art of Hospitality Award went to Singapore’s Odette.

The best restaurants in their respective countries

Sorn was named the best restaurant in Thailand. Hong Kong’s The Chairman, a former topper of Asia’s 50 Best, was named the finest in China. Mingles in South Korea, Ministry of Crab in Sri Lanka, Masque in India, Logy in Taiwan and Odette in Singapore were named the best in their respective countries.

On the other hand, Bangkok-based Sühring, at No.7 in 2022, maintained its dominance in the top 10 for the fifth straight year.