Gaggan in Bangkok takes the number one spot on Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants 2025 list
Gaggan in Bangkok has been named the No 1 restaurant in Asia for 2025, marking a return to the top for chef Gaggan Anand. The current 14-seat counter format opened in late 2019, following the closure of his original flagship, and has steadily climbed the rankings over the past two years. The tasting menu, focused on progressive Indian cuisine, blends technical flair with Anand’s characteristic playfulness, offered in an intimate, performance-style setting.
The list, announced in Seoul, South Korea on March 25, saw Bangkok and Tokyo lead with nine entries each, followed by Hong Kong with seven. Seven restaurants are new to the top 50, with 16 cities represented in total.
See also: Why everyone wants a seat at Asia’s table
The Gaggan team in Bangkok
In Hong Kong, The Chairman (No 2) remains near the top of the list with its ingredient-forward Cantonese cooking, while Wing (No 3) solidifies its reputation with chef Vicky Cheng also winning the Chefs’ Choice Award, a peer-voted accolade. Caprice (No 18) leaps 14 spots, and new entrant Estro (No 32) introduces Antimo Maria Merone’s modern Neapolitan cooking to the list.
Tokyo features prominently with last year’s No 1, Sézanne (No 4), Narisawa (No 12), and newcomers Maz (No 43) and Myoujyaku (No 45). Crony (No 30) earns special recognition with co-owner and sommelier Kazutaka Ozawa named Asia’s Best Sommelier for his precise and narrative-driven wine pairings. Sushi Saito (No 33) re-enters the list, and Florilège (No 17) and Den (No 22) maintain their consistent presence.
Vicky Cheng, Hong Kong takes homes the Chefs’ Choice Award
Jongwon Son of Eatanic Garden in Seoul wins the Highest New Entry Award
Seoul’s strong showing includes Mingles (No 5), Onjium (No 10), 7th Door (No 23), and newcomer Eatanic Garden (No 25), which wins the Highest New Entry Award. Chef Jongwon Son’s menu draws heavily on Korean botanicals, fermentation and a serene aesthetic that sets it apart in the city’s increasingly ambitious scene.
Macau delivers one of the list’s most notable moves: Chef Tam’s Seasons jumps 40 places to No 9, earning the Highest Climber Award. Led by Wong Wing-Keung at Wynn Palace, the restaurant’s focus on seasonality and Cantonese refinement now has broader regional attention.
Chudaree ‘Tam’ Debhakam wins Asia’s Best Female Chef Award
Bangkok’s dominance is reflected in the diversity of its entries. Nusara (No 6) continues chef Thitid ‘Ton’ Tassanakajohn’s exploration of family recipes through a contemporary Thai lens. Potong (No 13), led by Pichaya ‘Pam’ Soontornyanakij, remains a standout for its Thai-Chinese storytelling, while Baan Tepa (No 44), headed by Chudaree ‘Tam’ Debhakam, wins Asia’s Best Female Chef Award, in recognition of her sustainability-focused, farm-driven Thai cuisine. Gaggan at Louis Vuitton (No 31) also makes its debut, with its head pastry chef Dej Kewkacha winning Asia’s Best Pastry Chef.
Singapore contributes seven entries. Odette (No 7) remains the top-ranked in the city, while Seroja (No 40), led by Kevin Wong, stands out for its celebration of Malay coastal cooking. Labyrinth (No 37) continues its inventive takes on hawker classics, and Euphoria (No 48) closes the Singapore list with its distinct gastro-botanica concept.
Mainland China fields six restaurants in total, four of them in Shanghai. Meet the Bund (No 14) rises 36 places to become the Best Restaurant in Mainland China, known for its updated take on comfort dining in a striking Bund-facing setting. Fu He Hui (No 15) continues to set the standard for refined vegetarian Chinese cuisine. Ling Long (No 27) and 102 House (No 29), both rooted in modern Chinese sensibility, maintain their upward momentum. Lamdre (No 50), another plant-based fine-dining restaurant in Beijing, is also recognised for its serene and ingredient-focused approach that bridges Buddhist philosophy with contemporary design.
India sees strong representation through Masque (No 19, Mumbai), where chef Varun Totlani continues to evolve the concept of new Indian cuisine through hyper-seasonal tasting menus. Indian Accent (No 46, New Delhi) remains a consistent presence on the list with its polished take on pan-Indian classics.
Fu He Hui in Mainland China continues to set the standard for refined vegetarian Chinese cuisine
Indonesia’s sole entry, August (No 49, Jakarta), continues to gain recognition for its contemporary interpretation of Indonesian flavours, framed within a precise, technique-driven menu. The restaurant is emblematic of Jakarta’s growing confidence on the regional stage.
Taiwan is represented by Logy (No 26, Taipei), known for its Nordic-leaning, Japanese-informed cuisine under chef Ryogo Tahara, and JL Studio (No 35, Taichung), where Jimmy Lim’s reworking of Singaporean childhood flavours continues to earn international attention.
Further individual recognition includes the Gin Mare Art of Hospitality Award, given to Toyo Eatery (No 42) in Manila for its warm, thoughtful service rooted in Filipino culture. The late Margarita Forés, a trailblazer of modern Filipino cuisine, was posthumously honoured with the Icon Award, recognising her lifelong impact on the region’s culinary identity. Meanwhile, Locavore NXT in Ubud takes home the Sustainable Restaurant Award, for its zero-waste ethos and rigorous local sourcing; it ranks No 92 on the extended list.
An aerial view of Locavore NXT
Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants 2025
1. Gaggan, Bangkok 2. The Chairman, Hong Kong 3. Wing, Hong Kong 4. Sézanne, Tokyo 5. Mingles, Seoul 6. Nusara, Bangkok 7. Odette, Singapore 8. La Cime, Osaka 9. Chef Tam's Seasons, Macau 10. Onjium, Seoul 11. Sühring, Bangkok 12. Narisawa, Tokyo 13. Potong, Bangkok 14. Meet the Bund, Shanghai 15. Fu He Hui, Shanghai 16. Sorn, Bangkok 17. Florilège, Tokyo 18. Caprice, Hong Kong 19. Masque, Mumbai 20. Le Du, Bangkok 21. Neighborhood, Hong Kong 22. Den, Tokyo 23. 7th Door, Seoul 24. Mono, Hong Kong 25. Eatanic Garden, Seoul 26. Logy, Taipei 27. Ling Long, Shanghai 28. Les Amis, Singapore 29. 102 House, Shanghai 30. Crony, Tokyo 31. Gaggan at Louis Vuitton, Bangkok 32. Estro, Hong Kong 33. Sushi Saito, Tokyo 34. Sazenka, Tokyo 35. JL Studio, Taichung 36. Goh, Fukuoka 37. Labyrinth, Singapore 38. Burnt Ends, Singapore 39. Meta, Singapore 40. Seroja, Singapore 41. Ando, Hong Kong 42. Toyo Eatery, Manila 43. Maz, Tokyo 44. Baan Tepa, Bangkok 45. Myoujyaku, Tokyo 46. Indian Accent, New Delhi 47. Samrub Samrub Thai, Bangkok 48. Euphoria, Singapore 49. August, Jakarta 50. Lamdre, Beijing
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