Asia’s 50 best restaurants in 2017

By Chris Dwyer, CNN
4 minute read
Published 12:53 PM EST, Tue February 21, 2017
<strong>15. Mingles, Seoul: </strong>Judges of the Asia's 50 Best Restaurants Awards called Mingles the rising star of Seoul. The three-year-old venue has been voted the best restaurant in Korea twice.
15. Mingles, Seoul: Judges of the Asia's 50 Best Restaurants Awards called Mingles the rising star of Seoul. The three-year-old venue has been voted the best restaurant in Korea twice.
Mingles
<strong>14. Florilege, Tokyo: </strong>Last year's "one to watch" award winner, Florilege is home to imaginative modern French cooking.
14. Florilege, Tokyo: Last year's "one to watch" award winner, Florilege is home to imaginative modern French cooking.
Shinichiro Fujii
<strong>13. Suhring, Bangkok: </strong>Twins Thomas and Mathias Sühring's modern German menu boasts seasonal ingredients and impressive skill.
13. Suhring, Bangkok: Twins Thomas and Mathias Sühring's modern German menu boasts seasonal ingredients and impressive skill.
Tinnaphop Tonitiwong
<strong>12. L'Effervescence, Tokyo: </strong>By marrying French cuisine with Japanese spirit, Shinobu Namae's L'Effervescene came 12th this year. Here's one of its dishes, featuring bamboo shoot, monkfish liver, wakame, hakusai-cabbage.
12. L'Effervescence, Tokyo: By marrying French cuisine with Japanese spirit, Shinobu Namae's L'Effervescene came 12th this year. Here's one of its dishes, featuring bamboo shoot, monkfish liver, wakame, hakusai-cabbage.
Luuvu Hoang
<strong>11. Den, Tokyo: </strong>Leaping from number 37 to 11 this year, Tokyo's Den wowed the judges of Asia's 50 Best Restaurants with its lighthearted and modern approach towards kaiseki cuisine.
11. Den, Tokyo: Leaping from number 37 to 11 this year, Tokyo's Den wowed the judges of Asia's 50 Best Restaurants with its lighthearted and modern approach towards kaiseki cuisine.
Shinichiro Fujii
<strong>10. Burnt Ends, Singapore: </strong>Burnt Ends serves perfectly smoked and grilled dishes with its 600 Celsius wood-fired oven. Chef-owner Dave Pynt also won this year's Chefs' Choice Award -- voted by other chefs.
10. Burnt Ends, Singapore: Burnt Ends serves perfectly smoked and grilled dishes with its 600 Celsius wood-fired oven. Chef-owner Dave Pynt also won this year's Chefs' Choice Award -- voted by other chefs.
Simon Pynt
<strong>9. Odette, Singapore: </strong>This new French restaurant by Julien Roye, former chef Singapore's Jaan, ranked ninth in its debut in Asia's 50 Best Restaurants Award, making it the highest new entry this year.
9. Odette, Singapore: This new French restaurant by Julien Roye, former chef Singapore's Jaan, ranked ninth in its debut in Asia's 50 Best Restaurants Award, making it the highest new entry this year.
Odette
<strong>8. Ultraviolet, Shanghai: </strong>Chef-patron Paul Pairet's <a href="http://uvbypp.cc" target="_blank" target="_blank">Ultraviolet</a> serves a 20-course menu of "experimental comfort food" in a "secret" purpose-built space in Shanghai.
8. Ultraviolet, Shanghai: Chef-patron Paul Pairet's Ultraviolet serves a 20-course menu of "experimental comfort food" in a "secret" purpose-built space in Shanghai.
Courtesy Scott Wright
<strong>7. Nihonryori Ryugin, Tokyo: </strong>Seiji Yamamoto's Nihonryori Ryugin reflects a modern and seasonal take on Japan's traditional kaiseki cuisine.
7. Nihonryori Ryugin, Tokyo: Seiji Yamamoto's Nihonryori Ryugin reflects a modern and seasonal take on Japan's traditional kaiseki cuisine.
Nihonryori RyuGin
<strong>6. Narisawa, Tokyo: </strong>After spending eight years training in Europe, Chef Yoshihiro Narisawa brought home to Japan <a href="http://www.narisawa-yoshihiro.com/" target="_blank" target="_blank">Narisawa</a> an award-winning restaurant serving Satoyama cuisine with Japanese ingredients and innovative techniques.
6. Narisawa, Tokyo: After spending eight years training in Europe, Chef Yoshihiro Narisawa brought home to Japan Narisawa an award-winning restaurant serving Satoyama cuisine with Japanese ingredients and innovative techniques.
Sergio Coimbra
<strong>5. Nahm, Bangkok: </strong>Australian chef David Thompson dishes out "perfectly balanced" Thai dishes at his Bangkok restaurant Nahm, according to Asia's 50 Best Restaurants.
5. Nahm, Bangkok: Australian chef David Thompson dishes out "perfectly balanced" Thai dishes at his Bangkok restaurant Nahm, according to Asia's 50 Best Restaurants.
Nahm
<strong>4. 8 1/2 Otto e Mezzo Bombana, Hong Kong:</strong> Umberto Bombana's celebrated Italian restaurant in Hong Kong is famous for its truffle dishes. Bombana was presented with the Lifetime Achievement Award this year.
4. 8 1/2 Otto e Mezzo Bombana, Hong Kong: Umberto Bombana's celebrated Italian restaurant in Hong Kong is famous for its truffle dishes. Bombana was presented with the Lifetime Achievement Award this year.
8 1/2 Otto e Mezzo Bombana
<strong>3. Amber, Hong Kong: </strong>This Korean abalone with black pepper and vinegar-seasoned tomato compote, braised then crisped oxtail and its jus is one of the dishes to showcase Dutch master Richard Ekkebus' ability to merge classical French cooking and top-notch Asian ingredients.
3. Amber, Hong Kong: This Korean abalone with black pepper and vinegar-seasoned tomato compote, braised then crisped oxtail and its jus is one of the dishes to showcase Dutch master Richard Ekkebus' ability to merge classical French cooking and top-notch Asian ingredients.
Amber
<strong>2. Restaurant Andre, Singapore: </strong>Chef-owner Andre Chiang's eight-course menu highlights the eight elements that Chiang deems most important for his restaurant and himself, reflecting his upbringing in Taiwan and stints in France, Shanghai and the Seychelles.
2. Restaurant Andre, Singapore: Chef-owner Andre Chiang's eight-course menu highlights the eight elements that Chiang deems most important for his restaurant and himself, reflecting his upbringing in Taiwan and stints in France, Shanghai and the Seychelles.
Restaurant Andre
<strong>1. Gaggan, Bangkok: </strong>For the third year in a row, Gaggan Anand's eponymous restaurant won top prize in 2017's Asia's 50 Best Restaurants Award. Gaggan's food attempts to revolutionize the concept of Indian cuisine.
1. Gaggan, Bangkok: For the third year in a row, Gaggan Anand's eponymous restaurant won top prize in 2017's Asia's 50 Best Restaurants Award. Gaggan's food attempts to revolutionize the concept of Indian cuisine.
Allwecandid
Asia's 50 best restaurants 2017
Bangkok CNN  — 

The awards were based on votes from more than 300 chefs, restaurateurs and experts in six countries across Asia.

A culinary hat trick. A gastronomic threepeat. Amidst literally millions of restaurants in Asia, one reigned supreme against them all, again: Gaggan.

At the fifth edition of Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants awards, sponsored by S.Pellegrino & Acqua Panna, for a wholly unprecedented third year running no restaurant could hold a candle to the innovative Indian cuisine it serves – not in India, but in Bangkok, Thailand.

“I wish I could break the award in 50 pieces and share it with every chef in the room,” chef/owner Gaggan Anand said, thanking his family, his team and the award sponsors. “I’m humbled. This is for my country where I came from, India. For Tara my daughter and my family. The 67 people in my restaurant are the best team I’ve ever worked with.”

Gaggan’s triumph followed voting by 318 independent experts led by six academy chairs across the region. The victory was sweet, but clearly not without challenges including time apart from his wife and new child.

“I just told the organizers that next time we should have a sponsor from a hospital,” he joked.

Meet Gaggan Anand, the ‘world’s best’ Indian chef

Gaggan Anand's restaurant topped the Asia's 50 best restaurants awards for the third consecutive year.
Gaggan Anand's restaurant topped the Asia's 50 best restaurants awards for the third consecutive year.
Gaggan