These are the 50 best restaurants in Asia

Hong Kong's The Chairman has topped the Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants list for 2021

The Maldives aims to offer tourists the chance to be vaccinated during their holiday. Velaa Private Island

The Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants list for 2021 has been revealed, with Hong Kong’s The Chairman taking the top spot.

Launched in 2013, the prestigious annual list is created by the Asia's 50 Best Restaurants Academy. The 2021 results were announced on Thursday during a virtual awards ceremony.

Hong Kong established itself as the region’s leading gastronomic destination, with 11 entries. The Chairman, a Cantonese eatery in Central famed for its authentic, ingredients-driven cuisine, also became the first restaurant in Hong Kong to top the list.

“This announcement marks a fruitful year for Hong Kong’s thriving dining scene, reflecting the rich diversity of local and international cuisines and admirable trove of culinary talent in the city,” said Dane Cheng, executive director of the Hong Kong Tourism Board (HKTB).

“It takes both passion and a strong, progressive entrepreneurial spirit to succeed in Hong Kong’s competitive restaurant industry. So my heartfelt congratulations to all the winning restaurants and sincere appreciation for all the effort they have put into making Hong Kong one of the world’s top food destinations.”

Joining The Chairman in the top five were Singapore’s Odette, which had placed at the top of the list for the previous two years, Den in Tokyo, Le Du in Bangkok and Gaggan Anand, also in Bangkok.

The judging this year factored in a mix of pre-Covid experiences as well as those from after the onset of the pandemic, according to William Drew, director of content for 50 Best.

The Highest Climber Award went to Chef Shinobu Namae’s L’Effervescence in Tokyo, which rose 29 places to number 19. The list of restaurants ranked 51 to 100 was released several days earlier, and featured nine each from Japan and Thailand, and eight from mainland China. Also notable was the first entry from the Maldives, Aragu at Velaa Private Island in the Noonu Atoll, which came in at number 96.

The 50 best restaurants in Asia:

1. The Chairman – Hong Kong

2. Odette – Singapore

3. Den – Tokyo

4. Le Du – Bangkok

5. Gaggan Anand – Bangkok

6. Suhring – Bangkok

7. Florilege – Tokyo

8. La Cime – Osaka

9. Narisawa – Tokyo

10. Mingles – Seoul

11. Sorn – Bangkok

12. Sazenka – Tokyo

13. Les Amis – Singapore

14. Burnt Ends – Singapore

15. Mume – Taipei

16. Vea – Hong Kong

17. Neighborhood – Hong Kong

18. Indian Accent – New Delhi

19. L'Effervescence – Tokyo

20. Nusara – Bangkok

21. Raw – Taipei

22. Fu He Hui – Shanghai

23. Zen – Singapore

24. Logy – Taipei

25. Belon – Hong Kong

26. JL Studio – Taichung

27. Ode – Tokyo

28. Caprice – Hong Kong

29. Ministry of Crab – Colombo

30. La Maison de La Nature Goh – Fukuoka

31. Cloudstreet – Singapore

32. Masque – Mumbai

33. 8 ½ Otto e Mezzo Bombano – Hong Kong

34. 7th Door – Seoul

35. Nihonryori RyuGin – Tokyo

36. Born & Bred – Seoul

37. Amber – Hong Kong

38. Ta Vie – Hong Kong

39. Anan Saigon – Vietnam

40. Labyrinth – Singapore

41. Euphoria – Singapore

42. Jaan by Kirk Westaway – Singapore

43. Hansikgonggan – Seoul

44. Mono – Hong Kong

45. Shoun RyuGin – Taipei

46. Gaa – Bangkok

47. Lung King Heen – Hong Kong

48. Seventh Son – Hong Kong

49. Toyo Eatery – Manila

50. Wing Lei Palace – Macau