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Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants 2025: Stars, Surprises, and a Tribute to a Filipino Culinary Icon

Toyo slips to #42 but remains the Best Restaurant in the Philippines; Gaggan takes the top spot for the fifth time.
March 26, 2025
Courtesy of Gaggan

Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants is a testament to the region’s culinary diversity and ever-evolving richness. The latest edition, announced last night, reveals a combination of enduring icons and exciting newcomers as well as interesting new trends in the fine dining world. These restaurants contribute to the gastronomic dialogue across the continent, reflecting a blend of heritage, innovation, and artistry. 

Icons and Culinary Crossroads

Courtesy of Gaggan

Chef Gaggan Anand’s Gaggan restaurant takes the top spot once again, having been ranked first in Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants four times previously. Beyond the culinary theatrics, the maestro reinvents the fine dining experience with a progressive Indian menu that is mostly shaped by French, Thai, and Japanese techniques.

Courtesy of The Chairman

Of note, too, is The Chairman, number 2 and the best restaurant in Hong Kong. It exemplifies all the best of modern Cantonese cuisine, with its respect for Chinese history and openness to guests, minus the fanfare that often plagues the fine-dining world.

Courtesy of Odette

Odette, on the other hand, takes on the title of the best of Singapore. Chef Julien Royer’s flagship restaurant is celebrated for transforming umami-rich Asian ingredients through French fine dining elements.

Courtesy of Sezanne

Last year’s best, Sézanne in Tokyo, falls to number 4. With its experiential neo-French style, its dining experience offers homages to classic Asian culinary traditions with its artfully crafted seasonal dishes. 

Nusara, at number 6, has become one of the most intriguing reservations in the country thanks to its take on modern Thai cuisine led by the brothers Thitid “Ton” and Chaisiri “Tam” Tassanakajohn.

At the fifth spot, Mingles beautifully mixes Korean influences with global techniques, further moving modern Korean dining forward.

A Filipino Icon Takes Center Stage, and Toyo Remains Ranked

Courtesy of Toyo 

Listed at 42, Manila’s very own Toyo Eatery remains one of Asia’s most exciting dining destinations. As the best in the Philippines, it upholds the highest standards of modern Filipino cuisine. The talented husband-and-wife tandem of Jordy and May Navarra is heralded for its relationship with farmers and artisans, championing local communities and cultural connections in its dishes.

Courtesy of Toyo Eatery

The voting body also posthumously awarded the late Filipino culinary innovator Margarita Forés with the Woodford Reserve Icon Award for 2025. Forés has been considered a culinary titan in not just the Philippines, but all of Asia, as well. The award was accepted by her son, Amado.

“My mom always said her life’s purpose was simple: to make the world more beautiful and delicious for others, and I’m grateful to 50 Best for giving her a larger platform to do that,” he said in his acceptance speech.

Held in high regard by institutions around the world, Forés was the first non-Italian recipient of the Marietta Ad Honorem Award in 2015 and named Asia’s Best Female Chef in 2016. Her portfolio of restaurants and legacy mirrors an unparalleled dedication to Italian and Filipino cuisine.

Fresh Entries

Topping the list of new restaurants is Lamdre, located in Beijing’s bustling Sanlitun district. A pioneering plant-based restaurant crafted by chef Dai Jun, it has been gaining quite a following worldwide over the past year. Recipes for its fresh, seasonal ingredients take from their environments, transcending traditional vegetarian offerings by emphasizing health, sustainability, and a zen-like respect for nature.

Meanwhile, Tokyo, which had an impressive 12 entries on the list, adds Myoujyaku and Maz to its already vibrant restaurant landscape. Both concepts focus on the intricacies of flavor and purity. The former offers a meticulously crafted 14-course menu while the latter weaves together the biodiversity of Peru with Japanese culinary tradition. 

Then there’s Eatanic Garden in Seoul and its brand of elevated casual dining. Given the “Highest New Entry Award” for this year, the sanctuary treats guests to seasonal dishes delivered by way of beautifully illustrated menus above the cityscape. 

Fu He Hui in Shanghai, likewise, boasts its own compelling narrative. It applies a Zen lens to Chinese agriculture and vegetarian cuisine, instead embracing minimalism, simplicity, and seasonality in its fine dining offerings.

Here is the full list:

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 *Highest Climber
10. Onjium, Seoul
11. Sühring, Bangkok
12. Narisawa, Tokyo
13. Potong, Bangkok
14. Meet the Bund
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 *Highest New Entry
26. Logy, Taipei
27. Ling Long, Shanghai
28. Les Amis, Singapore
29. 102 House, Shanghai
30. Crony, Tokyo
31. Gaggan at Louis Vuitton
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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