Restaurant awards raise the bar in Asia
One of Australia's favourite chefs, Japanese-born Tetsuya Wakuda, has tasted success once again, with his Singapore fine-dining restaurant, Waku Ghin, ranked 11th in the inaugural Asia's 50 Best Restaurants List.
The Singapore establishment also took out 39th position in the World's 50 Best Restaurants List last year.
Asia's best establishments were announced in Singapore last week to launch the addition to the prestigious World's 50 Best Restaurant program.
Japan may have taken out the top two places in the competition, but Singapore and Hong Kong have proved their culinary scenes are among the best in the world.
-SCROLL DOWN FOR THE TOP 50 LIST-
Chef Yoshihiro Narisawa's eponymous Tokyo restaurant secured the No.1 spot in the inaugural list and was named the Best Restaurant in Japan.
Host nation Singapore earned 10 places on the list, followed by Japan and Hong Kong with nine spots each.
The top five spots went to Narisawa (Japan), Nihonryori Ryugin (Japan), Nahm (Thailand), Amber (Hong Kong), and Restaurant Andre (Singapore).
Singapore and Hong Kong's success at the prestigious event highlighted the countries' quality of dining options.
The culinary bar has been raised so high in the popular Asian destinations that restaurant investors from around the world, including celebrity chefs, have been keen to make their mark.
Among them is top chef Joel Robuchon, whose establishments in Hong Kong and Singapore came in at 23rd and 24th respectively.
Singapore's Jaan restaurant was named the "One to Watch", while 2am:Dessert Bar chef-owner Janice Wong was given the first Asia's Best Pastry Chef award.
ASIA'S 50 BEST RESTAURANTS 2013:
1. Narisawa - Tokyo, Japan
2. Nihonryori Ryugin - Tokyo, Japan
3. Nahm - Bangkok, Thailand
4. Amber - Hong Kong, China
5. Restaurant Andre - Singapore
6. 8 1/2 Otto E Mezzo Bombana - Hong Kong, China
7. Mr And Mrs Bund - Shanghai, China
8. Ultraviolet by Paul Pairet - Shanghai, China
9. Iggy's - Singapore
10. Gaggan - Bangkok, Thailand
11. Waku Ghin - Singapore
12. Caprice - Hong Kong, China
13. Lung King Heen - Hong Kong, China
14. Les Amis - Singapore
15. Bo Innovation - Hong Kong, China
16. Quintessence - Tokyo, Japan
17. Dum Pukht - New Delhi, India
18. The Chairman - Hong Kong, China
19. Eat Me - Bangkok, Thailand
20. Wasabi By Morimoto - Mumbai, India
21. Hajime Restaurant - Osaka, Japan
22. Jaan - Singapore
23. L'atelier De Joel Robuchon Hong Kong - Hong Kong, China
24. L'atelier De Joel Robuchon Singapore - Singapore
25. 28 Hubin Road - Hangzhou, China
26. Bukhara - New Delhi, India
27. Sushi Mizutani - Tokyo, Japan
28. Indigo - Mumbai, India
29. Sra Bua By Kiin Kiin - Bangkok, Thailand
30. Varq - New Delhi, India
31. Takazawa - Tokyo, Japan
32. Shinji By Kanesaka - Singapore
33. Kahala - Osaka, Japan
34. Franck - Shanghai, China
35. Osteria Mozza - Singapore
36. Bo Lan - Bangkok, Thailand
37. Robuchon Au Dome - Macau, China
38. Nihonbashi - Colombo, Sri Lanka
39. Sushi Saito - Tokyo Japan
40. Fu1015 - Shanghai, China
41. Indian Accent - New Dehli, India
42. Ishikawa - Tokyo, Japan
43. Gunther's - Singapore
44. Karavalli - Bangalore, India
45. Jade On 36 - Shanghai, China
46. Yardbird - Hong Kong, China
47. Don's - Hanoi, Vietnam
48. Fook Lam Moon - Hong Kong, China
49. Imperial Treasure - Singapore
50. Mozaic - Bali, Indonesia
Source: The West Australian, 7 March 2013
