BANGKOK, Feb 22 — Chef Gaggan Anand’s eponymously named Indian restaurant in Bangkok has retained its crown as the best restaurant in Asia for the third year in a row. 

Anand cemented the reputation of his progressive Indian restaurant Gaggan in a three-peat performance at the 2017 edition of Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants awards — an impressive feat given that the restaurant opened in 2010. 

It was a gathering of some of the most high-profile, Michelin-starred and avant-garde chefs across Asia yesterday, who travelled to Bangkok to hear the countdown that ranks restaurants against one another. 

So what is a dining experience at the best restaurant in Asia like?  

‘Magic Mushroom’ at Gaggan — Picture courtesy of Gaggan via AFP
‘Magic Mushroom’ at Gaggan — Picture courtesy of Gaggan via AFP

According to editors of Asia’s 50 Best, an offshoot of the World’s 50 Best Restaurants awards, Gaggan balances the “soulfulness of Indian street food with hyper-modern cooking techniques to unrivalled effect.” 

In edible terms, that means spherified Yoghurt Explosion with red matcha and charcoal — the restaurant’s standout dish — Indian sushi, and uni ice cream served in a miniature cone. 

'Galar Halwa' at Gaggan — Picture courtesy of Gaggan via AFP
'Galar Halwa' at Gaggan — Picture courtesy of Gaggan via AFP

In line with the menu’s playfulness and the chef’s “effervescent” personality, the 25-course menu is likewise written entirely in emojis.  

Meanwhile, China, Japan, Singapore and Thailand landed the most spots on the top 50 list, counting nine restaurants each. 

Rounding out the top three spots are Restaurant Andre in Singapore and Amber in Hong Kong. 

Other big winners include Japan’s Kazutoshi Narita, who was named Asia’s best pastry chef; Odette in Singapore, which won the highest new entry award; Locavore, the highest climber; Den in Tokyo for the art of hospitality and chef Dave Pynt of Burnt Ends in Singapore, who won the Chefs’ Choice Award. 

Here are the top winners:  

1. Gaggan, Bangkok, Thailand 


2. Restaurant Andre, Singapore 


3. Amber, Hong Kong 


4. 8 ½ Otto e Mezzo Bombana, Hong Kong 


5. Nahm, Bangkok, Thailand 


6. Narisawa, Tokyo, Japan 


7. Nihonryori Ryugin, Tokyo, Japan 


8. Ultraviolet by Paul Pairet, Shanghai, China 


9. Odette, Singapore 


10. Burnt Ends, Singapore 

Best Restaurant in Singapore: Restaurant Andre 


Best Restaurant in China: Amber 


Best Restaurant in Japan: Narisawa 


Best Restaurant in Korea: Mingles 


Best Restaurant in Philippines: Gallery Vask 


Best Restaurant in India: Indian Accent 


Best Restaurant in Taiwan: Le Mout 


Best Restaurant in Sri Lanka: Ministry of Crab

For the full list visit http://www.theworlds50best.com/asia/en/asias-50-best-restaurants.html. — AFP-Relaxnews