Last March, the 50 Best Restaurants in Asia were announced, with Bangkok’s Gaggan coming out on top. It also included culinary giants Nusara (Bangkok), The Chairman (Hong Kong), and Odette (Singapore). But are you curious how these venues stack up against other impressive restaurants across the globe?
The best of the best in the culinary scene gathered in Turin, Italy, last June 19 for the unveiling of the World’s 50 Best Restaurants, sponsored by S.Pellegrino & Acqua Panna. The 2025 list marked the 23rd edition of the annual ranking and features restaurants from 32 cities in 22 territories, with 10 new entries and four re-entries.
Topping the list is Lima’s Maido led by Chef Mitsuharu "Micha" Tsumura, who climbs from No. 5 in 2024. Maido has been known to reference ingredients and traditions from the Peruvian Amazon, with courses like the miniature jaune parcel of pork jowl and palm heart, which is a nod to a rainforest staple; snacks of "ham" made from sustainable paiche fish, and yucca served with Amazonian beans.
“Chef Micha and his team deliver an unforgettable dining experience, merging tradition with cutting-edge creativity,” said William Drew, Director of Content for The World's 50 Best Restaurants. “This year’s list celebrates a true breadth of incredible gastronomic talent, underscoring the growing global appreciation for diversity, creativity, and excellence in hospitality.”
Europe’s Best Restaurant of the year, AsadorEtxebarri, takes second place, which is described as the ideal destination restaurant, as it’s set in a peaceful Basque village surrounded by mountains and lush greenery. Many food enthusiasts have traveled across the globe to experience the culinary masterpieces of Chef Bittor Arguinzoniz, who is known to transform simple ingredients into extraordinary dishes.
Chef Jorge Vallejo’s Quintonil, North America’s best restaurant, rounds up the top three, and is followed by Diverxo (No. 4) from Madrid, and Copenhagen’s The Alchemist (No. 5).
Gaggan leads the fourteen Asian entries at No. 6, praised for its menu that boasts a combination of music, colors, and creativity anchored in progressive Indian, with French, Thai, and Japanese influences. Sézanne (No. 7), located in the Four Season Tokyo Marunouchi hotel, is the only other Asian venue that made it to the Top 10. Headed by British Chef Daniel Calvert, Sézanne serves immersive neo-French style dishes infused with tributes to Asian cultures.
Other representatives in the region include Hong Kong’s Wing (No. 11) and The Chairman (No. 19); Bangkok’s Sorn(No. 17), Sühring (No. 22), and Le Du (No, 30); Singapore’s Odette (No. 25), Seoul’s Mingles (No. 29), and Tokyo’s Florilège (No. 36).
It seems that Thailand’s capital is receiving much recognition for its culinary delights, boasting not one but two new entries on the list. Potong (No. 13), a fine-dining restaurant by Chef Pichaya ‘Pam’ Soontornyanakij located at the heart of Bangkok’s Chinatown, earned the Highest New Entry Award for its innovative Thai-Chinese cuisine.
Meanwhile, Chef Thitid ‘Ton’ Tassanakajohn’s Nusara (No. 35) earns a spot for its modern Thai cuisine that blends history with innovation, drawing inspiration from the chef’s family recipes and cookbooks from the royal kitchens of King Rama V.
Tokyo’s Narisawa (No. 21) and La Cime (No. 44) in Osaka also made re-entries to the list, adding to Japan’s culinary highlights.
Renowned Asian sauce and condiment brand, Lee Kum Kee, also continues its partnership with the prestigious awards ceremony, and showcased experiences and collaborations including a reimagined aperitivo hourwith Asian flavors created by Executive Chef Alexander Robles of Azotea and Executive Chef Tam Kwok Fung of Chef Tam’s Seasons — the winner of Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants 2025 Highest Climber Award, sponsored by Lee Kum Kee. The dishes were accompanied by craft culinary cocktails from bartending talents Antonio Lai (Executive Mixologist and Co-Owner, Tastings Group), Matteo Fornaro (Bar Manager & Co-founder, Azotea), Mark Lloyd (Head Mixologist, Wing Lei Bar), and Samuel Kwok (Co-founder, The Opposites).
To see the complete list of awardees, click here. In addition to the Top 50, an extended list featuring the top 51 to 100 has also been revealed, which spans across 37 cities and six continents, compiled from the votes of 1,120 culinary experts, including chefs, food writers, and global gastronomes.
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