Thai Chef Ian Kittichai famously said,”Asians love food”. That may be an understatement as the Asian culinary scene has been undergoing a renaissance lately. This is reflected in The World’s 50 Best Restaurants which is an on-going list of the most interesting, innovative and inspiring restaurants on the planet. The list is compiled from results of more than 900 chefs and culinary experts who vote for their seven favorite restaurants in the world.
San Pellegrino, Acqua Panna and Lavazza sponsored the coveted award for Best Restaurant of 2016, which went to chef Massimo Bottura’s Osteria Francescana in Modena, Italy. “I have to thank my wife, family and my team who are watching in the restaurant. I want to thank everyone, it’s been so hard, our job is all about hard work…I think the most important ingredient for the future is culture, because culture brings knowledge and knowledge brings consciousness. I feel like I will cry,” Bottura said.
Here’s the Full List (we’ve bolded restaurants in Asia)
1. Osteria Francescana, Modena (Italy)
2. El Celler de Can Roca, Girona (Spain)
3. Eleven Madison Park, New York (USA)
4. Central, Lima (Peru)
5. Noma, Copenhagen (Denmark)
6. Mirazur, Menton (France)
7. Mugaritz, San Sebastian (Spain)
8. Narisawa, Tokyo (Japan)
9. Steirereck, Vienna (Austria)
10. Asador Etxebarri, Atxondo (Spain)
11. D.O.M. , Sao Paulo (Brazil)
12. Quintonil, Mexico City (Mexico)
13. Maido, Lima (Peru)
14. The Ledbury, London (UK)
15. Alinea, Chicago (USA)
16. Azurmendi, Larrabetzu (Spain)
17. Piazza Duomo, Alba (Italy)
18. White Rabbit, Moscow (Russia)
19. Arpège, Paris (France)
20. Amber, Hong Kong (Hong Kong)
21. Arzak, San Sebastian (Spain)
22. The Test Kitchen, Cape Town (South Africa)
23. Gaggan, Bangkok (Thailand)
24. Le Bernardin, New York (USA)
25. Pujol, Mexico City (Mexico)
26. The Clove Club, London (UK)
27. Saison, San Francisco (USA)
28. Geranium, Copenhagen (Denmark)
29. Tickets, Barcelona (Spain)
30. Astrid Y Gastón, Lima (Peru)
31. Nihonryori RyuGin, Tokyo (Japan)
32. Restaurant André, Singapore (Singapore)
33. Attica, Melbourne (Australia)
34. Restaurant Tim Raue, Berlin (Germany)
35. Vendôme, Bergisch Gladbach (Germany)
36. Boragò, Santiago (Chile)
37. Nahm, Bangkok (Thailand)
38. De Librije, Zwolle (Netherlands)
39. Le Calandre, Rubano (Italy)
40. Relae, Copenhagen (Denmark)
41. Fäviken, Järpen (Sweden)
42. Ultraviolet, Shanghai (China)
43. Biko, Mexico City (Mexico)
44. Estela, New York (USA)
45. Dinner by Heston Blumenthal, London (UK)
46. Combal.Zero, Rivoli (Italy)
47. Schloss Schauenstein, Fürstenau (Switzerland)
48. Blue Hill at Stone Barns, Tarrytown (USA)
49. Quique Dacosta, Denia (Spain)
50. Septime, Paris (France)