ASIA | Hong Kong restaurant The Chairman has been named the Best Restaurant in Asia for 2026, five years since it last won the title.
Cantonese cuisine trailblazer The Chairman in Hong Kong clinches the coveted title of The Best Restaurant in Asia at the awards ceremony for Asia's 50 Best Restaurants 2026 in Hong Kong. The acclaimed restaurant, which honours forgotten luxury Cantonese ingredients and traditions from southern China, rises from No.2 last year to reclaim the title, which it previously held in 2021.
This year's list spans 17 cities across the region, with three cities appearing on the 1-50 ranking for the first time: Kasauli, Penang and Ubud. A restaurant from Kasauli makes its debut in the rankings entirely, while restaurants in Penang and Ubud previously featured on the extended 51-100 list. The 2026 ranking also welcomes eight new entries and three re-entries, reflecting the continued dynamism and evolution of Asia's dining scene.
Accompanying The Chairman's rise to the top, Hong Kong's strong showing continues with Wing (second), where chef-owner Vicky Cheng revolutionises the eight Chinese culinary traditions with French culinary finesse. This year's host city also gains recognition with four other restaurants – ingredient-driven Neighborhood (No.24), Neapolitan restaurant Estro (No.32), elegant Caprice (No.35) at Four Seasons Hong Kong and Latin American-style Mono (No.46). Peggy Chan from Hong Kong, a tireless promoter of regenerative farming in Asia's hospitality industry and executive director of Zero Foodprint Asia, collects the Champions of Change Award.
Across the region, the rankings reflect strong representation from Asia's leading dining capitals. Restaurants in Bangkok lead the ranking with nine spots featured on the regional list. Last year's number-one winner, Gaggan, claims third place, retaining the title of The Best Restaurant in Thailand for its extraordinary experiential Indian gastronomy. Bangkok's line-up also features Nusara (fifth) with a creative spin on chef Thitid 'Ton' Tassanakajohn's ancient family recipes; chef Gaggan Anand's soaring collaboration with luxury fashion, Gaggan at Louis Vuitton (No.8); innovative southern Thai restaurant Sorn (No.12); contemporary German restaurant Sühring (No.18); progressive Thai-Chinese cuisine at Potong (No.25); Mexican-Indian 'love story' Ms. Maria & Mr. Singh (No.27); modern Thai-inspired Le Du (No.36); and new contender, elevating the culture of Khao Gaeng or curry on rice, Wana Yook (No.47).
Beyond the list, Bangkok's Baan Tepa (No.53) receives the Sustainable Restaurant Award for its continued leadership in environmentally responsible gastronomy. Thitid 'Ton' Tassanakajohn is also recognised with the prestigious Inedit Damm Chefs' Choice Award, voted for by his industry peers.
Tokyo boasts seven restaurants on the list, including neo-French Japanese Sézanne (No.16); Chinese-Japanese fusion at Sazenka (No.21); Peru-inspired Maz (No.28); communal French restaurant Florilège (No.31); French-leaning Myoujyaku (No.33); Nordic-inspired Crony (No.34); and Narisawa (No.37), paying homage to traditional rural 'satoyama' cuisine. Japan's highest-ranked restaurant this year is La Cime in Osaka (No.13), which is named The Best Restaurant in Japan.
Shanghai leads representation in Mainland China with five restaurants featured on the list, while Hangzhou returns to the 1-50 rankings this year. Comforting retreat Meet the Bund (sixth) in the bustling Bund Finance Centre continues its rise from No.14 last year and is again voted The Best Restaurant in Mainland China. Modern Chinese restaurant Ling Long (ninth) maintains a strong position in this year's ranking, while traditional Cantonese banquet residence 102 House (No.29) stays the same position on the list and Basque seafood grill La Bourriche 133 (No.48) celebrates entering the rankings. The list also recognises neighbouring cities: Hangzhou's Ru Yuan (No.10) earns the Highest New Entry Award for reinvigorating old-school Hangzhou cuisine, while seasonal plant-based Lamdre in Beijing soars 33 places from No.50 last year to No.17, winning the Highest Climber Award, sponsored by Lee Kum Kee. The SevenRooms Icon Award honours visionary restaurateur Zhang Yong, founder of Xin Rong Ji.
Further south, Singapore continues to demonstrate its culinary strength. Julien Royer's timeless French fine dining at Odette (No.19) once again earns The Best Restaurant in Singapore accolade, with Lesley Liu also voted Asia's Best Sommelier, sponsored by Vik. Kevin Wong's tribute to Malayan archipelago cuisine tails close behind at Seroja (No.20). Completing the Lion City's finalists, Born (No.23) returns to the list with its blend of French and Chinese gastronomy at a restored former rickshaw station; iconic Les Amis (No.38) remains a perennial flag-bearer; modernised Singaporean classics impress at Labyrinth (No.40); and contemporary Seoul cuisine is recognised at Nae:Um (No.45).
In Seoul, Mingles (fourth) is again hailed The Best Restaurant in South Korea, sponsored by Nongshim Shinramyun, for its seasonal Korean cuisine blending Hong Kong and European influences. Korean heritage restaurant Onjium comes in at No.14, with Cho Eun-hee also honoured as Asia's Best Female Chef. Urban oasis Eatanic Garden is No.26, while celebrity Korean-American chef Sung Anh's Mosu (No.41) also returns to the list. Bium (No.43) debuts with vegetarian temple cuisine, and traditional Korean fermentation gains recognition with 7th Door ranking at No.49. Ranked at No.54 on the extended 51-100 list, French-influenced San in fashionable Gangnam receives this year's One To Watch Award, which was announced in advance of the ceremony.
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