<strong>15. Mingles, Seoul: </strong>Judges of the Asia's 50 Best Restaurants Awards called Mingles the rising star of Seoul. The three-year-old venue has been voted the best restaurant in Korea twice.
15. Mingles, Seoul: Judges of the Asia's 50 Best Restaurants Awards called Mingles the rising star of Seoul. The three-year-old venue has been voted the best restaurant in Korea twice.
Mingles
<strong>14. Florilege, Tokyo: </strong>Last year's "one to watch" award winner, Florilege is home to imaginative modern French cooking.
14. Florilege, Tokyo: Last year's "one to watch" award winner, Florilege is home to imaginative modern French cooking.
Shinichiro Fujii
<strong>13. Suhring, Bangkok: </strong>Twins Thomas and Mathias Sühring's modern German menu boasts seasonal ingredients and impressive skill.
13. Suhring, Bangkok: Twins Thomas and Mathias Sühring's modern German menu boasts seasonal ingredients and impressive skill.
Tinnaphop Tonitiwong
<strong>12. L'Effervescence, Tokyo: </strong>By marrying French cuisine with Japanese spirit, Shinobu Namae's L'Effervescene came 12th this year. Here's one of its dishes, featuring bamboo shoot, monkfish liver, wakame, hakusai-cabbage.
12. L'Effervescence, Tokyo: By marrying French cuisine with Japanese spirit, Shinobu Namae's L'Effervescene came 12th this year. Here's one of its dishes, featuring bamboo shoot, monkfish liver, wakame, hakusai-cabbage.
Luuvu Hoang
<strong>11. Den, Tokyo: </strong>Leaping from number 37 to 11 this year, Tokyo's Den wowed the judges of Asia's 50 Best Restaurants with its lighthearted and modern approach towards kaiseki cuisine.
11. Den, Tokyo: Leaping from number 37 to 11 this year, Tokyo's Den wowed the judges of Asia's 50 Best Restaurants with its lighthearted and modern approach towards kaiseki cuisine.
Shinichiro Fujii
<strong>10. Burnt Ends, Singapore: </strong>Burnt Ends serves perfectly smoked and grilled dishes with its 600 Celsius wood-fired oven. Chef-owner Dave Pynt also won this year's Chefs' Choice Award -- voted by other chefs.
10. Burnt Ends, Singapore: Burnt Ends serves perfectly smoked and grilled dishes with its 600 Celsius wood-fired oven. Chef-owner Dave Pynt also won this year's Chefs' Choice Award -- voted by other chefs.
Simon Pynt
<strong>9. Odette, Singapore: </strong>This new French restaurant by Julien Roye, former chef Singapore's Jaan, ranked ninth in its debut in Asia's 50 Best Restaurants Award, making it the highest new entry this year.
9. Odette, Singapore: This new French restaurant by Julien Roye, former chef Singapore's Jaan, ranked ninth in its debut in Asia's 50 Best Restaurants Award, making it the highest new entry this year.
Odette
<strong>8. Ultraviolet, Shanghai: </strong>Chef-patron Paul Pairet's <a href="index.php?page=&url=http%3A%2F%2Fuvbypp.cc" target="_blank" target="_blank">Ultraviolet</a> serves a 20-course menu of "experimental comfort food" in a "secret" purpose-built space in Shanghai.
8. Ultraviolet, Shanghai: Chef-patron Paul Pairet's Ultraviolet serves a 20-course menu of "experimental comfort food" in a "secret" purpose-built space in Shanghai.
Courtesy Scott Wright
<strong>7. Nihonryori Ryugin, Tokyo: </strong>Seiji Yamamoto's Nihonryori Ryugin reflects a modern and seasonal take on Japan's traditional kaiseki cuisine.
7. Nihonryori Ryugin, Tokyo: Seiji Yamamoto's Nihonryori Ryugin reflects a modern and seasonal take on Japan's traditional kaiseki cuisine.
Nihonryori RyuGin
<strong>6. Narisawa, Tokyo: </strong>After spending eight years training in Europe, Chef Yoshihiro Narisawa brought home to Japan <a href="index.php?page=&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.narisawa-yoshihiro.com%2F" target="_blank" target="_blank">Narisawa</a> an award-winning restaurant serving Satoyama cuisine with Japanese ingredients and innovative techniques.
6. Narisawa, Tokyo: After spending eight years training in Europe, Chef Yoshihiro Narisawa brought home to Japan Narisawa an award-winning restaurant serving Satoyama cuisine with Japanese ingredients and innovative techniques.
Sergio Coimbra
<strong>5. Nahm, Bangkok: </strong>Australian chef David Thompson dishes out "perfectly balanced" Thai dishes at his Bangkok restaurant Nahm, according to Asia's 50 Best Restaurants.
5. Nahm, Bangkok: Australian chef David Thompson dishes out "perfectly balanced" Thai dishes at his Bangkok restaurant Nahm, according to Asia's 50 Best Restaurants.
Nahm
<strong>4. 8 1/2 Otto e Mezzo Bombana, Hong Kong:</strong> Umberto Bombana's celebrated Italian restaurant in Hong Kong is famous for its truffle dishes. Bombana was presented with the Lifetime Achievement Award this year.
4. 8 1/2 Otto e Mezzo Bombana, Hong Kong: Umberto Bombana's celebrated Italian restaurant in Hong Kong is famous for its truffle dishes. Bombana was presented with the Lifetime Achievement Award this year.
8 1/2 Otto e Mezzo Bombana
<strong>3. Amber, Hong Kong: </strong>This Korean abalone with black pepper and vinegar-seasoned tomato compote, braised then crisped oxtail and its jus is one of the dishes to showcase Dutch master Richard Ekkebus' ability to merge classical French cooking and top-notch Asian ingredients.
3. Amber, Hong Kong: This Korean abalone with black pepper and vinegar-seasoned tomato compote, braised then crisped oxtail and its jus is one of the dishes to showcase Dutch master Richard Ekkebus' ability to merge classical French cooking and top-notch Asian ingredients.
Amber
<strong>2. Restaurant Andre, Singapore: </strong>Chef-owner Andre Chiang's eight-course menu highlights the eight elements that Chiang deems most important for his restaurant and himself, reflecting his upbringing in Taiwan and stints in France, Shanghai and the Seychelles.
2. Restaurant Andre, Singapore: Chef-owner Andre Chiang's eight-course menu highlights the eight elements that Chiang deems most important for his restaurant and himself, reflecting his upbringing in Taiwan and stints in France, Shanghai and the Seychelles.
Restaurant Andre
<strong>1. Gaggan, Bangkok: </strong>For the third year in a row, Gaggan Anand's eponymous restaurant won top prize in 2017's Asia's 50 Best Restaurants Award. Gaggan's food attempts to revolutionize the concept of Indian cuisine.
1. Gaggan, Bangkok: For the third year in a row, Gaggan Anand's eponymous restaurant won top prize in 2017's Asia's 50 Best Restaurants Award. Gaggan's food attempts to revolutionize the concept of Indian cuisine.
Allwecandid
Asia's 50 best restaurants 2017
Bangkok CNN  — 

The awards were based on votes from more than 300 chefs, restaurateurs and experts in six countries across Asia.

A culinary hat trick. A gastronomic threepeat. Amidst literally millions of restaurants in Asia, one reigned supreme against them all, again: Gaggan.

At the fifth edition of Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants awards, sponsored by S.Pellegrino & Acqua Panna, for a wholly unprecedented third year running no restaurant could hold a candle to the innovative Indian cuisine it serves – not in India, but in Bangkok, Thailand.

“I wish I could break the award in 50 pieces and share it with every chef in the room,” chef/owner Gaggan Anand said, thanking his family, his team and the award sponsors. “I’m humbled. This is for my country where I came from, India. For Tara my daughter and my family. The 67 people in my restaurant are the best team I’ve ever worked with.”

Gaggan’s triumph followed voting by 318 independent experts led by six academy chairs across the region. The victory was sweet, but clearly not without challenges including time apart from his wife and new child.

“I just told the organizers that next time we should have a sponsor from a hospital,” he joked.

Meet Gaggan Anand, the ‘world’s best’ Indian chef

Gaggan Anand's restaurant topped the Asia's 50 best restaurants awards for the third consecutive year.
Gaggan Anand's restaurant topped the Asia's 50 best restaurants awards for the third consecutive year.
Gaggan

Tattoo on the menu?

The Thai capital laid out the red carpet as the great and the good of Asia’s food scene came together to celebrate the crowning of Gaggan as the continent’s top restaurant.

Being a culinary starfest, the pressure was on to keep the attendees fed and watered, a task more than accomplished with everything from cheeses by Les Frères Marchand to fiery northern Thai curries by Bangkok’s Maan Mueang restaurant.

The stunning final result drew audible gasps from hundreds in the room and doubtless thousands more watching live streams from around the world. The countdown of the top 10 was teased out, with three restaurants in the running for the top three spots, but in which order would they appear?

When the second place restaurant was announced as Singapore’s Restaurant Andre, there could be no doubt that Gaggan reigned supreme – yet again.

To the cranked-up sound of Paul McCartney’s “Live and Let Die,” he took to the stage, by now a familiar sight for those in the room.

The bubbles flowed, both water and grape based, as the evening reached a crescendo, continued in the early morning at after-parties for those really in the know. Gaggan said he may even end up with a permanent reminder of his three wins.

“If my team gets a tattoo to celebrate, I’ll get one.”

The World’s 50 Best Restaurants 2016 – the list of winners

Asia’s top 10 restaurants

1. Gaggan (Bangkok)
68/1 Soi Langsuan, Ploenchit Road, Lumpini, Bangkok; +66 2 652 1700

3. Restaurant Andre (Singapore)
41 Bukit Pasoh Road, Singapore; +65 6534 8880

4. Amber (Hong Kong)
7/F, The Landmark Mandarin Oriental, The Landmark, 15 Queen’s Road, Central, Hong Kong; +852 2132 0066

6. Waku Ghin (Singapore)
Level 2-01, Atrium 2, The Shoppes, Marina Bay Sands, 10 Bayfront Avenue, Singapore; +65 6688 8507

5. Nahm, Bangkok

6. Narisawa, Tokyo

7. Nihonryori Ryugin, Tokyo

7. Ultraviolet (Shanghai)
c/o Bund 18, 6/F, 18 Zhongshan Dong Yi Lu, Shanghai; +86 21 6323 9898

9. Indian Accent (New Delhi)

10. Lung King Heen (Hong Kong)

11. Den, Tokyo

12. L’Effervescence, Tokyo

13. Suhring, Bangkok

14. Florilege, Tokyo

15. Mingles, Seoul

16. Les Amis, Singapore

17. Lung King Heen, Hong Kong

18. Quintessence, Tokyo

19. Bo.Lan, Bangkok

20. Waku Ghin, Singapore

21. Issaya Siamese Club, Bangkok, Thailand

22. Locavore, Bali, Indonesia

23. Corner House, Singapore

24. Raw, Taipei

25. Jungsik, Seoul

26. Sushi Saito, Tokyo

27. Tippling Club, Singapore

28. Le Mout, Taichung, Taiwan

29. Ministry of Crab, Colombo, Sri Lanka

30. Indian Accent, New Delhi

31. Eat Me, Bangkok, Thailand

32. Jade Dragon, Macau

33. Ta Vie, Hong Kong

34. Hajime, Osaka, Japan

35. Gallery Vask, Manila, Philippines

36. The Dining Room at The House on Sathorn, Bangkok

37. Le Du, Bangkok

38. La Yeon, Seoul, Korea

39. The Tasting Room by Galliot, Macau

40. L’Atelier de Joel Robuchon, Bangkok

41. L’Atelier de Joel Robuchon, Hong Kong

42. Jaan, Singapore

43. Mume, Taipei

44. Shinji by Kanesaka, Singapore

45. Ronin, Hong Kong

46. Wasabi by Morimoto, Mumbai, India

47. The Chairman, Hong Kong

48. Fu He Hui, Shanghai

49. Nihonbashi, Colombo, Sri Lanka

50. Takazawa, Tokyo

For more on the winners, visit the official Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants website.

Chris Dwyer is a Hong Kong-based food and travel writer and communications consultant. Follow him on Twitter at @chrismdwyer or visit www.finefooddude.com.