Le Du Takes The Crown: Named Asia’s Best Restaurant 2023

Le Du in Bangkok named Asia’s Best Restaurant for 2023 by Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants Academy.

The prestigious award was announced during a live ceremony held in Singapore and attended by influential food critics, chefs, restaurateurs, and culinary experts. The list includes seven new entries and eight re-entries from 19 cities across the region. Led by chef Thitid ‘Ton’ Tassanakajohn, Le Du offers a modern take on Thai cuisine with French influences, highlighting local and seasonal ingredients. Bangkok is represented by a total of nine restaurants on the list, while Singapore and Tokyo hold nine and seven spots, respectively.

Le Du Restaurant, which has remained consistently on the list since 2017, is named The Best Restaurant in Asia. Under the tutelage of dynamic young chef Thitid ‘Ton’ Tassanakajohn, the restaurant presents a modern take on refined Thai food interpreted through a French-leaning lens. Its menus champion the use of seasonal and local ingredients and the steadfast belief in the superiority of Thai produce.

Bangkok is represented by a total of nine restaurants on the list, among which Nusara, also helmed by Le Du’s Chef Ton, places No.3. Gaggan Anand re-enters the rankings at No.5, along with restaurants Sorn (No.9), Sühring (No.22) and Raan Jay Fai (No.38). Potong and Baan Tepa, both led by female chefs, debut at No.35 and No.46 respectively. Other new entrants are Gaggan Anand’s Mexican-Indian eatery Ms. Maria & Mr. Singh at No.33.

Singapore‘s restaurants also hold nine coveted spots, with Odette leading the charge at No.6. A timeless fine-dining destination helmed by chef Julien Royer, the restaurant has been a regular feature in the top ten rankings since 2017. Marking a double win for the restaurant is pastry chef Louisa Lim, who brings home the Asia’s Best Pastry Chef Award, sponsored by Valrhona. Her imaginative confections, which exude a delicate harmony of flavours, are a significant draw to the Odette experience. Rising up an impressive 29 spots, LG Han’s ‘new Singaporean’ dining destination Labyrinth (No.11) wins the Highest Climber Award. Meta places at No.17 on the list, and taking up four straight spots, are Burnt Ends (No.24), Euphoria (No.25), Cloudstreet (No.26) and Les Amis (No.27). Meanwhile Zén (No.21), with its beautifully executed immersive neo-Nordic culinary experience, takes home the Gin Mare Art of Hospitality Award, and new entry, Born, makes its mark at No.36.

Tokyo is represented by seven spots on the list. Sézanne, at No.2, climbs up an impressive 15 places. Den, which was named The Best Restaurant in Asia last year, places No.4 in the ranking. At No.7 is Florilège, whose chef-owner Hiroyasu Kawate also wins the peer-voted Inedit Damm Chefs’ Choice Award. Narisawa (No.10) celebrates being on the Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants list for 11 consecutive editions since it debuted at No.1 back in 2013, and Sazenka follows at No.12. Ode sits at No.20 and L’Effervescence, whose executive chef Shinobu Namae was awarded the Icon Award, sits at No.44.

The Chairman (No.13) leads the five restaurants from Hong Kong, with Neighbourhood (No.29), Wing (No.37), Mono (No.41) and Caprice (No.49) all returning favourites on the list. Seoul has four spots on the list amongst which Chef Sung Ahn’s Mosu, with its innovative contemporary cuisine, leads by climbing up twelve spots to No.15, and Onjium ascends seven spots to No.23. They are followed by Mingles (No.28) and Born & Bred (No.47).

Shanghai and Macau are represented by two spots each. In the former, haute vegetarian restaurant Fu He Hui is at No.18 and Da Vittorio is at No.34. Macau’s opulent Wing Lei Palace climbs up seven places to No.39, and Sichuan Moon re-enters the rankings at No.43. Nordic dining destination Refer breaks into the list at No.50 and is Beijing’s sole representation at the awards. Shenzhen is represented by Ensue (No.31), with its dynamic young female sommelier Della Tang also crowned the Beronia Asia’s Best Sommelier 2023.

Debuting on the list at No.30, Avartana in Chennai claims the Highest New Entry Award.

Mumbai and Delhi both have a restaurant each: Masque at No.16 and Indian Accent at No.19 respectively. Manila’s Toyo Eatery re-enters the ranking at No.42 and also wins the Flor de Caña Sustainable Restaurant Award. Chef and owner Jordy Navarra is an advocate for conservation and preservation, and believes that there is no linear way or cookie cutter approach to sustainability. Preferring to work with small-scale producers, he maintains that respecting traditions, cultures and terroirs are all a part of the sustainability loop. Metiz, with a menu that spotlights the terroir of the Philippines, joins the list for the first time at No.48.

Osaka’s La Cime is at No.8, Villa Aida from Wakayama retains its position at No.14 and Kyoto’s Cenci moves up 11 places to No.32. Anan Saigon is Ho Chi Minh’s solo entry at No.40, while Taipei’s Mume re-enters the list at No.45.

According to William Drew, Director of Content for Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants, the restaurants who have made it onto the list are reflecting the brilliance and diversity of the dining scene across Asia. He also praised  Le Du’s Chef Ton and his team’s ability to combine their passion for Thailand’s culinary heritage, respect for homegrown ingredients and flair for modern cooking techniques.