news: 2026 ASIA's 50 BEST RESTAURANTS IN HONG KONG

Chairman and Wing topped Asia's 50 Best this year and fitting that that it was a hometown celebration in Hong Kong. Amazingly, I ate at 4 of the top 5 restaurants that very week in March, which made for an even more memorable birthday week.

Logy and JL Studio repping team Taiwan again in the top 50. 

I've added a * for places I have been fortunate enough to have dined at, and ^ for restaurants that I have tried through pop up or collab but not at the restaurant itself. 

Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants 2026

1. The Chairman, Hong Kong *
2. Wing, Hong Kong *
3. Gaggan, Bangkok *
4. Mingles, Seoul *
5. Nusara, Bangkok *
6. Meet the Bund, Shanghai
7. Chef Tam’s Seasons, Macau * ^
8. Gaggan in Louis Vuitton, Bangkok
9. Ling Long, Shanghai
10. Ru Yuan, Hangzhou
11. Fu He Hui, Shanghai
12. Sorn, Bangkok *
13. La Cime, Osaka ^
14. Onjium, Seoul *^
15. Masque, Mumbai
16. Sézanne, Tokyo *
17. Lamdre, Beijing
18. Sühring, Bangkok *
19. Odette, Singapore *
20. Seroja, Singapore
21. Sazenka, Tokyo
22. Logy, Taipei *^
23. Born, Singapore
24. Neighborhood, Hong Kong ^
25. Potong, Bangkok ^
26. Eatanic Garden, Seoul
27. Ms Maria & Mr Singh, Bangkok *
28. Maz, Tokyo
29. 102 House, Shanghai
30. Naar, Kasauli
31. Florilège, Tokyo ^
32. Estro, Hong Kong ^
33. Myoujyaku, Tokyo
34. Crony, Tokyo ^
35. Caprice, Hong Kong
36. Le Du, Bangkok ^
37. Narisawa, Tokyo 
38. Les Amis, Singapore
39. Restaurant au Jardin, Penang
40. Labyrinth, Singapore *^
41. Mosu, Seoul
42. August, Jarkata
43. Bium, Seoul
44. Locavore Nxt, Ubud
45. Nae:um, Singapore
46. Mono, Hong Kong
47. Wana Yook, Bangkok
48. La Bourriche 133, Shanghai
49. 7th Door, Seoul *
50. JL Studio, Taichung *

Individual awards

Highest New Entry Award 

Ru Yuan, Hangzhou

Valrhona Best Pastry Chef in Asia

Ardika Dwitama, August, Jarkata

Art of Hospitality Award

Masque, Mumbai

Asia’s Best Female Chef

Cho Eun-hee, Onjium, Seoul

Vik Wines Asia’s Best Sommelier

Lesley Liu, Odette, Singapore

Lee Kam Kee Highest Climber Award

Lamdre, Beijing

Sustainable Restaurant Award

Baan Tepa, Bangkok

Inedit Damm Chef’s Choice Award

Thitid ‘Ton’ Tassanakajohn, Bangkok

SevenRooms Icon Award

Zhang Yong, Xin Rong Ji

One to Watch Award

Restaurant San, Seoul

Champions of Change Award

Peggy Chan, Zero Foodprint Asia

news: 2025 ASIA's 50 BEST

Gaggan announced as number 1 on Asia's 50 Best 2025

Every year, Asia's 50 Best Restaurants announcements are a roller coaster countdown. Getting ready for the announcements later this month in Hong Kong, here's a recap of last year's 50 Best in Seoul. My iphone battery ran out right after Gaggan was announced as the number 1 restaurant in Asia, a record fifth time for him and his team, but I was able to get one photo before it died. 

I loved my experience at Gaggan in 2023, when Gaggan relaunched his Broadway inspired, rock opera, interactive tasting menu experience after Covid. It's like a peek into his mind, heart and story, and the dishes and soundtrack to eat along. 

It's always a delight to discover new restaurants from this list, and see places you love on it. Logy and JL Studio repping team Taiwan in the top 50. There's still so many places I want to try, and revisit.  I've added a * for places I have been fortunate enough to have dined at, and ^ for restaurants that I have tried through pop up or collab but not at the restaurant itself. 

1. Gaggan, Bangkok *
2. The Chairman, Hong Kong *
3. Wing, Hong Kong ^
4. Sézanne, Tokyo  *
5. Mingles, Seoul ^
6. Nusara, Bangkok
7. Odette, Singapore *
8. La Cime, Osaka ^
9. Chef Tam’s Seasons, Macau (Highest Climber) *
10. Onjium, Seoul *
11. Sühring, Bangkok *
12. Narisawa, Tokyo ^
13. Potong, Bangkok ^
14. Meet the Bund, Shanghai
15. Fu He Hui, Shanghai
16. Sorn, Bangkok *
17. Florilège, Tokyo ^
18. Caprice, Hong Kong 
19. Masque, Mumbai
20. Le Du, Bangkok ^
21. Neighborhood, Hong Kong ^
22. Den, Tokyo ^
23. 7th Door, Seoul *
24. Mono, Hong Kong
25. Eatanic Garden, Seoul (Highest New Entry)
26. Logy, Taipei *
27. Ling Long, Shanghai
28. Les Amis, Singapore
29. 102 House, Shanghai
30. Crony, Tokyo ^
31. Gaggan at Louis Vuitton, Bangkok 
32. Estro, Hong Kong ^
33. Sushi Saito, Tokyo
34. Sazenka, Tokyo
35. JL Studio, Taichung *
36. Goh, Fukuoka
37. Labyrinth, Singapore *
38. Burnt Ends, Singapore
39. Meta, Singapore
40. Seroja, Singapore
41. Ando, Hong Kong ^
42. Toyo Eatery, Manila
43. Maz, Tokyo ^
44. Baan Tepa, Bangkok
45. Myoujyaku, Tokyo
46. Indian Accent, New Delhi
47. Samrub Samrub Thai, Bangkok
48. Euphoria, Singapore
49. August, Jakarta
50. Lamdre, Beijing
 

and 51-100

Team Taiwan and China at Asia's 50 Best 2025

bakery: i strongly recommend FRENCH TWIST

FRENCH TWIST BAKERY 

No. 37-1 Minsheng E Rd, Section 5, Songshan District
(02) 2760-6776

MRT: Taipei Arena or Zhongshan Junior High

IG: @frenchtwist_bakery

hours: Wed-Sun til sold out. 10AM/1PM fresh from the oven

$$ 

Kid friendliness: yes

Visit reviewed: 1/20/2026

The moment i saw the butterfly (bowtie?) croissant with the thin flaky layers on my friend's IG story, i knew i had to try it. luckily i was able to get a sneak peek of some of the signatures of French Twist Bakery, now open next to Antipodean Fujin, by the owner and team of Antipodean cafe. 

and the butterfly croissant? did not disappoint! it was a surprise that not only was it matcha, but breaking it open, that there was mochi tucked in the center. eating it the same day (or morning) was extremely satisfying with the crunchy flaky outer layer and the soft and chewy insides. 

I was also extremely happy to devour an egg tart that had equally crispy thin layers. i definitely recommend eating these the same day you get them (as the second egg tart that i resisted eating that day had gotten soft the next day, so that the puff pastry shell was not shatteringly crisp)

Croissants are for the most part pretty good in Taipei, but if you're looking for a very crispy and fresh one, then I strongly recommend checking out French Twist! Head over early as they have been selling out most days (which they will announce on their instagram). It reminds me slightly of the early days of MyCroissant when they would make the G-croissant every few hours and you could get it fresh and it was so satisfying. 

when i went to pick up my bag of goodies, they were still putting the finishing touches on store (the signage, the interior) so i will have to go back to see what other offerings they have and prices. update soon!

news: WINTER 2025/2026 RESTAURANT ROUND UP

hello 2026! It’s been awhile since I’ve written one of these, and this has been in my drafts since fall. I've updated it and going to publish! I feel like the places I hear about that are new are more western, so please comment below if you’re still reading, on any new restaurants in Taipei I’ve missed! 

I'll add more details when I get a chance! Every time I write one of these, I realize how much I'm behind and how I should start blogging again. Blogger (the platform) was giving me issues for awhile (out of storage on my main account lol) but now I think I've worked around it.

So many new restaurants to try! 

OPENINGS

• AUFGLET
• FRENCH TWIST BAKERY 
• BONAMI
• MIZNON
• 3.3 
• CHAUX DOUX
• SUGARPEA BAKERY
• CHAEWON
• SHINEYU (in Taichung)
• GOLD PIG 
• FONCE 
• BRISE
• CAPELLA HOTEL
• MIAO DONG
• RACHEL
• KUR
• AMAZE
• LILLA
• STARBUCKS RESERVE
• CALMA Private Kitchen in Yilan (by chef Daniel Negreira)
• SUNAMI (by Mai Bach)
• PEPPA
• NOODLE CRAFT
• BOON at CE LA VI
• I'M DONUT
• M and CO
• BOULLION

RENOVATIONS/NEW LOCATIONS

• LOGY
• TAIRROIR
  
• SALT AND STONE at LALAPORT
• TAMED FOX in Tianmu
• SLICE SHOP in Tianmu

CLOSINGS

• FERMI 
• COFFEE LOVERS PLANET & DUNHUA SOGO (closed december 2025)
• LONGTAIL
• ORCHID
• FIREPLAY (closing feb 2026)
• HIDDEN (closed sept 2024)
• CYCLO (closed December 2025)
• RAW (closed December 2024)
• 16 by FLO
• AKIN
• WENDEL's (just realized both locations closed in the last few years. sad)

CHEF DEPARTURES

• Gildas Perin - CLOVER at Bellavita
• Kai Ward - CANVAS
• BOTTLESS

PS! If you're in Taiwan, go watch the new film out this week DOUBLE HAPPINESS! I really loved it and recommend watching it with your friends or family during CNY. Heartwarming dramedy about Taiwan weddings, family and love. Really great cast and produced by the producer of AMERICAN GIRL, another highly recommend Taiwanese film! I got to see a special sneak preview and hope that you guys outside of Taiwan get to see it too! (one day!)

#asias50best: BORN AND BRED x CHEF TAM 2025 Seoul Collaboration