Gaggan in Bangkok named No. 1 restaurant in Asia, Odette in Singapore at No. 5

The winning chefs and restaurateurs celebrate at the sixth annual Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants awards ceremony, sponsored by S.Pellegrino & Acqua Panna, at Wynn Palace, Macau. PHOTO: ASIA'S 50 BEST RESTAURANTS
Gaggan in Bangkok topped the list of Asia's 50 Best Restaurants for 2018. PHOTO: FACEBOOK/GAGGAN
Singapore's Odette was ranked No. 5 on the list of Asia's 50 Best Restaurants for 2018. PHOTO: ST FILE

MACAU - Progressive Indian restaurant Gaggan in Bangkok takes first spot for a fourth consecutive year on the Asia's 50 Best Restaurants list this year.

Singapore's highest ranking restaurant is two-Michelin-starred French restaurant Odette at National Gallery Singapore.

Odette moved up four spots to No. 5 this year. It debuted on the list last year at No. 9.

The Asia's 50 Best Restaurants list is an offshoot of the annual World's 50 Best Restaurants list, published by William Reed Business Media.

The Asian awards, now into its sixth year, were presented at Wynn Palace, Cotai Strip, in Macau last night (March 27).

Another six Singapore restaurants also made the cut for the top 50.

They are: Burnt Ends at No. 12 (down two spots), Waku Ghin at No. 23 (down three spots), Les Amis at No. 29 (down 13 spots), Corner House at No. 36 (down 13 spots), Jaan at No. 44 (down two spots) and Whitegrass, a new entry at No. 50.

Acclaimed Taiwan-born chef Andre Chiang, 42, who shuttered his two-Michelin-starred Restaurant Andre in Bukit Pasoh on Feb 14, was also awarded the 2018 Diners Club Lifetime Achievement Award - Asia.

His 30-seat restaurant had opened in 2010.

The now-defunct Restaurant Andre debuted on the World's 50 Best Restaurants list in 2013 at No. 38. Last year, it was ranked No. 14.

Its highest ranking on the Asian list was at No. 2 last year.

Chiang's Taiwan restaurant Raw climbed to No. 15 this year, from No. 24 last year.

In a speech after he was presented the award, he thanked three "mentors": Taiwan, which taught him to be humble; France, which sharpened his creativity and senses; and Singapore, which allowed him the freedom to be unique.

He added: "Lifetime achievement means cooking for a purpose and with responsibility."

Others that came out tops on the list include Tokyo restaurants Den, which jumped nine spots to No. 2, and Florilege, which moved from 14th to third place this year.

Singapore's Tippling Club and Shinji by Kanesaka, which were at No. 27 and No. 44 respectively last year, dropped out of the top 50 this year.

For the full list of the 50 restaurants, click here.

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