Are These The 50 Best Restaurants In Asia?

We are exactly one month away from the big announcement in London that reveals the world's 50 Best Restaurants. This isn't just another listicle from the content puppy mill du jour, but a full-on statement from an authority in the restaurant world, Restaurant Magazine, sponsored by bottled water companies San Pellegrino and Acqua Panna. OK, the whole thing is complicated, but it's what we've got and what the industry observes as the biggest awards around. Noma has been at the top of the list for a couple years now, and we know what that has meant for the restaurant and Danish cuisine in general.

Last month the big list was quietly revealed for Asia, which we've posted below. The list was determined by a panel of 900 judges (vaguely described as "leaders in the industry") and includes a massive swath of countries: Bangladesh, Burma, Brunei, Cambodia, China, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Japan, Korea, Laos, Macao, Malaysia, Maldives, Micronesia, Nauru, Nepal, Pakistan, Philippines, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, Thailand, Timor-Leste and Vietnam.

Tokyo, Hong Kong and Singapore dominate the list, while Korea is shocking shutout. Or maybe not so shockingly. One thing is certain, there's an Italian restaurant at number six.

1. Narisawa, Tokyo

2. Nihonryori Ryugin, Tokyo

3. Nahm, Bangkok

4. Amber, Hong Kong

5. Restaurant Andre, Singapore

6. 8 ½ Otto E Mezzo Bombana, Hong Kong

7. Mr. & Mrs. Bund, Shanghai

8. Ultraviolet, Shanghai

9. Iggy's, Singapore

10. Gaggan, Bangkok

11. Waku Ghin, Singapore

12. Caprice, Hong Kong

13. Lung King Heen, Hong Kong

14. Les Amis, Singapore

15. Bo Innovation, Hong Kong

16. Quintessence, Tokyo

17. Dum Pukht, New Delhi

18. The Chairman, Hong Kong

19. Eat Me, Bangkok

20. Wasabi By Morimoto, Mumbai

21. Hajime Restaurant, Osaka

22. Jaan, Singapore

23. L'atelier De Joël Robuchon Hong Kong, Hong Kong

24. L'atelier De Joël Robuchon Singapore, Singapore

25. 28 Hubin Road, Hangzhou

26. Bukhara, New Delhi

27. Sushi Mizutani, Tokyo

28. Indigo, Mumbai

29. Sra Bua By Kiin Kiin, Bangkok

30. Varq, New Delhi

31. Aronia De Takazawa, Tokyo

32. Shinji By Kanesaka, Singapore

33. Kahala, Osaka

34. Franck Bistro, Shanghai

35. Osteria Mozza, Singapore

36. Bo Lan, Bangkok

37. Robuchon Au Dome, Macau

38. Nihonbashi, Colombo

39. Sushi Saito, Tokyo

40. Fu1015, Shanghai

41. Indian Accent, New Delhi

42. Ishikawa, Tokyo

43. Gunther's, Singapore

44. Karavalli, Bangalore

45. Jade On 36, Shanghai

46. Yardbird, Hong Kong

47. Don's, Hanoi

48. Fook Lam Moon, Hong Kong

49. Imperial Treasure, Singapore

50. Mozaic, Bali