Gaggan restaurant Bangkok named Asia’s best yet again

Aussie chefs made a big impact in this year’s top 50, but one restaurant took the title for the third time.

Gaggan Anand, second from left, of Gaggan, winner of The Best Restaurant in Thailand and The Best Restaurant in Asia.

The Bangkok restaurant Gaggan has been named Asia’s best for an unprecedented third consecutive year.

Gaggan has been named number one for the third consecutive year.

At an awards ceremony today at the W Hotel in Bangkok, the restaurant, operated by Indian expat Gaggan Anand, came in at number one on the annual list of Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants.

The event, now in its fifth year, is sponsored by the Italian water brands S.Pellegrino and Acqua Panna.

“I don’t think I have the best restaurant but I can guarantee that I have 67 people in my restaurant and all of the 67 are the best team that I ever worked with,” Anand said after the event.

“The only thing I can say is that I’m humbled and thank you. This for my country where I came from - India, and for Thailand where is my future, my life.”

Gaggan Restaurant, Bangkok.

Australia, which is not part of the judging territory for the awards, nevertheless made a major impact on the list this year. Nahm in Bangkok, steered by Aussie expat David Thompson, bumped up to position five on the list from eight last year. Perhaps more importantly, West Australian chef David Pynt, a partner in Singapore’s Burnt Ends, won the Chef’s Choice award and backed it up with position 10 on the six-zone awards scheme across Asia, from Sri Lanka to East Timor.

Former Australia-based chef Ryan Clift, who runs Singapore’s Tippling Club, came in at 27 while Canberra-raised Dylan Jones, at Bo.Lan in Bangkok, achieved position 19, ahead of Japanese Australian Tetsuya Wakuda’s Waku Ghin in Singapore, at 20.

Behind Gaggan was Singapore’s Restaurant Andre, at number two with Hong Kong’s Amber, at three.

Perhaps presaging things to come, the highest new entry in the awards’ history was given to Singapore’s Odette, helmed by expat Frenchman Julien Royer, who entered the firmament at nine.

The Asian awards are a prelude to the Worlds 50 Best Restaurants awards to be held for the first time in Melbourne in April, a major event on the international restaurant scene.

Many of the chefs picking up awards this morning will be in Melbourne for the event.

“Melbourne is very exciting for me,” said Anand after the event. “I’ve never been to Australia properly, so I’ll take a long holiday.”

John Lethlean was a guest in Bangkok of S.Pellegrino Asia Pacific