At the Asia's 50 Best Restaurants 2026 awards held in Hong Kong, The Chairman rose to No. 1. Climbing one spot from No. 2 last year, it returned to the top for the first time since 2021. Its modern interpretation of traditional Cantonese cuisine was cited as a key evaluation factor.
This year's ranking includes 17 cities across Asia. Eight newcomers and four re-entries made the list. Kasauli in India, Penang in Malaysia, and Ubud in Indonesia were included in the top 50 for the first time. By city, Bangkok led with nine restaurants, followed by Tokyo with seven. Hong Kong, Seoul, and Singapore each placed six on the list.
In Seoul, Mingles ranked No. 4, maintaining the highest position among Korean restaurants. Onjium placed No. 14, and Eatanic Garden ranked No. 26, while Mosu returned to the list at No. 41. Be-um, based on temple cuisine, debuted at No. 43. Sevensdoor, which emphasizes fermented dishes, ranked No. 49.
Korean restaurants also notched some results in the institutional sector awards. Chef Jo Eun-hee of Onjium was named Asia's Best Female Chef, and Korea Development Bank (KDB) in Gangnam was included on the list for the One To Watch category.
The ranking was compiled based on votes from more than 350 members, including chefs, critics, and industry figures.
Rikki Tidball, events institutional sector director for 50 Best, said, "This year's list brings together outstanding restaurants loved across 17 cities in Asia," and noted, "The culinary excellence and boundary-pushing creativity shown by all the restaurants demonstrate the remarkable talent and innovative spirit driving Asia's vibrant restaurant industry."