F&B | Top 100+ Asia Restaurants 2021

Opinionated About Dining (OAD) revealed the Top 100+ Asia Restaurants of 2020, as voted by an expert membership of the world’s most discerning palates and trusted connoisseurs. This year, a new category for Top 100+ Casual Asia Restaurants of 2021 has been added to bring a new range of casual and budget-friendly contenders for the judges’ consideration.
Topping the coveted list of the region’s highest-rated culinary contenders in 1st place for the third year running is Ultra-Violet by Paul Pairet, a single-table experimental restaurant in Shanghai, China, that unites creative cuisine with multi-sensory technology. The immersive dining experience is the first of its kind, and since opening in 2012, French chef Pairet has continually challenged diners’ preconceived notions of taste and cuisine.
Continuing its rise on the list in 2nd place is Zén – Frantzen by feted Swedish chef Bjorn Frantzen, which is led by Executive Chef Tristan Farmer in Singapore. Occupying a three-story shophouse on Bukit Pasoh Road, the restaurant serves modern creative Nordic cuisine inspired by Japanese kaiseki, sourcing regional produce from the likes of Japan and organic farms in Hong Kong.
In 3rd place is Sorn by Supaksorn “Ice” Jongsiri in Bangkok, Thailand. Set within an old, reconstructed house, the sophisticated cuisine at Sorn is inspired by the chef’s southern Thai upbringing, fusing vibrant native ingredients with the revival of long-lost recipes and techniques.
With a legacy of over 20 years, the highly celebrated Xin Rong Ji in Shanghai, China breaks the top 5 list at 4th place. Located within a secluded heritage mansion on Nanyang Road, Xin Rong Ji famously serves a wide range of traditional Chinese regional dishes with a focus on seafood.
In 5th place is Mosu, the contemporary Korean fine dining restaurant by Sung Anh taking Seoul by storm. The chef prides himself on highlighting the subtle nuances of seasonal produce, with a notable signature dish being a single crisp piece of dehydrated burdock bark brushed with syrup.
Set at the breathtaking pinnacle of Grand Lisboa Hotel in Macau, French gastronomic institution, Robuchon Au Dôme by Julien Tongourian claims the 6th ranking on this year’s OAD Asia Top 100+ list. The late Joël Robuchon’s Macau outpost boasts quintessential French fine dining and one of the best wine menus in Asia.