Jakarta
Served in a hip Kota warehouse with soaring ceilings, big art murals and a retro-industrial vibe, Historia's dishes hail from around the archipelago. Try…
Must-see restaurants in Southeast Asia
Chau Doc
Chau Doc's most sophisticated dining experience is at the Victoria Chau Doc Hotel where the menu veers between wonderful international dishes (roast rack…
Kota Kinabalu
Part of KK's food revolution, this night market consists of around three dozen food containers, all selling some kick-ass edible. Standout stalls include…
Siem Reap
Set in a delightful wooden house with a spacious garden, Marum serves up lots of vegetarian and seafood dishes, plus some mouth-watering desserts. Menu…
Vientiane
Nemnueng Sihom is a long-standing, bustling restaurant that offers a fun eating experience. It specialises in nǎem néuang (Vietnamese barbecued pork…
Canggu
Izakaya, the style of Japanese dining that encourages groups of friends to enjoy drinks and shared plates of food, is exemplified by this wonderful small…
Kuala Terengganu
In a delightful heritage building in the heart of Chinatown, Madame Bee turns out excellent renditions of Peranakan dishes with local Terengganu…
Bangkok
This is the original branch of this homey, award-winning and royally patronised restaurant. Expect a clientele of large families and middle-aged ladies,…
Ho Chi Minh City
Stylish Indochinese decor features at this slick place where the focus is on authentic local cuisine. Many dishes feature the more hearty flavours of…
Danang
This small spot thrust down a back street serves quite possibly Vietnam's best tacos. Tuck into fusion flavour combos like pork with wasabi coleslaw, fish…
Khon Kaen
This superb place combines one of the best kitchens in town with a covered garden to create the perfect place for a night out, rain or shine. The þá·sá…
Balikpapan
Fresh fish and crustaceans (the menu is a book in itself) are the standout here, but there's also steaks, burgers, pizzas, Indian and Indonesian dishes,…
Northern Laos
Since being damaged by a storm, Riverside has come back better than ever. In the evening its Chinese lanterns sway in the breeze on the decked terrace,…
Hue
Ever-stuffed and frugal-looking Madam Thu draws in the crowds for its superb menu and lovely, very polite and helpful staff. The mushroom-and-carrot fried…
Sepilok
This open-sided restaurant makes the most of its lakeside setting with the dark tropical timbers complementing the lush garden and carriage lighting. Pan…
Hua Hin & the Upper Gulf
Against the lush greenery of Khao Sam Roi Yot National Park, Chicken and Bee is an organic farm and open-air restaurant where you are sure to feel at home…
Phang-Nga Province
This sweet, German-owned Thai-international kitchen is very special. Flash-fried sôm·đam (spicy green papaya salad), fantastic falafel and hummus, spicy,…
Hue
Newbies to Hue specialities should start at this busy restaurant. Order the five-dish set menu (120,000d) for a speedy lesson in banh khoai (savoury prawn…
Little India & Kampong Glam
Despite Singapore's cut-throat restaurant scene, gastro geeks remain loyal to this ode to fusion cooking. Expect the unexpected, from beef-tongue tacos…
Pai
Meat-free takes on international dishes, fresh-pressed juices, a pleasant shaded garden, a noticeboard advertising yoga classes, the odd hippy: basically…
Yangon
Ticking all the right boxes, this restaurant gives a great first impression with its handsomely restored heritage building and elegant, two-level dining…
Phuket
This glorified roadside food shack makes absurdly good kôw pàt þoo (fried rice with crab), pàt see·éw (fried noodles), chicken stew and noodle soup. It…
Chiang Mai
Dining at the restaurant in The House boutique feels like eating in a posh Thai mansion, with antique furniture, comfy sofas and fine china. The Thai food…
East Bali
After you've chilled out, chill out some more. This excellent cafe right on the beach serves good, fresh food, with many vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free…
Sandakan
Located in the heart of the stilt village of Kampong Buli Sim Sim, 3km east of the centre, this large, breezy terrace strung with fairy lights is a…
Johor Bahru
Super salad and quinoa bowls, avocado and salmon bagels, fresh juices and great coffee are on offer at this chilled cafe/bar, where recycled wood and…
West Sumatra
Set up as a social enterprise to empower locals, this fantastic new cafe in Sungai Penuh is set inside an atmospheric bamboo building overlooking the town…
Mae Sot
Like dining in a gentrified jungle, Khaomao-Khaofang replaces chandeliers with hanging vines, and interior design with orchids and waterfalls. It's the…
Baguio
The clean white, vaguely colonial decor makes one of North Luzon's best meals taste even swankier. Local specialities such as carabao (water buffalo)…
Bagan
The original among the vegetarian restaurants clustered near Tharabar Gate, this garden-like eatery offers a friendly welcome, a name we still don't fully…
George Town
This small lane off Jln Burma is crammed every morning with locals filling up for the day on char koay teow (fried noodles with seafood), nasi lemak …
Thanon Sukhumvit
Unless someone conclusively proves otherwise, Indus will reign as Bangkok's finest traditional Indian restaurant. Its North Indian staples such as biryani…
Solo
Sharing space with a heritage hotel is this attractive restaurant offering home-style Solonese specialities. While the menu makes good reading, giving the…
East Bali
Tables at this popular beach warung are arranged on the sand and are hotly sought after – it's a good idea to make a booking or arrive early. The menu is…
Trat
This simple open-sided restaurant north of the centre is deservedly a local favourite, with some excellent seafood dishes and well-meaning service from an…
Bicol
This quaint little Albay eatery defines the notion of Bicol fusion cooking and draws in travellers and locals like a tractor beam. The menu covers 'small…
Central Java
This stylish beachfront restaurant is the indisputable top choice in Jepara. Dining is in the garden, around a pool or on tables so close to the sea that…
Cebu City
The cosmopolitan Ayala Center does not have many options for good local food, but highly popular Cafe Laguna is an exception. Excellent, relatively…
George Town
This unpretentious roast pork and chicken rice specialist sits just yards from the greatest concentration of travellers in George Town, yet is somehow…
Yangon
This Yangon institution is a fine place to start discovering quality Burmese cuisine. There's a big choice of freshly made dishes on display – just go up…
