Must-see restaurants in Asia

  • Nadagiku Kappa-tei

    Himeji

    A local sake brewery runs this casual spot specialising in oden (stew comprising fishcakes, tofu, vegetables and eggs simmered in kelp-flavoured broth),…

  • Pyramid Cafe

    Rishikesh

    Sit on cushions under open-sided, pyramid-shaped roofs and choose from a menu of home-cooked Indian food, plus a few Tibetan and Continental dishes…

  • Blue Earth Village Restaurant

    East Bali

    Spectacular views and a wide array of menu choices lure diners away from the action in Jemeluk's main strip and up to this restaurant overlooking the blue…

  • Epicuria

    South Delhi

    Part of the Nehru Place metro station complex, this popular basement-level food court has a variety of outlets, including Karim's (for kebabs) and Sagar…

  • Masala Trail

    New Delhi

    A chef-helmed vegetarian-only restaurant bringing street eats from across India together onto one eclectic menu. Light bites and hearty meals for families…

  • Lao Dtom Lao

    Bangkok

    A casual eatery catering mostly to young foodies, this place serves tasty yet incredibly cheap Laotian fare. Must-try items include the flavourful chicken…

  • Waroeng Bernadette

    Ubud

    It's not called the 'Home of Rendang' for nothing. The west Sumatran classic dish of long-marinated meats (beef is the true classic, but here there's also…

  • Arashiyama Yoshimura

    Arashiyama & Sagano

    For a tasty bowl of soba noodles and a million-dollar view over the Arashiyama mountains and the Togetsu-kyō bridge, head to this extremely popular eatery…

  • Hotel Shadab

    Hyderabad

    The timewarp decor looks like it's been based on a 1970s disco but the cuisine is great at this hopping Hyderabadi restaurant. Great for biryanis (veg/non…

  • Infantaria

    Calangute & Baga

    Once Calangute’s best bakery, Infantaria is still a popular Italian-Indian, fondue-meets-curry restaurant. The bakery roots are still there, though, with…

  • Tanjungan Bukit

    West Lombok

    This is easily the island's most stylish bar and restaurant. Dine on fresh seafood and refined Sumatran fare at the bougainvillea-shaded tables, or down…

  • Chariot

    Ko Chang & Eastern Seaboard

    One of a string of upmarket bar-restaurants overlooking the waves at the north end of Bang Saen, this huge set-up has a truly marvellous outlook,…

  • Warung Dobiel

    Nusa Dua

    A bit of authentic food action amid the bland streets of Nusa, this is a good stop for babi guling (spit-roast pig). Pork soup is the perfect taste bud…

  • Todam Sundubu

    Gangneung

    In Chodang, this rustic eatery serves up simmering sundubu inside a quaint wooden house with traditional floor seating. Look for the white vertical sign…

  • House of Baekje

    Chungcheongnam-do

    Enjoy the house specialties – grilled beef or pork served with ssam (lettuce wraps) and yeonnipbap (연잎밥), sticky rice steamed with pine nuts inside a…

  • Juice Ja Café

    Ubud

    Superfoods and organic fruits and vegetables from the cafe's own farm are used to excellent effect here. The menu holds lots of joy for vegans,…

  • Bōhǎilóu

    Guangdong

    This restaurant with lake views serves Zhaoqing delicacies such as sticky rice dumplings (裹蒸粽, guǒzhēngzòng), containing beans, pork, chestnuts and egg…

  • Bamboo Cafe

    Labuan Bajo

    Sit in white cane chairs and admire the hand-painted wall map while enjoying all-day breakfast made with vibrant ingredients from local farms. Booster…

  • OSM

    Gangtok

    Smarter, and open later, than most Gangtok eateries, OSM has a certain contemporary elegance with folded cloth napkins and a vast range of menu options…

  • Sky 28

    Ho Chi Minh City

    Expect some of Saigon's best views from the tables of this 28th-floor upmarket hotel cafe-restaurant. It serves tasty international food, including…

  • Moghul Sweets

    Little India & Kampong Glam

    If you’re after a subcontinental sugar rush, tiny Moghul is the place to get it. Bite into luscious gulab jamun (syrup-soaked fried dough balls), harder…

  • Amihan

    Malapascua Island

    In an elevated position overlooking Logon Beach, Amihan is a very classy restaurant, with beautiful contemporary furnishings and stunning bay vistas. It's…

  • Takieng

    Hat Khao Lak

    Takieng is the most popular and attractive of the two open-air Thai restaurants beneath stilted tin roofs on Hwy 4, 2.5km north of Khao Lak Town. It…

  • Manokan Country

    Bacolod

    This long strip of basic open-air eateries is known for serving the city's famous chicken inasal (marinated in lemon and soy, and barbecued on charcoal)…

  • Harbor View

    Manila

    This longstanding and popular fresh seafood inahaw (grill) restaurant juts into Manila Bay. The breezes can be delightful on sweltering days, but check…

  • Pua-Kee

    Banglamphu

    Come here for the central Thai classic, gŏo·ay đĕe·o đôm yam ('rice noodle soup hotspicy with mixed fishball' on the menu), fishball noodles preseasoned…

  • Boomerang Restaurant & German Bakery

    Pokhara

    The best of the ‘garden and dinner show’ places, Boomerang has a large, shady garden with fresh flowers on each table. The international menu is very good…

  • Island Cuisine Isun

    Yaeyama Islands

    In Kubura, this cosy izakaya is a local favourite. Though the menu is in Japanese only, we recommend the kajiki (locally caught swordfish) sashimi and the…

  • Kentjana

    West Java

    A tasteful, soulful Chinese diner with a wonderful mapo tofu on the menu (the tofu was among the silkiest we've ever had), along with a number of ethnic…

  • Rim Taley Market

    Prachuap Khiri Khan

    The Oceanside Market isn't very large, but it makes an ideal dinner destination because you can eat your food on the promenade or pier. On Friday and…

  • Cocoa Tree

    Kochi (Cochin)

    With trailing plants, gleaming fresh-cake displays and newspapers to flick through, this bright cafe makes a sophisticated, rustic-chic retreat from busy…

  • Megutama

    Ebisu, Meguro & Around

    Megutama calls itself a 'photo books diner' – because its walls are lined with literally thousands of photo books. Diners are free to flip through them …

  • Sawano

    Western Honshū

    If you can speak some Japanese, you might indulge in a heartwarming conversation with the friendly owner of this cosy Chinese joint, who spent a year…

  • Emoi Vietnam Kitchen

    Gangwon-do

    Steaming pho is served up swiftly in colourful ceramic bowls in a spacious environment of green wood and yellow brickwork. Emoi does a brisk trade and it…

  • Frunze Restaurant

    Bishkek

    A classy addition to the Bishkek dining scene, local favourites plus European and pan-Asian food is served in an elegant outdoor garden with fountains or…

  • Restoran Sentosa

    Pahang & Tioman Island

    Sentosa specialises in whole fish prepared in Chinese fashion and served in a variety of ways – hotpot and grilled are quite popular. The building – a 100…

  • Laem Din Market

    Ko Samui

    A busy day market, Laem Din is packed with stalls that sell fresh fruits, vegetables and meats, and stocks local Thai kitchens. Pick up a kilo of sweet…

  • Tikky Cafe

    Chiang Mai

    In a new, quiet location northeast of Nimman since 2019, Tikky Cafe is worth the extra effort. The colourful cafe specialises in delicious fruit drinks…

  • Tiāntiān Xiān

    Lijiang

    Locals flock here for the superb grilled fish and chicken and soy-bean-paste dishes (get here before 7pm or they will have run out). But all the Naxi…

  • Hla Hla Hnan

    Tanintharyi Region

    In addition to selling the requisite ingredients for leq·p’eq thouq (Burmese tea-leaf salad) this vendor also serves a selection of other equally…