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The countdown to one of the biggest nights on the culinary calendar is officially on. With just under two weeks to go until the live awards ceremony on March 25, Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants has dropped its extended 51-100 list for 2026, giving us a glimpse into the depth of talent across the region before the main event unfolds in Hong Kong.
This year’s extended lineup is the most expansive yet. The list covers 27 cities (four more than last year) and includes 10 new cities compared to the 2025 ranking. Among them, four cities – Busan, Chengdu, Kanazawa, and Nishikawa – are appearing on the list for the very first time. Seoul leads the pack with seven restaurants on the list, including newcomer San at No. 54, which also took home this year’s ‘One To Watch’ award. In Japan, Tokyo lands three spots, including new entry Sushi Shunji at No. 63, while Kanazawa and Nishikawa celebrate their debuts with three new entries between them. Over in China, Chef 1996 in Beijing is the highest-ranked new entry at No. 52, and Chengdu joins the extended list for the first time with Co- at No. 69. Meanwhile, Kuala Lumpur’s Dewakan posted the biggest climb on the list, jumping 22 places to No. 62. You can browse the full 51-100 list here.
As for Hong Kong, four local restaurants landed spots between 51 and 100. Ta Vie, the French-Japanese hybrid from chef Hideaki Sato, came in at No. 68; VEA, chef Vicky Cheng’s ode to Chinese ingredients through a French lens, followed at No. 70; Andō, where Argentine chef Agustin Baldi weaves together Spanish and Japanese traditions, secured No. 88; and Amber, the contemporary French fine-dining restaurant at Mandarin Oriental The Landmark, made a return to the list at No. 90. “We are immensely proud to be back on the list this year,” says the hotel’s culinary director Richard Ekkebus. “It is a great honour, and a wonderful affirmation of our entire team’s dedication to crafting thoughtful, ingredient-driven cuisine.”
With the ceremony taking place right here in Hong Kong, the stakes feel particularly high this year. All eyes will be on our city not just as a host, but as a serious contender. With four local restaurants already placed in the extended tier, attention now turns to the likes of The Chairman and Wing, who ranked at an impressive No. 2 and 3, respectively, on last year’s list. Whether they can hold those positions – or climb even higher to take the winning spot – is the question on everyone’s mind.
We’ll be diving into the full Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants 2026 results on March 25, so keep your eyes peeled for more updates coming your way soon.
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