The boundary pushing Bangkok dining experience tops the ranking of Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants 2025.
The eponymous restaurant of culinary rock star Gaggan Anand takes the No.1 spot of Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants 2025, sponsored by S.Pellegrino & Acqua Panna.
Moving up two places from 2024, the Bangkok-based restaurant, which blends progressive Indian cuisine with influences from Japan, France and Thailand, is back at the top.
It has been seven years since the previous iteration of Anand’s restaurant reached the pinnacle of the Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants ranking, when it achieved a record four years in a row at the No.1 spot. But it’s not been a case of second album syndrome for Anand, who unveiled a reimagined version of his restaurant in a new location in 2019. In 2023, the restaurant returned to the Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants list and has steadily and surely risen its way up the charts.
This is the fifth time a restaurant from Gaggan Anand has claimed the No.1 spot in Asia
We caught up with Kolkata-born Anand, who pursued music professionally – as a drummer – before swapping his sticks for pots and pans in the kitchen, just after coming off the stage from his record-breaking win.
How does it feel that Gaggan is The Best Restaurant in Asia 2025?
“When I was No.1 for the fourth time… how do I say this… I had lost desire. But the only thing I believe is that I will do the right thing and not hurt anyone in the process. But self-belief came from self-denial and self-doubting. In my mind, the older you get, the better you start cooking.
Anand rebels against the traditions of fine dining at his Bangkok restaurant
“Coming back after 10 years, I didn’t expect it. It’s an unpredictable list, but to come back gives me confidence. What we are doing as a restaurant is very radical. It’s a 14-seat restaurant and we indulge in taking people away from today’s ‘fine-dining’ and bring them to food, entertainment, music and my character. Finally, I’m doing what I’m doing, and today is a reward that what we are doing is not wrong.”
Your restaurants have reached the No.1 spot in Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants a record five times – what would you say is the secret to your success?
“The only secret is to stick to what you believe and keep evolving… It's our idea, our vision and our happiness. And if the world loves it, we are happy. It’s a very important message that whether you are on the list, or whether you are not in the list, both are very, very important for you to get motivated to first be in the list, and then to aim higher.”
You said on stage that this award goes out to everyone. Do you have a message for all the other chefs on the list?
“Asia has become a hot spot of fine dining. It’s incredible. But Bangkok today is more than just fine dining: it’s cross cultural, it’s a place where people come and go and leave and go back with good memories. To think I’m just part of that trend is amazing.
Asia's gastronomic community celebrated together in Seoul for the 2025 ceremony
“The challenge to the world is that we live in an era where fine dining is very boring… white tablecloths, the same kind of service. People think that is what the world wants. Now we are No.1 in Asia, we will be judged even more for who we are, what we are, but that will only motivate us. We’re like Nirvana. We are rebels. ‘Be a rebel’ is our logo in the restaurant. It motivates chefs to do what they want to do.
“The restaurant I’m most curious about is the one in Laos [No.86 Doi Ka Noi]. That is a journey. To all the chefs who are here watching us, do not give up on your dreams, because dreams do come true.”
How would you describe a visit to Gaggan?
“When you visit Gaggan, do not expect anything. There will be 14 people, five or so different cultures, five or so different languages, religions... and they all blend into one table. My vision is of a final table, where people come and celebrate food and being human. We live in a culture where people are on their phones all the time… we are addicted to our phones. People started eating with only one hand, because the other hand is on their phone. We’ve done everything to break that so you can’t use your phone. You’re always entertained. That was my pain. I’ve converted it into my heart, and today we’re rewarded.”
You’ve had a successful night tonight with three restaurants on the Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants list. How will you be celebrating?
“I will drink a lot of water, because if I drink alcohol, I will lose my senses and say things I don’t want to say! The best thing is that it’s a very big happiness to all my team and all of us. Again, it’s not about three restaurants, it’s about Thailand. My heart is Thai. My soul is Thai. Today, all the Thai restaurants were having lunch together, so tonight we’ll party together.”
