On the evening of Feb. 21, chefs from nine of Japan's top restaurants ascended the stage to receive honors at the fifth Asia's 50 Best Restaurants awards ceremony in Bangkok.
Although the No. 1 slot went to the Bangkok-based restaurant Gaggan for the third year in a row, the night was also a success for Japan, which had six restaurants in the top 20 — more than any other country.
Once again, Tokyo's Narisawa scooped up the title of Best Restaurant in Japan, while Kazutoshi Narita, of the Tokyo restaurant Esquisse, was named Asia's Best Pastry Chef. Den, which moved from its original location in the Japanese capital's Jimbocho district to the Gaienmae neighborhood in December, picked up a newly introduced award for the Art of Hospitality.