These 3 Indian restaurants found a spot on Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants list

Three Indian eateries have featured in the list of Asia’s 50 best restaurants published by William Reed this year. 

The list divvies up the continent into six voting regions, ensuring a diverse spread of culinary talent: India and Subcontinent, South-East Asia (South), South-East Asia (North), Hong Kong, Taiwan and Macau, Mainland China and Korea, and Japan.

Mumbai’s Masque takes the crown as India’s finest at 23rd position, followed by New Delhi’s Indian Accent at 26th position. Chennai’s Avartana, a newcomer to the list in 2023 and winner of the Highest New Entry Award, holds strong at 44th position.

Notably, Indian Chef Gaggan Anand’s eponymous Bangkok restaurant ranked high on the list, claiming the impressive 3rd position.

Here are the Indian restaurants that made it to the list:

Photo source: MasqueMasque (#23):

At the forefront of Indian cuisine, Masque champions the country’s rich bounty. 

Housed in a stylish Mumbai textile mill, this restaurant uses ten-course tasting menus to showcase the potential of local ingredients. Opened in 2016, Masque has garnered a string of awards under the leadership of self-taught chef and entrepreneur Aditi Dugar, including recognition by Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants and holding the title of The Best Restaurant in India for two consecutive years (2023 & 2024). 

The restaurant offers both vegetarian and non-vegetarian tasting menus that, like all things good, are seasonal. Diners may come across unique dishes like Kashmiri morels paired with stuffed colocasia leaves, or a playful take on pani puri: sea buckthorn-filled shells bursting with seaweed-cured beetroot, starfruit, and a tangy sea buckthorn sauce, said the website.

Photo source: Indian AccentIndian Accent (#26)

Indian Accent has carved a niche for itself with its innovative take on Indian classics. Year after year, Chef Manish Mehrotra’s tasting menus delight diners with playful twists on familiar flavors.

The heart of the restaurant lies in its tasting menus, presenting a vibrant palette of bite-sized delights. Think of homemade paneer nestled amidst creamy mustard greens and pickled onion, or a playful reimagining of pork ribs—a signature dish since the restaurant’s opening.  These melt-in-your-mouth ribs, a nod to Mehrotra’s early days working at a Southeast Asian restaurant, are balanced by the tang of green apple and the sweetness of a mango pickle sauce, as per the website.

A dedicated bread bar offers an array of options, from traditional favorites to unique specialties. Indulge in a wild mushroom kulcha drizzled with truffle oil, or savor a roti bursting with the flavors of pink peppercorn and jalapeño.

Photo source: AvartanaAvartana (#44)

Avartana takes diners on a captivating journey through the flavors of South India. Housed in a dazzling space adorned with chandeliers, the restaurant blends tradition with innovation. Classic Southern flavors are reimagined with international techniques, culminating in a high-end, critically acclaimed experience. The restaurant made a debut on last year’s Asia’s Best Restaurants list by securing the Highest new Entry Award. 

Chef Nikhil Nagpal curates a selection of tasting menus, catering to both vegetarian and non-vegetarian preferences. These menus offer a series of bite-sized delights with unique combinations. Beetroot paired with creamy curd cheese, or succulent cuttlefish infused with black garlic. Modernist techniques are incorporated, adding an element of surprise, according to the website.