Dewakan is known for using native ingredients in its menu, including this seasonal fruit called Dabai (All photos: Dewakan)
Dewakan has done it again.
The restaurant did not make it to the Asia’s 50 Best Restaurant’s extended list released recently, leading to a great deal of speculation if it would make the award’s top 50. We did not need to wait long for the good news as the homegrown restaurant was named Best Restaurant in Malaysia at the awards yesterday, coming in at No.50.
This also marks Dewakan’s re-entry to the list, having ranked No.46 in 2019 and No.66 in last year’s extended list. Helmed by Darren Teoh, who champions the use of local ingredients in his menu, Dewakan still remains the only Malaysian restaurant to have broken into the top 50.
A note of gratitude was posted on the restaurant’s Facebook after its momentous win earlier. “This year’s inclusion into the list means something really different to us. We are reminded to celebrate every accomplishment. Big and small. So thank you to the best team ever, the best guests ever and to the best friends ever.”
Dewakan went on to recommend a slew of outstanding local restaurants and eateries that people should try, including Entier French Dining, Beta KL, Hide KL, A Little Farm on the Hill, and nasi padang mainstay in Kg Sungai Penchala Restoran Sambal Hijau.
Claiming the top gong for this year was Den in Tokyo, Japan, which has been moving steadily up the list since its debut at No.37 in 2016. The restaurant headed by chef Zaiyu Hasegawa, known for his innovative take on kaiseki, placed first for the second time in 10 years.
Japan as a whole scored big this year, with 11 restaurants making the list, followed closely by Thailand with nine restaurants; Singapore with seven. Fine-dining French restaurant Odette relegated to the eight spot from being second, and took home the Art of Hospitality Award.
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Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants celebrated its 10th anniversary this year with an awards ceremony that was live-streamed on YouTube and at in-person events in Bangkok, Macau and Tokyo.
To read more about the Malaysian restaurants that made it to Asia's 50 Best extended list, see here. Follow this link to see all the winners of the awards this year.
