Must-see restaurants in Southeast Asia

  • Zinc

    Kuching

    Zinc features a selection of imported ingredients: Spanish Iberico ham, French cheeses and Canadian lobster, plus imported wines that aren't all that…

  • Fatmah's

    Sumbawa

    Once humble, Fatmah's has taken a slight turn upmarket in recent years. Tables sit in a raised bleached-wood house overlooking the beach where you can…

  • Cherng Doi Roast Chicken

    Chiang Mai

    Famous for its crispy-skin slow-roasted chicken with spicy tamarind sauce, this place also serves an array of sôm·đam, soups, lâhp (minced-meat 'salads')…

  • Bistro Remedios

    Manila

    An excellent place to sample Filipino cooking, with food from Pampanga province a speciality here. There's an extensive vegetarian menu and a few…

  • Mok Mony

    Phnom Penh

    A cutesy little Khmer restaurant with indoor and outdoor tables that often demand a wait. Lots of vegetarian and vegan options are available, as well as…

  • Gaya Gelato

    Jakarta

    One of a few branches of this ice-cream chain, serving Italian-style scoops in a cool space decorated with pastel tones and plants. The ice cream and…

  • Nang Loeng Market

    Bangkok

    Dating back to 1899, this atmospheric fresh market offers a charming glimpse of old Bangkok – not to mention a great option to grab a bite while on the…

  • Chaba Café

    Phang-Nga Province

    Rustic-cute Chaba is a haven of pastel-painted prettiness, with driftwood walls, mellow music and a small gallery. Organic-oriented offerings include…

  • Warung Bule

    South Lombok

    Tucked away from the main thoroughfares, on a quiet stretch of Kuta Beach, this friendly, spotlessly tiled warung is one of the best in town. The grilled…

  • International Nasi Lemak

    Singapore

    Food bloggers never cease arguing about which stall at Changi Village Hawker Centre does the best nasi lemak (fragrant coconut rice topped with fried…

  • Rice Table

    Singapore

    An uninspired building in Orchard Rd is saved by a restaurant serving rijsttafel (rice table) – a free-flowing buffet of 15 to 20 small Dutch-influenced…

  • Ikan Bakar Pak Tri’s

    Padang

    Here the fish and squid are sold by weight or portion and flame-grilled to perfection with a sweet, spicy sambal sauce. The selection includes shoals of…

  • Mezza9

    Singapore

    Lobsters on ice, baskets of Tabasco sauce bottles, glazed wine cool rooms and six open kitchens so you can watch the flames under your wok – there's…

  • Jai Thai

    Colonial District, the Quays & Marina Bay

    On a street studded with reputable eateries, lo-fi Jai Thai serves up cheap, tasty Thai under the gaze of Siamese royalty. Grab a pavement table and…

  • Earl Restaurant

    Ayuthaya

    Fresh, flavourful food, low prices and a location near Wat Mahathat make this a great choice for lunch or dinner. And while you eat gaang gà·tí (red curry…

  • Capital Café

    Kuala Lumpur

    In a formula little changed since it opened in 1956, Capital Café has no frills, only fabulously old-fashioned Malay food. Chinese, Malay and Indian chefs…

  • Guss Damn Good

    Bangkok

    This home-grown ice-cream brand has gained a glowing rep with flavours such as Kuppa espresso made using locally roasted coffee, Tokyo Mist made with yuzu…

  • Sao Nam

    Kuala Lumpur

    This reliable place is decorated with colourful communist propaganda posters and has a courtyard for dining outside. The kitchen turns out huge plates of…

  • Old Hanoi

    Hanoi

    This sophisticated eating spot in a restored French-colonial villa has a pleasant casual courtyard outside and starched white tablecloths inside. Once…

  • La Baraka

    Kep

    A breath of fresh air from the other crab-market restaurants' identical menus, La Baraka serves a mix of European and Asian flavours with bags of seafood…

  • Picotin Express

    Singapore

    This breezy bistro bar and pizzeria offers sweeping view across Champions Golf Course, and is the perfect place to perch up before or after a round.

  • Jam

    Ubon Ratchathani

    Mu kratha (หมูกระทะ) or 'pork pan' is very popular in Thailand. It's a combination of Korean barbeque and Chinese hotpot where you cook your own food on a…

  • Divine Earth

    Seminyak

    A sibling of the much-loved Earth Cafe, this organic vegetarian restaurant also does tasty vegan and raw food. It's perhaps better known for its Upstairs…

  • Bamboo Hut

    Ko Pha-Ngan

    Linked to the bungalows on hidden Hat Yuan, you can lounge on a Thai-style cushion or sit at a teak table cooled by the sea breeze bouncing off an…

  • Charlies Grind & Grill

    Manila

    This institution in the well-regarded food district of Kapitolyo near Ortigas cooks up Manila's best burgers – go for the double black Angus burger topped…

  • L'Adresse de Tinay

    Vientiane

    Alchemising an eclectic gastronomic landscape of snails and scrambled eggs, sea-bream fillet, beef tenderloin, rack of lamb and rosemary, plus to-die-for…

  • Rumah Makan Roda Baru

    Flores

    Make a stop at this spotless pick-and-mix Padang diner. Fish, chicken and shrimp are fried or grilled and sauced five ways; there's tempeh, egg and fried…

  • Wong Mei Kee

    Kuala Lumpur

    Get here early as there's only a two-hour window of opportunity to sample chef Wong Peng Hui’s famous roasted pork belly; tables are claimed and a queue…

  • Fowl Bread

    Manila

    Manila's most famous chicken sandwiches include a slab of signature crispy chicken skin (spicy preferred). Or order garlic noodles topped with…

  • Fish & Chicks

    Singapore

    Dishing up seriously good fish and chicken dishes (geddit?), these two young hawkers are famous for their Singaporean twist on fish 'n' chips. Choose from…

  • Sau Pau Cafe

    Miri

    Steamed bao buns and delicious egg tarts are perfect reasons to hunt out this neighbourhood bakery. A recommended combo is an iced coffee with a couple of…

  • Sailing Club

    Phu Quoc Island

    The Nha Trang institution has dropped anchor in Phu Quoc in an impressive new setting at the southern end of Long Beach, near the Intercontinental Hotel…

  • Coco Hut

    Koh Rong

    The kitchen at this ordinary-looking beach bar surprises with some of the best Khmer food in the islands. The amok (baked fish) is spicy and delicious,…

  • Lot 369

    Phnom Penh

    Kids, vegetarians, vegans and gluten avoiders will all find plenty of options at this crowd-pleasing cafe, which whips up healthy bowls, all-day…

  • Windowsill Pies

    Little India & Kampong Glam

    Good luck walking by this pie peddler without admiring the 12 artisanal desserts stacked in the window. Give into your sweet desires and choose a slice of…

  • Doea Tjangkir

    West Java

    Dress smart for this classy upmarket restaurant, located inside a painstakingly restored colonial building. The menu consists primarily of expertly…

  • Wish River View

    Myanmar (Burma)

    This clean, inviting space is one of the best riverfront restaurants in the area. Stop in for marinated-prawn salad, fiery Thai-style seafood soup or…

  • Dampa Seaside

    Manila

    A real local experience (and institution), here you trawl the attached wet market for your desired ingredients (preferably seafood) and then choose one of…

  • Seven Spoons

    Bangkok

    Dark woods, old maps and prints on the smooth concrete walls, a menu including lots of vegetarian options – one doesn't expect a place this cosmopolitan…

  • KouGen

    Cameron Highlands

    Claypot roast pork, fried rice in kimchi, teriyaki burgers and sushi – KouGen prepares an impressive spread of Japanese and Korean fusion dishes from its…

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