By Chang Hsiung-feng and Matthew Mazzetta
TAIPEI, Taiwan, (CNA) – Four restaurants in Taiwan have been named on this year’s Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants list, led by Taipei’s Michelin-starred modern European restaurant MUME, which ranked number 18 overall. Other honorees include the Taichung Singaporean restaurant JL Studio at number 26, the Taipei bistro RAW at number 36, and the Japanese-style Nihonryori RyuGin, which is located in Taipei, at number 43.
The list, published by William Reed Business Media, is based on a vote by more than 300 chefs, restaurant owners and food connoisseurs from six countries across Asia. The announcement of this year’s winners was live-streamed online Tuesday, after a planned on-site event in Japan had to be cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Richie Lin, head chef of MUME, said he was delighted to learn of his restaurant’s high ranking on the list, adding that MUME staff gathered together to watch the live announcement.
With the restaurant industry in such a poor state recently, being recognized on the list is a major source of encouragement, he said.
Meanwhile, topping this year’s list were Singapore’s French fine-dining restaurant Odette in first place, Hong Kong’s The Chairman in second and Tokyo’s Den in third.