As anticipation builds ahead of Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants 2025 awards ceremony, two exceptional establishments have already secured their spotlight. Manila’s Toyo Eatery has been honored with the Gin Mare Art of Hospitality Award, recognizing the Filipino restaurant’s immersive approach to dining that celebrates both people and planet. Meanwhile, Bangkok’s Chudaree ‘Tam’ Debhakam, chef-owner of Baan Tepa, has been crowned Asia’s Best Female Chef 2025.
As anticipation builds ahead of Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants 2025 awards ceremony, two exceptional establishments have already secured their spotlight. Manila’s Toyo Eatery has been honored with the Gin Mare Art of Hospitality Award, recognizing the Filipino restaurant’s immersive approach to dining that celebrates both people and planet. Meanwhile, Bangkok’s Chudaree ‘Tam’ Debhakam, chef-owner of Baan Tepa, has been crowned Asia’s Best Female Chef 2025.Authenticity reigns supreme at Manila’s Toyo Eatery, newly crowned winner of the prestigious Gin Mare Art of Hospitality Award 2025. The beloved Filipino establishment captured the hearts, and votes, of the elite 350-plus members of Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants Academy. Each voter was tasked with naming the single establishment that delivered the most exceptional hospitality experience in the past 18 months. No small feat.
Toyo Eatery Are The Gin Mare Art Of Hospitality Award Winners At Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants 2025
This recognition marks the second in a series of pre-announced special awards building anticipation toward the grand Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants 2025 ceremony. The culinary world will converge at Grand Hyatt, Seoul, on March 25th to witness the complete unveiling of this year’s gastronomic titans.
Toyo Eatery’s journey has been nothing short of remarkable. First appearing on the radar as the One To Watch Award winner in 2018, it swiftly claimed its spot on the coveted list in 2019 at No.43. The restaurant has fiercely defended its title as The Best Restaurant in the Philippines for five consecutive years, while simultaneously earning the Sustainable Restaurant Award in 2023. Now ranked No.24 on Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants 2024, this culinary gem, whose name cleverly derives from the Tagalog word for soy sauce, continues its upward trajectory.
Toyo Eatery’s Husband And Wife Team With A Vision To Create An Intimate Filipino Dining Experience
At the helm are husband-and-wife powerhouse Jordy and May Navarra. Their vision? Creating a dining experience so intimately Filipino, so deeply personal, that guests feel they’re being welcomed into the couple’s own home rather than a restaurant.
As William Drew, Director of Content for Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants, put it: “At Toyo Eatery, each guest is warmly immersed in Filipino food culture – whether you are there to enjoy a tasting menu of reimagined cuisine, or the kamayan sharing plates, eaten by hand off banana leaves. Genuine hospitality is also evident in the personal touches from Jordy and May – from the seamless integration of interiors, floral and vegetable displays and wall art to local craftsmanship and, of course, in the way they educate diners about their food.”
At Toyo Eatery Every Element Celebrates Filipino Heritage
Stepping into Toyo Eatery means plunging headfirst into the Philippines’ culinary traditions. Every element – from their vegetable-forward menu to their thoughtful use of local ingredients, service ware, art, furniture, and design – proudly celebrates Filipino heritage. Bold flavors emerge through masterful fermentation and preservation techniques, showcased in signature dishes that tell stories of cultural significance.
Take Bahay Kubo, an extraordinary 18-vegetable salad inspired by a beloved Tagalog folk song. Or their creative reimagining of pork barbecue featuring three distinct cuts. Perhaps most captivating is their Tortang Talong, where banana ketchup steals the spotlight alongside a perfectly prepared aubergine omelette. Each plate offers diners not just a meal, but an education – an enlightening journey through the country’s gastronomic and artisanal landscape.
From The Fat Duck To The Philippines
Chef Jordy Navarra brings impressive credentials, having refined his craft at The Fat Duck in the UK (ranked The World’s Best Restaurant in 2005) and Hong Kong’s Bo Innovation. Since opening Toyo Eatery in 2016 with May, they’ve prioritized sustainability – minimizing their carbon footprint, sourcing ingredients locally, and nurturing relationships with farmers and artisans. Yet somehow, they’ve maintained that elusive balance: an approachable fine dining atmosphere that feels both special and comfortable.
Chudaree ‘Tam’ Debhakam Named Best Female Chef In The Other Pre-Awards Announcement
In another celebration of culinary excellence, Thai chef Chudaree ‘Tam’ Debhakam has been named Asia’s Best Female Chef 2025, sponsored by Nongshim Shinramyun. The chef-owner of Bangkok’s Baan Tepa (No.42 on Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants 2024) has captivated the culinary world with her innovative approach to Thai cuisine.
Chef Tam’s restaurant Baan Tepa offers a truly unique experience – an open-kitchen dining room, chef’s table, and organic culinary garden seamlessly integrated within her grandmother’s former home. This three-generation family estate has been thoughtfully transformed while maintaining its original charm, creating what William Drew describes as “an unparalleled experience that honors her roots, family and heritage.”
Baan Tepa’s Seven-Course Tasting Menu Takes A Trip Through Thailand
Her seven-course tasting menu takes diners on a journey through Thailand with regionally inspired dishes like Heart of Thailand: Nam Prik and Anatomy of a River Prawn. Beyond the exceptional food, Chef Tam is a passionate advocate for sustainability and farm-to-table dining, embracing practices like waste management, composting, and supporting local growers.
With training from New York’s International Culinary Center and experience under chef Dan Barber at Blue Hill at Stone Barns, Chef Tam brings global expertise to her deeply Thai creations. She views this recognition not just as personal achievement but as a platform for female leaders in gastronomy.
Chef Pam Of Baan Tepa Says “Be Authentic, Push Boundaries”
“This award not only provides a platform for female leaders but also creates role models – something I wish I had more access to when I was starting out,” Chef Tam said after the announcement. “My hope is to inspire and support the younger generations of female chefs and to show them that they too can build successful careers by being authentic and not scared to push the boundaries.”
Chef Tam will join Toyo Eatery and other culinary innovators at the awards ceremony in Seoul on March 25, 2025.
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