Toyo Eatery is again Philippines' best restaurant after ranking 42nd in 2025 Asia's 50 Best Restaurants list
Toyo Eatery made it to Asia's 50 Best Restaurants annual list again.
The Filipino restaurant placed 42nd in the 2025 list, from 24th last year. It's the only Pinoy dining spot in this year's lineup.
The inclusion also meant that it's the best restaurant in the Philippines this year.
Thailand's Gaggan topped the Asia's 50 Best Restaurants list for the fifth time after a decade.
Hong Kong's Chairman, former top restaurant, and Wing placed second and third, respectively.
Japan's Sezanne, another former top restaurant, landed fourth while South Korea's Mingles ended up fifth.
Toyo Eatery, whose name is based on the Filipino word for soy sauce, champions Filipino heritage and food culture, and offers a deeply personal hospitality experience as if customers were dining at their homes.
Managed by husband-and-wife Jordy and May Navarra, it debuted at Asia's 50 Best Restaurants in 2018 as the winner of the One to Watch Award.
It then joined the best restaurant selection in 2019 at 43rd place. It stayed on the list in 2021, 2023, and 2024, when it placed 24th.
In 2023, it also won the Sustainable Restaurant Award.
Toyo was part of PhilSTAR L!fe's Life, But Better: The 100 List in 2024.
"Sharing the down-to-earth but flavorful qualities of the condiment it’s named after, Toyo Eatery puts Philippine cuisine on the global map by simply and expertly elevating Filipino produce and people," L!fe's citation read.
"Toyo Eatery is infused with local flavors in the best way. It uses ingredients sourced from local farmers and artisans and prepared using modern Filipino techniques... To enjoy a meal in this fine-dining restaurant is to celebrate the best flavors of the Philippine islands. It’s an opportunity you don’t pass up."
Toyo also won the Gin Mare Art of Hospitality Award as part of the Asia's 50 Best Restaurants Academy's special awards. It got the votes of over 350 members for providing the best hospitality experience in the past 18 months.
Other recipients of the academy's special awards this year include:
- American Express One to Watch Award – Farmlore in Bengaluru, India
- Hibiki Sustainable Restaurant Award – Locavore Nxt in Ubud, Bali
- Asia’s Best Sommelier Award – Kazutaka Ozawa of Crony restaurant in Tokyo, Japan
- Asia’s Best Pastry Chef – Dej Kewkacha of Gaggan at Louis Vuitton in Bangkok, Thailand
- Asia’s Best Female Chef – Chudaree "Tam" Debhakam, chef-owner of Bangkok’s Baan Tepa
- Inedit Damn Chef’s Choice Award – Vicky Cheng of Hong Kong
- Lavazza Highest New Entry Award – Eatanic Garden of South Korea
- Lee Kum Kee Highest Climber Award – Chef Tam’s Seasons of Macau
Asia's 50 Best Restaurants Academy also gave the late Margarita Forés a posthumous Woodford Reserve Icon Award, which recognizes individuals who have made outstanding contributions to the culinary industry. It was the first time the organization gave a posthumous award ever. Her son Amado accepted the award on her behalf. Forés, who died in February at 65 years old, founded several restaurants, including Cibo, Lusso, Grace Park, and Alta.
