Chef Margarita Fores gets posthumous honor; Toyo Eatery hailed 'Best Restaurant in the Philippines' for 6th time
MANILA, Philippines — Toyo Eatery in Makati was included by Asia's 50 Best Restaurants in its 2025 list, claiming the "Best Restaurant in the Philippines" recognition for a sixth time.
The restaurant landed on the No. 42 spot (its same ranking in 2023 but a dip from last year's No. 24) for this year's list to win the Gin Mare Art of Hospitality Award it was bestowed last month.
Asia's 50 Best Restaurants, an extension of the London-based awards body 50 Best, noted that Toyo Eatery was the Miele One To Watch Award winner in 2018 — just two years after it opened — and debuted on the list the following year.
"The restaurant prioritizes Filipino produce and people, fostering long-term relationships with local farmers and artisans," it added.
In 2023, Toyo Eatery also received the Sustainable Restaurant Award from Asia's 50 Best Restaurants.
Topping the entire the 2025 was Gaggan in Bangkok, in turn becoming The Best Restaurant in Asia for a fifth time.
Related: Toyo Eatery wins hospitality award from Asia's 50 Best Restaurants
Asia's 50 Best Restaurants described Gaggan's menu as a combination of music, colors, and creativity, "anchored in progressive Indian cuisine with a fine-dining twist, with French, Thai and Japanese influences."
Kolkata-born chef and musician Gaggan Anand wants to "create a culinary adventure of the senses and a roller coaster ride of emotions," it added.
Completing the Top 5 are Hong Kong's The Chairman and Wing, Tokyo's Sézanne (last year's top restaurant), and Seoul's Mingles.
The late Margarita Fores was posthumously honored with the Woodford Reserve Icon Award, accepted by her son Amado.
Gallery by Chele, located in Taguig City, appeared on Asia's 50 Best Restaurants' extended list this year at No. 72.
RELATED: Gallery by Chele returns to Asia's Top 100 restaurants list
