The second running of the Asian Restaurant Awards were held last night in Dublin’s Castleknock Hotel with over 200 turning out to find out who would be taking home one of the 50 regional and national awards up for grabs including Most Authentic, Best Takeaway, Best Chef and Best Front of House.
New categories this year included an Innovation Award and Best Vegetarian Restaurant.
The awards, founded by journalist Suzanne Campbell and hospitality consultant Paul O’Connor (also of the Irish Foodwriting Awards set to take place next month, serve to recognise the best in Asian cuisine that Ireland has to offer, north and south of the border. To that end, restaurant finalists were from all corners of Ireland, representing food from China, Japan, India, Pakistan, Nepal, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka, with Korean and Vietnamese cuisines now having their own categories.
This year’s Outstanding Achievement award went to Paul Cadden, who founded the Saba group over 20 years ago. The group now runs three restaurants, three takeaways, two food trucks and employs over 150 staff, serving award-winning Thai and Vietnamese food.
From a Kilkenny standpoint, there are no local winners in this running of the awards, though Carlow’s Baht was named Best Thai Restaurant in Leinster. You’ll find it on Castle Hill if you’re heading the Graiguecullen direction from town. You will, however, find Al Wadi Falafel (Wexford), stationed on the Castle Road for this coming weekend’s Savour Kilkenny Food Festival. Check the full list of winners below or visit asianrestaurantawards.ie for more.
2024 Asian Restaurant Awards Winners
- Most Authentic Restaurant Leinster: Indian Vibe, Navan
- Most Authentic Restaurant Dublin: Andhra Bhavan
- Best Connacht Food Truck or stall: Thai Pots, Sligo
- Best Dublin Food Truck or Stall: Janet’s Drumcondra
- Best Japanese Restaurant Leinster: Nori, Wexford
- Best Japanese Dublin: Daruma, Parliament Street
- Best Indian Takeaway Dublin: Zouq, Clonsilla
- Best Indian Vegetarian Restaurant: Mini India Fine Dine, Cabinteely
- Best Thai Dublin: Saba, Baggot Street
- Best Cocktail Experience Leinster: Daata, Greystones
- Best Cocktail Experience Dublin: Kinara Kitchen
- Best Value Menu Leinster: Delhi Darbar, Celbridge
- Best Front of House Indian, Leinster: Jodphur, Longford
- Best Front of House Thai, Leinster: Saba, Kildare Village
- Best Thai Restaurant Leinster: Baht, Carlow
- Best Palestinian Food Stall/Truck: Al Wadi Falafel, Wexford
- Best New Chinese Restaurant Dublin: Kaizen, Blanchardstown
- Best Nepalese Restaurant Dublin: Kathmandu Kitchen
- Best Wine Experience Dublin: Ruchii, Blackrock
- Best Food Stall/Truck Dublin: Delhi 2 Dublin
- Best Neighbourhood Restaurant: Kajjal, Malahide
- Best New Restaurant, Ulster: Guru Belfast
- Best Korean Restaurant Connacht: Olives Seoul Food, Sligo
- Best Nepalese Restaurant Munster: Ritu, Cork
- Best Restaurant Manager Connacht: Zaiqa, Roscommon
- Best Restaurant Manager Ulster: Raju, Chilli Lounge Cavan
- Best Restaurant Manager Leinster: Pink Salt, Bray
- Best Asian Fusion Leinster: Tapau, Arklow
- Best Dim Sum Dublin: Big Fan, Aungier Street
- Best New Restaurant Dublin: Andhra Bhavan, Abbey Street
- Best Chinese Front of House Team, Dublin: Bites by Kwanghi
- Best Thai Takeaway Dublin: Saba to Go
- Best Front of House Dublin: Daata
- Best Chinese Lunch Dublin: Ka Shing, Wicklow Street
- Best Innovational Event: Taza, Artane
- Best Vietnamese Restaurant: Hanoi Hanoi, Capel Street
- Best Indian Front of House Dublin: Indie Spice Grill, Swords
- Best Chef Leinster: Sanjay, Birr
- Best Indian Restaurant Leinster: Koyla, Dunboyne
- Best Pakistani Restaurant Leinster: Taj Palace, Ratoath
- Best Restaurant Manager Munster: Bibek, Coriander
- Best Chef Dublin: Arshad Arsani, Taza Raheny
- Best Restaurant Manager Dublin: Talha Pasha, Kinara
- Best Restaurant Ulster: Chilli Lounge, Cavan
- Best Restaurant Connaught: Zaiqa, Ballinasloe
- Best Restaurant Munster: Coriander, Ballincollig
- Best Chinese Restaurant Dublin: Hang Dai
- Best Pakistani Restaurant Dublin: Daata
- Best Indian Restaurant Dublin: 3 Leaves
- Best New Nepalese Restaurant Dublin: Diwali, Camden Street
