Asian Restaurant Week (1-7 November) came to a close yesterday with the unveiling of the 2023 Asian Restaurant Awards, recognising the best of Asian cuisine in Ireland.
The week – and awards – aims to celebrate diversity while acknowledging the vibrancy and richness of Asian influences in Ireland in culture, music, and especially food. Restaurants north and south of the border, representing food from India, Pakistan, Nepal, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka, along with cuisines from the southeast Asian region are all under the spotlight. Behind the awards are former restaurateur and hospitality consultant Paul O’Connor (also once of The Shoe Box in Kilkenny’s Ormonde Street) and journalist and food writer Suzanne Campbell, the same duo that are responsible for the Irish Food Writing Awards.
Over 200 guests made the trip to Dublin’s Castleknock Hotel on Tuesday evening where 43 award winners were unveiled. Among the big winners on the night was Asheesh Dewan of Jaipur Group, the teak behind Jaipur Dalkey and Malahide, Ananda Dundrum and Chakra Greystones, as he collected the Outstanding Achievement Award. With my local hat on, it’s unfortunate there were no representatives from the Kilkenny side of things on the winners list but it doesn’t take from the wealth and spread of winners on the night. You can check the full list below.
The winners: 2023 Asian Restaurant Awards
Newcomers
- Best New Indian Restaurant, Munster: Ritu, Cork
- Best New Indian Restaurant, Ulster: Guru, Newry
- Best New Indian Restaurant, Leinster: Jodphur, Longford
- Best New Indian Restaurant, Dublin: Taza, Raheny
- Best New Nepalese Restaurant: Everest, Clongriffin
Dublin Indian
- Best Early Evening Menu, Dublin: Khushee, Sandymount
- Best Casual Restaurant, Dublin: Zouq, Clonsilla
- Best Street Food, Dublin: Delhi to Dublin
- Best Neighbourhood Restaurant, Dublin: Jaipur, Malahide
- Best Front of House, Dublin: Vermillion, Terenure
- Best Indian Takeaway, Dublin: Masala, Killiney
- Best Children’s Menu, Dublin: Taza, Artane
Japanese
- Best Japanese Restaurant, Leinster: Nori, Wexford
- Best Japanese Restaurant, Munster: Sakura, Cork
- Best Japanese Restaurant, Dublin: Okky, Aungier St
South East Asian
- Best New Dim Sum, Dublin: Lucky Tortoise, Temple Bar
- Best Dim Sum Restaurant, Dublin: Bites by Kwanghi, Dublin Docklands
- Best Front of House South East Asian, Leinster: Saba, Kildare Village
- Best South East Asian Restaurant, Leinster: Tapau House, Arklow
- Best Cocktail Experience South East Asian: Saba, Baggot Street
- Best Front of House South East Asian, Dublin: Siam Thai, Dundrum
- Best South East Asian Takeaway: Saba to Go, Rathgar
- Best South East Asian: Nightmarket, Ranelagh
Other Awards
- Best Fine Dining, Dublin: Ananda, Dundrum
- Best Fine Dining, Leinster: Chakra, Greystones
- Best Street Food, Connaught: Thai Pots, Sligo
- Best Front of House, Leinster: Daata, Bray
- Best Nepalese Restaurant, Dublin: Kathmandu Kitchen, Dame Street
- Best Neighbourhood Chef, Dublin: Joginder Singh, Spice Village, Terenure
- Best Neighbourhood Restaurant, Leinster: Pink Salt, Bray
- Best Wine Experience, Dublin: Ruchii, Blackrock
- Best Indian Restaurant Cocktail Experience: Kinara Kitchen, Ranelagh
- Best Restaurant Manager, Dublin: Talha Pasha, Kinara Kitchen
- Best Restaurant Manager, Leinster: Aashim Bajaj, Cinnamon Garden
- Diner’s Choice Restaurant: Daata, Bray
- Best Chinese Restaurant: Big Fan, Dublin
- Best Chef, Leinster: Sanjay, Sanjay’s Kitchen
- Best Chef, Dublin: Santosh Thomas, 3 Leaves, Blackrock
- Best Indian Restaurant, Munster: Coriander, Cork
- Best Indian Restaurant, Connaught: Zaiqa, Roscommon
- Best Indian Restaurant, Ulster: Chilli Lounge, Cavan
- Best Indian Restaurant, Leinster: Cinnamon Garden, Ashbourne
- Best Indian Restaurant, Dublin: Daata, Glastule.
- Special Community Award: Haldi by Manish, Rush, for their autism friendly Sunday afternoons
- Outstanding Achievement Award: Asheesh Dewan
