The Asian Restaurant Awards 2023 were held yesterday, 7th November, at the Castleknock Hotel. With 43 awards up for grabs, categories included Best New Indian Restaurant, Best Fine Dining, Best Front of House, and many more.
Restaurants finalists were from all over the island of Ireland, representing food from China, Japan, India, Pakistan, Nepal, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka, and cuisines from the South East Asian region. Over 200 guests attended the inaugural awards last night, with a menu consisting of a selection of delicious Indian dishes. The evening began with a Samosa Chaat, followed by a family-style, sharing main course consisting of Murgh Rara, Mattar Paneer and Dal Tadka, finishing off with a dessert of Gulab Jamun. An exciting performance by Shamrock Bhangra certainly made the evening even better.
Some notable awards from the night include the Outstanding Achievement Award, received by Asheesh Dewan of the Jaipur Group, which includes Jaipur Dalkey, Jaipur Malahide, Ananda Dundrum and Chakra Greystones. Daata restaurants won 3 awards on the night, including the Diner’s Choice Award, and the Kinara Group won both Best Indian Cocktail Experience, and Best Manager (Talha Pasha). The Special Community Award was introduced last minute in the judging process, recognising Haldi by Manish for dedicating every Sunday to creating a more autism-friendly environment for diners.
The Asian Restaurant Week and Awards were set up by former restaurateur and hospitality consultant Paul O’Connor, and food writer and journalist Suzanne Campbell, to celebrate and highlight the ever-expanding Asian Food scene in Ireland. From establishing the well-known Irish Food Writing Awards in 2021, they wanted to celebrate and reward the cuisines, restaurants and chefs who have enriched Ireland in so many ways.
Founder of Asian Restaurant Awards, Paul O’Connor says: “Having been involved with Asian food businesses for many years the community was continually asking me to host something to celebrate Asian food in Ireland. So this restaurant week and awards celebrate the varied cuisines and culture of India and countries in this region.”
Asian Restaurant Award Winners
- 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 Street Food, Connaught – Thai Pots, Sligo
- Best Neighbourhood Restaurant, Dublin – Jaipur, Malahide
- Best Front of House, Dublin – Vermillion, Terenure
- Best Front of House, Leinster – Daata, Bray
- Special Community Award – Haldi by Manish, Rush, for their autism friendly Sunday afternoons
- Best Fine Dining, Dublin – Ananda, Dundrum
- Best Fine Dining, Leinster – Chakra, Greystones
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
Japanese
- Best Japanese Restaurant, Leinster – Nori, Wexford
- Best Japanese Restaurant, Munster – Sakura, Cork
- Best Japanese Restaurant, Dublin – Okky, Aungier St
Dublin
- Best Indian Takeaway, Dublin – Masala, Killiney
- Best Children’s Menu, Dublin – Taza, Artane
- 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.
- Outstanding Achievement Award – Asheesh Dewan
The awards, founded by Suzanne Campbell and Paul O’Connor are kindly sponsored by Cobra beer, Asia Market, FBD Hotels, The Chai People, Postree, Ballygowan and Whelehan’s Wines.
Website: www.asianrestaurantawards.ie
Twitter: @AsianIrishFood
Insta: @asianrestaurantweek
