The second annual Asian Restaurant Awards were held last night, Tuesday 22nd October, at Castleknock Hotel, Dublin 15. Over 200 guests attended the night from throughout Ireland, competing for the 50 awards on offer covering a variety of categories such as Most Authentic, Best Takeaway, Best Chef and Best Front of House. New categories this year included an Innovation Award and Best Vegetarian Restaurant.
Paul Cadden who founded the Saba group over 20 years ago, received the Outstanding Achievement Award. The Saba group now runs three restaurants, three takeaways, two food trucks and employs over 150 staff, serving award-winning Thai and Vietnamese food!
The Asian Restaurant Week and Awards were set up by former Restaurant owner 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.
Restaurants finalists were from both Northern and Southern Ireland representing food from China, Japan, India, Pakistan, Nepal, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka, with Korean and Vietnamese cuisines now having their own categories.
Founder of Asian Restaurant Awards, Paul O’Connor says ‘"it's more important now than ever to celebrate our restaurant culture, and particularly how it has been enriched by the Asian diaspora making a home here. These fabulous restaurants and the people behind them, enrich our lives, through their food, expressive flavours, and making the most of our wonderful Irish produce too! We are already are looking forward to next year as so many of our winners announced new openings!”
Asian Restaurant Award 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
The awards, founded by Suzanne Campbell and Paul O’Connor are kindly sponsored by Cobra beer, Asia Market, FBD Hotels, Postree, Whelehan’s Wines and The Galway Kitchen.
See asianRestaurantawards.ie for more
Slán go fóill.