A Historic First: T.U.N.G Dining is Vietnam’s Only Restaurant in Asia’s 50 Best List of Restaurants (51-100)

In a historic first, Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants has announced the 2021 list of restaurants ranked from 51st-100th. The move is designed to shine a light on a wider array of establishments across the region to inspire food lovers as they consider their future dining and travel plans.

William Drew, Director of Content at Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants, says: “This year we have decided to publish  the list of restaurants ranked from 51-100, created from the Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants voting process, in order to recognise a greater number of venues than ever before. The global pandemic has been devastating  for hospitality and it is vital that we support restaurants across Asia in their recovery. By announcing the 51- 100 list of restaurants, along with the unranked Essence of Asia collection, we can showcase more of the region’s diverse restaurants, cuisines and unique dining experiences.”  

This year, Vietnam only had one entry in the list of 51 to 100 and this restaurant is none other than TUNG Dining in Hanoi. This is an incredible feat for Vietnam considering the last time the country was seen in Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants list was in 2013.

T.U.N.G Dining

Nestled in the heart of Hanoi and just a few steps away from St. Joseph’s Cathedral and Hoan Kiem lake, T.U.N.G Dining is no stranger to Vietnam’s gastronomic dining scene. Opening its doors in December 2018, T.U.N.G stands for “Twisted, Unique, Natural and Gastronomique” and not only represents the establishment’s philosophy in providing an unparalleled culinary experience using fresh local ingredients but also a testament to the innovation and creativity it brings to its seasonal 18-course dinners.

A dinner at T.U.N.G Dining is bold, playful and rightfully pays tribute to its namesake. At Tung, the team does not shy away from obscure ingredients such as fermented juices, yoghurt and gin, giving rise to unsuspecting culinary stars and otherwise humble sideshows such as steamed rice and corn taking center stage. Furthermore, Tung purposefully (and proudly) omits typical ingredients such as fat and cream amongst others. Instead, Tung focuses on the flavours derived from the ingredients he uses as well as cooking techniques and recipes gleaned from century-old recipe books and archives. Perhaps it’s this diehard daringness to be different and Tung’s inquisitiveness to venture outside of traditional fine dining boundaries that have been the linchpin to Tung’s success. Needless to say, behind the deceivingly simple dishes is a complex myriad of authentic flavours that earn this fine dining establishment its well deserving spot on his historic first Asia’s 50 Best list of 51 to 100 restaurants.

The man at the helm of this award-winning enterprise is none other than founder-chef Hoang Tung who cut his teeth in the kitchens of different top-notched Michelin starred restaurants in the Scandinavia region before returning to Hanoi and honing his skills as a fine dining gastronomy maestro. After attaining the prestigious Bocuse d’Or Bronze in Vietnam, Tung, then only 26, had a vision to ‘make a positive impact on Vietnam’s culinary scene” and set out to open T.U.N.G Dining with his business partners Nguyet Anh and Quang Dzung.

Photo courtesy of Hoang Tung

3 years later, T.U.N.G Dining, a cozy 33-seat Nordic restaurant with its minimalistic design has not only far achieved its mission but also paved the way for many younger generations of Vietnamese chefs, restauranteurs and F&B professionals. Armed with this new accolade, it’s safe to say T.U.N.G Dining is flying the Vietnam flag high and leaving behind a legacy being the only restaurant to clinch a spot in the coveted Asia’s 50 Best list of restaurants ranked 51-100. To underscore the success of this culinary feat, it’s been 8 years since the last time Vietnam was listed by Asia’s 50 Best. This year alone T.U.N.G Dining placed top 100 and four other Vietnamese establishments were listed in Asia’s 50 Best’s inaugural ‘Essence of Asia’ collection.

For an establishment that has been going out of its way to break down barriers, be different and be the first to do something in its realm. Let’s say T.U.N.G Dining has done it again.

Address: 2C Quang Trung Street, Hoan Kiem District, Hanoi
Website: https://www.tungdining.com/
Operating Hours: Tuesday - Sunday: 6 - 10:30pm, closed on Mondays
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TUNGdining/

The much-anticipated 2021 list of Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants will be revealed via an online awards ceremony on Thursday, 25th March, from 4.30pm HK/SG (5.30pm JPN).

Asia’s 50 Best List of 51-100 Restaurants

Featured Articles

Follow me on Instagram