Best Southeast Asian: Phnom Penh

Devotees of Gold winner Phnom Penh continue to pack the house for lemon pepper squid and deep-fried chicken wings. Green papaya salad is another menu standout: prawns jumbled with julienned carrots, cilantro, and warm strips of beef jerky in a tangy, sweet citrus dressing.

At Spice Islands (Silver) our judges found an elegant atmosphere and refined service—go for sambal babi (pork shoulder slow-cooked in spiced coriander sauce) or opor ayam (chicken flavoured with nutmeg and coconut cream). Spiceislandsindonesian.com

Our judges noted the original West Broadway location of Banana Leaf (Bronze) over the chainlet’s other two locations for consistency in both food and service. “Peel-and-eat freshwater king prawns braised with butter, garlic and black peppercorns are finger-licking good.”

At the Flying Tiger (Honourable Mention) Tina Fineza sends out pitch-perfect roti canai with yummy curry sauce, scrumptious tangles of hawker noodles, and unctuous Filipino-style pork belly.

And at Rekados (Honourable Mention) chef Charlie Dizon pushes the modern-Filipino-cuisine envelope with dishes like bulalo batangas hot pot: tender beef shank simmered together with bok choy, leeks, and cabbage in a bubbling cast-iron pot of annatto broth, subtly flavoured with tamarind leaves.

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