Indonesia returns to the spotlight at Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants 2026, with August Jakarta and Locavore NXT Ubud both securing places on this year’s list, alongside a special recognition for pastry chef Ardika Dwitama.

Announced in Hong Kong, the 2026 ranking brings together restaurants from 17 cities across the region, reflecting the continued evolution of Asia’s dining landscape.

August Jakarta Moves Up, Retains Best in Indonesia

At No. 42, August Jakarta continues its upward movement on the list while once again being named The Best Restaurant in Indonesia. The restaurant, led by Chef Hans Christian, has steadily built a reputation through a tasting menu format that places Indonesian ingredients at the centre, translated through modern techniques and a structured, narrative-driven approach.

Its current Season 9 menu, presented through a 15-course Chef’s Journey, reflects that direction. Ingredients are sourced across the archipelago, from Lombok-sourced fish and Natuna octopus to regional flavours such as Manadonese woku and Central Javanese garang asem. The result is a menu that positions Jakarta as a point of discovery for Indonesian flavours, rather than simply a stage for reinterpretation.

Ardika Dwitama Named Asia’s Best Pastry Chef

Alongside the restaurant’s ranking, Head Pastry Chef Ardika Dwitama has been awarded Asia’s Best Pastry Chef 2026, sponsored by Valrhona.

Working within August’s tasting format, Ardika’s desserts are defined by a restrained, ingredient-driven approach. Indonesian produce forms the foundation of his work, often expressed through familiar references and reinterpreted forms. Creations such as Teh Kotak, a milk tea bonbon inspired by a widely recognised packaged drink, and Klepon, reimagined as a single-bite dessert, reflect a balance between memory and technique.

Another example appears in Frozen Coffee, a composition built around coffee sourced from Garut, West Java, combined with palm sugar, coconut nectar, and ginger. The dish draws from the structure of tiramisu but shifts its identity through local ingredients and flavour profiles, reinforcing a broader approach that prioritises place as much as technique.

Locavore NXT Enters the Top 50

Also marking a milestone this year is Locavore NXT in Ubud, which also enters the top 50 at No. 44. The restaurant represents Ubud’s debut in the main list, following previous appearances in the extended rankings.

Locavore NXT’s current menu, The Source, continues to build on its focus on hyper-local sourcing and circular kitchen systems. The 16-course experience traces ingredients back to Indonesia’s landscapes, from wild environments and small-scale farms to rooftop gardens and in-house fermentation projects. The dining format extends beyond the plate, with guests invited to explore the Rooftop Food Forest as part of the experience.

A Growing Presence from Indonesia

This year’s results reflect a broader shift, with Indonesia represented not only through rankings but also through individual recognition. From Jakarta’s ingredient-driven tasting menus to Ubud’s systems-led approach to sustainability, the country’s restaurants continue to develop distinct voices within Asia’s evolving dining landscape.

As the list expands across more cities and styles of cooking, the presence of August and Locavore NXT signals a continued movement—one shaped by local ingredients, evolving formats, and a clearer sense of identity within the region.