Japan restaurant Les Creations de Narisawa named best in Asia

Les Creations de Narisawa, a restaurant in Japan with an unorthodox approach to French cuisine, has been voted the best in Asia in a leading international poll.

The Tokyo eatery came in at number 24 in the S.Pellegrino World's Best 50 Restaurants list Monday, a major event in the gastronomic calendar which is voted on by hundreds of international critics, journalists and food experts.

Les Creations de Narisawa was also named best restaurant in Asia last year, and retained that title in 2010 despite slipping four places down the overall rankings.

Chef Yoshihiro Narisawa's experimental approach has attracted diners from across the world and won him plaudits from food critics.

"He is pushing new boundaries by cooking with organic soil, charcoal and water," say the organisers of the best restaurant awards.

His signature dishes include foie gras with strawberry and lobster flavoured with tomato and vanilla.

A second Japanese restaurant, Nihonryori RyuGin, was a new entry into the world's top 50 best restaurants this year, coming in at 48.

One of Japan's most celebrated chefs, Seiji Yamamoto, serves up dishes at the Tokyo eatery with their roots in the country's culinary traditions.

Other Asian restaurants to make it into the rankings announced at a ceremony in London included Iggy's and Jaan par Andre, both in Singapore.

Two Australian restaurants, Quay and Tetsuya's, were also judged to be among the best in the world, in the awards organised by Britain's Restaurant Magazine.

Noma in Copenhagen was selected as the best restaurant in the world this year. Its Nordic specialities won over judges and ended four years in the number-one spot for famed Spanish restaurant elBulli.

ElBulli slipped from pole position after its trailblazing chef, Ferran Adria, announced in January the venue would close for two years from 2012, citing fatigue and a need to plan for the future.