Winners of the annual Asian Restaurant and Takeaway Awards have been announced at a ceremony in London, and they include two local names in the world of food. Weston-super-Mare restaurant Sakura Finest was crowned Japanese Restaurant of the Year, while the South West Chef of the Year can be found at Bristol’s Raj Bari.
Dubbed ‘the Oscars of the curry industry’ by the BBC and Sky, the Asian Restaurant & Takeaway Awards (ARTA) is a distinguished celebration of Asian cuisine that recognises ‘outstanding’ individuals and businesses in 12 categories within the sector. This year saw some 1,235 businesses nominated across the UK – including six restaurants shortlisted in Bristol and Weston-super-Mare.
And the awards ceremony saw celebrity guests also take to the red carpet – from actress Patsy Kensit, to professional boxer Julius Francis, and model Jackie St Clair, among others. Here’s more about the local winners, including what they had to say about their wins…
Raj Bari
Where is it: 183 Hotwell Road, Clifton, BS8 4SA
Situated on Hotwells Road in Clifton, Raj Bari is described as offering “spicy curries with a secret recipe served in a venue with etched-glass booths and white tablecloths”. It boasts a Google rating of 4.6/5, with one reviewer writing: “A great find. Small restaurant slightly out of town but it’s a hidden gem. Beautiful, rich curries with amazing flavours. If you fancy a damn good curry when you’re in Bristol. Look no further. Yep. I’m impressed.”
Taking to social media, the team at Raj Bari said: “We are thrilled to announce that Raj Bari has emerged as the Winner of the ARTA Grand Finale 2024 (South West Region)! A huge thank you to our incredible customers—your unwavering support made this achievement possible.
“We’re also delighted to share that this marks a double celebration for us! Alongside winning the Chef Championship Trophy for the South West, we have proudly received the prestigious #CurryOscar at the #ArtaAward2024 Final at the Royal Lancaster London.
“This victory is a testament to the dedication and hard work of the entire Raj Bari Bristol team. Thank you all for being part of our journey!”. You can read Bristol Live’s recent review of Raj Bari here.
Sakura Finest
Where is it: 36 Boulevard, Weston-super-Mare, BS23 1NF
Sakura Finest, though listed on the official shortlist as being situated in Bristol, is actually in Weston-super-Mare. Google describes it as being “a Japanese restaurant with minimalist decor and a menu specialising in ramen, sushi rolls and Asian fare”. One reviewer said of the 4.8 rated venue: “JUST GO! We had the most incredible meal at Sakura. Could not fault a single thing. The food was out of this world.”
The team at Sakura Finest shared the following message to its Facebook page, alongside a series of photos of them receiving their award: “Dear All, Sakura team and Families would like to thank you all, for your support, love and best wishes to us – we really did it this time.
“This is most remarkable and best moment of us SAKURA TEAM, we can’t thank you enough for the love and support you given to us, And for ALL the SAKURA TEAM, from the beginning until now, the most who really know and understand how hard it is,… We made it!
“You are all part of this recognition, and we thank you all.. we may not think about this so much success will happen before, but it happened – all because of your presence, hard work, dedication and responsibility at work and trust, (SAKURA have been NOTICED) it’s all thanks to you SAKURA TEAM.”