Awards & Accolades
Fast forward to 2023 and Cafe Isan’s trophy cabinet is literally heaving. Cafe Isan’s licensed branch in JLT (former pop up) was crowned WINNER Time Out Dubai’s “Best Thai Restaurant 2023” for the fourth year in a row. It’s unprecedented. It fills us with so much pride and joy, and drives us forward as we do our best to live up to the recognition. 2023 was also the year Chef New and Lisa were given a “Food Industry Icons” Award by ImagesRetailME. Whoop whoop!
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It all started back in 2017 less than a year after opening when we picked up the winner's award for "Best Budget" Restaurant at the Time Out Dubai 2017 Restaurant Awards. The restaurant was also shortlisted “Best Thai” in 2017, 2018, 2019 and has now won the coveted accolade for an historic four consecutive years in 2020, 2021, 2022 and now 2023! Quite an achievement for a farmer turned self-taught home cook who had no idea how to switch on the commercial gas system a few months beforehand!
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From BBC Good Food Middle East, Fact Magazine and GQ Middle East nominations the accolades have been a constant in our journey to date and in 2021 Lisa and Chef New were jointly named in the Middle East’s Top 25 Women in F&B Power List - adding another incredible achievement to the list
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Chef New was also featured on the prestigious Caterer Middle East Power 50 list 2021 & 2022.
Winner “Best Thai Restaurant” Time Out Dubai Restaurant Awards 2022 (Armada Avenue, licensed branch)
This makes it three consecutive years for Cafe Isan being crowned the best Thai restaurant in Dubai
Winner “Best Thai” Time Out Dubai Restaurant Awards 2021
Being awarded “Best Thai” for the second consecutive year firmly positions Chef New and her beloved Cafe Isan as one of Dubai’s top restaurants - albeit a little different compared to others who enjoy this coveted title
Highly Commended “Best Casual Dining Restaurant” Time Out Dubai Restaurant Awards 2022 [Grand Prix Award] (Armada Avenue, licensed branch)
Just when we thought the celebrations were all over - we scooped THIS award also
Winner “Best Thai” Time Out Dubai Restaurant Awards 2020
On February 24th 2020 Cafe Isan disrupted the local F&B scene when it was the first independent family-run Thai restaurant to scoop the city’s top prize
Caterer Middle East: Chef New '50 most inspirational women in F&B 2022'
Cheers to the other farmers out there. Cheers to all the other incredible women on this list
Winner “Best Budget” Time Out Dubai Restaurant Awards 2017
Not much more than 9 months after we first opened our dreams came true when we won our very first award
TripAdvisor Certificate of Excellence 2017
Winner “Best Budget” Time Out Dubai Restaurant Awards 2017
Shortlisted “Best Thai” Time Out Dubai Restaurant Awards 2017
TripAdvisor Certificate of Excellence 2018
Best Thai’ Nominee - 2018 BBC Good Food Awards Middle East
Shortlisted “Best Thai” Time Out Dubai Restaurant Awards 2018
Shortlisted “Best Thai” Time Out Dubai Restaurant Awards 2019
TripAdvisor Certificate of Excellence 2020
Best Thai Nominee - 2020 BBC Good Food Awards Middle East
GQ Middle East: Dubai’s Best 25 Restaurants 2020
Best Thai Nominee - 2021 BBC Good Food Awards Middle East
Best Thai Nominee - 2021 Fact Magazine Dining Awards
Winner “Best Thai” Time Out Dubai Restaurant Awards 2020
Winner “Best Thai” Time Out Dubai Restaurant Awards 2021
GQ Middle East: Dubai’s Best 25 Restaurants 2021
Winner “Outstanding Contribution Award” Time Out Dubai Restaurant Awards 2021
Shortlisted “Best Thai” Time Out Dubai Restaurant Awards 2022
Winner “Best Thai” Time Out Dubai Restaurant Awards 2022 (for Armada Avenue, licensed branch)
Highly Commended“Best Casual Dining Restaurant” Time Out Dubai Restaurant Awards 2022 (for Armada Avenue, licensed branch)
Winner “Best Thai” Time Out Dubai Restaurant Awards 2023 (for Armada Avenue, JLT, licensed branch)
Top 13 Brunches in Dubai for Serious Foodies - Condé Nast Traveller July 2023
Winner “Best Thai” Time Out Dubai Restaurant Awards 2024 (for Armada Avenue, JLT, licensed branch)
Highly Commended“Best Casual Dining Restaurant” Time Out Dubai Restaurant Awards 2024 (for Armada Avenue, licensed branch)