Gaggan
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Restaurant |
| Founded | 2010 |
| Founder | Gaggan Anand |
| Defunct | 2019 |
| Headquarters | Bangkok , Thailand |
| Products | Fine dining, Indian cuisine |
Gaggan was a dining establishment located in Bangkok, Thailand, helmed by Indian chef Gaggan Anand from 2010 until 2019. It achieved the top position on Asia's 50 Best Restaurants list and secured seventh place globally in The World's 50 Best Restaurants rankings between 2015 and 2018. Additionally, the restaurant was awarded two Michelin stars in the first edition of the Thailand Michelin Guide.
History
Since relocating to Bangkok in 1996, Gaggan Anand sought to raise Indian cuisine in Thailand to the refined levels associated with French and Japanese gastronomy. In 2010, he launched Gaggan within a refurbished townhouse dating back to the 19th century. The renovation process overlapped with the 2010 political protests in Thailand, which delayed Anand’s entry into the property.
Description
The interior design of Gaggan showcased a palette dominated by white and beige tones, accented with neon purple lighting and vibrant cushions. The restaurant’s seating extended across two floors, featuring intimate, private rooms for select diners.
Fare
Prior to establishing Gaggan, Anand gained experience at El Bulli in Spain, a Michelin three-star venue renowned for molecular gastronomy techniques. This background heavily influenced Gaggan’s culinary offerings, which included inventive dishes such as coriander foam paired with green peppercorn chicken kebabs ("Green with Envy") and potatoes filled with figs ("Beauty and the Beast"). Among his hallmark creations was "Lick it Up," a plate presenting multiple curries intended to be savored by licking.
The restaurant also presented a unique 25-course tasting menu communicated through emojis instead of text, aiming to eliminate language barriers.
Closure
Anand had initially planned to cease operations at Gaggan in June 2020 to pursue a new project in Fukuoka, Japan, alongside partner Takeshi Fukuyama. However, due to shareholder disputes, the restaurant closed prematurely on August 24, 2019. Following this, Anand announced intentions to inaugurate a new establishment in Bangkok by October 2019, with his daughter as the principal shareholder. This venture eventually reopened under the name Gaggan Anand and reinstated its original title, Gaggan, in 2024.
Reception
Between 2015 and 2018, Restaurant magazine recognized Gaggan as Thailand's premier restaurant and one of Asia’s leading culinary destinations. This was an advancement from its third-place ranking in Asia in 2014. In the global rankings of The World's 50 Best Restaurants, Gaggan placed tenth in 2015, rose to fifth by 2018, and was voted fourth worldwide in 2019. It holds the distinction of being the sole Indian restaurant ever featured within the top 50 internationally.