Jakarta Restaurant August Wins Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants’ Coveted American Express One To Watch Award

Jakarta’s Hans Christian and Budi Cahyadi’s year-old restaurant August is recognised as a rising star for its elegant and innovative Indonesia-influenced contemporary cuisine.

August in Jakarta, Indonesia is the 2023 recipient of the coveted American Express One To Watch Award. This award is determined by the organisers of Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants in collaboration with their regional advisers, and given to a rising star restaurant that demonstrates the potential to break into the main Asia ranking in future years.

Launched in November 2021, August is helmed by chef and co-owner Hans Christian and managing partner Budi Cahyadi. Buoyed by the success of the duo’s pandemic-fuelled former private dining venture, which garnered a loyal following of local gastronomes, the restaurant’s launch earned critical acclaim. In a short span, it has made waves in Jakarta’s dining landscape with its own brand of cuisine that boasts respectful inclusion of Indonesian elements with additional fine dining flair.

The August experience is contemporary and elegant, with conscious efforts made towards creating an inviting space. The intimate 50-seat restaurant in Jakarta’s business district features warm lighting and earthy colours. An open kitchen, along with bookshelves lined with the team’s personal collection, help create an immersive and cosy dining experience.

Apart from being the founding duo’s birth month, August is also named to convey the restaurant’s belief in ‘respect’, a theme that the team translates into both their personable service and the cuisine they present. Tasting menus at August reflect Chef Christian’s years of experience in fine-dining kitchens such as Yono’s (Albany, NY), Next (Chicago) and VIEW (Jakarta), while incorporating Indonesian and broader Asian touches as an homage to the local land and its roots. With sustainability at the fore, core ingredients include seasonal line-caught fish from the waters around Bali and Lombok; vegetables from farms in Lembang, near Bandung; fresh vanilla pods from Sukabumi and 100% Indonesian cocoa in desserts.

In response to August winning the award, chef and co-owner Hans Christian says: “Jakarta is generally known as a business destination, rarely as a culinary destination. We believe that this award will help put Jakarta on the map and show that there is so much that this city can offer to the global culinary scene. This recognition means a great deal to me, Budi and the August family. We don’t see this as just an award – it also signals a huge responsibility for us to work harder and push our craft even further. The team has never been more motivated and driven.”

August will be further celebrated at the in-person ceremony held on the 28th March 2023 in Singapore, in collaboration with host destination partner Singapore Tourism Board. Sponsored by S.Pellegrino & Acqua Panna, the Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants 2023 awards will also be livestreamed on Facebook and YouTube.