China’s leading dining guide has made its first-ever overseas appearance with a grand ceremony at Marina Bay Sands. Meituan (美团 – Měituán), the Chinese technology retail giant, hosted the inaugural international ceremony for its prestigious Black Pearl Restaurant Guide (黑珍珠餐厅指南 – Hēi Zhēnzhū Cāntīng Zhǐnán) on 25 April 2025, marking a significant milestone in the guide’s global expansion. Singapore restaurants achieved a record number of listings this year, with two local establishments earning the coveted 3-Diamond rating, the guide’s highest honour.
Rising Influence Among Chinese Tourists
The Black Pearl Restaurant Guide has served approximately 130 million users since its inception and is increasingly becoming a trusted reference for Chinese tourists exploring international cuisine. During the 2025 Spring Festival holiday, over 85% of Chinese domestic users browsed or searched for information on overseas Black Pearl restaurants before travelling.
This trend reflects the changing preferences of Chinese tourists, with more than half opting for fine dining experiences during their international travels in 2024, according to Meituan data.
Southeast Asian Culinary Destinations Flourish
The 2025 Black Pearl Restaurant Guide features 55 overseas restaurants, with Southeast Asian establishments achieving record listings. While Tokyo leads with 30 restaurants, Singapore and Bangkok have seen significant growth in representation since the guide’s debut in 2018.
In Bangkok, Le Du, a modern Thai fine dining establishment, has maintained its 1-Diamond rating for two consecutive years. Chef Thitid “Ton” Tassanakajohn reported that Chinese guests now comprise 20% of the restaurant’s clientele, a figure that continues to grow. Similarly, Potong, a Thai-Chinese fusion restaurant in Bangkok’s Chinatown, earned its first 1-Diamond rating this year.
Singapore’s Culinary Scene Shines
16 restaurants in Singapore have received a Black Pearl Award.
French restaurants Odette and Les Amis both received the most prestigious three Diamond rating in the 2025 guide. Jaan by Kirk Westaway received Two Diamonds.
Those that received One Diamond are –
Burnt Ends
Candlenut
Cassia
Cloudstreet
Jade Palace Seafood Restaurant
Meta Restaurant
Peach Blossoms (Parkroyal Collection Marina Bay)
Restaurant Born
Seroja
Summer Pavilion
Teochew Restaurant Huat Kee
Waku Ghin
Zen
Rigorous Selection Process
The Black Pearl Restaurant Guide follows a meticulous selection process combining expert evaluations, anonymous visits by judges, and data analytics to ensure fairness and accuracy. Over 77% of the judging panel consists of gourmand enthusiasts, with annual rotations to maintain fresh perspectives.
Looking ahead, the guide plans to integrate artificial intelligence with committee nominations, blending human expertise with intelligent systems to simplify the discovery of exceptional restaurants worldwide.
Global Expansion
After 15 years of growth, Meituan now connects merchants across more than 170 countries and nearly 1,000 cities worldwide, offering a comprehensive ranking system spanning food, hotel, transportation, and travel. As Meituan continues to expand globally and as more Chinese culinary brands gain recognition among international audiences, the company’s ranking products are gaining increasing prestige in new markets.
Wei Wei, Vice President of Meituan and head of the company’s in-store dining division, described the Singapore ceremony as a major milestone in the global expansion of Meituan’s ranking products.
The guide’s expansion into Singapore not only provides local restaurants with exposure to the vast Chinese market but also enhances Singapore’s reputation as a premier dining destination for discerning international travellers.
The Ordinary Patrons | Real Dining Experience of Ordinary People
an independent Singapore food blog
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