The GrabThumbsUp Awards 2026 return, reaffirming GrabFood’s annual platform that honours the “Restaurant of the Year”—venues that have met rigorous quality benchmarks and earned genuine nationwide trust for their standards of taste. This year’s edition arrives under the theme “The Taste of Trust”, underscoring the credibility and quality endorsed by the collective voice of real users.

This year’s awards feature a standout collaboration with the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT), which presents special honours to restaurants and individuals who have played a significant role in promoting Thailand’s tourism industry through food culture. These include “Thai Cuisine Leader on the Global Stage”, awarded to LISA Lalisa Manobal, Amazing Thailand Ambassador; and “Flavour Creator of the Year”, presented to SOURI, the fatcaron brand that transforms local flavours and ingredients into province-specific signature creations. The ceremony also recognises five celebrated eateries as “Outstanding Restaurants Promoting Tourism”—regional culinary landmarks comprising Suki Chang Phueak (North), Phuketique Coffee Bar (South), Lao Nua Pattaya (East), Prasit Pochana (Northeast), and Thongsmith (Central).

The GrabThumbsUp Awards 2026 maintain a stringent judging process. Every shortlisted restaurant undergoes comprehensive evaluation across taste, service standards, operational management and verified consumer feedback, with a minimum rating of 4.6 out of 5 from real users. This year, more than 900 restaurants nationwide met the eligibility criteria, yet only 100 secured the title of “Restaurant of the Year.”

In addition, GrabFood unveiled a refreshed GrabThumbsUp sub-brand identity on the awards stage, introducing a more contemporary and premium look as it enters its fifth year. The redesign aims to unify quality standards, strengthen brand recall and deepen consumer trust across the ASEAN region.