Dignity Kitchen, a Singaporean eatery established by social enterprise Project Dignity in 2010, goes beyond serving delicious fare: it’s a training ground for individuals with disabilities to hone their skills, thrive in a supportive environment and gain financial independence. Its Singapore location has seven hawker stalls that are manned by members of differently abled and disadvantaged communities. 

In 2015, Project Dignity received Singapore’s Social Enterprise of the Year Award for its innovations such as noodle-making equipment that can be operated by one hand, pictorial point-of-sale machines and Braille cash registers.

In December 2019, the enterprise expanded to Hong Kong, at the heart of bustling Mong Kok. The kitchen, staffed by people with disabilities, serves a diverse menu featuring Singaporean hawker cuisine. Its Hong Kong location was named in Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants’ Essence of Asia list in 2021, which honours restaurants that preserve culinary traditions and provides a vital link to their communities. 

Hong Kong address: 2/F, 618 Shanghai St, Mong Kok, Hong Kong

Singapore address: 69 Boon Keng Rd, no. 01 Red Building, Singapore 339772

Under Thai law, all public and private organisations with more than 100 employees must hire one person with disabilities for every 100 without. But most companies usually opt out, choosing instead to contribute to a state rehabilitation fund. Not Yimsoo Cafe, though, which has taken a radically different route. 

This eatery is staffed entirely by workers with hearing impairment. The cafe’s founder Wiriya Namsiripongpun suffered a childhood accident that left him blind at 15. Going on to become a Harvard graduate and professor of law, he set out to empower people with disabilities in Thailand. If you find yourself in Bangkok, why not make some time to slurp toothsome boat noodles and sip coffee at this cafe with heart?

Address: 39 Arun Amarin Road, Arun Amarin, Bangkok Noi, Bangkok 10700, Thailand

In Japan, dementia is predicted to affect one in five people by 2025 as per the country’s health ministry. And according to the World Health Organization (WHO), currently more than 55 million people have dementia worldwide, over 60 per cent of whom live in low- and middle-income countries.

At Restaurant of Mistaken Orders, a pop-up restaurant in Tokyo that hosted its first event in 2017, all the servers have dementia. The quirky and heartwarming concept was conceived by Japanese television director Shiro Oguni. He was inspired to launch the roving Restaurant of Mistaken Orders after he was served a dumpling instead of a burger while visiting a nursing home. 

Despite the evocative name, only 37 per cent of orders end up actually incorrect. And when a mistake is made, patrons and servers alike are encouraged to laugh it off and bond over the experience.

Address: 1 Chome, Higashiogu, Arakawa City, Tokyo, Japan, 116-0012

Named after the Hindi word “sign”, Ishaara is a thoughtfully conceived pan-Indian restaurant located in the upscale Mumbai locale of Lower Parel. 

The service staff at this bright and airy eatery consists of individuals with hearing and speech disabilities. To facilitate communication, each section and dish on the menu is accompanied by a hand sign illustration and dishes are served with name cards to prevent confusion. The staff is impeccably trained and uses hand gestures for basic questions, ensuring a seamless dining experience.

Ishaara offers an extensive menu that showcases delicacies from various regions of India. From jackfruit rogan josh to duck galouti kebabs, the restaurant invites you to savour sophisticated subcontinental flavours. As a bonus, you’ll definitely leave with more robust sign language skills than when you walked in. 

Address: 3/F, shop no. 462, Palladium Mall, High Street Phoenix, Senapati Bapat Marg, Lower Parel, Mumbai, Maharashtra 400013, India

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