Maido, a celebrated restaurant in Lima, Peru, founded by chef Mitsuharu "Micha" Tsumura, has been named the best restaurant in the world for 2025, according to the prestigious but controversial World’s 50 Best Restaurants list. The announcement was made on Thursday, with Maido rising to the top of a globally competitive field.

The restaurant is known for its innovative Nikkei cuisine, a blend of Japanese and Peruvian flavours that has captivated critics and food lovers alike. This marks a major milestone for Latin American fine dining, as Maido becomes the first Peruvian restaurant to take the top spot on the list.

Second place went to Spain’s Asador Etxebarri, renowned for its Basque wood-fired cooking in Atxondo, while third place was awarded to Quintonil in Mexico City, a standout of modern Mexican cuisine.

The top French entry on the list was Table by chef Bruno Verjus in Paris, which came in at number eight.

In the pastry category, Maxime Frederic of Cheval Blanc Paris was recognised as the world’s Best Pastry Chef. Frederic, also the head pastry chef at the Michelin-starred Plénitude, has earned acclaim for his exquisite creations and modern French technique.

The World’s 50 Best Restaurants list has been published annually since 2002 by William Reed, a UK-based media group. It draws on the votes of 1,000 industry professionals, including chefs, food journalists and restaurateurs.

Despite its prestige, the list has faced criticism, particularly from French, Japanese, and American chefs who argue it lacks transparency and favours a closed circle of culinary elites. In response, critics launched The List in 2015 — a rival ranking that aggregates data from over 400 international sources using an algorithm.

Still, the 50 Best remains a powerful force in setting culinary trends and shining a spotlight on innovation in global cuisine.
(With AFP inputs)