Maido in Lima crowned World’s Best Restaurant 2025 as Asia shines with 14 entries

Maido in Lima has been named the World’s Best Restaurant 2025, a decisive recognition for chef Mitsuharu ‘Micha’ Tsumura and a high point for the Nikkei culinary movement. Announced at the World’s 50 Best Restaurants ceremony held in Turin, Italy, the win signals both the enduring strength of Latin American gastronomy and the global appetite for cuisines that merge tradition with innovation.

Tsumura’s Maido, which climbed from No 5 last year, is a study in cultural synergy: Japanese technique meets Peruvian provenance in tasting menus that are refined, seasonal and deeply personal. Over 15 years, Maido has evolved from a local favourite into a global benchmark, known as much for its hospitality as for its clarity of vision. It now joins an elite cohort of restaurants, succeeding Barcelona’s Disfrutar (2024) in a hall of fame that includes Noma, Osteria Francescana and Central.

Yet if the top slot belonged to Peru, the broader narrative of the 2025 list is Asia’s strengthened presence on the world stage. With 14 restaurants in the top 50, the region is no longer a rising force; it is fully entrenched in the global gastronomic elite.

Mitsuharu ‘Micha’ Tsumura of Maido ascends to the top of the World’s 50 Best Restaurants 2025 list

At Maido in Lima, Japanese technique meets Peruvian ingredients for contemporary Nikkei cuisine

Bangkok leads Asia’s charge

Gaggan Anand’s eponymous restaurant in Bangkok returns to form as The Best Restaurant in Asia 2025, placing at No 6 overall. Known for its irreverent spirit and cross-cultural ambition, Gaggan continues to reframe Indian cuisine with playful, progressive tasting menus that traverse continents.

Bangkok dominated the Asian field with five entries: Potong (No 13), which also received the Highest New Entry Award; Sorn (No 17), Sühring (No 22), and Le Du (No 30). Nusara (No 35), another Bangkok newcomer, further cemented the Thai capital’s status as one of the world’s most dynamic food cities.

Chef Pam of Potong in Bangkok, named The World’s Best Female Chef 2025, is recognised for her fearless reinvention of Thai-Chinese cuisine

Sézanne in Tokyo, No 7 on the 2025 list, continues to set the bar for French-inflected precision and poise under chef Daniel Calvert

Japan’s culinary capital holds its ground

Tokyo’s Sézanne (No 7) again leads Japan’s contingent, showcasing French cuisine through a Japanese lens with fastidious detail and restraint. Narisawa (No 21) re-enters the list, while Florilège (No 36) and La Cime in Osaka (No 44) round out Japan’s four entries, each representing a different facet of the country’s culinary evolution, from modern kaiseki to hyper-seasonal minimalism.

The Chairman in Hong Kong, at No 19, is lauded for its contemporary take on traditional Cantonese flavours and ingredient-led cooking

At No 29, Seoul’s Mingles by chef Mingoo Kang remains a global reference point for modern Korean cuisine rooted in tradition

Hong Kong’s comeback: Wing and The Chairman

Hong Kong made one of its strongest showings in recent years. Wing, helmed by Vicky Cheng, placed at No 11 and was awarded the Gin Mare Art of Hospitality Award, recognising the restaurant’s meticulously choreographed service and refined approach to modern Chinese cuisine. The Chairman (No 19), already known for its reverent yet contemporary take on Cantonese food, remains the city’s enduring standard-bearer.

Other regional highlights

Elsewhere, Seoul’s Mingles (No 29) continues to bridge modern and traditional Korean flavours under chef Mingoo Kang, while Singapore’s Odette (No 25), led by Julien Royer, remains firmly positioned as the city’s top fine dining destination

Key awards: A broader look

Beyond the rankings, the evening also celebrated figures shaping the future of food:

• Albert Adrià (Enigma, No 34) received the Chefs’ Choice Award, the only peer-voted accolade, honouring his creative legacy and continued impact.
• Massimo Bottura and Lara Gilmore were jointly awarded the Woodford Reserve Icon Award for their cultural and philanthropic contributions through Osteria Francescana, Casa Maria Luigia and initiatives including Food for Soul and Tortellante.
• Maxime Frédéric, pastry chef at Hôtel Cheval Blanc and Plénitude (No 14), was named The World’s Best Pastry Chef 2025 for his precision and artistry in the field of luxury patisserie.
• Mohamed Benabdallah, sommelier and manager at Asador Etxebarri (No 2), was named The World’s Best Sommelier, applauded for his intuitive pairings and deep wine intelligence.
• Celele (No 48) in Cartagena won the Sustainable Restaurant Award for its unwavering commitment to sourcing local ingredients and preserving Colombian Caribbean culinary traditions.
• Angélica Ortiz, a young Colombian chef, received the reinstated 50 Best Scholarship, which includes internships at El Celler de Can Roca and SingleThread, affirming 50 Best’s push to invest in the next generation of talent.
• Additional accolades included Champions of Change for Australia’s Mindy Woods, World’s Best Female Chef for Thailand’s chef Pam (Pichaya Utharntharm), and the Resy One to Watch Award for Khufu’s in Cairo.

Chefs and restaurateurs from around the world unite on stage in Turin to celebrate The World’s 50 Best Restaurants 2025

World’s 50 Best Restaurants 2025

1. Maido, Lima2. Asador Etxebarri, Atxondo3. Quintonil, Mexico City4. Diverxo, Madrid5. Alchemist, Copenhagen6. Gaggan, Bangkok7. Sézanne, Tokyo8. Table by Bruno Verjus, Paris9. Kjolle, Lima10. Don Julio, Buenos Aires11. Wing, Hong Kong12. Atomix, New York13. Potong, Bangkok14. Plénitude, Paris15. Ikoyi, London16. Lido 84, Gardone Riviera17. Sorn, Bangkok18. Reale, Castel di Sangro19. The Chairman, Hong Kong20. Atelier Moessmer Norbert Niederkofler, Brunico21. Narisawa, Tokyo22. Sühring, Bangkok23. Boragó, Santiago24. Elkano, Getaria25. Odette, Singapore26. Mérito, Lima27. Trèsind Studio, Dubai28. Lasai, Rio de Janeiro29. Mingles, Seoul30. Le Du, Bangkok31. Le Calandre, Rubano32. Piazza Duomo, Alba33. Steirereck, Vienna34. Enigma, Barcelona35. Nusara, Bangkok36. Florilège, Tokyo37. Orfali Bros, Dubai38. Frantzén, Stockholm39. Mayta, Lima40. Septime, Paris41. Kadeau, Copenhagen42. Belcanto, Lisbon43. Uliassi, Senigallia44. La Cime, Osaka45. Arpège, Paris46. Rosetta, Mexico City47. Vyn, Skillinge48. Celele, Cartagena49. Kol, London50. Restaurant Jan, Munich

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