World's 50 Best Restaurants 2026: Spain's Asador Etxebarri Takes the Top Spot

The 50, the organization formerly known as 50 Best, revealed its 2026 ranking of the world's 50 best restaurants at a gala ceremony held Wednesday night in Lima, Peru. Topping the list was Asador Etxebarri, a Basque-country grill in Atxondo, Spain, long revered as a destination restaurant and celebrated for its distinctive grilling technique. Chef Bittor Arguinzoniz accepted the award, describing it as "a real honor" and crediting "our mothers and grandmothers" — accomplished cooks, he said — as his inspiration.

Gaggan in Bangkok placed second, followed by Alchemist in Copenhagen, Denmark, praised for its "extraordinary craftsmanship." Quintonil in Mexico City came in fourth and was also named Best Restaurant in Latin America, while Wing in Hong Kong rounded out the top five, recognized for honoring Chinese culinary heritage and sharing the "untold stories of Chinese culinary history" with diners.

New York's Atomix, a Korean restaurant, was the highest-ranked American entry at No. 11 and earned the title of Best Restaurant in North America. Chef Junghyun Park received the Chef's Choice Award, lauded for giving diners a "window into a culture."

The list is compiled by the 50 Best Restaurants Academy, a panel of more than 1,100 international industry experts across 28 regions, including food writers and chefs. Once a restaurant wins the top prize, it moves into a separate "Best of the Best" program and is no longer eligible. Last year's ceremony took place in Turin, Italy, where Lima's Maido claimed the top honor. This year's list closed with Saint Peter of Sydney, Australia, at No. 50.